Financial Self-Sufficiency As a Freelance Writer in Six Months or Less!
The Well-Fed Writer
By Peter Bowerman
Format(s): PDF (ebook)
Pages: 306
Ebook Price:
$12.95
You CAN make a GOOD living writing! Thanks to the prolific downsizing of the past decade, corporate America is outsourcing more writing projects to freelancers than ever before. AND at hourly rates of $50-125+! Let The Well- Fed Writer – the award-winning, triple-book-club selection from best-selling author Peter Bowerman – show you all the step-by-step “how-to” you need to know to get your share of this lucrative and surprisingly accessible arena.
Let The Well-Fed Writer show you:
· Where the Work Is
· How to Get It
· How to Do It
· How to Get Hired Again and Again
· How to Earn $50-100/Hr. and More, and
· How to Do It Fast!
… Even With Average Writing Ability!
The Well-Fed Writer - MILESTONES
· Writer’s Digest Book Clubselection - July 2000 (second best-selling Featured Alternate in more than two years) · Book-of-the-Month Clubselection - Winter/Spring 2001 · Quality Paperback Book Clubselection- Spring 2001 · Second-place winner in ForeWord magazine’s 2000 Book of the Year Awards (Career category) · Finalist in the Publisher’s Marketing Association 2000 Ben Franklin Awards (Best First Book) · Honorable Mention in the 2000 Writer’s Digest National Self-Published Book Awards
“Bowerman shows…how almost anyone can forge ahead as an independent writer. His advice is good, couched in brassy prose…He anticipates every conceivable question…great common-sense tips…”
- Booklist
“…with a snappy conversational tone…Bowerman spells out everything…For anyone interested in writing and willing to make a go of self-employment, this book should provide excellent guidelines and inspiration.”
- ForeWord:
The Magazine of Independent Publishing
"...truly rewarding reading for aspiring freelance writers, copywriters, scriptwriters, columnists, journalists, and anyone else wanting to earn from what they write."
- The Midwest Book Review
“Bowerman adopts the language and style of contemporary self-help books… includes useful samples of promotional materials and…commercial pieces. Public libraries should consider purchasing [The Well-Fed Writer] for their career sections.”
- Library Journal
“This book is the best information on how to make more money with corporate clients I have ever read. It answers everything you want to know. Highly recommended.”
Bob Bly, Author (20+ titles)
Secrets of a Freelance Writer, The Copywriter’s Handbook,
Regular Contributing Editor to Writer’s Digest magazine
Author Bio
In 1993, Peter leveraged a 15-year sales/marketing career into a full-time living as a freelance commercial writer. With NO paid professional writing experience, NO industry background and NO contacts, he went full-time after just four months – using techniques outlined in his book. In addition to his corporate writing business, he has published nearly 200 columns and articles and leads seminars on writing. Professional references are available upon request.
Client List
Holiday Inn American Express
Coca-Cola BellSouth
UPS IBM
GTE Wireless MCI
Mercedes-Benz Credit Corporation Digital Equipment Corporation
Georgia-Pacific The Cartoon Network
Caribiner International The American Heart Association
The John Harland Company Centers For Disease Control (CDC)
NationsBank Junior Achievement of Georgia
Franklin’s Printing Crawford Multimedia
ORDER NOW!
Table of Contents
Introduction…………………………………………… 1
The Joy of Doing What You Love
Sharing My New Career Excitement (and Success!)
No Contacts, No Experience, No Writing Background (My Story) -- No Problem!
A 20-year Veteran Says: "I know of no other area of writing so lucrative, yet so easy to get started in."
Leverage What You Do Know
Chapter One
An Enviable Lifestyle…………………………………. 7
A Comfortable, Not-Unusual Week Nets $2000
Lifestyle Benefits Most Would Kill For
Creative Work, Good Money, Your Schedule
How's Your Quality of Life These Days?
Imagining It -- The First Step!
Type A Not Required
Self-Sufficiency In Four Months
Chapter Two
Why Be a Freelance Commercial Writer (FLCW)?……13
Eternal Demand for Your Talents
"Downsizing" and "Outsourcing" -- Key Trends
Scarcity of Good Writers
Quotes From Clients Say It All!
Minimal Investment/Negligible Overhead
A Huge Variety of Work -- ADD'ers Rejoice!
Not Enough Good Writers -- You Are Needed
Very Healthy Income
A Hit at Cocktail Parties (Only Half-Joking…)
What's Your Story?
Downsides (True for Any Writer, Actually…)
Chapter Three
So, What Does it Take to Be Successful?.………………31
Writing Ability -- But Not As Much As You Think
Ability to Market Oneself
Discipline -- I'm Lazy, Believe It Or Not
Technical Expertise -- If I Can Do It…
Flexibility, Curiosity, A Non-Conformist Nature
Easy to Get Along With -- Your Secret Weapon
Assertiveness -- Take a Stand for Quality
Ability to Ask Lots of Dumb Questions
Humility, A Quick Study, Discretion
Chapter Four
Ready For Self-Employment?…………………………39
Attitude is Everything - Original, Eh?
