How I use Gmail as a Freelancer

I am what many people would call the ideal writer. By that, I mean a reclusive cave dweller who may or may not decide to put on pants. I'd like to think that Hemingway would be proud...and that he would live in the middle of nowhere with an exquisite (although expensive) Internet connection that would enable him to write and shake his fist at the monstrosities of this world.

My reclusiveness is coupled with extreme introversion. It literally wears me out to be around people. I need alone time to recharge. I loved teaching college. I loved the idea behind being a paralegal (the law office? Not always so much). So, let's just say that my aversion to society (for numerous reasons) has meant an intense white-hot love affair with technology.

Yet...I also hate technology. I don't hate all technology.. I hate the urgency that it causes many of us to feel. I hate the way it makes us feel like slaves when in reality it is supposed to help us. I use Gmail. It's on my phone. It's on my Kindle. I access it directly from my laptop. I'm a freelancer. Gmail is an integral part of my business. I have clients around the world. It's much cheaper to rely on email than phone calls (and I hate talking on the phone). I also hate the constant notification of email. Used to be that the pinging sound on my phone was music to my ears. It meant business of some sort. Now? It's a distraction.

Okay, it was a distraction...until I screwed up Gmail on my phone...or at least...I thought I screwed it up. Turns out, I freed myself and made Gmail easier and more convenient for me to use as a freelancer. Here's what happened...

I had some notification on my phone. I'll be honest...for a writer, I sometimes read too fast. This time, I didn't read it at all. I can only presume now that it said, "Hi. I'm turning off your email notifications. It'll drive you bonkers for a day, but then you'll have an epiphany and then learn another amazing Gmail features, okay?" I clicked 'Okay' or 'Yes' or something. Hell, I don't know. I probably thought it needed permission to update. I was annoyed because it had gone off.

Then...silence. Later that night, I wondered why I hadn't heard my email notification tone...for hours. I was worried. I grabbed my phone and had to manually refresh my email. Yet, there was still no noise. Then I realized that whatever I had clicked earlier wasn't an update - it was to turn off automatic download of my email and the notifications. At first, I was pissed. I really do have a love-hate relationship with technology.

I couldn't figure out how to "fix it." I thought that I'd have to wait until my oldest son could fix it for me. Disgusted, I went to bed.

The next day I got into Gmail on my laptop. I was looking for a particular client email that I knew had a response that I hadn't read. Usually, I just star items that need follow up. Sometimes, I'll leave it unread just in case I overlook the star. I thought, "This is bullshit. There's gotta be an easier way." I like a clean inbox. I like to keep my email trash emptied. I'm one of THOSE types. I can't help it.

Sure enough, there was a better way. You can arrange your email to keep all unread emails together and all read emails together. Now I don't have to go sifting through email to find what I want. I can just leave it unread and it stays toward the top of my inbox. Here's the official Google Help file to do it.

So, if you're a freelancer and you want to get more done and feel like you have more control over your inbox, turn off the notifications and arrange your email for the unread messages to always be at the top. You'll stop jumping every time your email goes off. You can check it at set times throughout your day. And you'll find what you're looking for a lot faster.

WAHM Lesson #986 Dealing With Difficult Clients

This disclaimer will be part of every WAHM Lesson. While these are true things that I've experienced as a work at home mom, many are written to make you laugh. They may or may not have happened in the order that they are listed. So, why is there a disclaimer? Because I know certain people that read this blog simply looking for dirt. Good luck with that. You won't find any. Go away and worry about your own life. For everyone that's here to read, learn, and laugh...welcome. Feel free to comment.

I've been really, really lucky during the last couple of years that I've worked as a freelance writer and editor that I've not had a ton of difficult clients. Clients with different opinions? Yes. Clients with different communication styles? Yes. Truly difficult? I've been really lucky not to deal too much with that. At least until recently. 

The red flags were there from the first phone call. Client was scheduled to call at a certain hour my time and did not. I went on with my day. My phone rang two hours later and I was busy baking cinnamon rolls. They sent a message essentially stating that I had missed their designated call. I responded with the truth: I hadn't missed the call. They called two hours past the time they said they would. Then, an excuse was provided: power outage. They didn't realize the time. So, I told them to call me later in the evening. I took time away from my evening plans with my friends and family to talk to this person about their project. Their reason for missing the call changed: they had simply lost track of time. Alright, fine. 

We settled on my usual rate and I was asked to provide a paid sample. I used their presentation (provided by them) and their blog (provided by them). I sent it over and a day or so later received a response that they had to "edit" my work more than they've ever had to edit anything. I found that odd. They asked for another sample. I asked that they return my work with Track Changes so that I could correct any issues needed. I've worked with several companies in this fashion and never have I had an issue. 

I looked at it earlier today when I had time. It wasn't a problem with the writing. It was stylistic changes. There was one misspelled word. There was also one sentence the person didn't like and stated they couldn't find it on Google. I can't speak for Google...especially since I'm not in the business of plagiarism. The information came straight from their presentation. Past that? It was minor stylistic changes. 

It dawned on me at that very moment that I am not the writer they need. I prefer honesty. Stylistic changes do not constitute editing. Changing excuses about missing a phone call just isn't honesty. Instead of putting my business or their time in jeopardy, I chose to end the contract. I included a note that stated we had different communication styles and I did not feel that I was the writer they needed. I gave them positive feedback. Why? Because sometimes it really just is the fact that you have conflicting work styles and personalities. It's not a huge problem. They left a little better than average feedback and included a note that "apparently" did not take criticism well and had ended the contract "abruptly."

Am I worried about how it well affect my ability to get more work? No. Here's why: I did and said the right thing. I knew that we would not work well together. Instead of making them or myself miserable, I chose to move on. I wished them well. I had nothing negative to say (although I probably could have). Also, the majority of my clients (including ghostwriting clients) are long term. I don't end contracts abruptly unless there is a reason for it. Anyone can see when they look at the feedback I provided (and the clear reason) and their response (which is essentially a decent rating and a complaint) that I wasn't the issue. 

