The WMF Archives

By Pam Houghton

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about classic writing books that helped me make the transition from corporate peon to writer-wannabe.

Well, here's a more recent, but not-yet-classic book from 2007: How to Become a Famous Writer Before You're Dead by Ariel Gore. It's a great book for writers whose literary aspirations include poetry, fiction, essay and creative non-fiction.

Gore is the founder/publisher of contemporary zine Hip Mama. She epitomizes the scrappy "lit star" writer willing to do anything to promote her work in spite of her classic introverted writer personality.

When it comes to mastering the craft of writing, Gore isn't militant about how often you write - other than you have to write. In spite of "never having time," Gore writes at traffic lights; in the morning before everyone is up; and afternoons when her daughter is on the phone.

And sometimes she doesn't write, even when she has time.

She writes best when she has deadlines - and finds that's the single best motivator to write.

When it comes to getting and keeping work, Gore says editors would rather work with good writers who produce decent writing on deadline than great writers who don't.

Gore also suggests writers use blogs, zines, anthologies (where the competition may be "less fierce" than established magazines and journals), websites, columns, and PTA newsletters to rack up pub credits. And she finds no shame in self-publishing books either.

In spite of major stage fright, Gore organized her own promotional tours and read her work for audiences in bookstores, cafes, bars and galleries. Even when crowds were small, she entertained by adding music and funky costumes, and inviting other writers to join her onstage.

Gore includes interviews with famous writers such as Dave Eggers (A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius) and comedienne Margaret Cho, and counsels writers to get over rejection; and get noticed by journalists and PR folks.

How to Become a Famous Writer Before You're Dead is a fun, fast read with lots of useful information and supportive advice especially if you one day aspire to write - and sell - The Great American Novel.

Good book: 'How to Become a Famous Writer Before You're Dead'

Keep the NEWS in email newsletters

by Carol Tice

I've frequently discussed the virtues of adding some copywriting to your freelance-writing mix. But, many writers ask, how do I get started as a copywriter? Most copywriters break in by writing for a small, local business in their town.

The good news: Small businesses that need marketing help are everywhere.

Here are 10 ways to find your first business writing assignments:

1) Friends and family. Tell everyone you know you're available to write for businesses. Let them know the types of copywriting work that interest you, whether it's brochures, white papers, direct mail sales letters, or Web content.

2) Businesses you patronize. As you go about your daily life, you interact with many small businesses. You see a chiropractor, shop at a local organic grocer, or take your kids to a gym. These are all natural places for you to connect with business owners. Your secret weapon—you already know and like the business! You could also do a barter deal for writing work since you're already a customer.

3) Your local downtown. Walk the business district of your neighborhood or visit the local chamber of commerce and pick up all their current brochures or fliers. Call or stop in at the ones that have weak marketing materials, introduce yourself as a copywriter, and ask if they'd like help creating more powerful messages.

4) Your local business park. Companies in industrial parks tend to be medium-sized or bigger, and in fairly low-glamour businesses -- meaning they're prime copywriting targets. They need to get out the word, as they don't have a shop on Main Street customers can see. Also, they tend to get hit up less, so the competition isn't as stiff. Before you knock on doors and introduce yourself, drive through once and write down all the company names. Go home and look at their Web sites (or discover they don't have one), so you have something to talk about when you come back and try to meet the business owners.

5) Business networking events. Wherever large groups of business owners gather in your town—the local Chamber luncheon, weekly networking group, LinkedIn meetup, or whatever—you want to be there.

6) Social media. Work your networks and online forums and let them know you're open for copywriting work. Find prospect companies and follow them -- strike up a conversation, study their Web site, maybe provide some useful marketing-article links, then make your pitch. Use your blog to discuss your quest for copywriting work. Try InMail on LinkedIn -- LI reports it has an impressive 30 percent response rate.

7) In niche industries you know. This is an easy way to identify prospects, particularly if you're looking for work blogging or writing other online content. If you have an area of expertise, look at the Web sites of all the local businesses in that niche. Then call the companies with the worst Web sites and mention the most glaring omission in their marketing plan -- might they need a blog, a white paper, case studies?

8) Through content-site profiles. While I don't recommend trying to earn by bidding on projects on content sites such as Elance or Guru.com, it can be worthwhile to leave a profile on these heavily-trafficked sites. Small businesses looking for writers do scan these sites, and may find you and approach you off the site and hire you. I recently went on an interview to ghost a CEO's book, and the company found me through an old Guru profile I'd forgotten all about!

9) At print publications. Magazines' article assignments are often the tip of an iceberg at a publisher. There may be opportunities to write advertorial articles for the magazine's advertisers, or to create special advertising sections. They may put on conferences that need marketing materials, or have a "custom publishing" arm that helps companies create training courses or books that commemorate company milestones.

10) By creating a sample. If you're really stuck for a first client, create a marketing piece about your copywriting services. You can then use this as a mailer to send to prospects. Having a sample in front of them should help you sign up that first client. Personally, when I broke into copywriting in 2005, I used a variant of #2. I called on companies I had written about in my staff-writing job at a business journal to let them know I was leaving the paper. (Many folks do this when they leave a company to freelance, by turning around and freelancing for their former employer.) One of them asked me to ghost his blog and write advertorial articles for the company's Web site. I made several thousand dollars over a few months' time, and I was on my way.

If you've done copywriting, how did you first break in? Leave a comment and tell us about it.

Photo via Flickr user ruthieonart

10 Ways to Find Your First Copywriting Clients

by Kat Foust

There are so many things to write about that it may be hard to pick just one. So how do you decide what it is you should focus on? The word is that developing a niche is what an online writer needs to do, so what's your niche?

Developing a niche of your own is a great idea. You can become well known for being an expert in a particular topic of your choice. Sticking with just one topic can get pretty redundant though. The other problem is that so many niches have been covered so thoroughly.

