Welcome to THE WELL-FED E-PUB!
The companion monthly ezine to the quadruple-award-winning how-to guide, “The Well-Fed Writer.” 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 $50-125+ an hour, and is the sole focus of this e-newsletter.
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VOLUME 18, ISSUE 11 – NOVEMBER 2019
Publishing the first Tuesday of every month since May 2002
Read it online HERE.
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READY TO MOVE BEYOND LOW-$ ARTICLES/BLOG POSTS?
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This TRIPLE award-winner comes in various book AND ebook (multiple formats!) products/bundles HERE!
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Get the real-world scoop on a low-effort flow of writing jobs HERE! Contact
ME for a 25% OFF promo code (only 5 codes available, & they go fast!)
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1-ON-1 COACHING PROGRAMS: SAMPLE/SITE REVIEW & “SIDECAR”!
Low-cost peace of mind and guidance. Details HERE.
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THE WELL-FED WRITER BLOG! Weigh in on, “I Want Your Stories of Social Contacts Leading to Paying Work"; "Good Clients Will Pay Handsomely for This (Often-Elusive) Outcome”; “Four Client-Repelling Mistakes, & What I Learned to Do Instead" (Guest Post); and more!
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THIS MONTH’S MENU:
I. APPETIZER: 90-DAY PAYERS ARE SUCH BIG FAT MEANIES!
Article Paints Picture of Freelancers as Helpless and at Others’ Mercy
II. “FIELD” GREENS: THE ANTIDOTE TO INTROVERSION Marketing/Copywriting Pro: Networking for Shy People
III. MAIN “MEAT” COURSE: SHOCKING REASON CLIENTS HIRE YOU
Small-Biz Coach: Writing Ability is Just One Part of Your Professional Offering
IV. DESSERT: SWEET SUCCESS STORIES & TIPS
SW FLCW Keeps Reaping Benefits of Graphic-Designer Connection!
TIP: NYC FLCW: Use Text-to-Speech Function for More Pristine Proofing
V. COFFEE, MINTS AND TOOTHPICKS
- MORE WORK WITH LESS EFFORT? Ebook Serves Up "How-To"!
- I NEED ALL COURSES FOR THE WELL-FED E-PUB! PLEASE SHARE!
- The WELL-FED WRITER BLOG is Rockin'!
- AWAI Copywriting (& Other) Courses: Register HERE, Get Bonus CD!
- How Can My Mentoring Service Serve You?
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I. APPETIZER: 90-DAY PAYERS ARE SUCH BIG FAT MEANIES!
Article Paints Picture of Freelancers as Helpless and at Others’ Mercy
So, I came across an interesting article on Freelancer Union recently (link), entitled, “Net 90 payment is a policy that freelancers can’t afford.”
Hey, I hate 90-day payers as much as the next writer, but I was struck by the “victim vibe” of the piece, despite the writer hailing from the corporate arena (it's a mentality more common to the general freelancing world). The gist of the righteously indignant piece was: "It's just not fair that companies can take 90 days to pay you."
The article was framed as big bad corporations vs. poor defenseless freelancers. Writers talked about being afraid to speak up—never mind making demands. One said he wasn’t hired again after he raised the issue (the two may have been related, but are we sure? When you’re trying to prove victimhood, correlation is as good as causality).
Helplessness pervaded the piece: It’s just such an unfair world, and the little guy is really at the mercy of big, bad (corporate) wolves. Here’s what I’d say to this crowd:
Nobody’s obligated to pay you in 7, 10, 14, or 30 days. Just like nobody owes you a "fair wage" for your writing services.* You deal with the conditions that are put in front of you, and if you don't like them, then find different conditions.
(*Your unique skill set, your ability to convey that value, and the client circles in which you’re operating, will determine your fees. And if you DO think you’re owed a “fair wage,” check out this still-relevant guest post from a few years back).
I’ve crossed paths with several mega-corporations with 90-day payment policies. Why do they have such policies? Simple: Because they can. You need them more than they need you, so they get to set the terms. If you don't like it, go work for somebody else.
