The WMF Archives

By Kristen Fischer

When I look back on it, it’s kind of a miracle. I published two books in two years—and am living to tell about it. What is really interesting is that I only started to recently give myself credit for this huge feat.

First came Creatively Self-Employed: How Writers and Artists Deal with Career Ups and Downs. Motivated by a slew of rejection letters telling me the market was too narrow for this book, I took things into my own hands and began publishing with iUniverse. Self-publishing is its own beast, but I knew I’d be up to the task of promoting this book and getting it out there. I had the time to devote because I had recently started working from home as a copywriter, and business was going good.

Then came an ad about pitching a book to a small publisher in California. They had a full roster of reference-based college guides and were looking to expand into a non-fiction market. At the time, I was 26 and just settling into my career. I deemed that my “quarterlife crisis” was over and knew I was ready to tell my story—and the stories of other college grads. The idea for Ramen Noodles, Rent and Resumes: An After-College Guide to Life was born, so I queried on a whim. The publisher accepted the idea.

So there I was. Working hard to get the first book out and keep up publicity all while shaking when I signed the contract for my second book. This one had an advance…and a deadline. This was serious stuff. How was I going to do it all and keep my copywriting business going?

The truth is that we sometimes can’t do it all. While I wish that I had more time to get some more press closer to the launch date of CSE, the book has blossomed. It’s not huge. But I made the money back that I paid to publish it, so that’s a plus, right? Looking back, I could have never said no to my second book’s deal—that would have just been stupid. So I decided to work on both at the same time. (The first was written by the time I had started the second, but publicity for the first took place when I was trying to pen RRR. I had to sacrifice a lot of the publicity work for CSE because, well, I had a “real” book deal with RRR. So it took precedence.)

You’ll hate me for saying this, but the writing was not so hard. Both books were based off questionnaires that others filled out, so most of it was merely getting everything to flow together, and then including some of the quotes from those surveys. Easy? No. But this style of writing complimented my innate news-reporting ability. It just flowed. Not always perfectly, but yes, it really just happened organically. To my surprise, the publisher of my second book loved my work (which was good to have some sort of barometer to hold my writing against, since they had published books before and I had only self-published CSE).

Even if you don’t have two books being published close in date together, getting the word out about books is hard stuff—even if you have the big agent and all. In this case, I did what I could to finish the first book, start promoting it, write the second book, and then promote that. (The websites www.creativelyselfemployed.com and www.ramenrentresumes.com were born, as a result, closer in time than most siblings.) A lot of it overlapped and the hard part was keeping my business afloat, knowing that it was the source of income I needed to afford me the time to write. I couldn’t really devote as much time to the publicity of CSE. Likewise, when it came time to promote RRR I found that I was doing a lot of that myself, which was really hard. (But at least I wasn’t writing another book during that time. Being a “pusher,” I thought I should have been, though.)

It’s been two years since my second book was published, and I’ve only started writing a third book. Why? I needed a good break! Business has boomed for me and the past two years has been a different writing season devoted to that. Now I am feeling more centered about beginning to publish again. The prize? Honestly, I’d like to have an agent so I could place my third baby with a bigger publisher.

I don’t want to brag or sound like Superwoman here…that’s not my intent in telling you about my crazy publishing adventures. Instead, I want to say that sometimes things start happening with your career and it seems like a lot, but if you go with it you can really advance your career. Those two years are like a blur to me, but they gave me two books and a strong platform that continuously leads to more press and has helped give my business even more credibility.

After the books were done, I kept pushing myself to write. I had to have a third one out the next year, I thought. At that rate, I was on a book-a-year timeline. But nothing happened. I couldn’t even come up with an idea I really believed in, unlike my first two. It was hard taking a step back, knowing that it simply was not the right time for me to write.

So as I work on my third book and get back into the book scene, I hope other writers out there are inspired by my story. But most of all, I hope you realize that when life tells you it’s not time to write a certain thing for a while (in my case, books), take the break. I feel more recharged than ever having stopped pushing myself so hard and am clear-headed and ready to write—and be published—again. 



About Kristen Fischer
Kristen Fischer is a copywriter, author and journalist living at the Jersey Shore. Her work has been published by MediaBistro.com, College Bound magazine, Home Business magazine, and Yahoo HotJobs. To learn more about her, visit www.kristenfischer.com.

Guest Post: Two Books, Two Years

By Kerrie McLoughlin

In doing research for the second edition of my e-book (it’s finally finished!), I’ve found some writer’s guidelines for some fun online and print publications. I hesitate to share them because doing so only adds to my competition. Alas, I love the WM Freelance Connection readers to much that I will put away my Only Child stinginess and play nice, just for today.

Your assignment is to report back here with your successes!

Below are the writer’s guidelines from The Imperfect Parent’s web site:

The Basics

In order to overcome the irregularities of email and to streamline the submission process for both our writers and our editorial staff, we've set up an online submission form. The form features a text editor to allow you to format your piece just as you would in a word processor -- no knowledge of HTML is required. We do not mind simultaneous submissions to other website/publications, but simply ask that you notify us immediately if your piece is accepted elsewhere. Please do not send us multiple submissions in a row. The Imperfect Parent does modestly compensate its writers, see further below for payment information. Here are some frequently asked questions:

What kind of content are you looking for?

The main focus of The Imperfect Parent is to provide a world view from a parent's perspective. Our main criteria are that the writing either makes people think, laugh, or both. Our objective is to get parents to think about social, political and parenting methods in a way that seeks to inform and educate on issues that affect our children and us, as parents. Anecdotal stories are fine, but they need to have a point beyond "parenting is hard". You may be sentient of your navel, just don't have a staring contest with it. Submissions should generally fit into these main categories:

Parenting Methods/Choices

Articles about alternative parenting methods in a newspaper/Associated Press format. These articles will inform parents of what certain parenting practice methods are, the organizations promoting them, if any, and what kind of impact it may have on our society. The most engaging writing on this subject will be from a neutral ground, or from the side of opposition, avoiding propaganda and jargon. Alternatively, personal essays regarding why a parenting choice was made, and why it was right for you -- avoid being preachy or judgmental of those who may have made an opposite decision.

