Open Thread: What Freelance Lessons Do You Wish You'd Learned Sooner?

Hindsight is 20/20 as they say. And while they have to invent a time machine so we can go back and fix some of our mistakes, there's always the chance to learn from other freelancers' mistakes or pass along a few pearls of wisdom. Last year, I blogged about a lesson I wish I'd learned sooner: that when other writers warn you about an editor or client or publication, there's usually a good reason. I would add that I also wish I'd cut the cord with low-paying publications sooner. Once you have a few solid clips, there's no reason to keep writing for pennies, people!

Now I'll open the floor to all of you fabulous freelancers. If you could go back in time and warn your younger self about something, what would it be? Do tell!

What Super Bowl Ads Teach Us About Storytelling

If you're like I am, then you probably watch the Super Bowl primarily for the ads and the onion dip (no chicken wings for this vegetarian). And last night's game did not disappoint on either front. I'm including some quick commentary on the best and worst ads. Ironically, almost all of these ads had one thing in common: storytelling. But while some used this technique brilliantly, others, well, fumbled. Here are my two faves:

1. Google: This ad is embedded above and the concept is breathtakingly simple. No screaming chickens or houses made of beer cans. In fact, you actually have to read to get the point of the ad (that Google search is there for you at any stage of life). I love how they told a Parisian love story through keyword searches. It puts the product at the heart of the ad without getting too cheesy or complicated. It also shows that storytelling, not bells and whistles, is the way to go.
2. Audi: Here the story centers on a series of short scenes involving the green police. Then the payoff comes when an Audi driver gets singled out and commended for using clean diesel. It's a clever way to show, not tell, that this Audi is eco-friendly. And anyone who's been pulled over by a police officer can appreciate the last scene of this ad!

And the two ads that let me down:

1. Cars.com: The set-up for this ad is actually pretty good. I was intrigued by this precocious little kid who's putting out fires and saving baby tigers. Someone at the party I attended said she thought it was an ad for a funny new sitcom. Then comes this awkward transition where they talk about how even smart people need help picking out the right car. And ... they lost me and everyone else in the room (seriously, I heard a collective groan). Somehow they set us up for something incredibly interesting and then let us down. Maybe because the introductory scenes had nothing to do with the product.
2. Doritos: This ad gets creativity points for filling a casket with Doritos as a fan's "dying wish," but the concept is totally tacky. The idea that someone would stage their own funeral so they could get out of work and eat Doritos paints fans as irresponsible and immature! I'm guessing most people who've sat through a close family member's funeral would agree with me. I did like this Doritos ad about trio of Dorito eaters at the gym, though.

If case you missed them, you can watch all of last night's Super Bowl ads on Hulu's AdZone. Which ads did you love (or hate)? What does this say about copywriting and/or storytelling?

Guest Post: Can E-books and Print Books Co-Exist?

By Elisa Lorello

My sister got a Kindle for Christmas, much to her surprise, and she loves it. Despite my successful book sales on the Kindle for the last six months, I hadn’t yet seen one up close. She gave me the honor of downloading my novels on her Kindle, for the first time I got to hold and play with the gadget.

I can see its appeal: lightweight, convenient, instant gratification. Faking It and Ordinary World appeared in minutes, despite the fact that my mother’s house had no wireless internet service! Whereas I had packed a travel suitcase full of books for my Christmas vacation, if I owned a Kindle, all I would have to do is make room in my purse. Nice.

There’s just one problem: I love books.

Tactile books, I mean. I love the feel of them in my hands. I love the sturdiness and elegance of a hardcover. I love the softness and flexibility of a paperback. I love smelling and touching the pages, waiting to turn each one, looking backwards to see how much I’ve read, and forward to see how much I’ve yet to read. I love a handsome cover.

I love bookstores too, especially the independent ones. Indie stores are owned and operated by booklovers, entrepreneurs who support local authors and their communities. I love bookstores with comfy chairs and small cafes built in. Bookstores, like libraries and college campuses, are happy places for me.

Here’s the other problem: I’m a Kindle Store bestseller.