So, how do you deal with a difficult client? Well, it depends on the difficulty. I've had difficult clients in the past. Generally, I finish the job and just don't work with them again. That's essentially what I did here. Then, it's just a bless and release. To deal with a difficult client, you find a nice way to just break it off. Even when it's not your fault as a freelancer it is generally easiest to give them the "It's not you, it's me" virtual speech. Other options, that you should only use if they are true, include offers for full time contract work and no longer freelancing. 

You can avoid this altogether by watching for the same red flags that I ignored. It's true that in the beginning that you sometimes just have to take what you can get. Most potential clients really don't act like this. Understand the difference between demanding excellence and nitpicking. I'm sought after for a reason, and the opinion of a nitpicking client really won't make or break my day or my business. 

Seriously, though, watch for those red flags. Also, trust your gut. I knew I should have said no and I didn't...partially because (as Bull says) I try to see the good in everyone. 

How to Pick Blog Topics

Even as a professional writer, it can be hard to determine what I want to write about here. Part of that is because I spend a lot of time editing online content, writing blog posts for others, and ghostwriting ebooks. So, sometimes I just don't have the time to mess with my own blog. One thing I am asked on a fairly frequent basis via Facebook is how to pick blog topics. So, I thought that I would walk you through my personal process for my own blog. I'll also be writing a business take on this (although many of the tips here will work for a business). Yes, there will eventually be a video and podcast discussing the topics. Since I've only had two hours of sleep, I figured blogging is the best place to start...because it's a hell of a lot easier to edit than a video or podcast. Let's get started.

For the sake of simplicity, I'm going to presume that you've already chosen your blogging platform, and that you have it set up. Oh, and one more thing...this isn't about how to get visitors to your blog. This is literally what it says - how to pick blog topics for your blog.

Take Time to Think About What You Want to Blog About

Taking the time to think about what you want to blog about is probably the best thing you can do to develop blog topics. One thing I will tell you about this is that you will come up with great ideas and some not so great ideas. Don't discard ideas because you think they've been done over and over again. If I took that approach, there are some topics (such as this one) that I would never discuss despite the fact that people still want to read about it. So, think about those ideas as more along the lines of you taking the time to explain to someone your process or your experience with something. Think about it in the terms of a hard school subject. Let's take math, for instance. It took a lot for me to understand math. In high school, I had some good teachers and some not so good teachers. By not so good, that doesn't mean that they were just bad teachers. It's more that the way they taught the concepts didn't quite make sense for me. My Uncle Gary...he was a tough man. Yet, he could teach me hard math concepts that I couldn't understand at school. It's not because he had a sparkling personality (although he was a brilliant business man). He just knew how to take concepts and relate them to the individual who needed that information. So, when (not if) you think that a blog topic has been done too often by others, do it anyway. You may say it in a way that helps someone understand an idea that they couldn't previously grasp.

As I stated in the last overly long paragraph (sorry - two hours sleep)...when you're brainstorming, you will also have some ideas that are less than stellar. You have a couple of options with these blog topics. First, you could just decide not to tackle that topic. I mean, sure this is my personal blog and maybe sometimes I talk about personal things, but I don't know crap about engineering...so why would I blog about engineering? That would be a bad topic for me...right?

Well, maybe not. Before you totally trash a topic I want you to do one thing...figure out how that subject ties in with the main theme of your blog. What is it about that topic that makes you want to write about it? How do those things relate to your overall theme? So, if we look back at engineering...and if you've ever read this blog before...it may seem like a mismatch. I have a Bachelor's in Paralegal Studies. My Master's is in Forensic Psychology. Clearly, I don't know squat about engineering. However, what I could write about is how someone who is an engineer or an engineering student can benefit from learning how to write in a clear way.

Use OneNote, Evernote, a Word document, or even just an old fashioned notebook to write down every single idea...ideas...not blog titles. We will talk about how to write a blog title in a few minutes. Let's move on and choose the best keywords.

Choosing the Right Keywords for Your Blog

You may or may not know what SEO is...and that's okay. I'll talk about the ins and outs on another day. What you need to know is that SEO stands for search engine optimization. If some jackass ever offers to submit your blog to all the search engines for a $50 or more fee, tell them to kick rocks. You can do that yourself and you can do it for free. I understand paying someone to do it for you out of the convenience category, but don't get screwed. SEO changes a lot. The two things you should know (for now): quality content will always be Internet royalty and keywords are your friends unless you abuse them. The most common abuse is keyword stuffing. Don't do that. It will get you penalized by the search engines. Anyway...moving on...

There are two types of keywords. There are your regular keywords and long tail keyword. A long tail keyword is more like a series of keywords. For instance, I could write a series on "becoming a freelance writer." That would be a long tail keyword; "freelance writer" would be a regular keyword. See the difference?

So, the real question is how do you choose the right keywords for your topic? Well, there are a few ways. Actually, there are a lot of ways. What you see here will be my favorite ways.

Use Your Search Engine. It is your friend! Take your topic and open your favorite browser. Now, go to your favorite search engine. I use Google. Type your topic into the search bar. Don't hit enter. Just watch what pops up next to it (Google loves to finish my sentences) and under it. There. Now you have at least a few more refined ideas for your topic. When I do the videos for YouTube, I'll show you exactly how to do it via screenshare.

Use AdWords Keyword Generator. Make sure that you sign up for an AdWords account even if you never plan to use it. You'll have to still set up a mock campaign. I listed $1 as my daily budget. It doesn't ask for any payment info. Scroll down to where you can type in keywords. Put in your first idea. The number that pops up next to it when you hit enter is how many searches the topic receives (I think in a day, but I might be wrong). The higher the number, the more competition there is for that phrase...meaning it could be a little more difficult for you to rank organically in the first few pages (but that's okay - you can still do it). Now, when you place your mouse near the number, you'll see a little button that says "More like this." So, click that. You'll get some other related topics. Many of those topics will not have the same amount of competition. :) I'll show you how to do this when I record the YouTube video. This post is getting so long that it might end up being a series of videos!

Use Other Keyword Tools. There are other great (free!) keyword tools that you can use online. This is one of my favorites. The one by Wordstream isn't bad, either! I'll tell you this much...I love keyword research. Yes, I know I'm a freak...and I can lose a lot of time in the research process. So, if you love research, be careful.

