a.k.a writer

a.k.a writer

a written life | Jesaka Long

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Cognitive Connection, August 6: Writers on Memoir, OpenSky and Helping Each Other

August 6, 2010 — 3 Comments

Cognitive Connection. Thinking. Image courtesy of stock.xchng®As I mentioned earlier, I am taking a brief blogging break in August. But I still plan to share great resources as time allows. With such fantastic reading this week, I had to get these links in front of you.  Happy reading!

  • Bookends, LLC  Mastering the elevator pitch Literary agent Jessica Faust offers surprising tips for authors hoping to connect with agents at conferences, retreats and festivals.
  • Erin Hosier on Betsy Lerner’s blog Coming Out of the Dark. Erin, a colleague of Betsy’s, originally wrote this post for She Writes and it’s re-published (in full) here. My fellow memoirists, this one is for you. Why? Because Betsy says, “I think it’s the best piece on memoir that I’ve seen a very long time.”
  • Mediabistro’s GalleyCat The woman who paid models to read her book Even if you’re not thinking about book publicity, you can still appreciate the ingenuity of this writer who hired people to read her book—and laugh—on the subway.
  • The Urban Muse Help, Don’t Hinder, Fellow Freelance Writers I love this post from Susan Johnston on competition. She’s a very generous, community-minded freelancer and this post shows you how, and why, she helps her fellow writers.

Your turn. Any opinions, blog posts or articles on writing you’d like to share? Post away in the comments below. Thanks!

50/50 Post: The Best Freelance Advice You Ever Received

March 15, 2010 — 21 Comments

Women Sharing Advice. What's Your Advice About Freelancing?Whether you’re a seasoned freelancer, part-time freelancer or freelancer-to-be, I’m asking you to share here. You can be a writer, designer, photographer, consultant, or artiste. All that matters is that you participate!

Long before I took a last gasp and made the life altering, “I’m going out on my own” announcement, I’d been reading everything I could about life without cubicle walls. Ideally, I wanted to have a few clients on a part-time basis first, but that’s not how life worked out. With my move to Denver, I had to leap or get a new full-time job and hold off on the dreams of being my own boss at least another year.

With all the ups and downs, especially that cold first month, I’m so glad I did it. In fact, I’m so thrilled to be on my own, I’ve been helping other freelancers (or almost-freelancers) navigate their way. It’s inspired me to ponder about my own journey and the best advice I received. It was this:

Tell everyone you know about your freelancing business. Since I was leaving a job, this part was easy. In simply sharing my news, I received amazing support and (most valuable of all) referrals. I was floored at the number of people who provided email addresses and said, “Tell ’em I sent you.” It opened doors and boosted my confidence.

Now it’s your turn! Like my other 50/50 posts, this is where you share your experience. What’s the best freelancing advice you’ve ever received? Was it from a fellow freelancer? Or did a mentor share her wisdom? Or maybe it was a favorite book that’s since become your favorite go-to resource? And, if you didn’t receive advice for taking the leap, what’s the one thing you’d share with a budding freelancer today?  Please share in the comments.

Photo attribution: http://www.flickr.com/photos/g-hat/ / CC BY 2.0

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Thoughtful, No-Cost Gifts for the Writers, Freelancers and Entrepreneurs in Your Life

December 7, 2009 — 3 Comments

Many—okay, the majority—of advertisers would have us believe that this holiday season will special because you finally found someone that perfect sweater, scarf, jewelry or gadget. Yet, the holiday memories that stick with me the most are the ones filled with sentiment: the amazing pistachio biscotti that a friend made for those of us working on December 24; the hilarious, personal letter sent by a college friend living thousands of miles away; the white chocolate chip and cranberry cookies I make for my honey this time every year.

If you’re looking to do something thoughtful for a writer, freelancer, entrepreneur and/or small business owner in your life, these five ideas will require two things: your time and sincerity. Cost: zero dollars. Value: priceless.

  • Referrals. Giving genuine referrals is the equivalent of giving gold coins—and I don’t mean foil-wrapped chocolates. Even if the person on your list appears to have plenty of business and/or projects, he/she will appreciate your gift. When I’m at my most swamped, I’m still thinking about generating the next new client or contract I need to secure.
  • An unsolicited testimonial*. Surprise your favorite entrepreneur, freelancer and/or writer with a testimonial via e-mail or LinkedIn. You can make it especially powerful by being specific and providing concrete examples about what makes the recipient rock. Wrap this present with a bow by including permission for him/her to use your words publicly. *Clients, vendors and co-workers—people who have first-hand experience with the gift receiver’s work—are the best givers for this one.
  • A positive review. This is especially valuable for local entrepreneurs and small business owners who have store-fronts. Use a site like Yelp to share why this business is so great and why other customers will love it, too. If the writer in your life is published, post a review of his/her book on Amazon.com or other book-related website.
  • Spread the word. Does your favorite freelancer, writer or business owner have a website? A blog? Send him or her more site visitors by posting a link on your favorite social networking site, like Twitter or Facebook. This promotion can send new readers, subscribers and even potential new customers to the recipient. Another, even more personal option, is to send a link and “why you should check this out” e-mail to your network.
  • Your time. This gift is as unique as you are. It can range from giving several hours of your skills in business development to an evening of babysitting to an hour or two of filing. If your entrepreneur has a store-front business, you can volunteer to cover the store so that the owner can take a day off or enjoy a special dinner. Any time you can give will be greatly appreciated.

Are you a writer, freelancer or entrepreneur who has received a special, no-cost gift? What was it? Is there a thoughtful, zero-dollar gift that you’d love to give or receive? What is it?  Please share in the comments below.

Photo attribution: http://www.flickr.com/photos/welovepandas/ / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

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