Guest blogger Meryl K. Evans at the Writer’s Resource Center has great tips for maximizing your freelance writing business. No matter how many websites and blogs you’ve read that offer business tips, there’s always someone with a slightly different perspective that needs to be read. Meryl’s post needs to be read because she offers some rather nuanced tips; for instance, sending “relevant articles to clients, let them know about a relevant blog entry in which they might want to leave a comment, give them names of people when they need a resource, and sent them relevant reporter leads so they can contact the reporter to help out and maybe be quoted in the story.” This is networking at it’s best because, while you’re acting in the best interests of your client, you’re increasing your social capital. For more great tips from Meryl, click here.
Tag: Writer’s Resource Center
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Before you answer that question, read the post of guest blogger James Chartrand on the Writer’s Resource Center–“Want to be a Freelance Writer? Get Ready for Business!” James (of Men With Pens fame) describes several skills that a successful freelance writer needs–besides good writing skills: customer service; bookkeeping; marketing; and organizational skills. The crux of his article is that freelancing writing is a business and should be approached as such. If you’re serious about making a career of freelancing writing, then you’ll need to heed James’s advice. Click here to read the entire post.
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The high caliber of guest blogging at the Writer’s Resource Center continues with Yuwanda Black‘s post on “White Papers: The Niche Where 20 Pages Can Net You $20,000–Really!” Yumanda’s post defines white papers and gives some great insights on why writing white papers can be lucrative. It comes down to: the business field (which is willing to pay $$), industry recognition (that’s the purpose of white papers), and less competition (from other freelancers).
According to Yuwanda: “White papers are the one writing niche where I’d have to say the worth of the writer is valued in terms of the end result, not the actual output. And, that’s one reason to go after this niche. Business rarely quibble about price, they just want someone who can deliver the goods – goods they don’t mind paying for.” Click here to read the entire post.
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Happy Monday morning and welcome to another blurb on the guest bloggers for the Writer’s Resource. Today’s guest blogger–Todd Eastman–provides some great advice for using slang and accent in fiction. Here’s a taste:
“Many writers find dialogue to be one of the most difficult aspects of writing fiction. Trying to include regional accents and speech patterns and doing it incorrectly can ruin your story. On the other hand, doing it correctly can make the story seem even more authentic. There are several things you need to be careful of when using this technique in your dialogue.”
Visit Todd’s post and learn more about using slang and accent in your writing.
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Another entertaining and informative post from a guest blogger at the Writer’s Resource Center: “A small sheik escaped” and other editing execises to energize your writing by L.A. Ramsey. L.A. shares writing bloopers (AKA typographical errors) as well as the hilarious story of how she lost a sixth-grade spelling contest. Her post is another fine example of blending just enough personal detail with professional knowledge to make for a fun read. Here’s a teaser: “Of all the things in human existence to be ignited by–a skylark, Picasso’s man strumming a blue guitar, a flapper wobbling to the tune of the Charleston, a kid’s gap-toothed grin–mine was a small sheik.” Now click here and read the rest of her post.
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Today’s guest blogger at the Writer’s Resource Center, Tom Johnson, offers a provocative post on balancing personal with professional content in nonfiction writing. On one extreme, there is “oversharing,” such as that exemplified by bloggers such as Emily Gould. On the other extreme, there are those dry texts that appear to have been dictated by a robot. Tom argues for something in-between, something that has enough substance to give the article or essay its meat and enough personal sharing to add a bit of spice. His pithy advice to writers: “[…] make sure the substance is there first. With that in place, most readers will welcome the personal style.” But click here to read his post in its entirety. His own writing is a great example of how to balance the personal with the professional.
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Check out guest blogger Jeanne Dininni’s post on essay writing over at the Writer’s Resource Center. Her advice should be followed by writers and teachers of writing. Her first two secrets are: “Devise a Plan of Attack,” and “Dig Up Some Background.” Click here to read more.
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Or short story or whatever creative project you seem to always be working on but never completing. Take David Jace’s advice and be the god you know you are. In his guest entry at the Writer’s Resource Center, Jace admonishes us that “Writers Must Be Gods.” As gods, we can decide whether our characters live or die, marry or divorce. We can decide when enough is enough, and that the story must come to an end. Our characters, our plots depend on us being gods, and, actually, so do our readers. Check out Jace’s entry for an empowering (pun intended) missive.
Marie at 1 Write Way 