Welcome to THE WELL-FED E-PUB!
Serving up
food for thought and tasty tips for the prospering FLCW*. Come on in, sit
anywhere and bring your appetite!
*FLCW,
peppered throughout the ezine, stands for "Freelance Commercial
Writer" – anyone who freelances for businesses (vs. writing magazine
articles, short stories, poetry, etc.), typically earns $50-125+ an hour, and
is the sole focus of this e-newsletter.
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VOLUME 10,
ISSUE 3 – MARCH 2011
Publishing
the first Tuesday of every month since May 2002
Read it
Online at: http://www.wellfedwriter.com/ezine/mar2011.html
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ATTN:
TOLEDO, OH/DETROIT & ATLANTA! ÒWell-Fed Self-PublisherÓ seminars in March!
Details in Coffee and here
(http://www.wellfedwriter.com/seminars.shtml).
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The
WELL-FED WRITER BLOG is Rockin'! Weigh in on ÒWhatÕs a Freelancer to Do About
Health Insurance?Ó ÒThis WriterÕs Landing a Ton of Work Doing What So Many
Companies Need?Ó and more! http://www.wellfedwriter.com/blog.
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"THE
WELL-FED WRITER" (2010 EDITION) HAS WON FOUR AWARDS!
Check out
the Awards Gallery at http://www.wellfedwriter.com/wellfedawards.shtml
To Order
(FR.EE Bonus/U.S. Shipping): http://www.wellfedwriter.com/ordertwfw.shtml.
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PLEASE! IÕM
LOW IN ALL E-PUB CATEGORIES. Would love to get your strategies, tips and
features. See "Coffee" for more details and word counts.
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THIS
MONTH'S MENU:
I.
APPETIZER: WEB SITE/BLOG WINNER ANNOUNCED
Winner Gets
Creative; Designer Offers Budget-Friendly Packages to E-PUB Readers
II. ÒFIELDÓ
GREENS: GOT MELODIOUS WRITING?
Copywriting
Guru Invites You to Use Words to Add Life and Energy to Writing
III. MAIN
ÒMEATÓ COURSE: FORGET THE COMPETITION (EVEN IF YOUÕRE NEW!)
GA FLCW
Shares Wisdom from Experience Making $163K in First Year as FLCW
IV.
DESSERT: Sweet Success Stories and Tips
NEW: ÒThe
Well-Fed Partner PantryÓ Program! Got an Info-Product to $ell on My Site?
TIP: Yours
Truly Buys a ÒLap Desk;Ó Makes Working Anywhere a Pleasure!
V. COFFEE,
MINTS AND TOOTHPICKS
- ATTN
TOLEDO/ATLANTA: ÒWell-Fed Self-PublisherÓ Seminars Coming in March!
- THE
WELL-FED E-PUB NEEDS ALL COURSES!
- The
WELL-FED WRITER BLOG is Rockin'! http://www.wellfedwriter.com/blog
- MISSED MY
TELECLASS? Full 38-PAGE e-Transcript – Just $12!
- AWAI
Copywriting (& Other) Courses: Register Here, Get 2 Bonuses (no charge!)
- How Can
My Mentoring Service Serve You?
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I.
APPETIZER: WEB SITE/BLOG WINNER ANNOUNCED
Winner Gets
Creative; Designer Offers Budget-Friendly Packages to E-PUB Readers
Thanks to
all who entered the contest for a f.r.e.e. web/site blog from Hutto, TX FLCW
and experienced designer Shannon Martin (smigim@yahoo.com,
http://indie-d.com). Shannon contributed a
great article to last monthÕs E-PUB (archived here) on building a
powerful copywriting site.
Contest
entrants had to tell, in 10 words or fewer, why they should win. Top 5 are
below, with Amy Morris the winner. Now, I didnÕt understand AmyÕs entry (I knew
Comic Sans was a font, but was lost after that) but note ShannonÕs explanation
after the list.
#1 Me
+ Comic Sans (HATE) x You Too? (WHEW) = I win, right? (Amy Morris)
#2
Treating my migraines eats up the cash for site development. (Janet
Henderson)
#3
Three women. One new business. Create great books. Need help! (Julie Thompson)
#4
Website - no business/Languishes in wintry funk/Springtime hope -
Indie (haiku by Jamie Morrison)
#5
I'm 15 months shy of freelance goal and 70th birthday. (Barbara McAllister)
#1? Explains
Shannon: ÒIt's a design thing. Comic Sans is one of the default fonts for
canned websites, and flags you instantly as having a ÔtemplateÕ site. AmyÕs
saying thatÕs not what she wants and confirming I'm not a one-size-fits-all
designer. I thought it was by far the most original.Ó Amy will receive:
1) Custom
logo/graphics for site and for print materials (business cards, brochures,
etc.).
2)
WordPress site/blog (up to 10 pages and 10 blog categories; you provide
content)
3)
Integrated social media, email opt-in forms and choice of up to three other
widgets
4)
Portfolio gallery (you provide synopsis and images)
5) Built-in
CMS (content management system) for easy site updating
6) Training
on maintaining your new site
Even if you
didnÕt win or even enter, ShannonÕs offering Well-Fed E-PUB readers packages
including all the above for $450-550 (depending on complexity). Contact her at smigim@yahoo.com by 3/15/11.