Google Alerts! For certain clients, I use Google Alerts to determine what topics I should use in a blog. You don't have to save the alerts. You can just go to the Google Alerts page and then just type in the subject. You'll get an idea of other content that's out there. That can help you figure out what to write about.

When you write, you need to do it in such a way that you're not forcing the keywords to fit. I chose a couple of keywords for this piece, but frankly...content quality is more important. Quality content gets attention. It's more than keywords that raise your ranking in the search engines (organically).

How to Word Your Blog Title

Okay, so with any luck you know by now exactly what you want to blog about and the keywords you plan to use. So, now you have to develop a title. You, again, have three options. Your first option is to write your draft first and then settle on a title. I do this sometimes. I might have two good title ideas, but not know which one to use. Writing the piece usually solidifies which headline is more fitting.

Your next option is to look at the current trends in titles. "How to..." and "______ Hacks" are easy ways to get readers right now. Oh, and remember the listicles of 2014? And who could forget the "infograph" trend? That was one trend I was glad to see die out. So, think about the types of things that your target audience would want to read. Why do you think I chose "How to" for this blog title? I could have just called it "Choosing Blog Topics." I used "How to" because that's what people use in the search engine and that's what people want to click on through social media. So, I give you guys what you want.

The third (and yet a really good) way to word your blog title is to use a blog title generator. There are several out there that are very good. I'll show you some of my favorites when I do the video(s) for YouTube. Just search "blog topic generator" in your favorite search engine. Specifically, there's an article that comes up by Wordstream that is excellent and lists eight really good content title generators.

Ta-da. There you go. That's how you can pick blog topics, refine your keywords, and word your title. Please do me a favor and leave me a comment below if you have questions or if you found this helpful. Also, please share through social media!

5 Reasons Freelance Writing Will Change the Way You Think About Everything

Tomorrow, September 12, I will turn 37 years old...or, as I like to refer to it: it is the fifth anniversary of my 32nd birthday. :) Actually, it doesn't bother me at all to turn 37. I just think every woman needs a good joke about her age. I've written in one capacity or another since I was about 8 years old. My first creative writing exercise that I can remember was in third grade. I wrote a story about a dog. By seventh grade, I was called the next Stephen King by my peers. I do have a bit of an evil streak that is found in my fiction writing. In eighth grade and on through high school, various people would pay me small sums to write poetry, apology letters, and other small written things. That was my first introduction to writing for money. Fast forward to now, I've been a professional writer for the 18 months or so. It's not because I'm in between jobs. It's because I love writing (even when it annoys me), and, even more, I love getting paid to do it. Here are the top 8 reasons freelance writing will change the way you think about everything.

You Learn That What You Offer to the World Has Value

As a freelance writer, you learn that what you offer to the world is a valuable commodity. Now, that doesn't necessarily mean that everyone will value what you do in the same way. So, instead of relying on other people to determine the value of your services, I encourage you to define it for yourself. Do I sometimes adjust my prices for people? Sometimes. I don't do it for everyone. I'm of the opinion that if you've determined that you need a professional writer that you should properly budget for one.

Once you work with a few amazing people, it won't bother you when people don't see the same value that you know that you offer. Let's face it: if writing were so easy and not worth the money that a professional writer should be paid, then folks wouldn't be looking for a freelance writer. They would just do it on their own, right?

Seeing your value as a freelance writer will begin to affect other areas of your life. You'll start to see that you are a valuable person and that you deserve to be treated with respect.

You Learn How to Manage Your Time

If you learn one thing by becoming a freelance writer, it is how to manage your time. This is particularly true if you work from home. I work from home. My husband and I have three children. One is 17. One is almost 15. One just turned six. The almost 15 year old plays football. The six year old has multiple appointments during the week on top of school. We rely on one vehicle. For myself, there are days when I'll be in the truck for three or four hours per day. So, you take that and add in my professional responsibilities and the things that I do around the house (and yes, people, my husband does help despite the fact that he works 12 hour days).

If I didn't know how to manage my time, I couldn't work as a freelance writer. I'm really not working extremely odd hours (although there was a time or 12 when I've done that). It just becomes a matter of determining a schedule to write and edit for my clients around the needs of my family.

Note that in my last sentence I said 'needs.' I'm not going out of my way to do errands for others or watching the children of someone else simply because I work from home. When you work from home, you must enforce your boundaries or you will never be successful. You'll be far too busy doing everything for everyone instead of focusing on your business.

You Have the Ability to Learn Anything

Freelance writing has a bit of a learning curve to it. Then again, I'm sure that most professions have some sort of learning curve. I know of very few people who come out of college or high school or tech school (or whatever) and gone straight into a job knowing exactly what they should do (unless perhaps they worked in the industry as an intern). As a freelance writer, you get new things thrown at you on a regular basis. You realize, after your daily panic attack, that you have the ability to learn anything. This transfers over and gives you more confidence in other areas of your life.

You Can Never Have Enough Knowledge

There's a big debate in marketing and sales in general that tends to infect the freelance writing profession. That is the idea of information overload. What people fail to realize is that information overload is subjective. It depends on the person receiving the information. We do our clients and our target market a grave injustice when we assume that too much information will overwhelm them. It's all about the way that information is presented.

Think about it: when you learn something new, consider how you like to receive your information. When you want to make a decision, don't you want all of the available information? It's not about how much information is thrown at you. It's about how that information is presented to you.

It's the same with freelance writing. You can never have enough knowledge. You will become an expert or a professional, but that doesn't mean that you know it all. It doesn't mean that you have all of the answers. You may be like me and write great nonfiction work for your clients. I don't write a lot of fiction for clients although I have in the past. It takes me longer to do fiction than it does for nonfiction...even though my nonfiction is quite amusing and creative. Although I write a lot of nonfiction, I don't do a lot of sales based writing (although this is now changing). So, although I know a lot about how to present great information, I have a lot to learn when it comes to writing with sales in mind. You can never have enough knowledge as a freelance writer.

