books - article index
An
Interview with NANCY HENDRICKSON, by Brian Konradt
Sowing
the Seeds of Opportunity: How to Multiply Your Freelance (Writing) Work
- by Brian Konradt
An
Interview with JENNIE S. BEV, author of "Write Industry Reports"
by Brian Konradt
An Interview
with NANCY HENDRICKSON,
author of "Secrets of a Successful
Freelancer"
by Brian Konradt
Since becoming a freelancer, NANCY
HENDRICKSON has published more than one thousand features, shorts and newsletter
columns in national and regional magazines and on the Web. Nancy is a full-time
freelancer, living in San Diego. She specializes in computer, genealogy
and history writing.
[ BK ]: What kind of job/s (or career)
did you do before you became a full-time writer? Did any of these jobs
contribute to your success as a freelance writer?
NANCY HENDRICKSON: I've worked at
a variety of jobs, including supervising in a tree nursery, driving a school
bus, working in retail and medical insurance. However, for the last several
years before I went full-time as a freelancer, I transcribed medical reports.
The jobs, themselves, didn't contribute directly to my freelance success,
however they helped me realize what a diversity of interests I have--and
how much I'd enjoy writing about many, many topics. Also, because I was
self-employed during my medical-job related years, it taught me to discipline
myself, to set a work structure and work goals--it also helped me develop
a solid business background, which is invaluable as a freelancer.
[ BK ]: Many aspiring writers dream
about freelancing full-time. You're living this dream. What are some myths
and truths about freelancing full-time? Is it as glorious and rewarding
as it may seem?
NANCY HENDRICKSON: Yes, absolutely!
I get up in the morning and (unless I have an early interview scheduled),
I walk to one of my neighborhood coffee houses for an unhurried morning
brew. I then work solidly til about noon, and then take a couple of hours
off for lunch, then work til later in the afternoon.
Recently, I packed up my laptop (with
wireless modem) and drove from San Diego to Port Townsend, Washington--up
on the Olympic Peninsula, working all the way.
The greatest thing about being a
freelancer, for me, is to set my own schedule and to be free to travel
anywhere, as long as I can get an Internet connection. These days, even
if I'm in an area where my wireless modem doesn't work, I can always find
an Internet cafe and work there, or a local library.
Then downside, of course, is that
you are always hustling to get assignments. However even that has gotten
better, because editors now call me with jobs.
I wouldn't trade this life for anything!
[ BK ]: Your e-book advises writers
to become a niche writer -- specializing in an area. Why is this so beneficial
in today's economy? How has specializing helped you?
NANCY HENDRICKSON: As I wrote in
the book, you can write about many, many topics (which I do), however I
market myself as a specialist because editors want to know that you're
really savvy in their area.
For example, I've been writing for
a computer magazine and they don't care one bit that I'm also a genealogy
specialist--they just want to make sure I know how to research, interview
analysts and write good tech stories.
As the world expands, I've found
publications actually becoming more narrowly focused. Most of us have fairly
specialized interests, and we want a magazine that focuses on that. As
a reader, for example, I want to read about PDAs (personal digital assistants)
which run on the Palm OS. I'm not so interested in Pocket PCs. My obvious
reading choice is the magazine which really focuses on the Palm OS devices.
Of course, I have to confess, as
a writer, that I still buy the Pocket PC magazines, just to keep up on
the industry.
[ BK ]: How do you market yourself
to garner assignments? For the beginning freelance writer, what marketing
would work best to land first and repeat work?
NANCY HENDRICKSON: I think a beginner
has the best chance by finding a market that covers a subject they know
inside and out. Then, when querying, play up their expertise. Although
they can certainly find experts to interview (and editors love this), it
makes the editor more comfortable knowing the writer has that solid background
in their field.
As far as getting future assignments--I
*never* turn in an assignment without including a list of query topics.
The best time to get that additional work is when you turn in a completed
assignment. It works a huge percentage of the time.