Certainly doesn't make them “Client of the Year” candidates, but it's a straightforward proposition, and you can accept or reject it (though, if you’re doing steady work for such a client, it’s only an issue for the first 90 days).
More importantly, it’s a big commercial writing world out there, and, in my 25 years working with mostly small-to-mid-sized entities, even 30-day payment is rarer than 10- or 15-day payment. So, there are plenty of other options. Don’t want to change arenas? Fine. Then deal with the reality and stop complaining
Of course, there's the familiar lament: if they could only form a united front against these greedy, withholding SOBs, things could change. But, of course, that's a pipe dream; there will always be those who won't join in for the "greater good", and that's their right.
They further foster the notion of individual helplessness by invoking the idea of unions (!) to “force these places to do their best.” Yeah, good luck with that.
I don’t know about you, but I know I have far more control over my circumstances than that. On that “no-victims-here” note, let’s eat!
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II. “FIELD” GREENS: THE ANTIDOTE TO INTROVERSION Marketing/Copywriting Pro: Networking for Shy People
Marketing/copywriting guru Marcia Yudkin, in her 10/9/19 Marketing Minute (subscribe here), recreated below, offers up a great tip for networking-averse introverts—one Ed Gandia is a huge fan of as well. Good stuff!
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If networking seems ridiculously old school to you, then put that prejudice aside for the next minute, because schmoozing face to face with potential clients and referral sources remains a powerful way to create connections, build rapport and lay the groundwork for keen opportunities.
But there are ways extroverts feel comfortable networking and ways introverts more easily use this marketing technique.
Extroverts generally have no problem at an unstructured event where the idea is to chat up a storm with strangers and near-strangers. For an introvert, though, that can feel like a nightmare scenario.
Their best bets are to get themselves a recognized role, such as "greeter," which gives them an excuse for starting a conversation, or to find common cause with someone who looks uncomfortable at the edge of the crowd.
Note, though, that smaller and more structured networking events or organizations can provide a setting where introverts make valuable connections because they feel comfortable there being themselves.
Business Network International (BNI.com) was actually founded by an introvert who prescribed a system for running small groups that encourages relationships among non-competing local business owners.
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III. MAIN “MEAT” COURSE: SHOCKING REASON CLIENTS HIRE YOU
Small-Biz Coach: Writing Ability is Just One Part of Your Professional Offering
Great piece from friend, small-business coach, former FLCW and EPUB regular, Ed Gandia. Ed invites you to look beyond your writing ability, figure out what unique perspective you have by virtue of your myriad life experiences, and share THAT with prospects (who will care about that more!). Good stuff, Ed!
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Want to know why prospective clients hired you? It’s not because you’re an amazing writer (even if you are). They hire you because of the unique perspective you bring to the table.
Sure, they care about your writing ability. But that’s not as important as your being able to understand what they’re trying to accomplish with their white paper, case study, article or brochure.
So, if all you do is talk about your writing prowess in your marketing, you’re doing what everyone else is doing. You’re focusing on the features of your work. The product.
But what if you talked more about the unique perspective you bring to the table? By that I mean your experience writing in a certain field. Your background in the accounting industry. Your 12 years of bedside nursing. Your 22 years as a pilot for two major airlines. Your 15 years as a high school teacher.
Or even the two years you spent backpacking and working odd jobs in Spain and the South of France. That’s hard to duplicate. Because you’ve just added your DNA to the discussion. You’ve added your unique story.
Who’s Your Doctor? Think about the best doctors you’ve seen in the past couple of years. Do you know where they went to school and how well they did on their board exams? Do you know how technically proficient they are? How many research papers they’ve published?
I doubt it. You probably like them because they take the time to hear you out. Or when they suggest a course of action, they factor in your concerns and preferences into that plan. Or they’re personable. Or they have a lot of patients who are like you (or with your condition), so you feel like they truly understand your situation.
Or it could even be something simpler, like their convenient location with lots of parking or that they keep to schedule so you’re not waiting for hours.
Once you know the doctor is qualified from a professional standpoint (he or she is board certified and has an existing practice), you’re factoring in other much more subjective criteria in your “hiring” decision.