It Is Okay to Have Fun

As a freelance writer, I've found that it's easy for me to lose myself in my work. You might think that's not such a bad thing. Well, when you get a bruise on your ass from sitting too much you will think otherwise. Honestly, I can go weeks and sometimes months without contact with others (in person) aside from my family. Frankly, that aspect doesn't really bother me. Yet, when I walk outside and wonder what the giant fireball in the sky is for, then it is time for me to make some arrangements to get out of the house. I'm getting better at doing this on a regular basis. For instance, this week my husband and I had lunch together during his lunch break. I also went to the bookstore. Monday is our anniversary. So, we will either have lunch or dinner (after our boy's football game). It is okay to have fun and go against the grain and buck your schedule once in a while.

What It Takes to Succeed as a Content Management Provider

Recently, I acquired a new client who runs a small service-based company. When this person contacted me, I was told that three blogs per week would be needed plus assistance getting things put on social media. No problem. For those of you looking for a writer, I don't always charge to go and schedule your posts through your social media account. I only charge if it becomes a time consuming activity. Anyway - I had no idea that the client also had a content management provider. When my new client asked if I could help with content rewrite on the site in addition to blogging, I said yes. Then, I was put in contact with what I was told was the "web company." As a professional writer, the results were less than stellar. I also saw some flaws that I had to immediately tell my client because their errors were casting a bad light on my client's service. So, in this post I hope that writers, business owners that are considering a content management solution, and content providing companies learn something. That 'something' being that the Golden Rule is still important and that you shouldn't try and talk down to people.

Check the Process That the Content Management Provider Uses to Complete Your Work

Look, a one or three day turn around time is great, but if you don't understand the process of what it takes to bring your content from idea to publication, then there's something wrong with it. If it's so muddled that you have no idea who you're supposed to email, that's a problem.

While many content management providers look for ways to provide a system of checks and balances to ensure what they post is quality, that process still needs to be reviewed to ensure that you understand how it works. For instance, first I was told to write a post and send it to two people. When I did that, I was told that there was a new process:

• Send to person A
• Person A would then send it to Person B
• Person B would eventually notify the social media person
• Social media person was to schedule the post

Within 24 hours, that changed to me posting it and then notifying person A who would double check my work and then notify the social media person. That brings me to my next couple of points.

Do Your Job as a Content Management Provider

As a content management provider, your job is to provide accurate, thoughtful, and timely content. You are professionals. That means that your work on client sites should be error free. I should not have to point out words that you misspelled at the bottom of your own post. Most back office content systems have spell check. If you're doesn't, copy and paste your work into Word or even Google Docs to double check your spelling. "Curtsy" and "courtesy" are not the same thing. As professionals, you should know this. 

Continuing with the "Do Your Job" tip, when someone new comes into the picture it is still your responsibility to do your job. My client asked me to post things to social media. Then, I found out that the client had a social media manager with this company. That person told me that if I wanted to do it, then it was fine. My response? "Well, then why is my client paying you to do it?" 

It's highly unprofessional to essentially take someone's money and yet pawn the work off on someone who was already doing it for free. It's also highly unprofessional to set yourself as a gold standard when spelling and process are sub-par. 

Treat Other Service Oriented Professionals as You Want to Be Treated

As a writer, I've been screwed over by two or three content providers by not being paid. However, I don't treat other content providers with the contempt and disrespect that I have for the companies that screwed me over. I understand that content providers occasionally end up working with crappy writers. Yet, much like anyone in the world who wants to have a successful relationship, you can't take out your past experiences on someone else. 

This means that when you talk to a writer (especially one that has a mutual client as you) that you talk to them as an equal...as a partner. You are no better than the writer. You are no worse than the writer. You are an equal. You must keep in mind that certain writers (like me) are more than happy to help you out when you need it, but won't tolerate being talked down to or being disrespected. As I've been known to say: you need me more than I need you. I can walk away from taking additional work that your people can't complete and it won't hurt my bottom line. I'll still have plenty of work now and even in the future. The question is whether you will be able to find a writer with my skill level that is within your budget.

Don't Talk Down About the Writing Profession

I get it - we've all done things as professionals that we didn't necessarily want to do. I've been quite lucky in my adult life. I can't really think of a single job that I didn't enjoy to some degree. If nothing else, I feel like those previous things gave me a varied work experience that enables me to get along with and negotiate with pretty much everyone. I've also been exposed to a lot of good and bad management techniques. Yet, I don't get on the phone with lawyers that need content and tell them how much I hated working for an attorney. For the record, I've worked as a paralegal. Did I encounter some difficult moments? Yes. Do I tell other lawyers how much I hate lawyers? No. That would be suicide and also it would be a lie.

So, if you're in content management and you've actually worked as a writer in the past, don't disparage the profession. It wasn't right for you, but you obviously didn't totally change professions. You essentially became a curator or a manager. When you talk like that, it just leads me to believe that you sucked at writing and people knew it...so you decided to hire a bunch of writers and back end people to try and make money providing content. Whatever works for you, but you won't get and keep good writers if you talk poorly about the profession that they chose. 

Clients Should Double Check the Work Received

If you've hired a content management provider, then you should double check the work they are putting out for you on a regular basis, There are some people who would not go so far as to contact you about the errors others make. That could cost you business. When I'm on Facebook or Twitter, I don't get particularly worked up when I see that regular people make a spelling or grammatical error. Yet, if I'm reading something that is put out as a business entity, I expect that the spelling and grammar will be correct. I don't mean a fast-finger typo (teh instead of the). I mean outright mistakes that should have been caught. Those types of errors can cost you business. 

Writers Must Be Able to Deal With Difficult Situations

If you're a new writer or an aspiring writer, you should know how to deal with difficult people and situations. I know that when you have no work that it can be very tempting to take whatever is tossed your way in the hopes that you can continue to grow your business...even if the work or the people providing it have the ability and most likely will make you miserable. You have the right to assert yourself. You have the right to say no. You have the right to choose the type of clients (work and personality) that you will have on your roster. I don't necessarily advise that you tell people that they need you more than you need them because for a lot of writers that's just not true, and if you say it the wrong way, you can upset people. A bad reputation does get around. So, you have to be selective about who you work with and how you respond to others. 

