Freelance Writing Success

You're afraid to pitch your freelance writing services until you know everything there is to know about pitching and writing. The bad news is, you'll never know it all. The good news is, understanding this and embracing the beginner's mind frees you to experiment and figure out what works for you. In this podcast, you'll get the facts and motivation you need to get started now, no matter how much—or how little—you know.

You know whats the worst? When you go to pitch a client you love, and you find out that they've left the company...and in their place is someone who doesn't know you from Adam. Except that it's actually not the worst—it's the best! I explain why that is and how to turn one freelance writing job into two.

Why are writers pegged as heavy drinkers? Diana Burrell of Renegade Writer Press explains why this is—and what it means for us writers—in this excerpt from the upcoming third edition of The Renegade Writer: A Totally Unconventional Guide to Freelance Writing Success.

You may be losing out on freelance writing jobs by sharing too much information with your prospects. Here, I share how over-sharing can hurt your career, why we do it, and how to know if you're guilty of writing pitches with TMI.

You've probably heard that writers who specialize can command higher fees. But what niche should you choose? Whether you're just starting out, or have been writing for a while and want to increase your earnings, here are some ways to choose the most profitable specialty for you...from niching by topic to letting your niche choose you.

When you're irritated, stop complaining. Instead, transform your problem into a way to help readers...and a way to land more freelance writing jobs. I'll show you how I did it, and how you can, too.

The makers of the popular party game Codenames just signed a license with another publisher to come out with Codenames Disney Family Edition and Codenames Marvel Edition. Some game fans called this a "Cash grab." Here, we talk about why creators NEED to grab the cash, and why it's your DUTY to sell out.

Word counts are getting shorter, and deadlines are too, which means you may be tempted to cut corners on your work to make ends meet. Here, I talk about how skimping on your writing does a disservice to your readers, doesn’t actually save time, and results in fewer freelance writing jobs. If you’re tempted to cut corners, here’s what to do instead.

Worrying about what might happen should you get an assignment - What if I get sued? What if I can’t do the job? What if I need a business license? - is what I call “pre-freaking out.” Its noble purpose is to save future you from having to freak out later, but it also saves you from fun gigs and from fat paychecks. Here’s what to do instead, so you can finally start enjoying the freelance life.

Holding strict beliefs about how the writing business works can lead to an overconfidence in the rules that sucks all the fun out of your writing life. Here’s how to develop a different kind of confidence when you know that you really know nothing.

Being in control of your time isn't as fun as you thought, right? Here are five ways to schedule your work days, from the most regimented...to "Linda's Patented ADHD-Style Schedule."

Can't "relate" to people who aren't just like you? That may be why your freelance writing earnings are too low.

If you find that the majority of your clients are problem children, it's time to take a hard look in the mirror. Maybe you're the problem child...

If you feel that you can't possibly pitch your writing and get clients until you have just one more clip...just one more class...just one more testimonial...just one more credential... ...this episode is for you!

Hate pitching? Don't pitch. Hate blogging? Don't blog. Hate networking? Don't network. "Stop Optimizing What You Hate" is all about discovering what form of marketing is best for YOUR freelance writing business, instead of scattering your energies on all the different types of marketing espoused by the marketing gurus du jour. This podcast is based on an article I wrote for my coaching website. Enjoy!