Big thanks to Jenny for sharing this from her inspiration board: Ann Patchett on writing as a job.
October 17, 2011 — 1 Comment
“I call [other writers] the way the president would push the red button for nuclear armament. I’ve called Don DeLillo more than once. He sent me a postcard after one such call. It read: Write or die. I sent one back saying: Write and die.”
—Mary Karr
On dealing with doubt
October 14, 2011
From a distance
October 12, 2011
October is keeping me occupied with an interesting freelance project that’s about to take me on the road. I’ve been incredibly lucky: projects like this seem to come along once a year. Last fall, I traveled to San Francisco to tour and write about a series of performing arts venues. It was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had as a freelance copywriter.
Rather than pause this blog while I’m away, I’ll be posting links, videos and quotes I’ve been collecting, similar to the Ira Glass video from last week. If you find little snippets of inspiration you’d like to share, I encourage you to add them to the comments here or send them to me and I’ll post on your behalf.
If you need a writing break, I encourage you to go play in some leaves.
I love these mini-lectures on storytelling from Ira Glass. Here he shares how to get through the period of “your work not being as good as your ambitions.” Bonus: he uses his early work as a specific example.
On taking a while for your writing
October 5, 2011 — 2 Comments
Looking at these book covers, labeled the “most iconic” by the team at Flavorwire, makes me want to spend my Saturday afternoon browsing used bookstores. Check out the covers here and let me know if one of your favorites is missing from the list.
September 30, 2011
Ask a.k.a: you hold your financial reins
September 28, 2011 — 1 Comment
What is the one thing you know now that you wish you knew when you started your freelance copywriting business? – Kim S.
My answer to this question is something I did already know, but it can’t be emphasized enough. You should diversify your income as much as you can. I use a 30% guideline to help me do this. Here are two tales as to why:
- I worked for a small company “XAY” (not its real name) for a few years and shortly before I left, one client was providing about 75% of the company’s revenue. When that client moved its business to another firm, XAY scrambled to keep the lights on, but they couldn’t get new clients fast enough. Within a few months, XAY closed for good.
- This past fall, I allotted about 115% of my time to one client, thinking that it was okay because it was their new brand launch and it was a finite time. Plus, at the time, it seemed like the only way to keep my sanity. Unfortunately, they didn’t pay me on time. Although it had never happened before, they paid several very large invoices 60 days late, which meant I was broke and stressed out at the holidays. It was my mistake—and one I don’t intend to make again.
I’m not saying that you can’t have regular clients or a retainer with one client. It’s dangerous when you let your business—and your financial health—be tied to one source of income. In fact, I still work with the client who paid me late, though we now have agreements that projects stop when invoices aren’t paid on time. (more…)
Copywriting pays my rent and bills–and it can be fun. Even more fun? This list of six famous authors who were copywriters. See it here.