5 Freelance Writing Books You Need to Read

Disclaimer: The only money I make from this post is if you buy my books. I don't make money from any other link in this post. 

If you are going to be a freelance writer, then you must learn as much as you possibly can. Sure, you can learn on your own...and you mostly likely will learn on your own through trial by fire. However, there's a lot that you can think about and plan for if you read and study. These five freelance writing books can help you learn more about the industry and plan to be a successful freelance writer. 

These books aren't in any particular order. 

1. Starve Better: Surviving the Endless Horrors of Writing Life by Nick Mamatas. This book...I laughed so hard. I actually read most of it while sitting in a parking lot one night while my husband was in class. It really gave me a lot of perspective about starting out as a freelance writer. It's a huge wake up call and gives you a lot of good tips (and evil tricks) about making it in the cold world of writing. I picked this up at my local library.

2. How to Start a Home-Based Writing Business by Lucy V. Parker. I bought this from Half Priced Books. It is a great book for beginners to freelance writing. If you've been writing for a while, then it might not teach you anything that you need to know. One of the best parts of this book is that it walks you through writing a business plan. You'll also learn about rate setting, but this isn't how I learned to set rates. It's still a really good read. 

3. Any of the Writer's Market books are great. One is produced every year. I save myself some money and get the previous year (or older) at Half Priced Books. My reasoning is that since so much is online now that I can find out if older listing are still active. The newest editions are great for finding new publishers. The best thing about this book is the walk through on what the low, average, and high end of rates are for just about every writing gig under the sun. If I had to choose one book, this would be it because you can't make money without knowing where to submit your work (unless you're like me and mostly work with private clients). 

4. Sin and Syntax by Constance Hale is my go-to reference book for anything grammar related. If you feel like you need a grammar refresher, but don't want to die of boredom, buy this book. It's a lot of fun to read. 

5. Crash Course Freelance Writing by Robin Bull is clearly written by me. It's a definite "must read" for beginning freelance writers. You'll learn about the sites I use to find gigs and how I set my rates. You'll also learn a lot about actually running the business. Oh, and if you check this out then you should know that Odesk recently changed their name to Upwork.

There you have it - 5 freelance writing books that you need to read. You'll learn a lot from all of these great books. I've read the four that I didn't write and also own physical copies of all of them. It doesn't get much more dedicated than that! :) 

Last Day!

Today is the last day that you can get my Kindle best seller Ultimate Productivity: 9 Awesome Ways You Can Be More Productive. It's currently #4 in Kindle's Short Read - Self Help category. If you're ready to be more productive, you can learn the things I've tried that work for me. I know it can be hard to balance your home life with your professional life...and that's why I wrote this short ebook. Make sure that you don't miss it. Learn how to reach your ultimate productivity. After today (April 20, 2015) the price goes back to .99 unless you are a Kindle Unlimited subscriber.

Don't forget to leave a review on Amazon after you read it!

Ultimate Productivity: 9 Awesome Ways You Can Be More Productive

Who said good things don't happen on Tax Day? On April 15th, Ultimate Productivity: 9 Awesome Ways You Can Be More Productive will be released as a Kindle exclusive. If you have Kindle Unlimited, you can read it for free. If you don't, you can purchase it for just .99! Pre-orders are now available! 

WAHM Lesson # 56

This disclaimer will be part of every WAHM Lesson. While these are true things that I've experienced as a work at home mom, many are written to make you laugh. They may or may not have happened in the order that they are listed. So, why is there a disclaimer? Because I know certain people that read this blog simply looking for dirt. Good luck with that. You won't find any. Go away and worry about your own life. For everyone that's here to read, learn, and laugh...welcome. Feel free to comment.

WAHM Lesson #56 - It's easy to lose and regain perspective.

I've worked in several professional capacities during my adult life. Even when I worked in entry level administrative assistant positions, I rather enjoyed dressing up for work (even if it wasn't a necessity). When I taught, it was a necessity for me to wear business professional clothing. Now that I work from home, my standard attire is essentially jeans and a t-shirt. Awesome, right? Well, it does make laundry easier.

Anyway, there are some days that I'm lucky to get a shower. Days like today, I'll be lucky to get much of anything done that people dream about when they think about working from home. There will be no naps. There are hardly ever any naps. There will be no downtime (unless you count me adding this post). Even my time on Facebook will be business related. I mean...you know, it is what it is. I'm really glad that I work from home because like I've stated I don't know how many times before...it's a very flexible lifestyle.

Yet...last night I was on my very large, covered front porch working. The weather was great. I had on mismatched socks, capri pants, and a black t-shirt. Sure, my hair was brushed...but I hadn't done anything with it. I wasn't working make up. I'm fairly sure that few of my past coworkers would have recognized me. I felt really, really frumpy. Then...one of my neighbors arrived home. He got out of his car dressed quite well...and I felt even worse about my appearance. It's not that I had or even have any desire to please some dude who lives next door. First, I'm very happily married to the world's most awesome dude. Second, my neighbor is not straight. Third, I've never really cared much about trying to make other people happy with my appearance. I've always dressed for me.

Then, I looked down at my laptop screen and realized that it was almost 8 pm. My home smelled like a delicious dinner. My youngest son was laughing and playing in the house. I could hear him through the open window. My husband was laughing at something on TV. And I felt better. That particular neighbor is usually gone for 12+ hours per day...and if he loves what he does, then I'm happy for him. He clearly has to get up earlier than necessary to bother getting dressed. He clearly has clothing that he must have professionally cleaned. If he's okay with doing all that, then that's great for him.

Me? I can save my valuable energy (and when you're a heart patient, all of your energy is valuable) for the things that matter. I don't have to impress anyone with what I wear. My job or my livelihood isn't dependent upon what someone thinks of my external appearance. I don't have to be up at a ridiculous hour (except apparently today) to work. I can work when I want to work. I have the choice of either dressing in my paralegal clothes or I can just wear this and go out with my youngest son and get dirty. I don't have to ask someone to take time off to do something for any of my children. I don't have to ask someone if I can come in late because of an appointment.

So, yeah...last night I lost my perspective for about 10 seconds...but not now.