[ BK ]: As you made the transition
from a part-time writer to a full-time freelance writer, what fears did
you have? Did you think about failure or worrying where your next paycheck
would come from? How did you overcome your fears?
NANCY HENDRICKSON: You know, this
was an area that didn't bother me. I had been working as a part-time freelancer
for quite awhile, so I had a good sense of how much income I could generate.
I also devised a spreadsheet (which
I didn't mention in the book, and need to put in as an additional suggestion).
The spreadsheet listed all of my clients at the time. In another cell,
I wrote the approximate amount of money I would get from a single assignment.
I then did this for each client.
Next, I guessed at how many jobs
I could do for each client in a year. Then, I let the spreadsheet calculate
what my year's income would be. If it wasn't enough, I went back to see
who I needed to write more for, or how many new clients I needed to add.
[ BK ]: In your e-book you advise
writers to join Internet mailing list/s as a way to connect with prospects.
Can you explain how this works, and how this can lead to getting work?
NANCY HENDRICKSON: I actually wrote
an article for The Writer about this topic. Joining mailing lists (in your
subject field) can help in a few ways:
1. You can find wonderful sources
to quote or interview.
2. You can position yourself as an
expert in the field--and believe it or not, editors do cruise through mailing
lists in their genre.
3. You can use them to begin establishing
your reputation. For instance, what if someone on the mailing list published
a short newsletter - - offer to give them a free short article for it.
Not only will that help build your clips, if you're just starting, it will
start getting your name out in the field.
[ BK ]: Besides writing for magazines,
do you do any other types of writing to supplement your income?
NANCY HENDRICKSON: I sell my Secrets
of a Successful Freelancer book, I just finished an Internet genealogy
book for a traditional publisher, and it will be out in the spring.
I also sell some great e-books on
the topic of writing e-books through a site at http://www.thehowtopublisher.com
Additionally, I have a local corporate client who hires me to write their
newsletter, Web content, ads, etc. This is a new area for me and I really
love it.
I love the business side of writing,
so spreading out to these other fields is a natural for me.
[ BK ]: You have your own web site
that provides prospective clients with information about yourself, your
skills, and samples of your work. How has your web site helped your writing
business? Do you recommend writers have their own web sites as well?
NANCY HENDRICKSON: My site has definitely
helped me get new clients. When I query an editor who doesn't know my work,
it's just so easy to refer them to my site--they can see which publications
I've written for, and my writing style.
If you want to be a successful freelancer,
I think you really have to have a Web site. And, one that is easy to navigate
and not filled with annoying graphics. Editors just want to get in, see
who you are and get out.
I also *strongly* recommend that
you get your own domain name and pay for a hosting company. It looks so
much more professional.
[ BK ]: With more than 1,500 shorts
and feature articles to your portfolio, you're a very prolific writer.
How do you keep yourself going from day to day and avoid laziness and boredom
over the long term?
NANCY HENDRICKSON: Good question.
I write about a variety of subjects, so that keeps my brain occupied and
interested. Even when I write for the same market, there are many, many
topics to research, and I like that very much. For example, in my work
for my current computer clients, I may write a hands-on review of 10 software
programs and then the next week do a roundup, and the next week a piece
on how to get the most from a specific program.
Another thing that keeps me busy
and interested is my www.thehowtopublisher.com work. I like creating the
business, writing the newsletter for it, and finding fun ways to market
it. I'm never bored with my work.
-------------
Nancy’s ebook, “Secrets of a
Successful Freelancer,” is a detailed blueprint which will help any serious
writer jump-start their freelance writing career. Her ebook sells for $16.95
and is sold at WritingCareer.com, an online ebook store, located at http://www.writingcareer.com/nhb001.shtml
-------------
Brian Konradt is a freelance writer
and graphic designer based in South Carolina.
