Notes from Minnesota   

Hey Freelancer!   

I've been teasing you with changes. With Filbert Publishing's tenth anniversary on the horizon (yay!) I've got some tricks up my sleeve in the coming weeks. You'll notice the first of many changes in today's issue of Writing Etc.

First, your wish is my command. You wanted prompts and writing tips, and today I deliver. You also wanted marketing tips. Again, you're set with today's issue.

Next, I've been working through the freelance questions you sent me a few weeks back and the first installment will be set to go for the next issue of Writing Etc. If you submitted a question and I used it, expect an e-mail announcing your free download soon. If you don't get an e-mail, that means I didn't use your question... yet. Hang tight. You'll get your e-mail. :)

I think that's it for the announcement portion of this program. Let's get cracking, eh?

Beth :)

P.S. Be sure to check out our best sellers. Here's the link

P.P.S. Share Writing Etc. with your freelance friends by  clicking here.

Beth's Hot Pick of the Week 

Marketing for Writers... Made Easy

What Do Successful Writers Do?

The answer may surprise you.

After all, if you're reading this, you probably have read the books, attended the seminars, studied the craft. But if your version of success is still eluding you, it's time for something different.

Real different.

That's exactly what you get when you lay your eyes on my latest resource for freelance writers.

Part nuts and bolts how-to, part inner work, part insider biz secrets, this unique publication blows the lid off the deceptively simple recipe for freelance success.

Find out more here.

Make Your Writing Sparkle 

Back when I was a writing coach, I was continually amazed at the lack of punctuation skills many highly educated aspiring writers possessed. Now, I've been known to mess up more than my fair share of punctuation. However, across the board, I was continually amazed at the consistency in which ellipsis were misused.

Here's an example:

I was wondering.................

In fact, last weekend I attended a writing conference hosted by a prolific writer, ivy league educated, who wrote:

Prompt number one...............

Arugh!

Here's the scoop: An ellipsis = 3 “dots” + an optional ending punctuation.

So, either of these are acceptable:

I was wondering... (note the 3 dots.)

~or~

I was wondering.... (note the 3 dots + period)

Remember. Ellipsis = 3 “dots” + an optional ending punctuation

Follow these instructions and you'll look like a literary pro.

Wait 'til next time. I've got a doozie on tap. :)

Prompts for the Week 

If you need to jumpstart your journaling, these prompts will give you a fresh perspective and (hopefully) help your mental journey to new territory. Here are the rules:

First, read the prompt and ponder it a minute.

Second, get writing. Don't stop. Even if you can't think of anything, just keep the fingers moving.

Third, write a minimum of one page per prompt.

Let's get started:

1. If I were a pirate, the first thing I'd do is...

2. Count ten blessings in your life.

3. What kind of dog are you and why?

4. State your pen name and write about your “literary personality.”

5. What is the loudest sound you have ever heard?

Feature Article 

Freelancing Like a Farmer

Beth Ann Erickson

I began my illustrious freelance career with visions of tweed coats, elbow patches, cigars, and pensive photos. My mind’s eye saw a cluttered office, checks strewn across my desk, and waking to one illuminating thought after another. I believed I’d tap at the keyboard, mail queries, read my articles on glossy paper, and assignments would flow like water.

Small problem with that scenario. Tweed coats don’t look good on me. I don’t smoke, never have. And I usually wind up looking goofy in photos, no matter how hard I try to strike a pensive pose.

Ah, but my desk is cluttered. I do occasionally find a stray check in amongst the mounds of papers. But illuminating thoughts? Bah.

There’s a fundamental problem with my original scenario: my freelancing model missed a crucial element necessary for financial success.

For example, the cash I expected to earn from writing articles just didn’t add up to the numbers I hoped they would. Seriously. Spending weeks writing, rewriting, and finally submitting an article, only to reap a whopping 25 bucks just didn’t pay the bills.

Then I decided to write books. Unfortunately the small royalties barely covered my promo expenses. It’s exciting to sell books, but we needed some large volume sales to make this endeavor financially worthwhile.

How ‘bout publishing? Again, after wholesaler discounts, distributor expenses, author royalties, and postage, we’re talking some pretty slim profits. And again, we’re talking volume sales to lower expenses and prop profits.

But then something magical happened. I discovered the wacky world of copywriting.

In case you’re unfamiliar with copywriting, a copywriter is a master persuader. They write ads, direct mail, sales letters, and such.

And (little did I know) proficient copywriters earn a lot. World Class Copywriters earn astronomical fees.

Copywriting isn’t difficult. But there are definite tricks to the trade. And you can cut your learning curve by years if you receive proper training.

But here’s where things really get cool.

Turns out these new persuasive skills made it far easier to write awesome queries. Boom. Article sales jumped.

Next, I revised the sales copy for my books. Boom. Another jump in sales.

I applied “copywriting language” to everything I wrote and kaboom… even more sales, more exposure, new readers found me.

And I haven’t even gotten into copywriting as a business: writing for clients turned out to be quite lucrative as well.

Now, I love to write. It’s my passion. There’s nothing like receiving a complementary e-mail outlining how something I’ve written has made someone else’s life easier, gave them hope, helped guide them through this wacky profession.

On the other hand, I hate marketing. It sucks. One rejection and I’m down for the count. At least for a while.

But by combining my writing skills with copywriting psychology, my self-promo time is automatically sliced in at least half because I’ve learned stealth persuasion to draw clients my way.

So now, clients (and publishers and editors) are attracted to me rather than my gunning after their very fractured attention.

So… where does the “farming” come in?

Simple. Rather than concentrate on one aspect of your writing career, think like a farmer. Plant many seeds and watch them grow at different rates.

Instead of becoming an article writer extraordinaire, write articles when the spirit moves you. Submit them when they’re polished. Start writing the novel that’s burning your heart. Eventually publish it. Research a nonfiction title. Write ad copy.

You can even take this further. I speak to the local high school. Elementary schools, too. How ‘bout local organizations and the Chamber of Commerce? Once a businessperson sees you in action, they’ll be hooked.

Just keep planting seeds (remember, you’re a “farmer”) and before you know it, you’ve got more paying clients than you know what to do with.

But copywriting’s the linchpin that binds all these endeavors.

That’s because effective persuaders control their destiny… and their income.

So here’s to effective “farming” and inevitable success.

~~~

Beth Ann Erickson is the “Queen Bee” of Filbert Publishing. She’s also the author of numerous titles as well as the Creative Mindset Newsletter. Pick up the first seven copies today here. She’s also a busy copywriter, speaker, and publisher of Writing Etc., the free e-mag for writers. 

~~~

P.S. You can use this article free of charge on your own website or zine. Just don’t make any changes and be sure to include the entire byline. Enjoy!

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

I 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

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