What do you do when your feedback is all over the place, unclear, too prescriptive (they're not trusting your expertise and skills), and not audience-oriented? I'll tell you what. You can have my script. You can straight up copy/paste it, tweak it, and make it your own.
Read moreThe Intersection of Content Marketing and Journalism: Where Freelance Writers Should Be
I don’t know why more content teams aren’t acting on this, but…can I tell you a secret? Journalists (trained, former, present) are wildly underutilized when it comes to content marketing efforts.
Read moreHow to Build a Style Guide
If you're wondering how to build a style guide for writers, look no further. This post covers tips, resources, and suggestions for helping you complete yours.
Read moreDoes Your Writing Take a Stance?
There’s a lot of writing out there in the world, but the stuff that stands out in our modern, noisy world seems to follow one approach: It takes a stance. It puts a stake in the ground and says, “This is what I think and believe to be true. Here’s why.”
Here's how you can do the same.
Read moreHelpful Resources for Freelance Writers
Here are my favorite, most helpful resources for freelance writers all in one place.
From business education resources that’ll help you run a more organized, profitable business, to resources for finding writing work, to a few helpful tools that’ll make writing simpler and easier, it’s all right here.
Read moreIntroducing: The Freelance Writing Coach Podcast
In each 25-minute episode of this new podcast, we take a deep dive on various topics and provide actionable advice (plus firsthand insights) gleaned from our combined 10+ years of full-time freelancing.
Our hope is that this will be your new go-to podcast for building a freelance writing business.
Read moreFreelance Writers + the Apprenticeship Model
Did you know that the apprenticeship model extends all the way back to the Middle Ages? It’s true: A master craftsman would employ young people as an inexpensive form of labor in exchange for providing food, lodging, and formal training in a craft.
Apprenticeships are still used today, but in the freelance world, I don't see people talking about it.
Read moreLive Sessions + Teaching Writing Lessons via Crowdcast
Over the past few months, I’ve been experimenting with teaching writing lessons in a live format via Crowdcast. So far I’ve done four live (paid) sessions that average about 10-15 people each as well as one free Q&A session (which had almost 100 attendees.)
Read moreHow Does Freelance Writing Work?
Remember that feeling you had as a teenager the first time you slid behind the steering wheel of your parents’ car?
You get in, fire it up, and grab the wheel with a white-knuckle-death-grip as you jerk your way around an empty high school parking lot.
Read moreHow to Become a Freelance Writer
If you’re researching jobs that let you escape the office and be your own boss, being a freelance writer probably tops most lists you’ll find online.
You can work wherever you want (as long as you have an internet connection), whenever you want (please sleep from time to time), and for whoever you want (assuming they want to work with you, too).
But what does a freelance writer do, exactly? And how do you become one?
Read moreQuick Guide for New Freelance Writers
I’ve created a quick guide for new freelance writers who are just starting to dip their toes in the waters of the freelancing world.
This will give you answers to some of the many questions that come up as you’re just getting started--and will point you in the direction of some helpful resources, too.
Read moreWhat does a freelance writer do?
Common Freelance Writing Questions Answered
Last week after I did a live Q&A session, I realized it’d probably be helpful to pull together a FAQ of sorts that puts answers to common freelancing-related questions all in one place.
Honestly, I don’t know why I hadn’t done this already. UGH.
So, without further ado: Here are my quick, short-form answers to common freelancing questions and links to longer-form reads that answer these questions more fully.
I hope you bookmark this page and share it with others.
Read moreAre Freelance Writers Who Sell Things "The Enemy"?
No writing lesson today guys. This one’s a bit more general.
Recently on the Creative Class Podcast (the one for freelancers I co-host with Paul Jarvis), we tackled a topic that’s been bouncing around in my brain: Are people who work for themselves and sell things *really* the enemy?
Paul and I both sell digital products online, and even though it’s new to me, I find myself feeling caught in the crosshairs of this conversation.
The How, What, and Why to Launching My First Freelance Writing Resources
The how, what, and why behind my first-ever digital resources for writers and content managers.
Read moreBest Tips for Getting Ahead in Your Freelance Writing Career
Earlier this week, I spoke to a class of high school seniors in an entrepreneurship program. I was there to talk about my career path, freelancing, and lessons learned along the way.
I got into how connections, networking, and relationship-building got me from an e-commerce store launched on a whim in college to a full-time freelance career.
My First Freelance Writing Intern: Lessons Learned & Future Plans
My first ever college intern and I just finished up last week. 😱 Can you believe it?! Time flies, man.
Katelyn, a junior at one of the local universities (English major) signed on in August to work with me over the course of the semester. She’s getting into finals in the next few weeks, so we wrapped things up right around Thanksgiving. Here’s what I learned from the experience.
Why Freelance Writers Should Write Thank You Notes
The art of snail mail is seriously under-utilized these days...but I’m still a big believer.
In fact, for years now, I’ve been sending out handwritten thank you notes to my clients.
I recently partnered with Basic Invite to up my game with custom thank you cards (and you can, too.)
Read moreHow Freelance Writers Can Stay Creative with Side Projects
You know, sometimes…sometimes I don’t feel all that inspired by my writing work.
Am I good at it? Sure.
Can I deliver on time? Yep.
But that doesn’t mean that I’m always excited to write the same types of articles day in and day out. Plus, my work can be fairly technical and research-heavy, which doesn’t always lend itself to a lot of creativity.
How to Stop Taking Edits Personally
Stop Taking Edits So Personally
Writing is the first hurdle.
Getting your edits done is the second.
You think you’re all done with a project and then…Ha! Nope. You’ve got some re-writing to do.
Read more