Sowing
the Seeds of Opportunity: How to Multiply Your Freelance (Writing) Work
- by Brian Konradt
You can turn your $200 fee to write
a press release into $2,000 to carry out an entire PR campaign simply by
convincing clients to invest in campaigns, instead of individual assignments.
Campaigns achieve better results and cost less in the long-term for clients,
compared to individual assignments. And, of course, as the freelancer,
you get paid much more for turning out a succession of assignments that
assimilate a successful campaign.
Here's how to multiply your writing
sales by convincing clients to invest in long-term campaigns, instead of
short-term individual assignments.
• Know the short-term and long-term
results. A client approaches you to write a brochure. He may or may not
know that his product can also benefit from other types of promotional
pieces, such as ads, direct mail, news releases, websites, and so on, to
sell his product or service. Your job is to educate the client. The brochure
may be the first promotional piece in a consortium of promotional pieces.
Here, you must know the short-term and long-term view results of the brochure.
The short-term results are the results
the brochure will achieve for the client; and the long-term results are
the results the brochure will achieve/contribute for the entire campaign.
It answers the questions, "How do the results of this brochure fit into
the entire campaign?" and "How can these results be strengthened with other
forms of promotional materials?"
Show the client how a campaign, that's
comprised of a succession of assignments, can achieve — and exceed — his
expectations and outsell and outdo the performance of a single assignment.
• Use "tie-in" services. Whenever
a client approaches you with a single assignment, ask yourself what tie-in
services can supplement the single assignment. A news release achieves
better results when it's accompanied with a photo. And a press kit — complete
with press releases, photos, brochures, and company information — can achieve
better results than a single press release. All of these extra tie-in services
can turn writing a single press release into multiple writing sales.
• Offer the "concept to completion"
benefit. Instead of pitching yourself as a freelancer who can write newsletter
copy, pitch yourself as a freelancer who produces newsletters, from copy
to completion. You multiply your income by outsourcing parts of the job
and delivering a finished product, not a piece of the product. You also
can extend your "concept to completion" services by pitching yourself as
a marketing consultant, in which you make recommendations to the client
as to the best way to market the newsletter.
• Develop strong consultative skills.
Besides selling your freelance services, also offer consulting services.
Clients pay you to explain ideas, concepts, recommendations and turnkey
solutions as to the best way to achieve the results they desire. Consulting
with clients can lead to securing freelance work, since clients realize
you have the skills and expertise to undertake the task.
• Know the future needs of clients.
Clients come with present needs — and future needs. A client may hire you
to write a newsletter now, but they'll also consider you for future work
if you know what their future needs are and how to fulfill them. The company
may be ushering in a new product line, creating a new division within the
company, sponsoring a charity event, or creating a website. All of these
future events need a freelancer to do promotional writing and freelance
work. That's you. Your job is to show clients how you'll address their
future needs with solutions that'll increase their profitability and/or
productivity. This is usually accomplished with a proposal through which
you pitch yourself as the freelancer who has the solutions to undertake
the future tasks.
• Use proposals to secure work. Proposals
are an inclusive persuasion tool to convince prospects that you can increase
their profitability and/or productivity with your freelance services. Proposals
specifically show the client how you intend to achieve the desired results,
the time and costs involved, and why you and your solutions are the best
choices to boost the company's profits.
• Adaptations. Any of your freelance
writing services can be adapted for websites, turning a single assignment
into two assignments. Get paid to write a press release or brochure, and
then get paid again to adapt the copy digitally.
• Add-on services, such as desktop
publishing services, marketing consulting, compiling and selling media
lists, and project coordinating can help multiply your work and your income.
Brian Konradt is a former freelance
copywriter and graphic designer, and founder of FreelanceWriting.Com (http://www.freelancewriting.com),
a free web site dedicated to help writers master the business and creative
sides of freelance writing.