Topic Examples: Formula Feeding, breastfeeding, attachment parenting, Taking Children Seriously (TCS), natural parenting, mainstream parenting, discipline methods, circumcision, child-centered parenting, authoritative parenting, etc.

Political/Social Issues

Writings about political and social issues from counter-culture or mainstream perspectives as a parent and how they relate to the child raising experience. It is important to us to provide a platform for parents that might not hold popular views. While we will certainly reject any content that contains overtly offensive material, we support political viewpoints on ALL sides. Our mission is to "preserve the balance" and give parents an opportunity to voice their opinion in a non-hostile environment. Editorializing is allowed in these pieces (but avoid overtly pushing a personal agenda), so long as it specifically relates back to your parenting goals or its effects on your children.

Topic Examples: Global Warming, The War, Conservative Values, Liberal Values, Libertarian ideals, Bush Administration, the Middle-east, international issues, religion, civil rights, environmentalism, economics, Feminism, Abortion, Justice System, etc.

Humor

Anything that deals with any aspect of the lighter side of parenting -- parody, satire, a funny anecdote, an "open letter", take your pick. And if you are questioning if your humor crosses the line, then definitely send it in -- we don't want "safe". We are a gloriously independent site that doesn't answer to a board of directors or a huge corporate sponsorship. Use that to your advantage. We certainly aren't afraid of offending some people, and you shouldn't be, either.

Features

The feature articles we look for cover timely topics and issues relating to parents and families in a traditional magazine feature format. For example, an in-depth profile of a person/organization, or a detailed look at a current event. These articles would utilize interviews and quotes from experts and outside sources. We are not looking for straightforward "how to" or advice articles, but pieces with more human-interest. Content based on personal experience would be acceptable, but these pieces should not be heavily autobiographical. Features are generally assigned, but we will most certainly consider submissions -- please send a query of your story idea and clips to our editor.

Book Reviews

Short (approx. 200-400 words) reviews of any book that may be of interest to parents (including children's books). To avoid multiple review submissions for the same book, please send a query to our editor with the title you are interested in reviewing.
All that being said, we can say with one word what we're not looking for: poetry. Anything else is fair game. We place more weight on entertaining and engaging writing above any certain topic.

Should I check if you're interested in my topic before I submit?

Queries are only necessary for features and book reviews. Everything else, we don't really care about what aspect of parenting you're writing about as much as how well you write about it. If it has anything that may be remotely interesting to parents, we're interested (we are parents, after all).

What lengths do you prefer?

Rough general guidelines would be articles/essays: 800-1,000 words, humor: 600-800 words, book reviews: 200-400 words. Assigned features: 1000-3000 words. These are not absolute numbers -- fortunately we do not have the restrictions of the print world, so we do not edit for length. If you can get your message across in a few paragraphs, go ahead. If it takes you five pages, that's great. Just make sure your piece is succinct and to the point, and try to keep it slightly shorter than a John Grisham novel.

Can I send you one of my blog entries?

No. Besides preferring non-published material, we've found most blog entries submitted were written to a familiar audience, and not suitable for reprint. We are developing an area on our site dedicated to highlighting exceptional blogs and posts, where this would be appropriate. Send a note to blog@imperfectparent.com if you would like us to consider adding you to our daily reads.

Is your editor going to hack apart my deathless prose?

Given our limited resources and time, if your writing is so bad it needs to be "hacked apart", the quick answer is no -- it won't be used at all. If time allows, we will work with you to put some polish on your piece if it even needs it, and possibly suggest some ideas for a rewrite, but we would hope you have a better than average knowledge of grammar, spelling, and style. Will we fix a typo, or maybe reword a sentence? Certainly. We admit that we're all imperfect (not so subtle reference). Here's our lawyer chiming in: All editing decisions will be solely at the discretion of The Imperfect Parent editors and management.

How much do you pay?

Payment is contingent upon the quality and type of written work submitted. Book reviews pay $10. Original articles/essays pay $25. Payment for assigned features vary depending on the writer's experience and relationship with The Imperfect Parent, but begins at $50 for an 1,000 word piece. Checks are disbursed by the 15th of the month following publication (e.g., for all items published in March, payment is disbursed by April 15).

What rights am I granting?

Unless an arrangement to the contrary is made, The Imperfect Parent is purchasing first exclusive electronic rights. We do not, in general, purchase works that have already appeared elsewhere, especially on the web. We also require a non-exclusive right to keep your piece available in our online archives. If The Imperfect Parent secures any reprints, we will pay half of the reprint earnings to the writer. Writers are free to sell their work after we publish it.

What kind of credit will I receive for my writing?

Every writer receives full credit for their work, and every feature/essay writer has the opportunity to submit a brief bio that will be included at the end of the piece. This bio may contain a brief description about yourself, along with a link to your own website and email address, if so desired. We also feature the most current articles on our homepage.

How soon do you report on acceptance/rejection?

We hate to be kept waiting, too, but given that the volume of submissions is ever increasing but our editorial staff is not, you generally will hear back from us within 3 to 4 weeks. We do try to make a point of responding to every submission, so please refrain from sending follow-up inquiries.

How should I send you my submission?

To expedite the submission process and to eliminate the problems of submissions coming from different sources, software types, operating platforms, and not to mention avoiding viruses, we can only accept submissions through our online form.

If you have any questions or problems regarding any of the above, please contact our editor, Prescott Carlson, at prescott@imperfectparent.com.

Thank you! We look forward to reading your submission.

Writing Opportunity: The Imperfect Parent

By Pam Houghton

I found Kris Wehrmeister’s blog Pretty All True while trolling for Mommy blogs on the Internet. She happened to be the #5 blogger on TopMommyblog.com, so I decided to take a peek. Let me just say I was impressed by the level of Kris’s writing talent, and the artfulness with which she cursed. Oh, she made me laugh, too.


An award-winning blogger with 169 Facebook fans, she started Pretty All True four months ago. Kris resides in Oregon with her husband and two daughters, 8 and 11- years-old. I asked Kris if she would share her thoughts on blogging with us.