Here's the solution. Simply write what you know and what you enjoy writing about. Personalize it. Put your own spin on it. Here's a good example below.

I tend to write about mental health, helping techniques, parenting, children and financial resources. In short, I like to help people. It makes me feel good. That's where a lot of my writing is aimed. The other day I came across a story about Canadian geese being killed in New York. Now, I'm not really an event reporter, but it struck me that there are thousands of people in New York City alone that are starving. So, I took this story and put my spin on it. I made the focus about the fact that these geese could be an excellent food source for New York instead of potential composte. You can find the article here if you're interested.

The point is that everyone has their own unique view on things. Even though a topic may be covered, it's not covered through your eyes. Thread some humor into a dry topic. Pick a detail out of a large topic and focus on it.

Your own life is a valuable resource for topics. Localize what you write about to draw in people from your area or whatever area you want to talk about. A niche can be anything. It doesn't have to be an activity. It can be your town, your style of dress. In short, make it about you.

What Should You Write About?

By Alyssa Ast


I have been the queen of procrastination when it comes to finishing my origional ebook. I have been dragging it along for well over a year now. One reason I haven't pushed myself forward to finally get the ebook finished is because I viewed money I can make now much better than money in the future. So I have spent the last year focusing on freelance work that produces a steady paycheck.


While focusing on the freelance work my grandmother had mentioned to me that it seems like I never take any "me time" for my writing. It turns out she was right. While writing is my passion, I rarely take a break from the freelance work to focus on what I truly enjoy writing. So one night I had an idea for an ebook and decided to take the opportunity to finally have my "me time."


Two weeks ago I began writing "The Fundamentals of SEO for the Average Joe," which is a basic guide for SEO and SEM. While I did feel a little guilty taking time off from the freelance work, I was relieved to finally be getting that much needed "me time" aspect of my writing. I also realized, although, I was loosing income from blowing off the freelance work for a couple of weeks, I was actually making a long term income investment. And, that could actually end up being more profitable than a few month's of my freelance work.


Upon finishing this ebook I realized I was officially ebook addicted. I love the freedom it offers with no one telling you what to do or what to write. After I have this first ebook released (August 1st) I already have another ebook outlined. I realize now how important it is to take that "me time" regularly to keep from getting burned out. I now plan to take at least one day off per week to focus on writing what I want to write and not what I HAVE to write to make money.


Have you published an ebook? What has your experience been like?

An Ebook Adventure

By Angela Atkinson

A few months back, one of my LinkedIn contacts emailed me, asking for a quote to write something like 25 articles of 125 words each. The lady said that her budget was low, so I quoted her around 20 cents a word (ten cents below my lowest rate.)

She emailed back, shocked that I would charge so much, saying these rates were "nowhere near" what she had budgeted for the project. Since I wasn't willing to work for less, I passed it along to a colleague of mine who, at the time, was just starting to take on private clients and was bidding low on projects to build up her portfolio.

My colleague contacted the client and quoted her something like a nickel a word, and the client even balked at that. Apparently, she wanted to pay less than a penny a word.
If you're a long-time WM reader, you probably know that while I don't think content mills are a long-term career option, I don't think they're the devil either--at least sometimes. But as more and more mill-type organizations pop up, I find myself absolutely disgusted at some of the rates they offer their writers--and apparently, many private companies are trying to follow this trend.

Check out the following excerpts from actual ads I found yesterday on some actual job boards (names and links omitted because I don't want to encourage ANYONE to write for these ridiculously insulting rates:)

*** Writers Needed ASAP - 30 articles at $1.00 per article. We will not wait until bidding period ends to select writers. *** We are looking for long term article writers preferably those who are native American, Australian or British English writers... 

This is a short term project based on rewriting articles. You should be able to rewrite at least 10 articles a day without compromising quality. I am paying $0.50 for each rewrite and the articles will be 400-500 words...

You think those are bad?  How about this one?

Each article is about 500-550 words. I need 25 edited today and rest tomorrow.

You will need to perform the following tasks:

1) Check Grammar: Check spellings, sentence construction and punctuation.
2) Flow of Thoughts: Check for logical and smooth flow of thoughts. You may need to rewrite 2-4 sentences to make the article read more logical.
3) Originality: You need to have your own copyscape premium account to check the originality of each article, although we also ask writers to check it before submission. You will need to rewrite 2-3 sentences if found under copyscape(50 words).
4) Word count: Ensure that each article is at least 500 words
5) Formatting: I will provide you with a guide for formatting (nothing Hi-fi).

While applying please write 5-6 sentences differentiating between editing and proofreading (it will help me judge your writing capabilities).

Also, please proofread the attached article as sample (keep the track open so that I can check the changes).

If work is done well, I can offer you editing work on daily basis of 15-30 articles.

My budget is $30 for 60 articles. 

Are these people insane? Unfortunately no. Obviously, they find "writers" and even "editors" willing to work for these outrageously offensive rates. Of course, you can probably imagine the kind of quality they get for these prices.

Does it really matter though? Are these low-ballers driving down the median pay rate for freelance writers in general? What about for the online market?

What do you think?


Looking for a gig that actually pays you for your time? Check out The WM Freelance Writers Connection's Writing Opportunities!

Crappy Rates: Are these people kidding?

By Kerrie McLoughlin

If you missed Part One of Writers Gone Wild about hygiene and weight, check out last Sunday's post. Otherwise, on to the next two on the list of things I let go when I’m working on some good, clean, fun writin’ …

1. My desk … here’s a picture of what my desk looked like as I was writing this post. Look at the nasty dust on my keyboard tray. I wish I could be one of those people who can’t write without a clean desk, but unfortunately I thrive in chaos. I tell myself I have to have a clean desk and then I take a few weeks to file every paper. Then I realize I was just procrastinating. Then I get really frustrated with myself when I pick up my local parenting magazine and see an article about a topic I was working on already.