An
Interview with JENNIE S. BEV, author of "Write Industry Reports"
by Brian Konradt
JENNIE S. BEV is a successful industry
researcher, author, publicist, management consultant and instructional
designer with several published book-length manuscripts and reports, three
books and 800 articles under her belt. Her bylines have appeared in tens
of regional, national and international publications in the United States,
Canada and Southeast Asia. She is the author of the highly praised FabJob.com
Guide to Become a Management Consultant. She also manages an online book
review club, BookReviewClub.com, to advocate the love of reading to all
ages.
[ BK ]: You've written two e-books
so far. Tell us the process of writing an e-book, and why you decided to
write your material in e-book format? What have been the advantages?
JENNIE S. BEV: Writing an e-book
is just like writing any other books. Tenacity, ability to focus and stamina
to convey compelling messages from start to finish determine the quality
of the finished book (or e-book).
I personally don't have any preference
over the format of books, because it is not as important as the value of
information contained therein. Since the writing process is the same in
both formats, e-books should receive increased acceptance in the literary
world, which, fortunately, is already happening.
My forthcoming book, which is an
industry report, will be paper-based. As soon as I complete it in a few
more weeks, I'll be writing another e-book and a paper-based book. You
can see how varied the formats of my books are.
Both electronic and print formats
have their own advantages and disadvantages, of course. And one is better
than the other.
E-books, for instance, allow the
author to include direct hyperlinks to the referencing sources, which can
be extremely valuable for books that "teach," such as how-to books. This
way, the readers will be directly referred to Web sites for more in-depth
information without having to spend countless hours searching for additional
information that support the information contained in the e-book.
However, since e-books must be viewed
on a computer screen (or other e-book reader device), it is less handy
than print books. Unless the reader uses a handheld e-book device, it would
be impossible to read in a bathtub, for instance.
[ BK ]: You recently were named a
finalist in the Non-Fiction How-To Category of the 2003 Eppie Awards for
excellence in electronic publishing. Did you know your e-book, "Guide Become
a Management Consultant" was going to become a big success? What do you
think contributed to this e-book's success? Is it the writing, publishing,
or marketing?
JENNIE S. BEV: You made me blush.
Honestly, I was not expecting any award or official recognition for "FabJob.com
Guide to Become a Management Consultant." I simply tried my best to write
the most comprehensive reference for people who are looking for ways to
break into and succeed in management consultant.
In that e-book, I also interviewed
15 experienced management consultants, some of whom are best-selling authors
and renowned well-respected professionals. This effort alone demonstrates
my passion, which is very important in birthing a valuable book.
I honestly think no writer should
write for an award because it would distract him or her from the ultimate
goal: writing a book of distinctive quality. As a Zen master said, "live
for the moment." When you're eating, eat. When you're sleeping, sleep.
When you are writing, write.
Ah, I've been talking as if I had
won already. The winners will be announced in March 2003, so I'm still
keeping my fingers crossed. (Updates will be posted on www.WritingGigs.com.)
All the three factors (the writing,
publishing and marketing) play important roles in creating a successful
book (or e-book). An author can write the best book in the world, but without
proper publishing package (the formatting and final touches) and publicity/marketing
efforts, nobody would buy it.
[ BK ]: Can you describe your typical
workday?
JENNIE S. BEV: In my ideal day, I
read one book and write at least 1,000 words. Sometimes more, sometimes
less. I wake up at around 7 and go to bed at midnight. I go to my neighborhood
gym every other day or at anytime when writer's block strikes.
[ BK ]: You have over 800 articles
published. How do you stay so prolific?
JENNIE S. BEV: As a full-time writer,
I write for at least 4 hours per day. I use the other half working day
to perform some research (if needed) and to take care of my balance with
exercising and having a social life. Mental and physical balance are very
important to keep my writing flows. When I'm stressed out, I usually cannot
perform well.
[ BK ]: Can you share some of your
strategies on how you successfully sell your writing to editors and publishers?
Any secrets?
JENNIE S. BEV: No secrets. Just keep
persisting and be prepared for rejections. A professional writer handles
rejections professionally. It's never about you; it's about different needs.