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II. ÒFIELDÓ
GREENS: GOT MELODIOUS WRITING?
Copywriting
Guru Invites You to Use Words to Add Life and Energy to Writing
In Marcia
YudkinÕs 9/28/10 issue of The Marketing Minute (subscribe here; absolutely worth your time),
she encourages us all to make our writing more engaging and compelling through
creative use of words. IÕve been doing this for years, and it just makes the
process more fun for you, and more interesting for the reader.
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Season
subscribers of the Seattle Repertory Theatre enjoy a host of privileges,
including Òseat repeatÓ: ÒLove a particular show and want to see it again? Be
our guest! One free seat repeat per subscriber.Ó
Besides
this being an appealing bonus for theater lovers, its name jumps jauntily in
your mind. The rhyme is joyous, and the added long ÒeÓ repetition in Òfree seat
repeatÓ
adds to its
air of delight. (ÒWheeee!Ó)
While the
way syllables sound or combine is a stock in trade of poets, we donÕt see
enough business writers putting this factor to work.
Did you
notice the three jÕs in one line two paragraphs back? Such repetition slows you
down as a reader, puts you more in the moment and urges you to savor the idea
under
consideration.
On the
other hand, suppose you were to say your seminar provides a brisk walk through
the pitfalls of catalog design. The dominant consonants in the words
Òbrisk,Ó Òwalk,Ó ÒpitfallsÓ and ÒcatalogÓ imply a very fast pace indeed.
Just listen
carefully to what youÕve written so you donÕt overdo the sound effects.
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III. MAIN
ÒMEATÓ COURSE: FORGET THE COMPETITION (EVEN IF YOUÕRE NEW!)
GA FLCW
Shares Wisdom from Experience Making $163K in First Year as FLCW
Got this
great Òback-to-basicsÓ piece from fellow Atlanta-area FLCW Ed Gandia (ed@edgandia.com, http://www.edgandia.com) – for anyone
trying to get some new or renewed traction with their copywriting business. I
feature Ed in the new edition of TWFW for good reason:
he built a part-time FLCW business generating $3-4K/month WHILE holding down a
full-time 9-5 job. Then, when he finally did make the break to FT freelancing,
earned $163K in his first full-year in the biz. So, listenÉ
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Relatively
new to freelancing? Feeling a bit overwhelmed? Or, been freelancing a while,
and have perhaps hit a rough patch? Either way, I have some encouraging words
and lessons for us allÉ
When
starting out, what you lack in experience and track record you can make up by working
harder on ÒcontrollableÓ factors. The same applies when youÕre in a slump.
Working on the variables you CAN control is often the best recipe for a
turnaround.
When this
concept clicked into place for me a few years ago, my world began to change for
the better. I first heard the idea in Brian TracyÕs audio program, ÒThe Luck
Factor.Ó Tracy describes a scene where someone whoÕs had too many glasses of
wine is taken to a dark room, blindfolded and given a set of darts to throw at
a dartboard.
Tracy asks,
ÒWhat are the chances of that person hitting the dartboard?Ó Obviously, not
good. But what if this person is given an unlimited number of darts? WonÕt she
eventually hit the dartboard? Of course. ThatÕs the beauty of the Law of
Averages.
And what if
she sobers up, removes her blindfold and turns the lights on? Will her chances
of hitting the dartboard increase? You bet. What if she then takes lessons from
a pro? What if she commits herself to practicing for two hours a day for the
next four weeks? Will she get even better?
You better
believe it. Not only that, sheÕll also hit a few bullseyes. And what do all
those things – unlimited supply of darts, sobering up, removing the
blindfold, turning on the light, training and practicing – have in
common?
She can
control all of them.
ItÕs no
different when youÕre starting out as a freelancer. Much like the dart thrower,
you can ALWAYS make up what you lack in experience and track record by focusing
on the things you CAN control.
You can try
harder. You can be more persistent (think unlimited supply of darts). You can
get specialized training, some coaching or a certification in a specific skill
thatÕs in high demand. You can send out more lead generating letters. You can
network more aggressively and consistently (both offline and online). You can
make more cold calls.
You might
not land marquee clients at first. But youÕll get clients willing to overlook a
lack of experience for lower fees. Or folks who appreciate your persistence,
sincerity, personality, professionalism and enthusiasm (MORE factors you can
control).
Even if
youÕre a seasoned freelancer weathering a dry period, by working on variables
you can actually do something about will get you out of a tough spot much
faster. Try not to dwell on the negative. Even if you donÕt feel like it, pick
up the phone, call some prospects, mail some letters, contact some previous
clients, reach out to some of your colleagues.
Just get
moving. And talk and act as if youÕre one of the top writers in your field.
Your confidence and positive tone will come through, which will greatly
increase your chances of attracting the right clients.