Oh, and Tumblr....I set up a Tumblr that lists various writing opportunities. I'll still be curating and posting writing gigs here when I have time. Tumblr basically lists stuff that I've found through social media. It's easier to send that to my phone.

WAHM Lesson #3 - Always have a business card on hand.

This disclaimer will be part of every WAHM Lesson. While these are true things that I've experienced as a work at home mom, many are written to make you laugh. They may or may not have happened in the order that they are listed. So, why is there a disclaimer? Because I know certain people that read this blog simply looking for dirt. Good luck with that. You won't find any. Go away and worry about your own life. For everyone that's here to read, learn, and laugh...welcome. Feel free to comment.

WAHM Lesson #3 - Always have a business card on hand.

In my business card case, I usually carry four or five. Today, during the snowpocalypse I decided to stop by Taco Bell near my house. I went through the drive thru and the exchange went something like this:

TB - Hi, how are you today?

Me - I'm fine, thank you. How are you?

TB - There's no place I'd rather be.

Me - You're a fucking liar.

TB - You're right. My window has the north facing wind and snow blowing in when I open it. May I take your order?

Me - I would like two Crunch Wrap Supremes and a medium Mountain Dew.

TB - Okay. That's two Crunch Crap Supremes and a medium Mountain Doodle. (total) You'll pay at the second window.

---at the second window---

TB - I don't say this often, but I love you. I hate most everyone.

Me - That's nice. It's also the natural course of business. There are times when I hate everyone and I'm self employed...well, except I really like the guy that paid me almost $200 to write his paper on fracking.

TB - You write papers?

Me - Yes. I write more than that, but that was a nice, cushy gig.

TB - Are you serious? My wife is finishing her dissertation and it's driving her crazy. Are you able to write and edit highly educated and technical work?

Me - Well, I'd hope so or my last client is really fucked. The paper was for a master's level course. I assure you I'm competent. I have a degree and I am a former college professor.

TB - Holy shit! I think it's my lucky day!

I gave him my last two business cards. He thanked me profusely because apparently his wife is losing her mind over the dissertation.

Moral: always engage with people who engage with you...and always have a business card with you!

Writing Gigs

It's been another really busy week here in House of Punk. I had to turn down a last minute business plan writing gig. I simply didn't have time (or the desire) to do something incredibly last minute. If you know someone who plans on attending a trade show, then they need to have their business plan complete far before they go. It's a lot of stress to do it last minute particularly when they don't have all of the information on hand for the financial section. Maybe I'll talk about business plans in another post.

Anyway, if you check out Gumroad today (Feb. 27) then you'll find something cool.

Business and Legal Writing

1. Financial Writer - Artisan Creative
2. SEO Article Writer
3. Digital Marketing Writer
4. Remote Legal Blogger
5. Ghostwriter for entrepreneurship book
6. Curriculum workbook for business course

Content Writing

1. Staff Writer - TV Guide
2. Human Interest Writer - Bauer Media Group
3. Junior Writer - 24 Seven
4. Content Coordinator - Wargaming America
5. Entry Level Creative Services Writer - Greenway Health
6. Content Marketing Writer - Rightside
7. Writer and Editor - Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
8. Web Content Writer - The Creative Group

Copywriting

1. Copywriter - Backcountry
2. Copywriter for new dating website

Food Writing

1. Freelance Food Writer - WomensForum.com

Music Writing

1. EDM Writer

Professional Blogging

1. Filmmaker Blog Article Writer - 20 Questions Film
2. Healthy living bloggers wanted

Technical Writing

1. Ghostwrite a technical book
2. Technical Writer - Edaptive
3. Technical Writer - inContact

Monday Motivational: You Can Be Different

On Mondays when a lot of corporate employees wake up, they wish that they wouldn't have to go in. Maybe they dream of another job. Maybe they dream of working from home. Maybe they just dream of being on the beach with a drink in hand.

It doesn't really matter what the dream is that they have. They all have the same theme. They want something different. If you want something different, can you continue to do the exact same thing over and over again? No. If you want something different then you must do things differently.

Being different and doing things in a different way is okay. Of course, there are plenty of people ready to ostracize you. So,  it does take a thick skin.

You're different. If you find that living life just like everyone else is akin to wearing clothes that are five sizes too small, then it's time to find ways to be different. That doesn't necessarily mean that you quit your job today. However, it does mean that you make a plan with actionable goals and begin to take steps to achieving your goals.

You can do it.

Writing Gigs

This last month has been insane in terms of managing my time. Remember that if you want to get jobs for yourself, you should check out Crash Course Freelance Writing. It's only $1 for a digital copy. It's available on Gumroad and on Kindle.

Business and Legal Writing

1. Write telephone sales script 
2. Write a CV
3. Text script for YouTube video marketing
4. Write a PR
5. Promotional Writer - Liberty University
6. Content Editor - Wolters Kluwer
7. Legal Copywriting
8. Business plan writer

Content Writing

1. Website text for renewable energy website
2. SEO Content Writer - WebiMax
3. Web Content Writer
4. Articles about SUVs and cross over vehicles
5. List style articles
6. Survival article
7. Website content writer

Copywriting

1. Creative Copywriter - BuzzFeed

Fashion and Beauty Writing

1. Experienced beauty blogger needed

Medical Writing

1. Physiotherapy manual therapy writer
2. Documentation Writer - UnitedHealth

Professional Blogging

1. Blog post for business website
2. Expert blogger for ongoing projects
3. Blogger - Performancing
4. Curvy and plus size bloggers for Splendour Magazine
5. Psychology blogger
6. Health blogger
7. Multiple blog posts

Travel Writing

1. Travel writer

Misc. Writing Related Gigs

1. Online content writer and community manager
2. Podcast show note creator
3. Ebook writer
4. Evernote ebook
5. Short supernatural horrors ghostwriter

Writing Gigs - Dec. 30, 2014

Hi everyone! First, an announcement: today and tomorrow (12/31) you can download Crash Course Freelance Writing for free by clicking this link. It's my gift to you for the holidays. Make next year your best year ever.