Make it a part of life, don't sweat it.
[ BK ]: Your newest e-book, "Write
Industry Reports" helps writers write industry reports for research firms
and earn big bucks. How did you first hear about this type of writing?
What are the advantages to writing for research firms?
JENNIE S. BEV: As a business writer,
I often search for specific data, such as statistics or other business
intelligence information. One day I "bumped" into industry reports and
was astonished by the ridiculously high price. Many of them are more than
$3,000 a piece. "That's way too expensive for my research," I thought.
This incident sparked my curiosity
about writing industry reports. I wanted to know more about this high-priced
publications: what they really are, who writes them and, of course, if
I can write one. My search revealed that many research firms do hire freelance
writers to write such reports, although most likely they also employ full-time
researchers.
The advantages to writing for research
firms?
First, you will learn as you go along.
You will find new methodologies to search for specific information. You
will become more proficient in the research and writing vocations.
Second, the PAY is incredibly high.
From my experience, research firms pay up to 25 percent of the retail price
in royalties. If your report is priced at $3,000, it translates to $750
in royalties PER SALE for you.
More importantly, since the payment
is in residual income, you'll keep getting paid without putting forth extra
work as long as your report is still being sold. Naturally $5,000 in royalties
per month is highly feasible.
[ BK ]: How did you first get started
as a writer? What keeps you motivated and disciplined?
JENNIE S. BEV: I started writing
when I was in college. The more I was proficient with research skills,
the more articles I wrote. When I graduated with my Bachelor's, I already
had a strong passion to write.
Motivated? Disciplined? That's a
tough question. Perhaps my love for writing more than anything else keeps
me positive despite all of the ups and downs of the profession. Other than
that, I have voices to be heard, bills to pay, and bylines to show.
[ BK ]: How has the Internet contributed
to the success of your career?
JENNIE S. BEV: During the dot-com
explosion years, I wrote for many Web sites and served as managing editor,
contributor and channel manager, which gave me a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity
to publish over 700 articles within a short period of time. Today, my e-books
are my babies. Whenever a copy is sold (on the Internet), I feel reinforced
to write even better and more e-books!
[ BK ]: What's the best advice you
ever received from another writer? What advice would you give a writer
who wants to be successful?
JENNIE S. BEV: The best advice? "Everybody
has a story tell, so tell yours in a compelling way and be proud of it."
Advice for other writers? "Set your
mind and heart for success, you deserve it. If some skeptics say you can't
write and you can't make a living out of it, don't let their opinions get
in the way of your success."
[ BK ]: What's one piece of advice
you can give to help a writer boost his/her sales this year?
JENNIE S. BEV: The best way to earn
a living as a writer is by earning residual income (royalties). This way,
as long as your writing -- most likely in the form of a book or an e-book
-- is still being sold, you can still earn without having to put forth
extra work. Use your time to write for more royalty-earning books (or e-books)
to create a snowballing effect.
My latest e-book entitled "Write
Industry Reports: Work at Home and Start Earning $5,000 in Royalties per
Month" clearly shows how to earn thousands of dollars from one book alone.
Unlike in publishing other types of books, which only pay a few dollars
per sold book, industry report authors enjoy much higher royalties per
book. Why? Because the books help companies to see a clearer picture of
their industry.
"Write Industry Reports: Work at
Home and Start Earning $5,000 in Royalties per Month" covers everything
from the A to Z of industry report writing so you can start earning more
this year. I've included access to over 450 research firms for you to begin
with.
Have more questions? Ask me directly
via industrywriter@writinggigs.com.
-------------------------
Jennie's latest ebook, "Write Industry
Reports: Work at Home and Start Earning $5,000 in Royalties per Month"
reveals her quietly-whispered secrets to earn residual income from your
writing and research skills.
Jennie's ebook is sold online at
WritingCareer.com (http://www.writingcareer.com/bev001.shtml),
an online ebook store.
© 2003 BRIAN S. KONRADT