2. Homeschooling … I realize most writers don’t have this problem, but judging by all the writers for homeschooling magazines, I know there are other homeschooling writer moms out there like me (anyone heard of Michelle Duggar?). All I can say is thank God for workbooks, the library and educational shows like The Exterminators! I tell the kids that whoever does the most workbook pages during a busy writing day of mine today can pick all the activities at the zoo tomorrow.

Next week: The final part of Writers Gone Wild is about your Friends.

Writers Gone Wild, Part Two

By Pam Houghton

After I finish a really good book, I feel inspired to write creatively, which is why I think it's important for writers to read. But every once in a while I read a book I just can't finish. Then I end up feeling guilty as though I've let the whole world of people-who-love-books down.

I recently bought Mennonite in a Little Black Dress (A Memoir of Going Home) by Rhoda Janzen. Based on the title, I assumed it was going to be quirky, fun, witty, and engaging. Plus it's memoir, and I love memoir. But the writing goes back and forth too quickly between her past and present life instead of focusing on one or two strong story lines.

Plus she uses BIG WORDS when I think simpler might be better.

It almost reminds me of my writing when I'm unfocused and maybe that's why it bugs me. I'm only halfway through it, but I'm ready to move onto the next book on my list, How to Become a Famous Writer Before You're Dead (my goal exactly).

Here are a few other books held in high esteem by folks-who-know-good-literature-when-they-read-it, and I just couldn't finish.

1. Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi. I waited and waited and waited for a story to develop - and it never did. Don't think I made it to the halfway point.

2. Candy Freak-A Journey Through the Chocolate Underbelly of America by Steve Almond. Too bad I was bored with this non-fiction account of the author's passion for candy and his relentless pursuit to figure out how the "little guy candy producers" stay in business. I love candy. But I didn't love this book.

3. Three Junes by Julia Glass. Lots of good reviews for this one. It even won the 2002 National Book award. I quit on page 32.

4. Snobs by Julian Fellowes. The jacket cover quotes a fellow writer who wrote this about Snobs. "I couldn't put Snobs down. Who could resist a great story of a beautiful, ambitious girl on her climb to the...top of the castle-hopping set?" I could. Especially after chapter 1.

5. New Moon by Stephanie Meyer. Okay, this doesn't qualify as high-art. However, I found Twilight, the first book in the series, pretty darned engaging. Started this, New Moon, the series' second book, but it was like eating too much cotton candy: too sweet and I worried my brain might decay.

Do you have any books you just couldn't finish?

photo by nkzs/stock.xchng

Five Books I Couldn't Finish Reading

by Rebecca Dienger

There is a wonderful weekly radio show on Public Radio International called “Michael Feldman's Whad'Ya Know?” I’m particularly fond of it because host Feldman originated and produces the program in Madison, Wisconsin—my home state, but also because it’s a magnificent mashup of trivia, music, witty repartee and cornball humor. You just never know. It’s highbrow entertainment for the masses.

Feldman takes his show on the road about eight times a year and from those locations you get a sense of the local history and flavor. From his diligent research and quirky insights you either learn something or laugh for 90-minutes straight. Michael Feldman is genius. He’s made a 25-year career out of following his curiosity and learning a little something about everything. He’s the ultimate party host.

Being a writer is much like being the ultimate party host – or even just a good party guest. You can mingle with just about anyone based on the things you have learned about just about anything. As I look back on the topics I covered I am amused, if not impressed.

One of the first feature stories I covered at a local newspaper was about the migration of snowy egrets. Every time this 90-year-old bird watcher called the newsroom I had to hop in the car with my camera in an attempt to catch the money shot. It took about six trips. I may only recall that you can’t predict when the great snowy egrets will drop by your backyard pond but the story is always good for an icebreaker. It’s especially effective when I do my imitation of the gentleman’s one-liner on the phone, “The birrrrrrrrrrrds are baaaaaaaack.” Click.

I’ve written about transportation safety for truck drivers and working safely with compressed gases (that one usually gets a laugh without any further explanation). If I’m ever welding or need to haul a cross-country load, you may not want to hang around, but if the party is dragging and you have a driver, welder or forklift operator in the room, send me over with a plate of crudités and that corner of the room will be buzzing shortly. I have stories, but from even my limited knowledge I also have good questions and a sincere interest. People love to talk about what they do. I love to hear about it.

I interviewed a quilter whose last name is Cotton (seriously!). She is revolutionizing (really!) the quilt-making industry. The craft has been around for centuries but she comes along and discovers a “method” for creating two-sided patterns in one fell swoop (incredible!) by quilting first and assembling after. Talk about a crazy quilt. She is writing books and doing seminars all over the world.

An engineer gave me a tour of a lift bridge during which we walked under the deck. Vehicles sped noisily just 36 inches or so above me and I could feel the spray of the river rushing below. Then there was the time I was taken up in a small plane to shoot aerial photos of the local county fair. When I developed them it occurred to me that some of those shots may have been better had I used the telephoto lens. Lucky for me this hobbyist flyboy was game when I asked for a second chance to improve my form. The not-so-smooth landing at the edge of a cornfield was crazy scary the first time, but the second time I actually kept my eyes open to appreciate the skill and joy this person exhibited in flight. That was good for a story beyond the pictorial.

I’ve written about computer-generated music, Elvis impersonators and dialysis patients. Each subject has broadened my perspectives, touched my heart (or funny bone) or informed my life in some way. And I could find something funny or interesting to tell you about each one.

The next time I wish I had a different talent or a more predictable income (which happens at least twice monthly), I need to remember the interesting experiences and people this job puts me in contact with every day. While I may never parlay it into an international sensation like Feldman, this jack-of-all-trades lifestyle entertains and informs me, and that should be enough.

By the way, I am available to keep your party hopping if you should need me ...

What do you know?

