~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Writing Etc. – November 1, 2005

ISSN: 1545-5580

Tips, Techniques, and Resources to Transform You From An Average Freelancer to A Highly Paid Professional.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To subscr*ibe to Writing Etc. and receive the fr*e e-book, “Power Queries,” surf here:

http://filbertpublishing.com

Forward Writing Etc. to all your writing friends! They’ll be glad you did.

For easier reading and red hot links, surf to http://filbertpublishing.com/current.html

Your Key to the top secret Writing Etc. vault is here:   http://filbertpublishing.com/Top_Secret_Vault.html

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In This Issue:

Notes from Minnesota

What Freelancers Can Learn From Entrepreneurs

Recommended Resource to Jumpstart Your Writing Career

2005 Action Plan to Jumpstart Your Writing Career

We Recommend…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This issue is sponsored by:

I just got off the phone with my dear friend and super-six-figure copywriter Dr. Harlan Kilstein. He said he’s ready to reveal his secrets to attracting six-figure paychecks effortlessly. 

He’s being extremely selective about who he shares this information with and assures me he won’t make this info available for very long. So I wanted to make sure you (as a Writing Etc. member) got a chance to get in on this first. So here’s the deal…

Now you can be privy to tightly guarded “close to the vest” insider secrets raw freelance rookies (and even some seasoned pros) don’t know about. Cash-generating secrets you can use to magically attract invisible “clients” 24 hours a day, 7 days a week that you never have to talk to or worry about – even if you’re a computer nerd or need a search and rescue team to help you read your email.

You’ll discover…

·       Shockingly easy ways to generate multiple rivers of income that flow as reliably as the sun rises and sets each day.

·       How to quit shooting yourself in the foot with the mistaken idea that you’re not ready for prime time money making. It all begins here and NOW!

·       Uncovering deep pockets bulging with money, dipping into them for your fair share… easily… ethically… and effortlessly.

Sign up for these career-shattering secrets right now (before Dr. Kilstein reclaims his faculties and stops doling out these secrets to every Tom, Dick & Harry who asks) and grab your reward for this sweet deal… World-Class Copywriter John Carlton’s most coveted and highly sought after mind map of copywriting secrets.

The info is all yours without any obligation. Simply cash in on these top-secret tips, tricks, and techniques to totally revolutionize your freelance writing income.

To claim your risk-free cash-cow secrets click here now http://www.sixfigurecopy.com/?kilstein01

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Greetings from Minnesota!

As I type this it’s snowing. Flipping cold, too.

Especially cold after enjoying balmy LA… then jetting off to Dallas.

Boy, I don’t know how the rest of the nation gets any work done. If Minnesota enjoyed the warm temps of Dallas, I’d spend every day outside. I’d wear out my bike pedaling it hither and yon. (OK. I’ve been reading cheap novels again… love ‘em… what can I say?)

Anyway, I’ve begun to just realize how cool the writer’s life is. Imagine a posh trip to LA… lounging on a “sleep number” type bed sounded by Hilton amenities… dining on the finest cuisine this side of the Mississippi.

All business. All work related. All tax deductible.

And better yet, there’s always that off chance that something you wrote will change a little corner of the world for the better.

And that’s when the writer’s life really gets cool.

Hang tight and enjoy the ride. We’re in the best profession in the world….

To your success,

Beth

~~~~~~~~~~~~~Advertisement~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If you want to make a great living as a freelancer, you need to include this weapon in your writing arsenal. Check out the special report:

Can You Write Something Like This?

http://www.thewriterslife.com/opportunity1

If you can answer “yes” to that question, you could be in big demand, earning big money, writing just a few hours a day from anywhere you choose to live.

Beth’s Note: This course is not inexpensive, but it’s worth every penny. Where else can you receive hand-written feedback from successful, working copywriters? This company had a big hand in launching my writing career. Maybe they can do the same for you….

~~~~~~~~~~~~ Feature Article ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Six Red Hot Tips From LA's Big Seminar (What Freelancers Can Learn From Entrepreneurs)

By Beth Ann Erickson

I spent last weekend in LA at Armand Moran's Big Seminar.

OK. I know. I'm a writer. However, I've always loved entrepreneurs. After all, my mom's an entrepreneur. My dad owned his own business for years. Even my grandmother managed the North Dakota family ranch long before women entrepreneurship became fashionable.

Near as I can figure, every successful writer I know... the writers who earn a fantastic wage... the writers who achieve name recognition... writers who recognize hot markets and act on that knowledge... every one of them weave a thick thread of entrepreneurship into their writing career.

So, here's my point: Writers can learn a lot from entrepreneurs. For starters...

1. Entrepreneurs control fear

OK. They're not emotionless super-humans. Of course they experience fear. But the difference is (generally speaking) that entrepreneurs tend to not wallow in that fear... instead they face it head on and are conditioned to view it as a challenge rather than a problem.

As writers we need to mimic this behavior and face fear head on. To heck with rejections. Forget competition. Just forge forward, drop all fear, and view your career as a wild adventure.

2. Entrepreneurs think big

Working with entrepreneurs is a real trip. Their minds spin at unbelievable speeds. Their eyes scan he terrain for new ideas. When they start a project, they speak in terms of thousands... if not millions of dollars.

Contrast that with an average freelance writer. We often concentrate on tens of dollars. Heck, I once spent an entire week on an article only to turn around and sell it for a whopping 25 bucks.

What a bummer.

What if you could write and make a great wage at the same time? What would happen if you thought big and started earning hundreds... perhaps even thousands of dollars on one project?

Think big... just like entrepreneurs do... and see where you wind up.