I’m certain my success is due to the exceptionally low prices I set. I did so because as an unknown author I was more interested in readers than royalties. Without them, I couldn’t have any royalties in the first place. I wanted readers to take a chance on me. 99 cents was a low-risk way to do that. As sales numbers increased, so did my promotion. Word-of-mouth took over from there, and my books have been ranked in the Top 200 for four straight weeks, hitting the Top 10 in special categories (two of which have held #1 spots for the last month). However, I’d like to think that although the price is getting them in the door, the quality of the writing is keeping them inside. Faking It and Ordinary World have received positive reader reviews as well as high rankings.

Here lies the conundrum, the Catch 22. There’s no doubt that bookstores, especially the indies, are suffering at the hands of the Kindle and other e-readers, and we can’t afford to lose our bookstores. But as an independent author, I’m a bookseller, too. I’m making more money selling e-books than print books. Yet how can I turn my back on my beloved bookstores, and my beloved books? What’s more, how can I undercut my own books’ value (not to mention profits) by pricing them so low on Kindle? Doesn’t it hurt the book industry in general? But would I stand a chance otherwise? How do I co-exist as a booklover, a writer, an author, and a bookseller (aka businessperson) all at once? Moreover, can e-books and print books co-exist?

I think so. Kindle-lovers became such because they were book-lovers, first and foremost. This is the one thing that unites rather than divides us. E-readers are looking for book experiences as well as bargains. And the Kindle-owners I’ve talked to all say the same thing: they haven’t stopped buying (or adoring) their tactile books; they’re just supplementing (not substituting) the way they read them. Why not treat the e-book the way we treat the audiobook—just one more option to experience a story?

Rather than resist the shift in the publishing paradigm, publishers and booksellers need to embrace it. Barnes & Noble has their own e-reader called Nook, and some libraries offer Kindles for loan. There’s got to be a way for indie bookstores to get a piece of this as well. One way is to allow independent authors to upload their e-book files to an indie store’s website (on consignment, just as a brick-&mortar arrangement), where customers can purchase and download books directly from that site. I’m sure similar arrangements can be made with publishers as well.

I still make appearances at bookstores and champion the tactile book. I belong to a book club, and my bookcase runneth over. I also listen to audiobooks on my daily commute or on road trips, and I’m sure I’ll own an e-reader by the end of the year.

And, of course, I keep writing. I write because I love to do so.

Compact discs made vinyl records obsolete. iTunes and MP3s have been on the CD’s heels for years. But here’s the thing: Although digital music and file sharing took a bite out of the record business, it gave musicians, recording artists, and performers a chance to reach audiences that they’d never had before. And music-lovers became quite savvy in weeding through the bad to get to the good. Musical quality was still in demand, and musical appreciation did not suffer. What’s more, vinyl records are making a comeback for nostalgia’s sake, not to mention quality. Turntables are showing up on the shelves again.

The e-book does not have to spell the end of print books, nor does it have to spell doom for reading. If we all work together, we can pull through with our eye on what really matters: quality books and quality reading experiences. We can have our books and read them too, in any form we please.

Elisa Lorello attended the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth, where she recieved both her bachelor and master's degrees. She now lives in North Carolina where she teaches academic writing. In 2004, Elisa began her first novel, Faking It. Since then, Elisa has written a sequel, Ordinary World, and is currently co-writing a third novel.

Open Thread: Should Writers Date Other Writers?

With Valentine's Day approaching and last week's dating-related post (in case you missed it, I'd include the link but Men with Pens is down for maintenance at the moment), I wanted to discuss writers and their romantic partners. Talk about a can of worms, right? We literary folk are not known for our healthy, stable relationships. But I think the Sylvia Plaths of the world give the rest of us a bad name (not knocking Ms. Plath's literary chops, though - I loved The Bell Jar!). In fact, several of the men I've dated told me I'm the sanest woman they've met in a romantic context.

Maybe that's because I've never dated another writer. I've dated musicians and (amateur) actors and other creative types, but never a writer. Not saying I wouldn't, but this post certainly lists some compelling reasons for writers to steer clear of other writers. Then again, Kathryn at Real Words makes a compelling argument for why writers make great SOs.

I'm somewhere in the middle. I think it's good to have someone who gets you and your lifestyle. That's why my current boyfriend and I get along so well. He's freelanced before and now works at a video game studio, so he gets why I carry my BlackBerry everywhere and spend hours busily typing away on my laptop and obsessing over the exact right word. In fact, he helped me finesse a few lines of this post (but the concept was all me). But we're in different industries, so we don't feel the need to compare accomplishments or compete with each other.