By Carol Tice

Boost Your Writing Earnings by Winning Awards

By Lindsay Woolman

There is a give and take that occurs when a prospect contacts you to ask for a quote. It’s kind of like playing a friendly game of tennis. One person hits the ball to start things going and then the ball must keep going back and forth. The moment that ball stops (or gets hit over the fence!) you start all over. So, when you play this friendly game, keep that ball going back and forth—and remember the end goal is that everyone wins.

Finding the Players
These are the main ways I have found my players over the past year:

* Place keywords in your website or domain name. Just this week I had a prospect contact me who had done a search for my city name + writer. Now, sometimes when I am bothered that my business name isn’t more creative, I can say that it does do the job. If you live in a smaller city it is definitely easier, but it’s possible for anyone.

* Share your work. When I was first starting out, I was a part of a couple forums where I would post articles I’d written. This was in a whole different industry, but I ended up getting hired as a writer for someone who liked what she read. I also placed ads on craigslist and got inquiries that way. Even though I wouldn’t say craigslist is the best place to find clients, it was another way for me to demonstrate my writing ability. It’s also a great platform to test write ads that are slightly different and see the response rate. So, share, share, share!

* Get referrals. I have learned that people who like you want to come back and play again and again—and they will bring their friends. I have also found that referrals can come from people who know you from online communities like Twitter.

Starting the Game
So, now you’ve got a person who has emailed you to ask you about writing services. Woohoo! Well, as I have learned the hard way, this is not the time to celebrate of get excited. Instead, it is the time to buckle down and respond. It’s like you’ve just stepped on to the tennis court and have had the first ball tossed your way. No one has won anything yet. You’re just getting warmed up…

* Understand what your prospect wants. Take a good look at what your prospect has sent you and decide whether a return email or phone call is more appropriate. This is where it’s important to ask questions and get a dialogue going. One way to do this is to take what your prospective client tells you on the phone or by email and blend some of their words into a proposal. If you write down everything they say and share this back, they’ll start to trust you (and think, “wow, it’s almost like they read my mind”). It’s like the prefect hit of the ball!

* Make the proposal enticing. A friend of mine who does PR likes to actually incorporate the prospect’s logo into the proposal she sends over. She’ll put both logos side by side on the first page, which I think subconsciously makes a person feel a strong connection. She’ll also cater it to the client by using words that are more casual or professional, depending on the prospect.

* Keep your mind on the goal. Obviously the goal is to get a new client so make sure you keep things moving, rather that stepping away from the court (unless your player is not a good fit). Before you hang up the phone or send an email to a prospect, have an action step in mind. Make sure you’ve asked enough questions so that the ball gets tossed back to you.

The Handshake
Now that the ball has been going back and forth a couple times and a good game is underway, your prospect is likely warming up to you and you are starting to be in sync. At some point you have to step away and let the person make a decision. This doesn’t mean you stop playing the game, but if everything fits, things will naturally flow to a friendly handshake—and everyone wins.

Photo via flickr user johnofdublin

How Writers Can Win More Prospects

by Alyssa Ast


Making a full time commitment to the writing life is a huge step that's full of various benefits and personal satisfaction. Nothing is greater than becoming your own boss and following your passion for writing. Many seasoned writers share their writing life experiences with the "newbies" but often leave out some of the less than enjoyable aspects of the writing life. While there are a few somewhat negative aspects of becoming a full time writer, the benefits still largely outweigh the negative. Here are a few things I have learned since making my living as a writer.


1. No matter how thick your skin is some criticism stings worse than others. It's a well known fact if you want to be a writer you are going to have to learn how to deal with the criticism from others. Overtime, criticism begins to roll off your back and you take the comments for what they are and move on. But every so often someone that lacks professional etiquette comes along and throws a little salt on the wound of criticism. When you receive deconstructive criticism the sting is a little worse than when you receive constructive criticism. When this happens you just have to remember some people are going to like you and some are not. While the deconstructive criticism can anger you, you must keep your head and try to find some form of valuable information in what was said.


2. Your computer becomes permanently attached to your finger tips. When you begin writing you will always be on the computer, whether it's for writing, emails, or networking. It seems no matter how hard you try to get away from the computer it still pulls you right back to it. But oddly enough, if you should somehow be able to get off the computer for a day or two, you can start loosing your mind with a sense of feeling disconnected and unproductive. It is important to turn the computer off and interact with other humans every once in a while. I try to create a daily schedule that will allow for X number of hours spent on the computer.


3. When you aren't writing you are thinking about writing. It's amazing how writing daily can act as a form of therapy or as a relaxation technique. Writing daily truly does become addicting and when you are not able to write for a day, all you can think about is that you would rather be writing. The seconds can tick by as you count down until you are able to steal a minute from everyday life to sit down and pour your thoughts out. The anxiety of NEEDING to write can be overwhelming at times. I learned to deal with this by carrying a notepad around with me so whenever the writing urge hits, I can just pull out the notebook.


4. Sometimes you will doubt yourself and your decision. Since writing is not always a reliable or steady form of income and the time in between gigs can be longer than you would like, it's not uncommon to become stressed out. While stressed out, many begin to doubt their choice to become a full time writer and often think about giving up. But this isn't the correct mind set. Did you ever hear the phrase "positive energy attracts?" Well, this is very true. You have to remain positive about the situation and fully believe in yourself that the true writing gig for you will come along. Whatever you do, don't give up!


5. Remaining motivated day in and day out is easier said than done. Being your own boss is so much more difficult than anyone could have ever imagined. It's great because you make your hours and you do what you want but without a strong level of self motivation it can be difficult. With so many distractions revolving around you, it is too easy to procrastinate and not get anything done. It's important to take your writing career seriously and set daily or weekly goals to meet to keep yourself motivated to work.


What are some of the things you have found to be difficult about the writing life?

