Writing Coach Podcast 206 Archives XXI: Mother tongue
WCP 206 Archives XXI: Mother tongue with Beatriz Miranda, Agnieszka Pikulicka- Wilczewska, and Yolisa Qunta One of the participants in this discussion from the archives, Yolisa Qunta, passed away last year. Listening to this episode again reminds me of her heart, insight, and humor. I’m thankful to have had her as a writer friend. In […]
Writing Coach Podcast 205: Everything you do matters with Allison Salerno
WCP205 Everything you do matters with Allison B. Salerno Allison B. Salerno’s award-winning writing and audio production has been featured on Southern Foodways Alliance’s Gravy podcast, America’s Test Kitchen podcast, Proof, on local NPR stations, and in The Washington Post, Ms. magazine, and Columbia Journalism Review, among others. Allison’s audio news features have earned her two […]
Writing Coach Podcast 204: 🐘🐘 Don’t think of baby twin elephants
WCP204 🐘🐘 Don’t think of baby twin elephants Once you start fact checking your mind, you’ll notice there’s a lot of stuff you’re telling yourself that isn’t true AND that isn’t helpful. This awareness doesn’t mean that the faulty thought won’t keep coming back. Subscribe to The Writing Coach Podcast on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | Audible | Android | RSS Once you […]
Writing Coach Podcast 203 Archives XX: The $10k email
WCP203 Archives XX: The $10k email Knowing how to negotiate can be the difference between earning a part- or full-time income as a freelance writer. I don’t want you to break into your dream publication only to have them pay you less than what they pay writers who know to ask for more. Asking for […]
Writing Coach Podcast 202: Repurposing
WCP202 Repurposing Repurposing thoughts, words, ideas, research, reporting, etc., are key to working effectively and efficiently as a freelance writer. Sometimes this means minor tweaks, such as adjusting a post from one text-based social media platform to another. Other times we can take a small bit of great stuff from one pitch or article and […]
Writing Coach Podcast 201: Interconnections with Iona Brannon
WCP201 Interconnections with Iona Brannon Iona Brannon is a writer and a photojournalist who deeply enjoys drawing out beauty in the mundane. Iona Brannon is a writer and a photojournalist who deeply enjoys drawing out beauty in the mundane. Her upbringing in multiple countries has given her love for the nuances of culture and travel, […]
Writing Coach Podcast 200: What I learned creating 200 podcast episodes
WCP200 What I’ve learned creating 200 podcast episodes With apologies to Toni Morrison, the Writing Coach Podcast is the show I wanted to hear … so I recorded a couple of hundred episodes of it. Today I’m going behind the scenes: Why I started making this podcast (and why you might want to start or […]
Writing Coach Podcast 199: Archives IX Favorite freelance writer resources
WCP199 Archives XIX: Favorite freelance writer resources We all need a few reliable go-to tools, apps, programs, books, and other stuff. In today’s episode, I talk through a few of my own favorites, and why and how I use them. Be sure to check out one of my oldest blog posts that I keep updating, […]
Writing Coach Podcast 198: Listener Q&A, Vol. IX
WCP198 Listener Q&A, Vol. IX Listener Q&A returns! Here are the questions I’ll be answering today: +Do I need to let key sources know when a story runs? +I’m comparing myself to hard-hitting journalists I know, and it makes me think my story isn’t that important. +The pub I want to write for has already […]
Writing Coach Podcast 197: Borrow this
WCP197 Borrow this Borrow from yourself. Borrow from what works. Borrow from the non-writing parts of your life to inform your writing and freelancing. We have a tendency to notice where we’ve failed or not figured things out, and then we continue down that pathway looking for examples to keep the pattern going. Subscribe to The […]
Writing Coach Podcast 196: Repetition. Again
WCP196 Repetition. Again If you’ve been listening to the Writing Coach Podcast for a while, you already know I: Send emails to myself. Annotate ideas on paper/screen in one-minute bursts, or else forget them forever Direct my brain to solve something by asking one good question In the quest for the new, we tend to […]
Writing Coach Podcast 195: XVIII Pitching travel stories before or after the trip
WCP195 Archives XVIII: Pitching travel stories before or after the trip Should you pitch travel story ideas before or after you have a notebook full of notes? In theory, you can do it successfully either way. You could do a little research and pre-reporting, pitch, get an assignment, schedule your interviews and be confident out […]
Writing Coach Podcast 194: Beautiful Writers with Linda Sivertsen
WCP194 Beautiful Writers with Linda Sivertsen Linda Sivertsen is a New York Times bestselling co-author and midwife of 6- & 7-figure book deals. Her new book, Beautiful Writers, gives aspiring writers and seasoned literary veterans a look into the lives of iconic authors and answers the burning question, “How did they do it?!” Linda joined me on Publication Day of […]
Writing Coach Podcast 193: Rates shaming
WCP 193 Rates shaming Have you ever been ashamed of the rate you accept for a freelance job? Ever talked to another freelance writer who felt that way? Have you ever heard someone who disapproves or criticizes a writer for their fees? Rates shaming is when somebody reprimands or reproves a writer for rates of […]
Writing Coach Podcast 192: No nonprofit saviors
WCP192 No nonprofit saviors Let’s talk about working with and for nonprofits (and NGOs and associations): Why working for a reduced fee can be more problematic than premium rates or pro bono Choosing change not charity models Reshaping the narrative to bring more depth to your piece Recognizing guilt, resentment, and obligation Applying nonprofit lessons […]
Writing Coach Podcast 191: Time passing
WCP191 Time passing How you think about time-such as if you have enough, not enough, or plenty of it-impacts what you create in your writing life. Many writers credit time as necessary for their skills, clients, or assignment quality to improve. An overemphasis on time passing to become a better freelancer isn’t useful or accurate, […]
Writing Coach Podcast 190, Archives XVII: Sorting and archiving freelance articles
WCP190 Archives XVII: Sorting and archiving freelance articles Whether your articles are published online or in print, you need to make them readily available for potential clients to read online. Simply having a list of links isn’t sufficient. Sites reorganize and your links go bad; your piece gets pulled or the publication closes; and paywalls […]
Writing Coach Podcast 189 Scope creep
WCP189 Scope creep Some freelance projects spiral out beyond the original agreement. Let’s curtail your taking on more and more uncompensated work, or from seeing all your clients as creeps. Some freelance projects spiral out beyond the original agreement. Let’s curtail your taking on more and more uncompensated work, or from seeing all your clients […]
Writing Coach Podcast 188: Not a fluke
WCP188 Not a fluke When a client reaches out to you for the first time with a freelance assignment, we often call it a fluke. Often we really like it happening, and if it’s a good gig we may wish all work happened this easily. Subscribe to The Writing Coach Podcast on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | Audible | Android | RSS When […]
Writing Coach Podcast 187: You’re invited
WCP187 You’re invited When you pitch a story idea, are you inviting the editor to consider working with you? Do you recognize the value of what you’re offering and tempt them? Or are you asking the editor to give you an assignment? Do you approach the pitch from a place of neediness? Subscribe to The Writing […]
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