3. Entrepreneurs are not afraid to test

You're going to fail. I'm going to fail. It's just the way life is.

HOWEVER... “failure” isn't something to fear. Ever. In fact you need to anticipate “failure” and tweak your marketing plan whenever a query, promotion, article, whatever doesn't achieve the results you're shooting for.

If you keep testing new ideas you'll eventually stumble upon a plan that'll work for you.

Just keep slogging forward. Keep testing new ideas to maximize the results of your marketing.

But most importantly...never give up. After all, every entrepreneur acknowledges that the only way to truly fail is to give up.

4. Entrepreneurs are willing to learn... and pay big to do so

I sat in the seminar hall, gape mouthed as I watched attendees pull out their wallets time after time and purchase various programs that promised to make their lives easier, their businesses more profitable, and give them contacts in their industry.

“Why would you do that,” I asked a man... a wildly successful Internet marketer who I just happen to deeply admire...  who had just shelled out more than five grand on a program that promised to “take him to the next level.”

His reply? “I might learn something new.”

It's that simple. The most successful entrepreneurs... the best writers... they all have one thing in common: they're life-time learners. And they're not afraid to invest in their career.

I personally have invested thousands on my writing career this year alone. My husband can vouch for this... so can my income....

5. Entrepreneurs aren't afraid to share information

My experience with successful entrepreneurs has been nothing but positive... and very fruitful. They share information freely. Got a question? Ask 'em. Ninety-nine times out of a hundred they'll be more than happy to give you a leg up.

Near as I can figure, the reason for this phenomenon is because many top entrepreneurs believe in what's called the “universal principle.” An over-simplified definition of this principle states that the more you give, the more you receive.

Pretty much every religion outlines this concept in one way or another, so I figure there has to be an element of truth to this theory.

Besides, I've given this truth a whirl myself and guess what? It's true. You truly do receive whenever you freely give of your time, money, or information.

Give it a try yourself.

6. Entrepreneurs aren't afraid to make big profits

Try this: The next time a potential client... whether they're an editor or a business owner... asks you to quote a project, pause, then mentally come up with a price.

Now double it, state it aloud, and watch magic happen.

Entrepreneurs aren't afraid to charge big money for their services. They value their time. They value the dollar. And when time and money converge, an entrepreneur shines.

My goodness! I’m not even half through this article and I’ve already filled more pages than I ought.

So hang tight. Part two arrives in your in box next time.

Until then, enjoy your day and work smart.

~~~

Beth Ann Erickson is the “Queen Bee” of Filbert Publishing. She’s also the author of Jumpstart Your Writing Career (http://filbertpublishing.com/jumpstart.htm ) and the upcoming 101 No Cost and Low Cost Techniques To Promote Your Writing Biz. Keep your eye out for it in early 2006. She’s also a busy copywriter, speaker, and publisher of Writing Etc., the free e-mag for writers. 

~~~~~~ Recommended Resource to Jumpstart Your Writing Career ~~~~~~~

I had the distinct pleasure of meeting Mr. Jim Edwards at the Big Seminar in LA. Wow. What a dynamo. What a successful freelancer.

He shared an incredible book with me and I’m passing on my highest recommendations for this title.

As a writer, I’m sure you’ll find this information invaluable. Here’s the link:

Turn Words into Traffic

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

2005 Action Plan to Jumpstart Your Writing Career

I hooked up with Dr. Harlan Kilstein somewhere around last August and WOW… what a wild ride. He really knows his stuff and I highly recommend you sign on to his list.

It’s one of the best things I ever did to ratchet my freelance income to the next level.

Here’s the URL again: http://www.sixfigurecopy.com/?kilstein01

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We Recommend:

Writing For Dollars! The FREE ezine for writers featuring tips, tricks and ideas for selling what you write. Receive the FREE ebook, 83 WAYS TO MAKE MONEY WRITING when you subscribe. Email to subscribe@writingfordollars.com -*- http://www.WritingForDollars.com

WRITERS FIND MARKETS EASILY - Worldwide Freelance has a NEW fully-searchable Markets Database. Discover writing markets from North America, Europe, Australia and other places. It's free, so come and try it out here: http://www.worldwidefreelance.com

Are your book sales in a slump? http://BethAnnErickson.com

Instantly Download Jumpstart Your Writing Career and Snag Paying Assignments Here:

http://booklocker.com/bookpages/jumpstart.html

E-Mag And Web Site Owners! Did you know that Filbert Publishing has an entire cache of articles you can use FREE. Just click the “Freebie” link to your left.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Feel free to forward Writing Etc. to all your writing friends. Just be sure to include the entire issue. Thanks!

We strive to make Writing Etc. an invaluable resource to writers. If you have any comments or suggestions please send them to mailto:filbertpublishing(a)filbertpublishing.com

For Easier Reading and Red Hot URLS, read this issue online at:

http://filbertpublishing.com/current.html

The Fine Print:

<>

If you feel you are receiving this publication in error, we want to know about it. E-mail us at filbertpublishing(a)filbertpublishing.com so we can investigate how your e-mail address arrived into our double-opt-in system. Also, you can easily remove your e-mail addy from this list at any time by clicking your personalized link at the end of this e-mail.

To receive Writing, Etc. surf to http://filbertpublishing.com and insert your e-mail address into the form.

Please recommend this newsletter to anyone you know who'd like to learn how to make their writing sparkle.

PRIVACY STATEMENT: We will not distribute your email address to anyone. Ever. Period.

Writing Etc.

Box 326

Kandiyohi, MN 56251

Maurice and Beth Erickson, Publishers

filbertpublishing(a)filbertpublishing.com

http://filbertpublishing.com/

© 2005 Filbert Publishing