WM: What is your professional background?


KW: I am one of those people who excels at the collecting of education, but then is not so gifted at transforming that collection of knowledge into useful skills. I went to college. I went to graduate school and studied Psychology (but did not get my Masters because my thesis advisor went insane and then later died of a brain tumor . . . true story). I also went perhaps a tiny bit insane during this period of time, and the end result? No Masters Degree. Bummer.


I went to Law School, where I was very successful! But then in the real world? Not so happy or successful. I like to shroud this part of my life in mystery as it also involves me going a tiny bit insane.


WM: Writers often start blogs but aren't sure what their long-term goals are. How long did it take you to turn Pretty All True into what it is now, a reliable stream of engaging stories about your life?


KW: I started Pretty All True with a pretty clear vision of what it would be. I have a clearer voice now than when I started, but knew where I wanted to go. Looking back? About a week into Pretty All True, I posted about writing my resume in The Gap is quite pithy. I revealed a lot about myself in that post that I had not previously shared, even with very close friends. Hitting “Post” after writing that was something of a revelation.


I have written many self-revelatory things since then, but nothing was more difficult (or freeing) than The Gap is quite pithy. I was just so tired of putting on a show for everyone . . . actually getting to share the real me was amazing and lovely. That moment marked the beginning of the real Pretty All True as well.


WM: Was Pretty All True your first blog, or had you attempted others?


KW: This is the first time I have ever blogged. I started Pretty All True thinking that no one would read it except for my friends and some of my family. And I figured most of them would quickly grow bored. Mostly? I write for myself and for some future version of my daughters. I have said many times that if all that comes out of Pretty All True is that my daughters get a curse-filled account of the time our family threw our lives up into the air and moved to Oregon? That is more than enough.


WM: Do you ever worry about offending readers with your, er, salty language?


KW: I have taken some crap for that. Here’s the thing: I now have a small audience, and I LOVE having an audience. But I do not write for my audience; I do not sit there in the morning and think to myself, “Hmmmmm . . . what would my audience like to read today?” That would paralyze me. I only wonder, “What would I like to write today?” and then I write that. In my real life, I am mostly G-rated. I think of my blog as being my thought bubbles, and my thought bubbles? They are filled with cursing.


WM: Any complaints about the curse-filled “thought bubbles?”


KW: I have heard from a few readers who have complained about the cursing. These people seem to get caught up in the “Mommy Blogger” label, and mommies are not supposed to curse, apparently. I do not think of myself as a “Mommy Blogger,” (whatever that means), but as a plain old blogger (or, gasp . . . a writer), so I disregard the complaints. If a reader finds that my cursing gets in the way of his or her ability to hear my story? That person is not my ideal reader. I am fine with that. There is a LOT of lovely clean writing out there from which to pick. Pretty All True is not intended to be for everyone.


WM: You post consistently high-quality writing on a frequent basis. I think that's tough to do. Do you post every day?


KW: I am sure that events will conspire to make this impossible at some point, but for now, I am posting every day. I have posted every day since I started Pretty All True. I worry that taking days off will just lead to more days off which will just lead to me all balled up on the couch. So I post every day.


WM: How long does it take to write a post?


KW: That depends entirely on the subject matter. Funny comes more quickly than serious, and heartfelt is more difficult than sarcastic. Never more than two hours, I would say. Sometimes much less.


WM: How have you built your audience?


KW: I do all the normal social-networking things in an attempt to build an audience. I rely heavily on my Facebook fan page, Twitter (I am a little bit addicted to Twitter), and word of mouth. The most effective tool that I have found is to visit the blogs of the bloggers who visit me and comment on their stuff. I comment on other people’s stuff a LOT, as it helps to build a sense of community and friendship. In case you were wondering? I am always very respectful of the tone that another blogger has taken. I have some lovely G-rated bloggers among my readers, and I would never curse in a comment I left for them.


WM: Do you respond to comments left on your posts?


KW: I think I answer almost all of them, so if you are looking at my comment numbers to gauge my popularity? You have to slice that number in half, because 50% of my comments are from me. I LOVE that part of blogging – the back and forth conversation about what I have written. I also love that my readers are hilarious! Their comments make me laugh every single day.

WM: Any plans to turn your blog into a book?


KW: I always love when people ask me if I have plans to turn my blog material into a book. As though all that is required for that to happen is my intention. I would be delighted to write a book, but my promised delight has thus far not been sufficient to attract publishers, agents, and editors. I do not envision a book, because that sounds too much like winning the lottery (another lovely event that would fill me with delight and which is unlikely to happen).

Writers to Watch: Kris Wehrmeister, Award-Winning Blogger

by Rebecca Dienger

The question I keep asking myself these days is, "Do I need a website?" I wouldn't be asking so much if there wasn't a need. I think what I'm really questioning is, "Can I do this without a life jacket?"


So I'm going swimming now. This leads to more questions:

• Do I use free online tools, should I ask my web development friends to do it in exchange for writing services, or can I afford to pay someone to do this for me?
  
• How do I pick a domain name that’s memorable and that defines my business in one fell swoop when so many good ones are taken? (My recent favorite - sharkwriter.com)
  
• What if I don’t like something after I put myself “out there?”
  
• Do I have to wait two hours after eating?

Approximately 47 million new websites were created in 2009, according to Pingdom.com, a company that monitors the performance of websites and internet servers around the world. There are a whole lot of people out there playing in the water and I stand here in my cover-up wondering if I should dip my toe in!


I hesitate because I was involved in a website development project and it was complicated. I mean, there were meetings involved. Long ones. There was a budget to consider. There were keywords to discuss. We debated the different methods of lead collection so we could follow up and then we debated how we would follow up. Don’t get me started on design and navigation issues.