For us, it's a nice mix of creative talents and, since our skills are complementary, maybe someday we'll collaborate on a project (yes, I know creative collaborations have caused many, many breakups but I think we're up for the challenge). When I dated people with more business or science backgrounds, there was a bit of disconnect between our thought processes. And it was tough for them to grasp what I do all day.

What about you? Do you think two writers together is match made by Jane Austen? Or a tragedy ala Shakespeare? Does your partner get what you do, even if he or she does something completely different? Does it even matter as long as they're supportive?

Flickr photo courtesy of Chocolate Geek

5 Tips for Maintaining Your Blogging Momentum

We've all seen it happen: a writer gets all fired up about a new blog, posts every day for a few weeks, and then ... just stops. Bloggers gets busy, lose interest, burn out, or just run out of ideas and abandon the blog.

Hey, it happens.

But it doesn't have to happen to your blog. Here's how to avoid blog burnout and maintain a steady stream of useful posts, even when things get hectic or it feels like your muse is away on vacation.

1. Batch your blog posts. I usually work on two or three posts at a time, because once I get into the blogging mindset I can crank out several posts in one session. Then I don't have to think about blogging for several more days, and I can focus on other projects. It's a useful way to manage your time, and since you're working ahead, you have a bit of a cushion when life gets in the way of blogging.

2. Set a realistic schedule. Some bloggers update daily, but I've found that my own sweet spot is three times per week (usually Monday/Wednesday/Friday). That way readers don't forget about my blog, and I don't go crazy trying to come up with a new post every weekday (and I suspect many of you with busy lives would have trouble keeping up with daily posts anyway). I think sticking to a blogging schedule is helpful, because it keeps you accountable and gets you into a rhythm. But it's also important to be realistic about posting frequency so you don't push yourself too hard and get frustrated.

3. Use peer pressure. Some people enlist the help of a blogging buddy or a small group to keep them accountable and cheer them on. Another option is to join a blogging event like Michelle Rafter's Blogathon to kick-start your blogging and keep you motivated.

4. Create a backlog. In addition to batching posts as described in #1, I also have a small inventory of posts in progress. That way if I get stuck, I can revisit one of those posts, flesh them out, and press "publish" with minimal fuss. Whenever I get an idea for a blog post, I start a draft in Blogger, even if I don't have time to write the whole darn thing. That way I don't worry about forgetting the idea and have some posts waiting in the wings when things get busy or I'm feeling uninspired.

5. Keep it simple. Remember, blog posts don't have to be super-long. A post could be as simple as a photo with an inspirational quote or a YouTube video embedded with a quick caption underneath. It could be a short paragraph with a link to something you've written or an article someone else wrote that you found particularly interesting. It could be a Q & A with someone you admire or a roundup of links from your blog. Or it could be a guest post from another blogger. There are many ways to post an update without spending hours at your keyboard. Vary up the length and format to see what appeals most to your readers.

Tell us! Do you struggle with posting consistently? How do you maintain momentum on your own blog? Any tips you'd add?

Flickr photo courteys of Mike Licht, NotionCapital.com

5 Unlikely Spots to Find Writing Markets

Lots of freelancers have a copy of Writer's Market on their bookshelves. Me? I chucked my copy the last time I moved. These days, any print directory of writing markets is out-of-date almost the minute it arrives in book stores. The markets that are still around probably get inundated with queries from wouldbe freelancers, and a lot of great markets are conspicuously missing. That's why I prefer to do my own sleuthing. Once you start thinking about scouting for new markets, they'll crop up almost everywhere you look! Here are some spots to check out.

1. The doctor's office. All those cumulative hours you clock in a hospital waiting room or in the examining room could pay off if you keep your eyes open. You'll probably find a stack of year old consumer magazines in the waiting room, but sometimes you can also discover a gem you've never heard of. It could be a random magazine left by another patient or it could be a custom magazine published by the hospital or a medical association. For instance, Vim and Vigor or Spirit of Women.

2. The airport. Inflight magazines are a great market for freelancers, and they often include general lifestyle and business articles in addition to articles on travel. But that's not the only place you can find freelance opportunities at the airport. Poke your head into the newstand, particularly at an airport far from home, and you'll often find unfamiliar titles that could be open to pitches. Also keep your eyes peeled for magazines left by other passengers in the waiting area or on the plane. And these days, airlines aren't the only ones with specially branded publications. Amtrak also puts out a magazine called Arrive.