5 Things No One Tells You about the Writing Life

By C.S. Lakin 




I recently read Malcom Gladwell's best seller, Outliers, which got me thinking about the long, tedious road to publication. Although we occasionally hear of the author who gets a contract for a first novel in record time, it seems more the norm to hear of stories of authors (like me) who have been trying to get published for five, ten, even twenty years (twenty-three for me, she says, waving her hand madly in the air).

Through research Gladwell discovered experts agreeing on the amount of time needed to bring a person to the level of an expert in his or her field. He cites examples: Bill Gates, Robert Oppenheimer, The Beatles, as some who put in the requisite 10,000 hours into their field or craft.

As a copyeditor, I see lots of manuscripts lacking in brilliance and writing expertise--as do literary agents and acquisition editors. Yet, I’ve come across many new writers who state that because their book was divinely inspired, perhaps even "written" by God, they can justify "bypassing" the needed amount of training and honing of their craft that perhaps an ordinary person might need.

Oftentimes, when feeling the spirit of creativity moving on our imagination and heart, revealing to us words and themes and concepts, we figure all we need do is be faithful and write it all down--and voila! a masterpiece.
Here's an copyeditor insider chuckle: Author: God wrote my book. Editor: If God wrote your book, why didn't he edit it as well?

Funny how writing seems to fall into its own special category. If I felt called in life to be a brain surgeon, people would think me nuts to walk into a hospital, state I was "destined to become a surgeon," and ask for a scalpel to operate on the patient on the table. In fact, should I press forward and take scalpel in hand, I would quickly be carted off by force and removed as far from that hospital as possible--to protect the patient lying on the table. I might even find myself in a nifty jacket that ties in the back, where my eager hands can't reach the knots.

Reasonable people expect aspiring surgeons to put in the requisite hours of study, residency, supervised and assisted training to work up to being the capable doctor they hope to be. This is the same across professions--whether one hopes to practice law, build a skyscraper, or even drive a school bus full of squirrelly children.

Some "careers" may not call for ten thousand hours of diligence, but Gladwell notes that to become an expert in your field, to rise above the masses, you have to put in ten thousand hours. That's about twenty hours a week for ten years of practicing and honing your craft. We feel comforted when we hear our 747 pilot has logged in over ten thousand hours of flight time. We might not feel so at ease if we were told this was his first time behind the wheel (or stick).

Sometimes new writers lament that they haven't been able to sell their first manuscript after a hard year of writing and querying agents. Maybe even after even five years they ask, Why is this desired goal of publishing next to impossible? I would venture to say this: Maybe the goal feels impossible to reach because they haven't yet put in their ten thousand hours.

Sure, it can feel like walking ten thousand miles, but when you take such a lengthy trip through many lands, you grow and learn and absorb the cultures and surroundings until they become part of your soul and fill your cache of imagination to the full. We need to mature in our writing. Our writing technique and voice needs to age like a fine wine. Remember that slogan--"We serve no wine before its time"? How about: "We sell no manuscript before our writing is honed and refined"?

A few--very few--writers find "success" or publication after only a year or two of starting their journey as a writer, but that's not the norm. Talk to most authors who have been publishing for years and you will often hear numbers thrown around: "It took me ten years to get an agent...twelve years to get my first publishing contract..."

Sure, there are factors of timing, accessibility to conferences, personality, the genre you write in juxtaposed to the market needs. All these things can have a bearing on your "success." But, rather than focus on the "success" part, I'd rather focus on the "expert" part. I don't know if I've put in my ten thousand hours yet, but if not, I'm sure close. And I'd rather look ahead to the twenty-thousand-hour mark, drinking in the sights along the way--reminding myself that it’s all about the journey, not the destination.


About C.S. Lakin

C.S. Lakin learned early in life how written words can create a magical world for people to escape the monotony and stress of daily life. Lakin, a prolific author, writing coach and editor, uses her creative talent and the power of myth to create a land of intrigue, inspiring readers to see the world in a positive light.

Lakin’s latest literary project, the “Gates of Heaven” series, picks up the torch from fantasy fiction greats like J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis and invites readers into the magical fantasy world of Tebron.

In the series’ premiere novel, The Wolf of Tebron (AMG Publishers/Living Ink Books, August 2010, 978-089957-888-0), Joran, a young blacksmith determined to free his captive wife, learns the meaning of unconditional love from a protective wolf, Ruyah. Representative of God’s love, Ruyah’s unwavering support allows Joran to discover the power within himself.

Currently writing her 10th book, Lakin has penned mystery novels, science fiction and even a cookbook, representing her diverse interests. Lakin’s contemporary fiction novel, Someone to Blame, won Zondervan’s First Novel contest and releases in October 2010. Innocent Little Crimes, Lakin’s suspense thriller, earned a spot in the semifinals of the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award.

In addition to her extensive writing career, Lakin works as a copyeditor and writing mentor, helping fellow authors as well as publishers and agents. C.S. Lakin also lends her skill and talent as a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Christian Editor Network and the Bay Area Editor’s Guild.

A multi-talented woman, C.S. Lakin built and ran a bed and breakfast for 15 years while raising her two children, maintaining a Pygmy goat farm and assisting in developing television series. She was able to draw from her daughters’ lively imaginations and youthful spirits while writing The Wolf of Tebron to create a truly unique and mystical world.

C.S. Lakin currently resides in Boulder Creek, Calif., with her husband of 27 years, Lee, and loves spending time with her two grown daughters, hiking, gardening and cooking. For more information about C.S. Lakin and her writing, please visit www.cslakin.com.

Guest Post: 10,000 Hours Can Feel Like 10,000 Miles

By Kerrie McLoughlin
When I’m in the middle of a really juicy writing project (e.g., a marketing manual, an ebook I’m publishing myself, an article assignment for a parenting magazine), I let some things go …

1. Hygiene — A few questions I like to ask myself are: When was the last time I brushed my teeth? Did I shower yesterday? How bad do I smell on a scale of 1 to 10 (if I don’t smell too bad, I can sure use that extra half-hour for writing)? Do my legs really need shaving, or can I put that off another couple of days (or just wear pants)?