But today, I am a committee of one. I don’t need sophisticated functionality but I see a need to have presence on the internet. I am going to launch a website. Meeting adjourned.
Here’s my needs analysis: I have a service to sell and I need the right people near and far to know about it. I need to show examples of my work for credibility (I have been responding to job boards and attachments have become cumbersome). I want to provide testimonials that illustrate how qualified, knowledgeable and capable I am in the words of satisfied customers. I need to provide contact information so people can get in touch with me directly. I need 24/7 exposure so I can work on other things besides promoting myself.


I may not make a huge splash but a ripple would be a good start. I need to swim.


Internet marketing consultant Jim Peake put up his first website in 1994. He’s helped individuals and major corporations conduct business successfully on the web. He teaches people how to set up their social media and websites to attract search engines and followers, to cultivate leads and attain sales goals. According to Peake, there is no time like the present to get started no matter what size your business may be.


“It doesn’t have to be perfect,” said Peake. “It just has to be relevant.”


Peake noted that one of the top three mistakes newbies make is this attempt to make it perfect instead of getting out there and letting people know they exist. The other two?


“Failure to keep it simple and failing to provide the right link,” he said, noting that many people link to their blog profiles instead of their websites. “Commenting on blogs is a great way to build presence and credibility as a subject matter expert, but make sure your link points back to your website if you have one.”


Peake likes WordPress and Blogger.com because these are tools that anyone can begin using, and if you write something you don’t like you can edit it or take it down. However, Peake doesn’t believe small shops like mine should dismiss paying for this service either.


“In the beginning, if you are seeking to put a ‘professional face’ out there, hiring a pro can make you look really good … and it doesn’t cost a lot.”


I have work to do now (and a swimsuit to slip into regardless of how uncomfortable that might be). I’ll do some exploring for an appropriate and available domain name using Go Daddy, Network Solutions, or Yahoo. I know I can’t use “Dienger” in the URL because nobody can spell it when I recite it over the phone!


In the meantime, you can get more wisdom, web savvy and maybe even a wetsuit from Jim Peake at Twitter.com/JimPeake. He knows these waters well.


Next week: Swimming lessons.

The website question: Is it time to dive in?

By Carol Tice

8 Rules to Consider Before You Write for Free for the Exposure

By Lindsay Woolman

I have had some personal coaching and I’ve also been a ghostwriter for coaches and therapists, so it’s been an interesting endeavor to hire my own mentor. I hired Carol Tice in January after finding her name on a forum I was reading. She had said something that struck me and kind of got under my skin, so eventually I found myself writing and asking her questions and realized she was the type of person who could challenge me.


I didn’t want a mentor who would tell me things I already know. What I did want was someone to help me change my life.


I had worked with a mentor a couple years ago to help me with my career and it was disappointing. The woman I choose at the time was more of a “thinking and dreaming” coach than a “take action” coach. I don’t need anyone to encourage me to think or dream; taking action and being accountable are much more important for me.


The mentoring process has involved more than just a phone call and some email exchanges—hiring a mentor meant that I was taking a step to be a professional writer and freelancer. In the last couple months I have become very dedicated to this career path and it is wonderful to be able to shoot a question off to someone a few steps ahead of me and get answers.


If I didn’t have a mentor I wouldn’t have had the courage to do crazy things like saying no to a full time office job or even part time job that would take me away from my goal to be a freelance writer and work from home. I wouldn't have sat down with my family and told them my intentions and gotten their support. I think, to some extent, you have to be a risk taker to be self-employed, but it’s ten times harder to do it alone.


It was also helpful for me to decide a few things when I hired my mentor:


Trust: Before I ever talked to my mentor, I decided I was going to trust her. I decided that I picked her for a reason and that no matter what happened, this was the right person for me to work with at this time.


Challenge: I like having a mentor who challenges me. I wanted there to be some kind of action I take in the process to be accountable. I also wanted good communication and followup. My actual mentoring event was a long phone call, but to have unlimited email communication afterward was what sold me.


Results: I wanted and was hungry for results, so after I talked to my mentor things did improve for me. Interestingly, I didn’t implement many of the ideas we talked about right away and am still needing to go back and look at my notes. What did happen was that I got fired up and realized, “I can do this.” Then, it was like, almost out of nowhere I started getting all this additional work.


Respect: For me it was also important that I work with someone who I admire and respect. It seems like most people who do great things are simply following in other people’s footsteps, so for me it was important to have a mentor that I could look up to and that had a lot of knowledge.


Filter: Another thing I like about having a mentor, is I suddenly had a filter that I trusted who was sending me information about classes and websites to follow. The Internet became a lot smaller and this helped me a lot.


I will likely work with other mentors and teachers as I move along in my career because I have learned that teaming up with others is important. Trying to have a writing career in a closet is a mistake. A little support, and even a kick in the butt, can go a long way.


Photo by icebirdy via Flickr

What it's Like to Work with a Mentor

Guest Post: When the Muse Leaves, It’s Time to Think—Creatively

Carol Tice's post last week on the acquisition of Associated Content by Yahoo sparked quite a debate among our readers, both here on The WM Freelance Connection and in several other forums. Since we're all about telling "both sides" of every story, we've invited writer Lauren Nelson from Part-time Diva, Full-time Mom to respond in today's guest post.


The Hullabaloo with Yahoo! and the Content Mill Debate
By Lauren Nelson

The recent acquisition of popular publishing platform Associated Content by Yahoo! has caused a large amount of controversy. Yahoo! made the purchase for $100 million dollars, which is hardly chunk change. Concern now is revolving around what this means for Associated Content’s current writers and the future of the platform.

What We Know

So far, the majority of the news is coming out of Associated Content itself. According to the FAQ section recently posted by the company on this subject, the compensation system is going to continue as it has. When referencing changes, the company only talks about expanding opportunities for income and writing gigs. In other words, those who want to write for Associated Content can continue to do so for at least the same pay rate, with increased earning potential in the future.

Criticisms of this move have been widespread and varied. Major concerns revolve around whether or not the money from the deal should have been distributed to the writers, and general trepidation about content mills on a whole. Let’s talk, shall we?