3. The TV. Turn that time you spend vegging out in front of the TV into research! Most of us have read TV Guide, but there are tons of other TV-related markets. For instance, AOL has an entire blog, TV Squad, devoted to discussing and dissecting TV shows. Many TV networks have companion websites or magazines that feature original articles. CBS's Watch magazine and websites like HGTV.com or SoapNet.com are just a few examples.

4. The grocery store. Obviously, you could check out the magazine racks in the checkout line. But food writers shouldn't forget that many stores put out custom magazines to promote their products or provide customers with easy recipes using their products. For instance, Hannaford puts out (or perhaps hires a custom publisher to put out) a magazine called Fresh. Wegmans has a magazine called Menu. There's also Costco Connection.

5. The internet. You're smart enough to know that you can find writing markets on the web. No arguments there. But in addition to newsletters like Writing for DOLLARS!, FreelanceDaily, and Funds for Writers, there are lots of under-the-radar ways to find writing markets. You could check out other writer's websites and see what publications they've written for. You could also use social bookmarking (see tip #5) to uncover new-to-you markets.

What about you? Where have you spotted potential writing markets lately?

Flickr photo courtesy of Sarah Sosiak

Open Thread: What Are You Reading?

I’m always on the lookout for cool new (or new-to-me) books to read. After receiving Baked In for Christmas, I’ve already gobbled up this smart marketing book. It’s a short read but it’s chock full of interesting case studies on companies that “get” the new marketing model (I was excited to see one of my past clients mentioned!). Right now I've just finished Susan Jane Gilman’s hilarious memoir Undress Me in the Temple of Heaven. Next up is The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Creating a Web-Based Business, which was recommended by someone I interviewed a few weeks ago. What have you read recently? Anything you’d care to recommend?

Flickr photo courtesy of Dawn Endico

5 Qs with Jenny Hall, Author of Ice Charades

These days, you don't necessarily have to wait for an agent and publisher to green light your book, because self-publishing tools make it possible to actually sell the book yourself. That's what Jenny Hall did for her first novel, Ice Charades. In honor of the upcoming winter Olympics in Vancouver, Jenny shared her tips on self-publishing, balancing motherhood with writing, and more.

Urban Muse: Ice Charades is based on your experiences as an ice skater. Where's the line between fact and fiction?
Jenny Hall: I wanted to keep the skating in the book real to document my life in an ice show, but I felt it would be more entertaining in novel format. The awkward and unusual situations are true, but plucked from different shows. We really did have to find and pay for our own hotels, which kept us constantly broke and we were weighed in every week, which kept us hungry much of the time. And neurotic. Take four showgirls, hungry and broke, sharing a cramped, run-down hotel room and you get dramatic dialogue.

After skating for thirteen years in various shows I also had countless costume malfunctions to pick from. These real events were the inspiration for the book, as I felt this was a world few people knew but many might find interesting.

The romantic storyline is more fictional. I didn't have that great a love life when I skated.

UM: Tell us about your decision to self-publish Ice Charades. What was the biggest challenge?
JH: I was a good candidate for self-publishing because there aren't other novels about ice skating, unless you count Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates. There are hundreds of biographies, memoirs and historical non-fiction books, as well as some skating murder mysteries plus one gay erotic title. But there was no women's fiction, or dare I say chick lit, on the subject.
I wanted to go the traditional route but agents don't seem to be taking on many debut authors these days. I also felt a looming deadline with the Winter Olympics coming and I didn't want to miss out on the time when skating gains many fans. So I changed tactics, stopped querying, and looked into self-publishing. I planned to focus on skaters and skating fans, a group which numbers in the tens of thousands, so that is not a bad niche market. The challenge now will be reaching them remotely. I currently live in Mexico City.

I think of this book as a hobby, but getting it into print felt like a full-time job at the end. That was the biggest challenge. I needed to research publishing companies, chose the right fonts and layouts, decide whether to own the ISBN number, figure out where to spend on marketing and promotion, and learn how to create a website. My husband and I did most of it ourselves, but used professionals where I felt I needed it - book cover and editing.

In the end, I published this book for show skaters and they are grateful to see their story told, but the response from everyone has been great. That makes me glad I did it.