2. Weight … I NEED that Starbuck’s mocha espresso or the Sonic vanilla Dr. Pepper to keep going, don’t I? And I certainly don’t have time to exercise when I’m in a writing groove. Nope, better to sit and work on my Secretary Spread (or Writer’s Widening, as I like to call it).

Next Sunday … more Writers Gone Wild (my writing space and homeschooling are going to pot)

photo credit:  positivelygoodproductions.com

Writers Gone Wild, Part One

By Pam Houghton

I have at ton of writing books in our bookcase that I read, oh, 10 - 15 years ago, when I was in the early stages of child rearing, working as a corporate peon in software manufacturing, and trying to write on the side.

What was I thinking?

I was thinking that even though I had a degree in Human Resources, learned a thing or two about spreadsheets in my 10' x 10' cubicle, and was busy-as-a-bee with a couple of very young children and a husband who worked long hours, I still had a hankering to write.

I never studied literature in college. I suppose I was too practical, knowing that my goal to become self-supporting necessitated a degree with more practical application. But in so doing, I chucked the opportunity to study words and language for personal satisfaction.

The good news is neglected talents have a way of knocking on your cranium as if to say, Hey, knucklehead, what about me?

That's when I realized that even though I was knee-deep in corporate chaos and toddler tantrums, I needed to write. Without quitting the day job.

How would I get in touch with this long-neglected talent? I'm sure I started with a notebook and pen - the way I still often start - but I was truly helped by a few classic writing books.

Here are a few I highly recommend to anyone - new and "old" writers alike.

1. Bird-by-Bird by Anne Lamott (1994) - Lamott tells the readers "every single thing I know about writing." Doesn't tell you what to write or how to write or who to write about. She instead focuses on things that makes the writer's life possible - including realistic expectations (the odds that writing will bring "great financial security" are not great); and the surprise element (the act of writing is actually more rewarding than getting published).

2. Writing down the Bones - Freeing the Writer Within by Natalie Goldberg (1986) - Goldberg entices the reader to write daily on the premise that writing a lot is the only way to get better. But don't set yourself up for failure by expecting to write the Great American Novel every time you sit down. In fact, she says to free yourself by saying, "I'm going to write the worst junk in the world." Then write. Don't stop. You'll tap into an energy that will take you to an honest place in your writing.

3. On Writing Well - by William Zinsser (1976) - Zinsser's classic book on writing is geared to anyone who has to write anything - including those boring corporate reports - and to get them to write using good English. What I like about it is that he's not like the English teacher who sits on our shoulder and criticizes as we write; instead, he's straightforward, direct and filled with wonderful examples of why we should write well and how to apply it to our writing.

I'm sure there are other classic books on writing - perhaps some written in the past decade! Please share some of your favorites.

Classic Writing Books

by Rebecca Dienger

As I work on my website I'm trying to decide which samples of my work, some of them quite dated, best represent my abilities. Since I don't have a lot of high-profile pieces I have to focus on quality and be proud of what I've accomplished in my own little corner of the world.

I'm realizing that when I started freelancing I had writing experience and enough contacts to get work, but there was no strategy or destination in mind. I was a stay-at-home mom, happy to have projects to bring in some side money and keep my mommy brain occupied. By the time my son went to kindergarten, I was working close to full time and had amassed a decent portfolio of work. Not bad, but I could have been more thoughtful about it.

With so much work procured on the web, you may not need to go local, but if you're having trouble breaking in beyond blogging, there are plenty of places to go just down the street and around the corner to build confidence and a decent portfolio. You only need a few writing samples to prove your abilities. Then use them to get the more lucrative and exciting jobs you really want!

In marketing, we know that it costs far less in money, time and effort to nurture and keep current customers than it does to attract and sell to new ones. The principle applies to soliciting freelance work. Existing relationships make it so much easier to get started because the trust factor is already there. Talk to former employers, businesses you patronize and friends who can recommend you.

My first freelance gig was for a former employer - a quarterly tabloid full of feature articles about the business distributed through the local newspaper. They gave me the story ideas and contacts and I did the rest, including the photography. Because they knew me and my work ethic, they could give me the freedom to produce it independently with no worries.

This made the newspaper aware of my availability. Soon I was writing features as a stringer. Feature writing may not be in demand but if you have a compelling human interest story in mind you still may be able to sell it locally. Believe it or not there are still publications distributed in print. Squeeze out some clips before they shutter their windows!

I also let local print shops know I was available for work. Writing and proofreading for them lead to more creative projects. They passed my name to agencies, designers and other independents. So much printed content has moved to digital formats online, but many local businesses still use brochures to communicate their services. They need you.

In this downsizing economy, marketing departments are lean and most small businesses don't even have one. Make yourself a go-to person for copy jobs like brochures, email newsletters and web content. Remind your client that search engines love new content and now you have a source of recurring revenue.

I write a monthly email newsletter for a client going on its fourth year. They value this important means of maintaining strong customer relationships, offering special online deals and linking to content that supports their mission. Better yet, convince your local mom and pop that a blog will help their business. Having someone provide this voice for them and keep it fresh with frequent postings can provide you with more ongoing work.

Chances are there is a video production company or web developer in your neck of the woods. I've written 30-minute training videos and 30-second commercials. Long-form videos are still being produced for informational purposes and marketing events, and short clips and slide presentations are in demand for the web. If you can marry images and words, offer your scriptwriting and creative services.

I can't say enough how local jobs helped me gain valuable writing experience and kept me employable when I needed to re-enter the job market. I will be posting samples of this work to my website because no matter how dated they may be, my clips show evidence of my ability to write for a variety of media on a variety of topics and demonstrate longevity in the field.