Business and Legal Writing

1. Freelance Resume Writer
2. Grant Writer 
3. Financial Writer - Vanguard
4. Money / Banking Reporter - Online Media
5. Business Content Writers - Zebresearch

Content Writing

1. Online Content Writer - Home Depot
2. Marketing Writer - WunderLand Group
3. Content Writer - Ablaze Technovision
4. Content Writer (Canadian English)
5. Freelance Content Writer - L2TMedia
6. Web Content Writer - CyberCoders
7. Freelancer Writers - Babygaga.com
8. Real Estate Marketing Web Content

Copywriting

1. Digital Copywriter - Manpower
2. Copywriter - Possible
3. Copywriter and Blogger - Vitamin T

Fashion and Beauty Writing


Medical Writing

1. Senior Medical Writer - SLS Services

Professional Blogging

1. Technology Blog Writer - Scrubly
2. POS and Small Business Blogger - Prognostore
3. Diet and Nutrition Blogger - Superfoodliving
4. Health and Wellness Blog Writer
5. Wine Blogger
6. Casino and Gambling Blogger

Technical Writing

1. Senior Technical Writer - Amazon
2. Technical Writer - Santriya Technologies
3. PT Technical Writer

Misc. Writing

1. Freelance Writers and Editors - TripleCurve
2. Ghostwriters - WebpageFX
3. Creative Writer
4. Write a Book
5. Story Writer
6. Real Estate Ghostwriter
7. Paranormal Romance Writer
8. Personal Wealth Management Book

WAHM Lesson #1 - Never Go Pee Alone

This disclaimer will be part of every WAHM Lesson. While these are true things that I've experienced as a work at home mom, many are written to make you laugh. They may or may not have happened in the order that they are listed. So, why is there a disclaimer? Because I know certain people that read this blog simply looking for dirt. Good luck with that. You won't find any. Go away and worry about your own life. For everyone that's here to read, learn, and laugh...welcome. Feel free to comment.

WAHM Lesson #1 - Never Go Pee Alone

I've been potty trained for 31 years. I've been wiping my own ass since I was six years old...so, 30 years. However, if you have a young child or a precocious child and you're a WAHM...you cannot go pee alone. Now, that doesn't mean your kid has to come in and supervise your tinkle time. It does, however, mean that you need to save your work and possibly make sure that your child is near or otherwise occupied. I mean...unless you like totally reformatting your work because your little helper decided that you work needed some artistic embellishment.

Yep, that's right. The entire ebook that I'm writing for a client was turned to the "Title" style in MS-Word. It's an easy fix...and yes...I laughed (and then told him to go play on the piano).

Writing Gigs

Wow. It's been 12 days since I cleaned out my email. I have 210 emails again. Each email has at least one job. Most have 15 or more. If you like what you see here and you want to learn how to get as many leads as I do (and you don't even see all of the gigs I see), then pick up Crash Course Freelance Writing today for Kindle for just .99 cents. If you don't have a Kindle, the Kindle reader is free or you can pick it up from Gumroad in PDF format. Yep, there's also a printed version.

Business and Legal Writing

1. Social Media Writers - Social5
2. Freelance Writers - SmartBrief
3. Web Writer (on site) - Moneymorning.com
4. Economic Writer - Intl Business Times
5. Business Plan Writer ($20 / hour)
6. Category Descriptions
7. Internet Security Writer - Purch
8. CV Makeover
9. Legal Writer - Thomson Reuters
10. News Article
11. Write a Business Email
12. Business Writer

Content Writing

1. Part Time Creative Writer - Office Ninjas
2. Managing Editor and Content Writer - Office Ninjas
3. Content Writer - ITL USA
4. Content Strategist
5. Writer and Editor
6. Web Content
7. Web Content: IT Company
8. Content Writer - The Clark Associates
9. Web Content Writer - The Creative Group
10. Article Writing ($20 / hour)
11. Content Writer
12. Content Writers
13. Content Creator

Copywriting

1. Freelance Copywriter - Totokaelo
2. E-commerce Copywriter - FW Webb Co. 
3. Copywriter
4. Copywriter - Strava HQ
5. Copywriter - Michael Kors

Education and Academic Writing

1. PT English Proficiency Test Writer
2. Remote SAT Expert Blogger

Fashion and Beauty Writing

1. Beauty Posts

Health and Wellness Writing

1. Creative Dental Ebook
2. Personal Training and Fitness Posts

Professional Blogging

1. How to Blogger
2. Blog Manager for Online Ticketing Website
3. Motivated Writer and Social Media Bloggers
4. Fashion Blogger

Technical Writing

1. Technical Writer
2. Technical Writer - Booz Allen

Travel Writing

1. Travel Writers

Misc. Writing Jobs

1. Proofreader - Mediaforta
2. Content Editor - CarFax
3. Children's Writer and Editor
4. Ghostwriter for Religious Book
5. Teen Romance Novella
6. Spiritual Ghostwriter
7. BEERS Writer

Writing Gigs

Well, the wheel of the year continues to turn. We pagans celebrated the year's end and ushered in the new year. I know that many of you are preparing for 2015. Many of you are dreaming of a new life as a freelance writer instead of spending your time in a cubicle. You can learn how to find your own freelance gigs via this instant download.

Business and Legal Writing

1. Business Plan
2. Ghostwrite a Business Book
3. Ghostwrite Business Blog Articles
4. Living Wills / Advanced Decisions Pamphlet

Beauty and Fashion Writing

1. Men's Grooming Writer - The Wirecutter
2. Beauty Writer - The Wirecutter
3. Freelance Fashion Writer
4. Unique Fashion Blog

Content Writing

1. Web Content Writer (must be in the Philadelphia area. Pay is up to $18 / hr)
2. Freelance Writer - UrbanBound
3. Web Content Writer - CRGT
4. Content Writers in Multiple Areas - TruStory Media
5. Freelance Latino Celebrity News Writers 
6. Content for Dog Website
7. Health and Safety Content Writer

