Archive for September, 2007
Build Traffic to Your Blog with BlogRush
You’ve likely seen them. You may even be here because of them. We’re talking about those “From the Blogosphere” boxes you see on many blogs, each containing a small selection of links to the latest related posts on external blogs.
The Writing “Community”
We’re wired and hooked up.
That, imo, is one of the neatest things about being a writer today, something we most certainly did not have way way back pre-Internet… or even early-Internet for that matter.
What to Charge: Consider Multiple Billing Rates
Is it really fair to just have one hourly rate? After all, I would imagine that you’d be measurably more productive writing on a subject you’re an expect on as opposed to the very same hour spent struggling with something you know very little about.
Which is why some writers have adopted multiple billing rates.
The World’s Most Ambitious Vanity Press Project
This recently caught my eye briefly the other day, a somewhat interesting vanity press project I quicklly dubbed the world’s most ambitious.
10 Big Myths About Copyrights Explained
After having had my fair share of run-ins with plagiarizers through the years, I was going to write a little something about copyrights and the usual crud you hear from content thieves in this day and age of electronic distribution and really easy copying-and-pasting. But why bother when Brad Templeton did a very good job already.
Opportunities With Software Manuals (Part 1 of 2)
While chatting with my friend, master programmer William Bontrager, the other day about some cool server applications, something he mentioned in passing flicked on the switch of my wordpreneur lightbulb. His statement:
“[S]ome geeks don’t know how to write manuals.”
Teachbits Referral Contest – Win an iPod Shuffle
Are you a schoolteacher? Teachbits, the teacher-to-teacher online marketplace, is running a “perk up your classroom” contest.
Literary Contest Scams
If you’re thinking of entering a literary or poetry contest — you’ve no doubt seen the ads, and when word gets out that you’re a “writer,” you’ll probably get a neverending stream of invites for these in your email inbox like I do — you’ll want to check out this resource first.
What to Charge: The ABWA Pay Formula
According to my friend, Dana Cassell, who’s the editor and publisher of the Writers-Editors Network, the American Business Writers Association (ABWA) was a group of trade journal writers, formed before there was even an Internet, but it no longer exists. It did leave us with a really useful legacy, though… a highly useful formula to help us freelancers figure out what to charge.
No Portfolio? Barter
Bartering is exchanging your services for your client’s goods or services. No money exchanges hands. And I’m not a big fan of the practice.
But it’s a good way to get your writing/copywriting business started. In particular, working these “arrangements” is an excellent way to start filling up your portfolio.
Enter This Blog Contest… Now!
Got a blog? You’ll want to take a look at this.
I usually give no-skills-required contests like this about as much attention as a vegetarian pizza gets in a butchers’ convention. But this one sure did catch my eye, even though I never ever win them…
Freelancing Cost of Doing Business
A couple interesting “facts” about a freelancer’s cost of doing business, from my who-knows-how-old-but-still-good-today notes.
Writing Help: Fifty (50) Tools
Tools is a misnomer… these are techniques as far as I’m concerned. Whatever. Used appropriately, they work. And they work well.
Software for Nothing but Writing
When you write — and do nothing else but write — on your computer, what software do you like to use? Let me/us know please… just doing an informal survey.
Here are my two personal preferences.
Want These eBooks Free?
There are very easy ways to get them (with or without your very own website), none of which requires you to subscribe to or sign up for anything. But first, the ebooks:
Writing Sample Analyzer
This one you’ll likely bookmark and keep using! Copy and paste a substantial writing sample into the Analyzer, and it then gives you some mighty revealing measurements of your writing.
Vonnegut on Writing With Style
I don’t usually give out “how to write” advice since, after all, who the heck am I to give writing advice? But advice from Kurt Vonnegut? Oh yeah!
CoverAction Pro
Thoroughly unimpressed with the blood, sweat and tears I expended writing GolfIncome: eBay, when presented with the ebook, my writing and publishing pals usually ask, “Who did the cover?”
How to Quit
Thinking of biting the bullet and quitting your day job to make a go of writing for a living full-time?
The Local Business Blog Service Opportunity
Just digging through my notes for business ideas you may be able to capitalize on. Here’s one…
IDEA: Provide local businesses with an easy turnkey on-going business blogging service.