UM: Any tips on balancing writing and motherhood?
JH: Dependable naps! But I only have one child and no job, so I have no excuses. Guilt is a good motivator for my writing. Now that my daughter is in school, I have free time that I don't want to waste. I don't know how someone with a full-time job, with or without kids, has the time and energy to write.

UM: What are some of your favorite books?
JH: My favorite classics are Main Street, Jane Eyre and Animal Farm. More recent titles include non-fiction favorites like Deborah Copaken Kogan's Shutter Babe and Scott Anderson's The Man Who Tried To Save The World. Not only are these books all over the map, all are outside the chick lit genre, so in the five years it took to write Ice Charades, it was truly a guilty pleasure to read countless chick lit books for “research” purposes. Even though I'm not a shopper, I do like Sophie Kinsella's Shopaholic series and anything by Meg Cabot.

UM: What's next for you?
JH: The Ice Charades sequel, of course. Next stop, Japan. Having skated there for six years, starting in the late 80's, there is a wealth of culturally bizarre and wacky episodes to draw from.
From mixing with the Japanese mafia to locals wanting to touch blond hair or toilets that made bird sounds, I'm excited to fold this and more into another story.

Thanks, Jenny! Congrats on Ice Charades and best of luck on the sequel!

Images courtesy of Jenny Hall

What [title of show] Taught Me About Creativity

It's no secret that I'm a huge sucker for musical theater. Last Friday, I had the delightful experience of attending opening night of the New England premiere of [title of show] at Speakeasy Stage Company. Partway through the performance, I decided I needed to blog about it, so whipped out a pen and started jotting down memorable lines and themes.

The musical follows two guys ("schomos" as they would say) and two of their female friends as they attempt to write a musical for the New York Musical Theatre Festival based on their experiences writing a musical. The Broadway production starred the creators as themselves, so it's very funny and self-referential, but it also explores issues that are universal to creative types, like writing, rewriting, and staying true to your vision versus selling out.

How could I not love a musical that uses terms like "Mexcellent" and "hangry"? (Not to mention that there's a character named Susan, who announces melodramatically that she's stopped auditioning because she's starring in a little show called Corporate Whore.) Here's what writers and other artsy types can learn from the show.

1. Taking criticism from the wrong people can lead to mediocrity. As Hunter and Jeff discuss their show with potential backers, they get all kinds of crazy criticism and suggestions. They initially try to incorporate this feedback into the show but realize they need to stay true to their original vision, even if it means making obscure theater references that the matinee ladies don't understand. Besides, much of it is conflicting anyway! The point is to consider the source when considering feedback and weigh it against your overall artistic goal.


2. Fixating on commercial viability can make you crazy. One of the guys (Hunter, I think) gets a little tunnel vision envisioning his show on Broadway. He starts talking about replacing one of the women with Sutton Foster (for the uninitated, she's a really big name on Broadway right now) and making the set crazy elaborate. But the appeal of the show is that's small and scrappy and has a whole of heart, not that it has these amazing production values or big stars. In fact, since it's a relatively inexpensive show to produce, it'll probably live on through college and community theater products for years and years to come.


3. Listening to doubters can kill your creativity. One of the women sings this fabulous song called Die, Vampire Die (watch the YouTube video but beware of slanguage). She makes this incredibly valid point that if someone came up to us on the subway and told us we suck, we'd think they were crazy. But if our inner voice tells us that, we believe it! How crazy is that? Also, if we try to sanitize our work for Mom or Grandma, then we'll end up with "two tight paragraphs about kittens." Who needs that?
   
4. It's better to be "nine people's favorite thing than a hundred people's ninth favorite thing." There's a video of this song above, and it should every creative's anthem. Seriously, bookmark that video and the next time an agent tells your novel isn't saleable or an editor tells you her readers aren't interested in the topic you suggested, hum along. Then work on making your piece nine people's favorite thing.


5. Eventually, you gotta let go. Since the guys in [title of show] are culling scenes and dialogue from their own life, it's hard to know when to stop. How will they know when the piece is finished if funny stuff keeps happening? But like all composers, screenwriters, novelists, choreographers, and artists, at some point you just have to trust that the piece is complete.

Your turn! What inspires you? Have you seen a play, movie, or other piece that spoke to the creative process?

Open Thread: Just How "Free" Are Freelancers?