Copywriting

1. Freelance Copywriter - Ancestry.com
2. Restaurant Copywriter

Educational Writing

1. Science Writer - The Wirecutter

Medical Writing

1. Medical Writer

Professional Blogger

1. Temp Blog Writer - HSN
2. Policy Blogger
3. Construction and Home Improvement
4. Photography Blogger

Sports Writing

1. Yankees Beat Writer - NJ Advance Media

Technical Writing

1. Technical Writing - Danfoss
2. PC and PC Accessory Writers - The Wirecutter

Miscellaneous

1. Write an Ebook on Sexuality

Monday Motivational Series

I know that many people dread returning to their cubes or their traditional job on Monday morning. I know that many new freelancers or new small business owners may dread another long week of attempting to make some money or keep their clients happy. Many people dream of making that leap, but they're afraid they can't and will provide a thousand excuses about why it won't work. I've decided that every Monday I will post something motivational for you. I do a -lot- of reading. I received three great books in the mail over the weekend as a birthday gift from the woman I consider my spiritual mother. I also own a lot of books. I can tell you that when it comes to work or owning a business, motivation is key. If you don't stay motivated, it will slip away from you. Then you will go back to just going through the motions of life. That's really no way to live at all.

For our first Monday Motivational post, I'd like to talk a little bit about what motivation is and why it is important.

Motivation is your drive to keep going. It is your why. Why do you want to keep your job? Well, because you like to eat and have a roof over your head. Food is good. I like food. In a traditional environment, though, it is easily seen that most people are there to make a paycheck and not a difference. Once you're done with your probationary period, you feel the urge to just coast. Employers don't really like training new people...so they let people get by with more than they should. They lose motivation to stay productive.

So, when you work or when you own a business it's important to keep thinking about your why. It's okay if your why changes. My why changes quite a bit. Today my why is to continue to have the most flexible option to be present and available for my three children. Sure, the older two (16 and almost 14) don't need mama as much as they used to (except for Bank of Mom and wanting a ride). The tiny one is able to have a parent that can go to school functions, be part of the PTA, and he doesn't need to go to day care. On any bad day that I have, I remind myself...ultimately those three are my way. My husband is my why, too. Those who know me can attest that I am very much family oriented. I made a commitment when I became pregnant. I made a commitment when I married. I take my commitments as laws of my life. These four people are one of my whys. I want to be able to take care of my family. This allows me to have it all (including all of the issues, but we will talk about dealing with problems on another Monday).

Now, aside from my family...I have other whys. My health is another why. When you're born with a heart problem, it can get worse as you get older. I'm not that old (although my almost 14 year old would tell you I'm old --- I'm only 36). Carrying babies in my body and having a few severe bouts of illness has made the heart problem worse. Am I dying? Well, I guess we all are. I'm most likely not going to drop dead tomorrow. However, I do take three heart meds, aspirin, and a few herbal supplements. My biggest problem is fatigue. I get tired. I get two kinds of tired. We have our usual "working hard" tired...and then there's the "bad" tired. With the second tired, I might sleep for 36 hours straight. That's no good. A traditional job can't sustain my health needs. I can't stay home for two days because I'm too tired to function. Traditional jobs need employees to actually be there. It wouldn't be fair to either of us. Being self employed is good for my health. Although I keep a fairly regular schedule, working from home allows me to rest if I need to rest. If I sleep for 12 hours, it's fine.

Some days my why rests in one word: control. Being self employed gives me a lot of control. I don't have to accept just any project. If I don't like or believe in a project, I don't have to take it. I can pick and choose (and you can't really do that at first).

Find your motivation. Why do you want to break out of your job and become self employed? Why do you want to become a freelance writer? Think about these things. Make a dream board if it helps you. Fortunately, I have a great imagination. I can just stop and shut my eyes and see my children, husband, and the fun things we can go and do because of my flexibility. In fact, this Thursday I am taking the big kid to play paintball in the middle of the day.

Use your motivation when things get tough. Even anger and distaste can be a motivational tool. It can fuel you to success.

This week's experience....find your motivation. Let me know why you want to become a successful freelance writer. Make sure that you comment. I look forward to interacting with you!

How about some jobs?

I did another huge mass delete on my email. I had close to 1,000. It's been so busy around here that I just haven't had the time or the energy to post anything. You can learn my methods by clicking here. That would mean that you don't have to wait and hope that I've posted jobs. It's a great investment for your future. Once you follow my methods, you'll understand why I don't have time to do this every day. One day this coming week, I'll post about some great software you can use to manage your freelance writing business. Oh, and I'll be putting together a mailing list soon. It will probably deliver jobs as well as info on my upcoming video courses. Stay tuned, kids!


Business and Legal Writing

1. Proposal Writer - Castlight Health
2. Marketing Copy - Kabam
3. Writer / Copy Editor - The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Inc. 
4. Website ToS
5. Executive CV Writer
6. Press Release

Content Writing

1. Content Coordinator
2. Digital Content Writer - TransAmerica
3. Writer - Squiz
4. Online Content Writer - RPI Consulting Group
5. Website Content Writer - Tennis Express
6. Associate Writer 
7. Copywriter and Content Writer - CarFax
8. Content Writer - FICO
9. Re-write Web Content

Copywriting

1. SEO Copywriter - CleverLight Media
2. Sr. Copywriter - The Creative Group ($30 - $35 / hr)
3. Copywriter
4. Freelance Copywriter - Creative Movers Recruiting
5. Copywriter
6. Creative Copywriter
7. Professional Copywriter

Educational Writing

1. Writer - University of Washington
2. Writer - BrainPOP.com
3. Education Blog Posts

Fashion and Beauty Writing

1. Fashion Blogger
2. Blogger / Stylist / Content Writer
3. Fashion Blogger
4. Fashion Blogger - Berricle
5. FabKids PR - JustFab
6. Fashion and Lifestyle Blogger - Esoteric Luxury
7. Fashion Career Blogger
8. Weekly Blogger

Professional Blogger

1. Freelance Blogger & Content Strategist
2. Freelance Bloggers
3. Blogger & Social Media Manager - Viki
4. Forex Blogger
5. Geek Blogger

Real Estate Writing

1. Freelance Writer - UrbanBound
2. Real Estate Copywriting

Technical Writing

1. Tech Writer & Instructional Designer - CEI
2. Technical Writer - DataStax
3. Technical Writer II - Amazon
4. Senior Technical Writer - Intel