Validity of the Acquisition Terms

First, this purchase was not a move to screw over writers. With platforms like Associated Content, you are not technically the company. If anything, you are hiring them to promote your writing in exchange for part of the revenue generated by ads and exclusive publishing rights for a predetermined amount of time. Are these the best terms in the world? Perhaps not, but we’ll focus on that in a minute. The point is that Associated Content is a business. They made a business decision. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, acquisitions such as these do not result in a check being cut for the little man (or woman) in any other industry. Why would that be the case here?

Content Mills Vilified- Shocker.

The majority of the remainder of the conversation over this acquisition has been the repetition of tired arguments against content mills. I won’t address them all here, as I could theoretically go on for hours, but let me explain how the mills can be beneficial under certain circumstances.

1.    Newbies- Mills are a great way for people interested in starting a freelancing career to get started. It gives them experience writing to specification, and the opportunity to polish different skills like search engine optimization and effective researching techniques. It also gives them the ability to generate up front cash quickly while making the transition to more profitable freelancing work.

2.    Moonlighters- If talented, educated individuals are looking to make a little bit of money without having to learn all of the tricks of the trade, mills are incredibly convenient. They provide product placement, advertising, and often, structure and direction for individuals interested in making money on the side. A lack of desire to go pro doesn’t make these writers any less qualified. They just have different priorities which mills allow them to focus on more effectively.

3.    The Cash-Strapped- Let’s be real. Some people can pull in high paying gigs on a consistent basis, and that’s awesome. Some people can’t. Granted, their luck could be changed by following the tips of experts like Carol Tice and the other writers on this site, but while they’re tweaking their approach, there are still bills to be paid. Writing for mills can provide the quick cash necessary to make ends meet while you work on other projects.

4.    The Passive Income Planner- Some people just want to make sure money is coming in for a rainy day. There’s nothing wrong with that. Residual earning sites like Associated Content, Triond, and Suite101 provide a basic platform to generate passive income off of. Does this mean you’ll earn $100 in a day off of the pennies your articles generate? Maybe eventually, after a couple of years of constantly adding SEO driven content. Still, prominent bloggers and freelancers like Felicia of No Job for Mom, Deanna of Write Moms, and Pat Flynn of The Smart Passive Income Blog have used passive income sources to supplement the more active work they’re doing, not to mention some of the bloggers on this site. Extra spending cash? Yes, please.

Disclaimer

I want to be very, very clear. Mill work is not always good. If it takes you four hours to write a $15 article, then it’s not for you. If you’re making $30 an hour writing for a mill when you have other jobs ready and waiting that will pay you $100 an hour, you’re foolish. If you aren’t willing to do research and put out quality work, then please, abstain. If you aren’t willing to do the work to make your article profitable, consider work elsewhere. If you find the rates insulting, then, by all means, pass up the projects.

Mill work is not for everyone, and it is not a permanent solution for serious freelancers. I am not saying that serious freelance writers should focus on mill work alone to generate a living. I am not discouraging people from marketing themselves and going after higher paying jobs. These are good things, and goals I’m working at myself. What I am saying is that mill work can provide benefits to a large subset of the population. There are a lot of other arguments against mills that I have tried to address elsewhere. For more information, check out my blog, Part-Time Diva, Full-Time Mom.

Bottom Line

The acquisition of Associated Content by Yahoo! is indicative of the perceived value in mill work, and tells us that the mills are unlikely to disappear anytime soon. The impact that the purchase will have on Associated Content’s writers remains to be seen, but so far, so good. In the meantime, perhaps a meaningful, warranted, evidence-supported dialog on content mills should take place in the community. The more we can engage with one another, the more understanding we can foster and the more solutions we can create. Until then, happy writing.

Guest Post: The Hullabaloo with Yahoo! and the Content Mill Debate

By Kerrie McLoughlin

I personally love – and hate – having a deadline. I hate the stress it causes me and the way it makes me procrastinate. I will actually clean the house to avoid writing an article that is due.


But why? I LOVE writing.


Well, while I may love to write, it is still hard mental work. It is rewarding at the end, of course, but it is not an easy task to crank out just the right words for a piece and to get to the point where you feel like you are truly done with it.


The reason I love having a deadline is that it makes me work. If I don’t have any assignments, I can find all kinds of things to do besides writing, including setting up goal spreadsheets, figuring out how much money I could be making, daydreaming about a book deal, etc.


Like now, for instance. I need to be adding to my stable of articles so I can have many reprints in circulation. I have the ideas and I just need to do the research and get the quotes and WRITE THE PIECES (I'm not yelling at you here with my all caps ... I'm yelling at myself).


And nobody is giving me a deadline for my e-book second edition, so I had to contact a previous buyer and tell her I will have it out by the end of May and for her to please hold me accountable and bug me about it from time to time.


How do you work best? With a deadline looming or with no deadline and lots of freedom?

Writing Deadlines

By Pam Houghton

Back in March, I posted an automated e-mail response to submissions from the Christian Science Monitor's Home Forum section with a very nice set of writer's guidelines. What I liked about them is that they were pretty specific about what they were looking for, yet general enough that you didn't feel pigeon-holed into any one particular topic.


A couple of readers took me up on the suggestion to submit, and I am glad to say that one of those readers had his essay published last week. So here, for your reading pleasure, is In a spice world, a man for all seasonings by Alan Barasky. Congrats to Alex!


Several weeks after I published the guidelines, another reader sent a note. She too mustered up the courage to send something to CSM's Home Forum section, and shortly after, found out her poem was accepted. Hopefully, she'll remember to send me the link to that once it's published. So congrats to her!


If anyone else is lurking out there with a soon-to-be-published piece, especially newbies to print or online publishing, let me know. I'd be glad to add a link here to your work.


On another note, I received an e-mail from a blogger who wasn't sure about her blog. I think she was afraid it was a combination of elements that perhaps I didn't sound too fond of in last week's post about mommy blogs. I took a look at her blog - and found a pretty charming little site that included giveaways, reviews and photos (which I think are fine, by the way; and apparently, quite popular). But at the heart was some pretty warm and humorous writing, the most important element of any blog. Plus she had a lot of followers and comments, so she was connecting to her readers. The blog also gave her an excuse to write every day and develop social media skills.