Go Local to Build Your Portfolio

By Carol Tice

Why Writers Need Contracts

By Lindsay Woolman

I recently saw the movie Alice in Wonderland and I was surprised by how much I liked it. In one scene Alice is being chased through a forest and then she spins around and faces the creature and says, “It’s only a dream; it can’t hurt me.” The creature immediately stops chasing her and retreats. I think that is a great interpretation of what happens when we face what we fear.

What types of creatures are chasing you in your forest? Rejection? Failure? Success?!

I think it’s good to realize that most fearful things are based more in our imagination than in reality. We may even know this intellectually and yet still struggle with facing what we fear. As much as it is hard to realize, the only way to deal with any type of fear of uncomfortable feeling is to face it.

When I think of the many scary creatures I have faced in life, once I get past them, we kind of become friends. I also no longer spend my energy worrying or day dreaming because instead I am taking action on what I want with no reservations. I do think that the impossible can become possible because miracles happen every day.

At the end of Alice in Wonderland she does what she believes is the impossible—and she comes out strong and ready to conquer the world. Here are some examples of “impossible” things to imagine happening in your own life:

1. Your inbox is flooded with yes’s. The magic word for writers or anyone is yes. Perhaps it’s a new client or something bigger. All great things seem to start from yes.

2. Someone helpful comes along. I don’t know why this happens, but anytime you have a problem that you are trying to solve, doesn’t it seem like helpful people start coming out of the word work? It doesn’t seem to happen until you decide you truly need help, but that decision puts things into motion.

3. Your efforts are paying off. Another one of those mysteries is that we put something into motion and then wait and wait and wait. If we don’t give up, then what seems to happen is after a few weeks or months (or years!), things slowly start to change. I don’t know why it sometimes takes awhile for the universe to get the message, but you know you’re on to something when you suddenly wake up and notice that things are happening.

4. Other people are asking you for advice. Wouldn’t it be great to have someone come up and ask you, “How did you do it?” It might sound impossible today, but everyone starts in the same place and has the same opportunities. People seek advice from those who are a few steps ahead. You just never know how quickly you might be in the same place as someone you admire.

5. You get a big break. Every once in a while we all need a break, whether it’s literal (a day all to yourself) or a big break with work.

6. Your perspective shifts. On Oprah, they call this your “ah-ha” moment. This is something we all search for constantly, especially when we know things need to change. This is that pivotal moment when you know that going forward things will be never be quite the same.

What are your intentions for your business? These are great to think of as your own 6 “impossible” things.

Photo via flickr user mimli

6 Impossible Things Before Breakfast…

By Alyssa Ast

Keyword Finder
You know me and my Search Engine Optimization, so I think a great keyword finder is a must have for every online writer. I prefer to use WordTracker to find my keywords. I like WordTracker the best because it is very simple to use and understand--plus it's free! WordTracker gives you clear results for keywords with very little confusion. It has never failed me when I optimize my content.

Keyword Density Analyzer
Again, with my Search Engine Optimization, every online writer needs a good keyword density analyzer. I use SEOTools to check my keyword density. It's easy to use and is also free. Simply enter the URL of the content you want to check, set your word preferences, and let it calculate your density results. It will break down every word contained within your content and give you a clear percentage for each word and phrase. This allows you to make adjustments to increase your content's traffic.

Protecting Yourself
We have discussed Google Alerts on the WM Freelance Connection before, but it can't be emphasized enough how important this tool is. It allows you to monitor your work to ensure no one is copying you. Create an alert by entering a random section of your content (make sure it's in quotation marks) and choose how you want to be alerted. You have the option to receive real time, daily, weekly, or monthly alerts. It's also free!

Checking Plagiarism
The best tool I have found for checking plagiarism is Copyscape. You do have to pay for this one, but it is money well spent. You can check URL's and full length content for any areas of plagiarism. This is especially important to have if you are hired to do rewrites. The searches are done very quickly within a few seconds, and with clear results.

Checking Duplicate Content
My final tool I recommend every writer has is DupeFree. This is a great tool to use to check similar content. You can enter multiple texts to be checked against one another for duplication. You receive a percentage for the amount of content that is duplicated within each piece. This is very helpful if you rewrite and publish articles on different sites with non-exclusive rights.

5 Must Have Online Writing Tools

By Dennis Vaughn, Author of The Price of Revenge

We hear the adage “trust the reader,” but do we pay attention to it? I think not nearly as often as we should. One example is the desire I just had to add the word “old” before “adage,” but resisted on the ground that an “adage” is hoary by definition. There are many other examples:

One is the unnecessary adverb. The reader doesn’t have to read “I hate you, he said angrily.” The words “I hate you” convey the anger, without the necessity of describing it. Or, how about “I’m smiling about that, she said happily?” The reader can figure out that she’s happy from the smile; the description is not required.

Sometimes, we see repeated identifications. Jim Jones is described as “coach of the Emerson varsity basketball team,” and then ten pages later is identified as “the Emerson basketball team’s coach.” The reader can remember that far, indeed much further. If a tag is needed, wouldn’t it be enough just to say “Coach Jones?” Or we’re told that “Lita Haight is Doris Sim’s sister” and then twenty pages later the words are “Doris Sims, Lita Haight’s sister.” The more people or places in the story, the more confusing identification can become, but don’t overdo it.

Another example is the tendency we have to draw the lines tighter and tighter, not leaving any space to enter. The reader is excluded by the tightness, whereas if he or she were permitted to enter, there are new, exciting places to visit. Leaving the opening permits the reader to imagine, to fantasize, to reach his or her own result, or multiple results, or different successive results.

As an example, in my recently released novel, The Price of Revenge, there are ambiguities left on which the reader can put his or her own stamp. There is the question whether an affair continued after a certain event, one party saying it did, the other saying not. Or, there is an interpretation left to the reader whether it was A who killed C or B did it. While I didn’t plan the ambiguities from the beginning, it seemed the appropriate way when I got to the end, letting the reader supply his own answer. It leaves the reader thinking, beyond the end of the story. It’s fun when a reader calls and asks me to supply the answer. I tell them the answer is up to them, to figure it out to their own satisfaction, not to have me jam it down their throats.