The road
ahead wonÕt always be easy. But if you shift your mindset, stop worrying about
what your competition is up to, start focusing on the things you CAN control,
get into action, and donÕt quit, you canÕt help but succeed. I promise.
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Ed Gandia
is a successful freelance copywriter, speaker, trainer and a founding partner
of International
Freelancers Academy and co-founder of International Freelancers Day, the
worldÕs biggest online educational conference for solo professionals. HeÕs the
co-author of the award-winning book, The Wealthy Freelancer: 12 Secrets to a
Great Income and an Enviable Lifestyle (Penguin/Alpha). For EdÕs solid primer on how to
successfully transition from a part-time to full-time copywriting business,
visit http://www.StopWishingandStartEarnng.com.
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IV.
DESSERT: Sweet Success Stories and Tips
NEW: ÒThe
Well-Fed Partner PantryÓ Program! Got an Info-Product to $ell on My Site?
TIP: Yours
Truly Buys a ÒLap Desk,Ó Which Makes Working Anywhere a Pleasure!
No one
person (certainly not ME) has all the answers about how to build a successful
commercial writing business. EveryoneÕs built their businesses in different
ways under different circumstances, and headed in different directions. And
along the way, weÕve all picked up some valuable specialized knowledge –
information, which, if put to paper, can help your colleagues be more
profitable in their own businesses.
While IÕve
worked hard over the years to provide good income-boosting information in my
books, ebooks, ezine, blog, knowledgebase, etc., now, I want to give YOUR
info-products a place and an audience on my site, and, in the process, give us
both the chance to profit.
IDEAL
PRODUCTS?
Have you
become an expert in a particular area of commercial writing, and are willing to
share that expertise with others? Have you mastered a particular strategy for
landing new business? IÕm open to looking at ANY info-product that can help
commercial freelancers make more money or have higher quality of life.
Sorry, but
info-products must be focused exclusively on the commercial writing field
(i.e., not newspaper/magazine writing, poetry, fiction, short-story writing,
etc.). For more details, and the terms of the arrangement, click here.
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Attention,
Laptoppers: IÕve got a laptop, but use it with an external monitor and keyboard
when at home. Long hours in front of the Òinfernal machineÓ can do a number on
your back (and believe, I know more about that lovely gift than most). But
recently, I sprang for a Òlap deskÓ – hard plastic covered with non-slip
material, with bean-bag-like material on the bottom to conform to your lap, and
a lip to keep your laptop in place. Love it. Now I can work in my favorite
armchair a lot more comfortably than when I just held my laptop in my lap. I
got this
one off Amazon. At $24.99 itÕs a penny under their f.r.e.e. shipping
threshold, but bookmark this cool site
for cheap filler items to make up the difference. And there are more compact
travel models as well. Your back will thank you!
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V. COFFEE,
MINTS AND TOOTHPICKS
- ATTN
TOLEDO/ATLANTA: ÒWell-Fed Self-PublisherÓ Seminars Coming in March!
- THE
WELL-FED E-PUB NEEDS ALL COURSES!
- The
WELL-FED WRITER BLOG is Rockin'! http://www.wellfedwriter.com/blog
- MISSED MY
TELECLASS? Full 38-PAGE e-Transcript – Just $12!
- AWAI
Copywriting (& Other) Courses: Register Here, Get 2 Bonuses (no charge!)
- How Can
My Mentoring Service Serve You?
****************************************
*****************************************
ATTN.
TOLEDO & ATLANTA! ÒWell-Fed
Self-PublisherÓ Seminars Coming in March!
IÕll be in
Toledo, OH on March 16 to do two talks: an ad club luncheon and the second a
two-hour workshop on self-publishing (and for a crazy-low price). And on March
25th, IÕll be talking self-publishing in Atlanta (where I live), at
the Spring Book Show at the Cobb Galleria. Hope youÕll join me (OR, if you know
anyone in those areas who might be interested, please pass it on). For more
information on both events, click here.
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I'M
SERIOUSLY LOW ON ALL WELL-FED E-PUB COURSES!
Got a great
strategy, approach or specific expertise you're willing to share? Turn it into a
Feature (MAIN COURSE) for the EPUB (500-600 words; query first). ALSO, send
your "GREENS" (200-300 words), TIPS (150-200) and SUCCESS STORIES
(100-300) to peter@wellfedwriter.com.
Archived issues at http://www.wellfedwriter.com/ezine.shtml.
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The
WELL-FED WRITER BLOG is Rockin'! http://www.wellfedwriter.com/blog
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MISSED MY
TELECLASS? "Thriving as a Freelance Commercial Writer"
38-PAGE e-Transcript! $12: www.wellfedwriter.com/jan07tstranscript.shtml.
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AWAI
COPYWRITING (& OTHER) COURSES: Register Here, Get Your Choice of Bonus CD
Program! Six-Figure Copywriting, Graphic Design, Internet Writing, Fundraising,
Health Market and more! http://www.wellfedwriter.com/awai.shtml.
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HOW CAN MY
MENTORING SERVICE SERVE YOU?
For details
and testimonials, visit http://www.wellfedwriter.com/mentoring.shtml.
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