The next round of Freelance Writer Bootcamp is on me (for one of you)
Applications for the Yolisa Qunta Bootcamp scholarship are currently closed. To apply for a paid spot in the next session, visit www.FreelanceWriterBootcamp.com. The scholarship has been renamed in memory of Yolisa Qunta. Yolisa was a freelance writer, author, and Bootcamp alumni. For years after her initial enrollment, she stayed active in the Bootcamp alumni group, […]
The business of freelancing: How to chart a course for success
This Monday, July 22, I’ll be part of a virtual panel called “The Business of Freelancing,” hosted by the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing. We’ll talk about how to run your freelance business like a business, addressing things like the importance of an entrepreneurial mindset, how to successfully develop clients and interact with […]
The Writing Coach Podcast 31: How do you feel about breaking into your dream publications?
Your dream publication might be high profile, high circulation, or high paying. It might reach a specialized, niche audience, or be pushing the boundaries of innovative types of multimedia storytelling. Maybe your dream publication employees your dream editor, who is smart and funny and prompt. Or maybe your dream publication comes back to you time […]
The Writing Coach Podcast 30: Writing on the road
Freelance writing lends itself to location independence and the flexibility to work where you want to. Maybe an assignment takes you away from home for a few days, or maybe you’re spending months at a time as a digital nomad. Today’s episode looks at ways to prepare for and make the most of your traveling […]
The Writing Coach Podcast 28: Listener Q&A
This week I’m experimenting with a new podcast format. You’ve sent me some great questions, and I’ve selected a few to answer that I think will resonate with the rest of you. On today’s Listener Q&A, we discuss: • The importance of following up • Managing your mindset when you’re devastated by client responses • […]
The Writing Coach Podcast 27: Name your niche
Clarifying a freelance writing niche gives you direction about what to focus on, which clients to target, and which stories to pitch. It helps with efficiency and productivity. And it makes it easier for clients to find you. Today’s episode explores how to identify a niche, when to drill down to subspecialties, and why you […]
The Writing Coach Podcast 26: Decolonizing science writing with Sibusiso Biyela
Meet Sibusiso Biyela, a South African science communicator and journalist interested in decolonize science communication using indigenous languages. Don’t worry, I don’t speak science, so we’re talking mostly about language, storytelling, politics. Sibs normally writes in English. He recently completed a story about a newly discovered dinosaur species in his mother tongue, Zulu, which doesn’t […]
The Writing Coach Podcast 25: Using juicy quotes in your pitches
Quotes aren’t necessary when submitting a query to an editor, which is one reason why including a good one helps make a pitch really stand out. Original reporting brings new insight and life to most articles, and a well-placed quote shows editors you’ve got access, a good ear, and motivation. In today’s episode, you’ll: • Learn how a quote can improve your chances of getting your story assigned • Find places to get fresh quotes without any interviews • Schedule a 15-minute pre-reporting interview for maximum effect • Understand your resistance to this approach and how to manage it to get the results you want Click to listen to episode 25 of the Writing Coach Podcast: WCP25 […]
The Writing Coach Podcast 24: Which comes first, the pitch or the interview?
Which should you do first: secure an interview or pitch the story? Many writers frame this as a chicken and egg situation, but it isn’t an existential or biological question. It’s a decision you get to make about which way you want to get started. Let’s look at the pros and cons so you can […]
The Writing Coach Podcast 23: Company of One with Paul Jarvis
Paul Jarvis, author of the new book “Company of One,” joins us today to talk about what it means as a freelancer to pursue more vs. enough, the importance of working on your business instead of always in your business, how he chose to say “No” to freelance work to get this book done, and […]
WCP Bonus: Why aren’t you making more money as a freelance writer?
Freelancing has so many moving parts that it’s easy to get overwhelmed. When you’re working a lot of hours, putting in a lot of effort, but not seeing a lot of financial return, that can add to the confusion: What’s holding you back from making more money? When we strip things back to basics, there […]
Writing Coach Podcast Bonus: FB Live Integration Q&A
This live pitching Q&A serves as a bridge between the practical “what to do” lessons in the Freelance Writer Breakthrough mini course and the mindset management in the Writing Coach Podcast that enables you to do those things in the first place. Listen to the bonus episode of the Writing Coach Podcast: WCP Bonus: FB Live Integration […]
What if you loved to pitch?
What if you loved pitching, and/or knew you were really good at it? What would you do differently? If you’re avoiding pitching as frequently as ambitiously as you would if you were great at it, then you’re choosing to experience all the things you were hoping to avoid: silence from editors, not earning enough, and […]
The Writing Coach Podcast 20: Setting freelance writer goals
The freelance writer goal setting process I’m sharing with you today works for goals that will take half a day, one year, or anywhere in between. There’s one step in this process that most writers miss (and, consequently, don’t reach their goals). Listen in to make sure you don’t gloss over it. Listen to episode 20 […]
The Writing Coach Podcast 18: The creative process with Emma Philipson
Emma Philipson is the author of the very funny new book about the creative process, “Don’t just give up – quit!” She teaches creativity to adults in her native Sweden and shares her own process as well as what she teaches today on the podcast. In this episode Emma talks about using your creative muscles, […]
The Writing Coach Podcast 16: Freewriting for freelancers
My students have found freewriting to be the single most effective technique in their quests to become more fluid and more confident writers. Today we look at the what, how, and why of freewriting. I also share some variations that are specifically for freelance writers. There will always be time to evaluate, critique, and edit. […]
The Writing Coach Podcast Bonus: Freelancing (or not) when other people are on vacation
Click here to listen to today’s bonus episode: WCP Bonus: Working (or not) when other people are on vacation Freelancing in December is usually a bit different from the other months. Maybe you’re taking some time off, your clients are, or your friends and family are. Let’s talk about deciding what you want (be it […]
The Writing Coach Podcast 15: How Nelson Mandela taught me to write faster
Today’s episode addresses two questions I get asked all the time, but never together: How can I write faster? What brought you to South Africa? These are somewhat surprisingly interconnected for me, and today i’m going to share with you one of the lessons Mandela taught me–how to write faster. Listen to episode 15 of […]
The Writing Coach Podcast 14: Reporting behind bars with Shaheen Pasha
Listen to episode 14 of the Writing Coach Podcast: WCP14 Reporting behind bars with Shaheen Pasha Shaheen Pasha is an educator and journalist. Today we’re talking about her work training both university students and inmates as journalists at the University of Massachusetts. This isn’t jail porn. Subscribe to The Writing Coach Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Android, or RSS. Shaheen Pasha is […]
What to listen to (podcast recs for a short walk or long flight)
I have a literal to-be-read pile of books by my bed. I’ve always enjoyed reading one book for a while, getting into that voice, that story, that writer’s head, and then after 50 or 100 pages, or maybe just after dinner, reading something else. It becomes more of a conversation, the way ideas from one […]
Download a free copy of “5 Proven Steps to Writing Queries that Sell.” I hate spam and will never share your info.