She wasn't sure where she was going with it, but I encouraged her to just keep blogging even if she didn't have a firm goal in mind. Eventually, the act of blogging, writing and connecting with readers will help her define some goals, and as I told her, you never know what other opportunities might open up further down the road.


And that's the whole point of writing even when you don't know where you're going. Sometimes you just have to put one foot in front of the other, whether it's submitting a piece to a publication such as CSM, maintaining a blog, or snatching a couple of hours to write a week while balancing a full or part-time job.


If you do nothing, you'll get nowhere. If you do something, no matter how small you think it is, you'll get somewhere, eventually. Really...you will.

photo by Mattox/Stock.xchng

Yes! Success from our Readers...and Ooey-Gooey Encouragement from Me

by Rebecca Dienger

It’s now month five of my new life —confident writer by morning with a consistent paycheck and lovable coworkers— and conflicted writer by afternoon with an inferiority complex and attention deficit disorder. So far I am surviving on French roast, optimism and anything Carol Tice says.


My intention for this blog is to offer other writers, particularly beginners, encouragement and inspiration. I invite them to take the journey with me and see that if I can do this, they can do this. I hope to share some victories in this space but I am not afraid to share failures, too, so we can all learn from them.


I didn’t mean to fail so soon! I have been a fool.


I’m waiting for payment on six projects that are more than 90 days old. My cash flow has become a trickle. I am getting resentful. I am using bad words that I’m not sure I even know how to spell. This is not my happy writer place!


I somehow landed at the bottom of the creative food chain. I am meeting with clients, providing creative concepts, doing research and writing the words that will shape the finished product, yet I don’t get paid until the entire project is complete. Last month I issued several not-so-gentle reminders to a longtime business associate. It made us both a little twitchy.


I know better. Ten years ago, I started freelancing and had little mentoring, particularly in matters of business. I took writing jobs on the cheap. I underestimated my time. I let myself fall victim to scope creep and needy clients who didn’t want to pay. This is the proverbial school of hard knocks. I got experience and clips and referrals, and I learned valuable lessons. But here I sit in remedial school.


Am I here because I work with deadbeats or disrespectful louts? No. These are talented people who deliver top-notch work and do the best they can as small business owners themselves. The simple truth is that I am working on their terms and not mine. It’s business. Bad business. I deserve the frustration I’m feeling. But I also deserve better and I intend to get it.


What I need to do is replicate the business relationships where I feel respected and compensated. I have one client that gives me steady, enjoyable work and pays me on a set schedule I can rely on. Do you know why this is working so well? We have a contract! Granted, they initiated it, but the terms of the relationship were negotiated and put into writing. There are no emotions (or twitching) involved. It’s business. Good business.


I don’t want to resent any of my business partners, and more importantly, I want to enjoy my work. If I wanted to be miserable I can think of more lucrative jobs I could hate. I need to get back to my happy writer place.


I got a call the other day for more work from my twitchy friend. This time I submitted a thoughtful and fair estimate and referred to Angela Atkinson’s wonderful post for helpful tips. I asked for payment in two installments. When you track each deliverable and estimate the skill and time that goes into it, everyone can see the value you bring to the project. The math is easier, too! I have an hourly rate. By breaking out each service, clients can select those they value most and that fit into their budget.


I felt more confident the moment I submitted it. I am not worried about not getting the job because there will be others. While I am open to negotiation, I will only take work if my time and talent is properly compensated.


I want to be proud of my work and make a living wage for my craft. These are terms on which I will not waver.


This time, I mean business.

This Time I Mean Business

By Carol Tice

Are You Angry Yet, Writers? $5 A Story For You, $100 Million for Associated Content's Owners

By Lindsay Woolman
I have had a terrible case of writers block, so it’s actually kind of amusing for me to tackle this subject. What happened to me is I spent 5 years writing a novel and about 3 years writing another novel before that one. After I got a literary agent, I thought a publisher would quickly jump on board—but that didn't happen.


The truth is that after spending, oh, 7 years writing books nonstop, working for a book publisher as an editor, and meeting other authors who were one step ahead of me, I was mentally exhausted. I thought about being a truck driver.


I did not want to spend more “dates” with my laptop at Barnes and Noble on a Friday night. And I really didn’t want to become that writer who gets bitter.


What I did, instead, was take a break. I stopped trying to be a writer, but then I started getting people asking me to write for them and freelance writing was a natural step. I have actually been able to create a great amount of joy this way, just by doing different types of writing. Yet, my childhood self still likes to remind me, “you always wanted to be a book author….hello?”


Just yesterday, I started getting some ideas for a new book. Then, I looked at the calendar and thought, “how can I get this done as soon as possible?” I am NOT spending another 5 years of my life on one project.


I have a little plan to finish by the end of the summer, but I’m probably being insane to think I can write that fast. I am actually having déjà vu because I think I did the same thing last summer and wrote 3 chapters before scrapping another book. This book might be more interesting; we’ll see… All I know is I can’t count on my “first novel” to be my first. In all honestly, the book that got me my literary agent might be my second, so someday I have to start again.


In any case, I would like to share a couple ideas for getting unblocked, whether you write books or freelance stuff for clients. Again, I feel like the nonexpert, so I would be curious what other people do:


Listen to music: When I do a copywriting project, I listen to Duran Duran’s Greatest Hits and I actually dance if I need to get really pumped up. For blog writing or articles, I like the “spa” station on Pandora or classical music.


Do other kinds of writing: When I took my novel-writing break I wrote other things that I felt a more emotional pull toward. This has included more nonfiction, articles, ghosting, and blogging.


Keep the dream alive: I always pictured myself 1) writing and 2) working from home. For a long time, I thought that maybe I should take a mindless job and write on the side, but that always sounded kind of depressing. Becoming a freelance writer has brought me peace of mind, and hopefully I am just beginning.


Do what feels right: When I stopped writing novels I started making jewelry and learning how to dance. I see both of these endeavors as very creative, and they just felt right. In the same respect, on days when I am blocked and have a project due, sometimes I’ll procrastinate in creative ways. I’ll paint, make stuff, and do 3rd grade looking art projects and when I’m done, I’m ready to write.