Get Mental, Make Money
You Give The Raises Around Here
Getting Your Finances In Order
Creating a Portfolio From Thin Air
Pro Bono, the Team Concept, Start-Ups
Chapter Five
Where's The Business?…………………………………49
End Users and Middlemen -- Pros and Cons of Both
Corporate America -- Learning to Love Them
Graphic Design Firms -- A Primer
Don't Ignore the "Lone Ranger"
Ad Agencies, Marketing Firms, PR Firms
Event Production Companies -- They Need You
Writers Agents and Brokers: Your Pals
Where to Find These Lovely Bill-Payers
Use What You Have -- And You've Got Plenty
"Spec" Work -- Your Game, Your Call
Chapter Six
Let's Get Started!……………………………….………61
It's All About Getting Noticed
Prospecting from A to Z
Reality Checks, and Surefire Success Strategies
Your Calling List: The Librarian is Your Friend
Your Calling Script: Focus, Don't Freak!
Building a Shrine to "The Law of Averages"
Get Out and Meet Your Market
Creating A Company Brochure: The Nitty-Gritty
The Writer's Bookshelf
Chapter Seven
Technically Speaking…………………………..……….77
I Repeat: If I Can Do It, You Can Do It
Life in "Cyberia" - Fun With Computers
PC, Printer, Phone, Fax, and Internet. Period.
PC or Mac? -- How To Choose
Good Fax and Contact Management Programs
The 'Net -- An Awesome Tool
Working Smarter and Less -- Interested?
Back-Up Everything, Always, Constantly
Handy Phone Features As Sales Tools
Major Technical Prowess Not Required, But…
Great Gadgets and Gizmos!
Chapter Eight
The System Is the Solution……………………..………91
The Beauty of Systems: A Unique Approach
Make It Easy Or It Won't Get Done
Be Open To Receive, Grasshopper…
Easy Resumes and Letters
Sample Letters/Resumes (I'm So Good To You…)
Getting and Copying Samples of Your Work
Your Fax: A Huge Time-Saver and Money-Maker
Targeted Direct Mail Campaigns For Under $60?!
Direct Mail: Step-By-Step From Mind to Mailbox
Tips For Maximum Efficiency
Client Meetings: Procedures and Protocol
Conducting Phone Interviews: A Crash Course
Chapter Nine
How Much Do I Charge?…….…………………….……115
In the Beginning, It's Paid On-The-Job-Training
By the Hour vs. By The Project: Pros and Cons
Your Hourly Rate (At Least $50 to Start…)
Avoid Premature Estimation (Or You'll Be Sorry…)
Find A Mentor for Pricing and Other Mysteries
Get Them To Talk First and Make More Money!
Discounted Meeting/Research Time? NO!
Be a Pro, Not a Doormat
How Important Are Contracts? Opinions Vary
The "Bid Letter" Might Be All You Need
Sample Contract, But Get Your Own Attorney
Chapter Ten
Happy Paydays!…………………………………….…….133
First Rule: Stay Current · Invoice in Stages -- Sometimes, It's Only Fair
Trust is Nice, But Still Cover Your Butt
Tracking Deadbeats: Get Your Money the Nice Way
Chapter Eleven
The Ebb and Flow of Work………………………….…..139
Feast or Famine -- Surely A Communist Plot
Figuring Out Your Personal "Work Style"
You Can Handle More Work Than You Think, But…
The Big Kahuna -- Long-Term Deals: Ins and Outs
When The Wave Hits, Ride It!
A "Typical" Day is Anything But Typical
Chapter Twelve
Clients and Other Fascinating Species…………………..145
The Dream Client -- Oh, Wouldn't It Be Nice?
Clients Looking for a "Massage"
Clients With Limited Budgets -- Keep the Radar Up
Winning Over "I Don't Need A Writer" Clients
Clients Who Want You to Take Dictation
When They Say They Want Creativity…Be Prepared
Handling Clients Who Think They're Writers
Multiple Decision Makers: Keeping Control
Ignorant Clients: Different Strains
Chapter Thirteen
Dos, Don'ts, and Don't Forget's…………………………153
Never Miss A Deadline
Remember: The Client Is The Boss
Use Every Advantage You Have
Pick A Specialty…Maybe
Sow The Seeds, Get Referrals
Remember: Nothing Is Forever
Luck (and the Lazy Client) Favors the Visible
Go Out and Meet Your Market
Don't Go "Direct"
Follow Up After Meetings and Phone Calls
Listen More, Work Less
Send Note Cards
Save Your Junk E-mail
Keep Your Word, Earn Your Money
Partner with a Designer and Other Writers
Chapter Fourteen
What Will You Be Writing?………………………………..173
A Crash Course, But You Can Write, Right?
"Who's The Audience?" -- The Eternal Question
The Sad Truth: Cry All The Way To The Bank
Business Letters, Ad Copy, Marketing Brochures
Hi-Level Proposals, Corporate Identity Pieces
Event Scripting
Scripting: Video, CD-ROM, CDi, Radio Spots
Speeches
Questions That'll Make You Look Brilliant
Trade Articles, Newsletters, Direct Mail
Writing for the Web
Technical Writing
Chapter Fifteen
The Home Stretch………………………………………..203
Where Are You Right Now?
One of Two Groups
Bad Days At The Beach
Getting To Someplace You Want To Be
Once You're Committed…Miracles
Appendix A………………………………………………..207
Sales Letters
Sample Contract
Sample Brochure
Sample Direct Mail Piece
Appendix B………………………………………………...221
Writing Samples
Appendix C…INTERVIEWS……………………………..251
For Women Only!
At-home Moms/Writers Speak Up!
Index……………………………………………………….271