H.G. Wells summed it up when he said about Joseph Conrad’s first novel “he has still to learn the great half of his art, the art of leaving things unwritten.”



About Dennis Vaughn

Dennis Vaughn spent 40 years in the practice of law. The firm he joined in Los Angeles after law school had seven lawyers and one office. Today, it is an international law firm with more than 1,000 lawyers and offices around the world.

Over the course of his career, Vaughn witnessed the environment of the legal profession change.
His new novel, The Price of Revenge (978-0-9842358-1-0, Synergy Books, April 2010, $15.95), explores declining ethical and professional standards in the legal profession as cut-throat competition diminishes loyalty between attorneys, their law firms and their clients.

The idea to write The Price of Revenge was presented to Vaughn as a joint venture by famed screenwriter Lorenzo Semple Jr. When Semple’s schedule prevented him from working on the project, Vaughn decided to complete the novel on his own.

The Price of Revenge follows David Fox, an attorney in Denver, who has everything he ever wanted, from a beautiful wife to a successful career. As one of his big cases unfolds, however, David finds himself being blackmailed and caught in a web of deceit. He struggles with the ethical challenges it presents and the impact of his decisions on his wife, their marriage and his career.

“Through David, I wanted to explore the changes in the legal profession,” Vaughn says. “Because of his ethical standards, David finds himself on the brink of losing everything, personally and professionally. I also focused on how his desire for revenge impacts himself and all of his relationships.”

Vaughn is active in several charitable organizations. He is the president of the Aspen Writers Foundation and is a life trustee of the Aspen Music Festival and School and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society in New York.

Vaughn has a bachelor’s degree from Stanford University and a law degree from Stanford Law School. He served as managing editor of the Stanford Law Review and has written numerous legal articles on labor and employment law. He and his wife, Linda, split their time between Aspen, Colo., and Los Angeles. Vaughn is retired and enjoys hiking, skiing and traveling. He is currently working on his second novel. Learn more at www.dennisvaughn.com.

Guest Post: Less is More

By Kerrie McLoughlin

Welcome to Ebook Editing Hell, fellow writers. I apologize if I have offended you with the use of the word “hell,” but we’ll see how you feel after you’ve read this post.

There are many sub-hells within Ebook Editing Hell. I will be your Tour Guide of this wonderful place …

• Here on your left is Comma Hell. Make sure you have them all in the right places. Should you use a comma after the second (but before the third) in a string of nouns? The rub is that there is no wrong choice!

• If you look to your right, you have “As well as” Hell … one of the most overused phrases in history. Sometimes a comma should go before this phrase and sometimes not. Just park your editing program on Find/Replace and figure it out on a case-by-case basis.

• Speaking of a case-by-case basis, down the hall here is Hyphen Hell. (e-book versus ebook … need I say more?) Don’t forget that there are three different kinds of hyphen (small, medium and long).

• Over there is one of my favorite parts: Number Hell. Here you will deal with issues like spelling out the numbers for ages or not and for which ones?

• That dark corner is Internet Hell. This is where you decide whether to write Website or Web site or website with capital letters or not, as all one word or not. Should you put the http:// in front of sites? How about the www? Have fun!

• Consistency Hell is the worst, in my book. Make sure magazines are italicized and that all sentences only have one space after periods.

Forget the Associated Press Stylebook and the Chicago Manual of Style and The Canadian Style: A Guide to Writing and Editing. Let’s just all have Editing Anarchy and do what we want!

I’m off to get some Ibuprofen … see you next Sunday!

Ebook Editing Hell

By Pam Houghton

Last week, I wrote about how I enjoyed the daily process of blogging for the 30-Day Blog Challenge; and even if I didn't produce great works of art, it forced me to sit down and focus on a singular point-of-view that I could later expand into a larger piece.


This week, I am going to address the social networking goals I'd set for myself. Which were, er, perhaps a bit more challenging as I'm not that social.


Let's go through some of the items on the list!


1. Read/follow/comment on other blogs.
I sought out a few to read here and there and became a "follower" although I'm not exactly sure what purpose it served. Maybe having or being a follower makes you feel kinda' popular, like you won't be eating alone in the high school cafeteria.


Ideally, to have a successful blogging experience (the kind where you are connecting to lots of readers), you should have a conversation of sorts on your own blog as well as on others. It seemed I liked to converse on a lot of blogs as much as I like to talk on the phone. Which isn't much.

2. Increase my followers.
Though I didn't expect a huge increase in readers in only 30 days, I think I underestimated the amount of time and effort it takes to build a blog. I have a new respect for people who are committed to their blogs and develop large followings. Although I did gain a few, I'm still shy the gazillions I've seen on others.


3. Cleverly leave back-links to my blog (another way to draw traffic to your blog) without feeling creepy or intrusive.
Once, but it's probably not wise to leave a link to a Mom-ish blog like mine on a "pump-you-up-career-transition" blog.


4. Gain valuable blogging and social media experience I can use to market my services to clients or employers.
For this, I really have to think about the sum total of social media experience I've gained here and on other sites I write for along with the 30-day blog challenge. And I can tell you little by little it all adds up.


5. Dip my toes in Twitter. Maybe.
Yes, I did! But sometimes scrolling through Twitter (a good place to scour for blogs) is like looking through a kaleidoscope when you're dizzy. It all kind of rolls together. Don't know what to click on or how long you'll get stuck in an endless amount of reading and clicking and clicking and reading.


To quickly summarize, social networking requires a concerted effort to seek out blogs, to read and comment, and to post frequently on your own. I can handle frequent posts, but I may have to turn into a social butterfly if I want to become an active member of the blogging community. For me, that's one tall order!

30-Day Blog Challenge Post-Mortem, Part 2