Don’t force it: I actually don’t think you should “force” yourself to write if it isn’t coming to you. Obviously for freelance work or book contracts, forcing might be necessary, but if you’re feeling like you “should” be working on a novel and the energy just isn’t there, do something else. I’m a big fan of throwing things away, decorating my house, and moving furniture around—I have a bunch of empty drawers right now.


I’d love to hear ideas from other writers on how to get unblocked!


Photo by joanna8555 via flickr

When Writer’s Block Gets Cozy with You

By Erin Healy

Author Erin Healy On the Editorial Process, Publishing & the Writer's Ego

By Angela Atkinson

Last week, we discussed what you need to know before preparing a freelance writing proposal. Once you've gathered the necessary information, you'll need to create a proposal and quote for your client's approval. A proposal is almost as important as the finished project as far as you're concerned, so don't just "throw something together." No matter how capable you are, a poorly crafted proposal could cause your client to think twice before hiring you. 

Every writer must define his or her own process for creating proposals, and most often, the process can vary widely, depending on the specifics of each project. Still, certain elements should be included within most any successful proposal.

Contact Information

This may seem like a no-brainer, but be sure to include your contact information at the top of your proposal. Include your name, address, email address, telephone number and website information. This is especially important when the client is accepting proposals from more than one writer, but should always be included in any proposal.

You should also list the client's name and the name of the company or publication involved.

Services Requested

After you've compiled all of the information you've received about the project from your client, write a brief summary or list of bullet points that details what you understand the client wants from you. So, for example, if the client wants you write a whitepaper, a blog post and an article, plus he wants you to help get his company's Facebook page noticed, your "Services Requested" section might look something like this:

Services Requested

• 1--2000 word whitepaper, text only
• 1--300 word blog post, including 1 public domain photo
• 1--600 word article, including up to 2 public domain photos
• Increase fans (likes) and interaction with Company X Facebook page

Your proposal will obviously be more project specific and should include additional or different details as required. While some clients may like a narrative, many busy corporate clients prefer the clarity and simplicity a numbered or bullet pointed list can offer. Providing a list of  "services requested" helps the client to see that you understand what he wants.

Break It Down

Following the acknowledgement of the client's requests, outline each point and how you plan to deal with it. Create an individual section for each requirement, and briefly outline your proposed plan for each. For example, you might include a short overview of the major points you intend to cover in the written pieces, as well as clear details on what you plan to do (and not do) with each. For example, for the blog post, your section might look like this:

1--300 word blog post


Overview: Company X's latest promotion, contest info and links to Facebook page
To include: SEO keywords, 1 public domain photo, submission to 3 social networking sites (including: FB, Twitter, LinkedIn
Rights Offered: All rights

Timeline


Carefully detail all dates involved with the project--start date, end date, payment dates, etc. 


Related Suggestions

While you don't have to include this section, it can provide a couple of benefits. Writers are creative by nature, and when you start thinking about the project, you might come up with new ideas that could benefit the client's bottom line. Include your "related suggestions" in a separate section. Not only will you impress the client with your brilliance, but it might just get you a little extra dough when all is said and done.

Itemized Quote

Itemize the services you plan to provide and list a price for each. If you're quoting any social networking services (or other services that don't provide a tangible product), be sure to specify the number of hours you'll spend on those services and detail  how you plan to report the results to your client.

Depending on the client and the nature of the project, you may choose to provide a "package price" instead, which would include all services listed.

Payment Terms

Specifically state how much and when you should be paid. For example, if your total quoted price for the services is $2200, your terms section might look like this:

Terms:

Services, as described above, will be performed for $2200, payable in two installments of $1100. The first installment will be paid prior to the beginning of the project. The second will be due at the completion of the project. 


Also, list payment options. For example:

Payment can be made via PayPal to joe@emailaddress.com, or via check, made payable to Joe Writer.


Address:
123 Any Street
Hometown, USA 12345


Ask for the Job

At the end of your proposal, write a brief statement ensuring the client that you're committed to providing high quality services that will exceed his expectations, and let him know what you'll need from him to get started. Explain what he can expect once the ball gets rolling, and let him know what date you'll be ready to start the project.

One More Thing

Typos, misspellings and hard-to-read proposals are red flags to potential clients--they figure if you can't write a proposal properly, you probably won't have much luck with their projects either. Don't send that proposal off until you've checked and rechecked it. Edit it for details, spelling, format, etc. If you're not sure you're ready to send it, ask a friend or writing buddy to look it over for you first. Often, a second set of eyes picks up little things you miss. Overall, the proposal should appear professional, be easy to read and understand and include as many details as possible. Try looking at from the client's perspective. Would you hire YOU?

How to Format a Winning Freelance Project Proposal

By Kerrie McLoughlin

Recently I got this e-mail from fellow WM Freelance Connection blogger Carol Tice:

Kerrie, You wrote a project worth $10,000-$25,000 for $500. Why? 100 pages of marketing materials at $5 a page?? I feel physically sick. $250 a page would be a bottom appropriate rate for that kind of work, maybe $100 if it was incredibly easy stuff. On a rush? The rate doubles. You could have made enough to take some real time off with baby 5 if you'd bid this at appropriate rates for copywriting. See the Writer's Market for some ranges on how to price this stuff. I'm a college dropout too...but you can make $95 an hour on this stuff. As long as a lot of people don't come along and do it for $5 that is.  Maybe you could post a comment and explain why you took such an obviously inappropriate rate for this job? I'm just flabbergasted. This isn't writing eHow articles or something...you've given this company a manual they can use to promote themselves and make money with FOREVER at no additional charge. It has a lot of value. Maybe I'm missing something here, where you say $500 makes your account a LOT bigger? I'm boggled. $500 is what you should get for one article, or one page of copywriting, really...am I maybe just not understanding the rate?  Carol

My reply to her, which I thought you might be interested in:

I'm going to be totally honest here, even if I end up sounding like a fool. Although I've been published in many regional parenting magazines (as well as an international magazine and a local newspaper), have published two e-books and have written sales and marketing materials, it is difficult for me to think of myself as a "professional writer" … maybe because I didn't go to college to be a writer.  It’s true I don't always do my research into things like rates.  Here are my excuses:

(1) I was flattered to be hired at all to do something I had no experience in
(2) I was too lazy and busy to check rates
(3) I'm a people pleaser and didn't want to ask for too much money to do something I wasn't even sure I could pull off

Back then I was keeping a time log, and I spent 22.5 hours on these two projects which netted me $459.50.  This came out to about $20 per hour on a rush project.  Doing something I love and making $20 per hour seemed like a dream come true.  Looking back, I busted my butt on these projects.  The call came as I was heading into a weekend away with my family.  The project took away from that weekend and also took time away from my children and husband the following week.