The same applies to your clients when they’re looking for a writer (or at least the good clients). They’re applying criteria that goes far beyond your writing skills. They’re looking for what makes you different.
And that “difference” doesn’t have to be industry-related. It could be the experiences you’ve had in your personal life. Or the topics you know well.
Spent the past 15 years home-schooling your kids? Surely there’s a story there about your ability to grasp, distill and communicate information to a skeptical audience!
When you’re starting out, your story doesn’t need to convince IBM that you’re the right choice. It just needs to convince a handful of small clients to give you a shot. And you can build from there.
The moral of this story is simple: If you want to be in demand AND command high fees, start by communicating your true difference outside of the actual writing you do — and why that difference matters to the prospect.
Do that well and you’ll never be a commodity.
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IV. DESSERT: SWEET SUCCESS STORIES & TIPS
SW FLCW Keeps Reaping Benefits of Graphic-Designer Connection!
TIP: NYC FLCW: Use Text-to-Speech Function for More Pristine Proofing
Got the following success story from a southwestern U.S. FLCW, who, given the newness of this client relationship, prefers to remain anonymous. Just more proof of my “partner-with-graphic-designers” strategy, outlined here
(email me for a 25%-OFF code).
After that, a cool high-tech proofreading tip from longtime Brooklyn, NY FLCW Chris Quirk, who writes for higher education clients and on science and technology. Chris was responding to the proofing tip offered by IL FLCW Karen Dix, in the August EPUB.
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Peter: Like you, I’ve been fortunate to have made some good connections with graphic artists early on in my career, and those allies have not only steered me work on a pretty regular basis, but, as a recent case demonstrates, they often send referrals.
One designer, who’d been in-house at a company for several years (she tried to bring me in there, but the management had their own contacts) was laid off about a year ago. She started freelancing, and a few months ago reached out to me, with a referral to her latest freelance client.
The company was completely revamping their web site, and needed help with their messaging; their current site was pretty dull, dry and lifeless. I’m nearly done with that first project, with more needs coming soon. Not to mention, a company that’s affiliated with them, is also in serious need of copywriting help, and they’ve connected me.
And all because of a partnership I made many years ago, and kept up with over the years. It’s just a smarter way to work.
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One addition to the proofing tip from Karen Nix: Use text-to-speech to have the computer read your draft back to you aloud. I find that it's even better than having an agreeable human read it for you (humans being human).
I find errors via this method EVERY TIME. Which is why I use it for a final proof EVERY TIME. Your ear picks up what the eyes have skimmed over a dozen (or more) times.
For Windows, use Narrator. Instructions are HERE.
On a Mac, you can set up text-to-speech under System Preferences > Accessibility. There’s more information HERE.
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V. COFFEE, MINTS AND TOOTHPICKS
- MORE WORK WITH LESS EFFORT? Ebook Serves Up "How-To"!
- I NEED ALL COURSES FOR THE WELL-FED E-PUB! PLEASE SHARE!
- The WELL-FED WRITER BLOG is Rockin'!
- AWAI Copywriting (& Other) Courses: Register HERE, Get Bonus CD!
- How Can My Mentoring Service Serve You?
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MORE WORK WITH LESS EFFORT? Ebook Serves Up "How-To"!!
That's not hype. It's how my business has worked for the better part of 18 years, thanks to some juicy partnerships with graphic designers.
The result? 1-2 jobs nearly every month with little or no effort on my part. And all the how-to details are in my "Profitable - By Design!" ebook. Details HERE. Contact ME for a 25% OFF promo code (only 5 codes available, & they go fast!)
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I'M STILL 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; 500-600 words; query first). ALSO, send your GREENS (300-400 words), TIPS (100-300) and SUCCESS STORIES (200-400) to ME. Archived issues HERE.
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AWAI COPYWRITING (& OTHER) COURSES
Register HERE, Get Your Choice of Bonus CD! Six-Figure Copywriting, Graphic Design, Internet Writing, Fundraising, Health Market and more!
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HOW CAN MY MENTORING PROGRAMS SERVE YOU?
For details and testimonials, visit HERE.
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