The Writing Coach Podcast 106: Nobody wants your pitch
WCP106 Nobody wants your pitch I don’t mean that editors don’t want your pitch because the story angle isn’t clear, that there’s no news hook, and that you don’t have a string of impressive clips in your bio. You can learn how to handle all of that. What I mean is that editors want what […]
The Writing Coach Podcast 105: Should-free pitching
WCP105 Should-free pitching When it comes to pitching, a surprising number of mid-career freelancers really aren’t sure what to do. They may have a basic, intermediary, or theoretical understanding of pitching that doesn’t yield reliable results with competitive publications. Subscribe to The Writing Coach Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Android, or RSS. When it comes to pitching, a surprising number […]
The Writing Coach Podcast 104: Superstitions, underdogs, and when to pitch
WCP104 When to pitch Freelance writers often spend a lot of time trying to decide when to pitch. Learn when the very best time to pitch is, plus what you can do with the time you used to spend asking this question. Follow me on Instagram: @freelancewriterbootcamp Apply to work with me in my small […]
The Writing Coach Podcast 103: Urgency
WCP103 Urgency Should you follow up on the story you pitched more quickly than you used to pre-pandemic? Yes, if the story itself must be told urgently. No, if you personally have a sense of urgency about knowing what your next assignment will be. Freelancers often conflate these two very different kinds of urgency. Subscribe […]
The Writing Coach Podcast 102: Mother tongue
WCP102 Mother tongue with Beatriz Miranda, Agnieszka Pikulicka- Wilczewska, and Yolisa Qunta Today we’re looking at the challenges and opportunities for multilingual writers. We speak with freelancers from Brazil, Poland, and South Africa, who have all used their locations and language skills to build relationships with editors overseas. This is a fascinating discussion for everyone […]
The Writing Coach Podcast 101: Ask back
WCP101 Ask back The way we think about and prepare questions shapes our conversations, our stories, and our own learning. Today I’m teaching a thinking technique that will redirect you back to yourself and your own knowledge. This will allow you to show up with an extra layer or two of understanding whenever you ask […]
The Writing Coach Podcast 100: Call for pitches
WCP 100 Call for pitches When an editor posts a call for pitches, freelancers sometimes respond the way they would to the siren’s call. The writers retweet them, share them, subscribe to newsletters with them. After weeks of saying they’ll get around to pitching, they suddenly snap to attention. Subscribe to The Writing Coach Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Android, […]
The Writing Coach Podcast 99: Risky business
WCP99 Risky business Are you telling yourself you’re all in and willing to do anything … unless it involves anxiety, doubt, boredom, or frustration? Deciding to do things when you’re not in the mood (especially if you’re never likely to be in the mood) is the key to growing your freelance career. Are you telling […]
The Writing Coach Podcast 98: 3 things your editor is not thinking about you
WCP98 3 things your editor isn’t thinking about you Usually when we talk about mindset work, we’re focusing on what you’re thinking and how it impacts you. It sort of has to be that way, since the only thoughts you have control over are your own. 😉 A lot of freelance writers spend a lot […]
The Writing Coach Podcast 97: Setting freelance writer goals, Vol. V: Celebrations
WCP97 Setting freelance writer goals, Vol. V: Celebrations The way I teach writers to set and achieve their goals since I shared my method back in episode 20 has evolved. This is an important update for writers who reach their goals but don’t feel as good about them as they thought they might. The way […]
The Writing Coach Podcast 96: Winning
WCP96 Winning A big area of growth for myself, as well as for many of the writers I coach, is being able to recognize our wins. This means identifying them when they happens. Without a disclaimer about why they don’t really count or why they’re an anomaly or how it’s not enough. A big area […]
The Writing Coach Podcast 95: Low-hanging fruit
WCP95 Low-hanging fruit Some freelancers avoid low-hanging fruit, and always have their eye on a tree in the next orchard over that they can’t reach yet. If the fruit is ripe and the right height, picking it now as you learn to climb the tree will sustain you with assignments that are sweet, simple, and […]
The Writing Coach Podcast 94: Impact with Melissa Noel
WCP94 Impact with Melissa Noel Melissa Noel is an award-winning, independent multimedia journalist, television host and media entrepreneur. She brings stories to international audiences with a lens on culture, travel, social issues and business. Melissa has covered stories out of the Caribbean region and throughout diaspora communities in the US and Canada for outlets such […]
The Writing Coach Podcast 93: Listener Q&A, Vol. VI
WCP93 Listener Q&A, Vol. VI After a corona-induced hiatus, Listener Q&A is back. Here are my answers to some of your recent questions: + Should white writers avoid covering stories so that BIPOC voices are heard? + Can I get a media card as a freelancer? After a corona-induced hiatus, Listener Q&A is back. Here […]
The Writing Coach Podcast 92: Anti-racist reporting
WCP92 Anti-racist reporting Black lives matter, today and every day. This is not always reflected in the media. Today we look at how an anti-racist approach to reporting helps us get closer to the real truth of what is happening in the stories you cover. Black lives matter, today and every day. This is not […]
The Writing Coach Podcast 91: Redirect
WCP91 Redirect The way we think about certain events happens so quickly that it can seem like it’s the only way to respond. Some of our inner dialogue is so routine, or so convincing, that it feels inevitable-at least at first. The way we think about certain events happens so quickly that it can seem […]
The Writing Coach Podcast 90: Overpitching
WCP90 Overpitching This is a followup to last week’s episode. Instead of coming up with a sophisticated justification for resisting pitching, this week we’re looking at two types of overpitching. Overpitching type 1 is when you are full on pitching. Pitching the socks off of every single story. You become a pitching warrior. This is […]
The Writing Coach Podcast 89: Annoying pitches
WCP89 Annoying pitches Are your emails annoying your editor? Are you sending too many followups? Too many story ideas? Are all your messages getting on their nerves? If your pitches are half baked, poorly written, and an overall bad fit for the publication, it really doesn’t matter how many you send. Are your emails annoying […]
The Writing Coach Podcast 88: Assignment guilt
WCP88 Assignment Guilt Guilt is a useful emotion when it’s alerting to an ethical mistake we’ve made. But quite often guilt stems from beliefs that aren’t true or helpful. Simply telling yourself “Don’t feel guilty!” is more likely to make you avoid the feeling rather than deal with it. Guilt is a useful emotion when […]
The Writing Coach Podcast 87: Plan from the future
WCP87 Plan from the future Do you plan your week from Monday morning forward, or from Friday afternoon backwards? When you send out a pitch, are you focused on who you want to write for this week, or who you want to write for in 3 months from now? Do you plan your week from […]
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