The next time something like this comes up, I will ask for more because my time is valuable.  It should definitely be worth my while.  That money went fast when I could have made so much more and taken a really nice vacation with my family.

I'm learning some important lessons here on The WM Freelance Connection.  One is that I may not have a degree, but I am still a decent writer.  Another is that it's okay to move up and make more money.  I can still write for smaller magazines, but I need to get off the pot and start pitching queries at some national magazines. Thanks for giving me much to ponder.  I'm frustrated that I shortchanged myself, but I have learned from this mistake!

WM Freelance Connection Readers:  Are you getting paid what you are worth?  Why or why not?  Any tips to offer?

Writer Carol Tice Kicks My Butt

By Kerrie McLoughlin

I recently received an email from Joubert Nel (co-founder) about a new place to market e-books called Fifobooks.  Fifobooks.com is an ebook marketplace where authors:

• retain all the rights to their work
• maintain full editorial control
• set the price at which their ebooks are sold, and keep the majority of the revenue
• there is no fee to publish

You can bet I'll be signing up with them once the second edition of my ebook is polished and ready to go!

And if you are looking for a good writing contest, they are also currently running their Summer 2010 Writing Contest at http://fifobooks.com/contest.html ... check it out and good luck!  Below is Eligibility and Rules information:

1.The Contest is open to anyone over the age of thirteen (13)


2.There is no entry fee

3.Each contestant must submit at least one work in ebook form

4.Multiple submissions per contestant are allowed

5.Entries can be in any language

6.There is no minimum length requirement: poems, short stories, and essays are eligible, as well as longer works

7.Entries can be fictional or non-fictional, and about any subject

8.The winning ebook is the most popular, as determined by total sales (number of downloads times sale price)

9.Free ebooks are ineligible

10.Contestants may enter work that has been submitted in other contests or work that has appeared elsewhere

11.All entries must abide by the Terms of Use

12.All entries are subject to rejection, removal, and deletion as per the Terms of Use

13.The deadline for submissions is June 30th, 2010 at midnight, Eastern Time

14.The winner will be determined the following day and announced on FiFobooks.com

15.The prize money will be paid in U.S. dollars (if you are not a U.S. resident, payments will be made in either your local currency or U.S. dollars, depending on your location)

16.Void where prohibited

FifoBooks E-book Marketplace Writing Contest

By Pam Houghton

Mommy blogs started to pop up while I was working away from home. Though I'd hear a bit about them here and there, I never paid much attention. After all, I was a "working mom." Who had time to go online and read the ramblings of a bunch of mommies?


Now that I'm home (after a corporate reorg eliminated my job, sad tale of woe) I decided to see what all the fuss was about. If you are unfamiliar with them, there are quite a few flavors of mommy blogs.


A lot of blogs focus on giveaways, coupons, and reviews of stuff I'd never buy.


There are blogs breathlessly written by working moms trying to keep up with life.


There are blogs that seem photo-heavy.


"Here I am pregnant."


"Here I am post-pregnant."


"Here are a zillion pictures of my little baby, the most adorable, beloved baby in the whole entire universe - I LOVE BEING A MOMMY!"


The photo-intensive sites weren't that interesting to me, but some have really large followings, so what do I know?


Then there are really cute sites where the writing kind of disappoints.


I found myself most attracted to the ones with good writing. If the writing was edgy, engaging, compelling, relevant, fun, humorous, etc etc etc - all qualities of good writing - I found myself willing to slough through multiple posts.


Here are a few I liked.


1. The Mommy-Blog: Adventures from the Wonderbelly of Motherhood by Melinda Roberts. Reads like a book. In fact, Melinda (Mindy, for short) published a book based on her blog in 2006. I imagine there are a few more mommy bloggers out there who intend to do the same. Here, Mindy tries to survive motherhood and that whole work/life balance thing as a divorced mom of three. I found it engaging, humorous and even poignant at times. She makes blogging look easy. I know it's not.


2. Pretty All True by Kris (no last name provided). Great if you don't mind liberal sprinklings of the F-bomb. I think this is one blogger with a ton of talent. Definitely has the stuff of which great books are made, if you like frank and funny. Wife and mother to two daughters - eight and ten years of age - she blogs about a lot of things in addition to her own "pretty all true" take on family life, including a twisted upbringing. I see memoir.


3. Theta Mom by Heather (no last name for her either). This blog is a little more traditional, and much less irreverent than blog #2. Trained as a teacher with an M.A. from Columbia University (yeah, I'm impressed) she's like the wise neighbor who sits you down with a cup of coffee and lets you ramble on about wayward children. She incorporates product reviews and giveaways in her blog, but not with the same yuck factor as others I've seen. Her writing is straightforward and warm. Oh, and she has over 2300 followers; nothing to sneeze at.


4. The Kerrie Show by Kerrie McLoughlin. I have to put a plug in here for our fellow WM blogger Kerrie. She does blogging right. Just short, fun, little bursts of energy from a breast-feeding, home-schooling mother of five. (Or is it six? :-) ) Except for the mom part, I was none of those things, proving that common experience isn't the only draw; good writing helps.

Are you a fan of Mommy blogs? Do you write one? Got any favorites?

photo by cheryll hogan

Hurling Myself Into the Mysterious World of Mommy Blogs