A recent convo with a friend has me thinking. I mentioned that I always make a point of being at my laptop by 9am at the absolute latest so I can get a jump on the day and be available when clients need me (also so I can wrap things up around the time my friends finish work so I can socialize with them).

He raised a valid point, though: "Isn't one of the benefits of freelancing that you don't have to be chained to your desk like a 9-5er? Can't you work whenever you want as long as you meet deadlines?"

"But," I sputtered, "My clients expect a timely response! And people already this image of freelancers rolling out of bed at noon and working in their PJs. I'm determined to defy that stereotype!"

"Yeah, but can't those freelancers still be successful? I'm sure there are people like that who make a very decent living."

Huh. Am I missing the point of freelancing? I don't respond to late-night requests (even if I happen to be on Gmail, I don't want to set a bad precedent), and I'll admit that I sometimes take an afternoon gym break or run an errand if all my assignments are on track. (And OK, after my last breakup I played hooky and went to the movies for a day, but I would have been totally inefficient at my computer anyway.)

But if it's during the business day, then I make sure that clients' needs are met first. Even that time a few weeks ago, when my Mom had emergency eye surgery and I dropped everything to meet her at the hospital and bring her back to my apartment so I could watch her (she's fine now, thank goodness!), I raced back home to take care of an invoice issue. See, I worry that if I took the "free" in freelance too literally, my clients wouldn't take me seriously and my income (not to mention my productivity) would drop like the stock market did in 2008.

Am I being paranoid? How much freedom should freelancers allow themselves? Should we embrace the embrace the opportunity to work when we feel like it? Or stick to a regimented schedule? Any thoughts?

Flickr photo courtesy of Jeezny

5 Freelance Faux Pas to Avoid

Most of us know the basic rules of etiquette. Keep your elbows off the table. Don't pick your nose in public. Call ahead (or at the very least, send a text message) if you're running late.

However, the rules of freelance etiquette aren't as widely known. You can (and should) follow the Golden Rule, but there are some situations that are a bit trickier (in fact, Linda Formichelli interviewed for me an article on sticky freelance situations that appears in February issue of Writer's Digest). Like when you realize there's a typo on your business card or a client asks you to set up a meeting.

Here are five things not to do when dealing with editors, clients, or other freelancers. Some of them might sound like common sense, but they are all drawn from my own observations as a freelancer.

1. Cross out typos on your business card. Believe it or not, somebody actually did this in front of me at a networking event last year. Are you kidding me?! Business cards are not expensive, so if you change email addies or realize you've transposed a few numbers in your phone number, just suck it up and buy new ones (then read this post on what to do with your old cards). Anyone who works with words for a living should be conscientious enough to proofread their own business cards. Or at least fix their errors in an unobtrusive manner.


2. Hit "reply all" when chewing someone out. Maybe it's because I lack the camaraderie of working in an office, but I don't mind being cc'ed on polite, superfluous messages like "this month's issue rocks!" or "that catalogue spread made me drool." It's the "why can't you ever get it right?" and the "this or that editorial policy sucks" messages I hate. We don't need to be privy to another freelancer's drama. They may think that they are taking a stand for all of us. But messages like that are totally unprofessional. If you have a problem with an editor or client, then deal with it privately, not on a group email. Better yet, step away from your keyboard, take a few cleansing breaths, and see if you still need to send that email in an hour or two.
   
3. Vent about someone by name on a forum or listserve. This is even worse than #2, because you might think that the person won't be reading it. Think again! I belong to several freelance listserves and forums, and I've seen several people screw themselves in a fit of rage. In one case, a writer thought another writer had ripped her off and complained about that writer by name. Unfortunately, the second writer belonged to that same group. But she took the high road and explained her side of the story rather than getting upset. Crisis averted. If you must vent (and frankly, we all need to do it sometimes), do it in private to a therapist, significant other, or trusted confidante. Or at least leave out names or any identifying details.
   
4. Demand that another freelancer hook you up. I don't mind the occasional request, like "who should I pitch at X magazine?" or "please keep me in mind if you get any projects you don't have time for." But constantly emailing, calling, or DMing someone to see if they have any freelance leads for you is not cool. If a fellow freelancer thinks you are worthy, they will usually help you out. If they're not sure of your skills, then this can put them in an awkward position. Instead, be proactive in helping out other people when you can (karma, baby!) and do some of your own prospecting.


5. Host a meeting in a messy space. When I surveyed my followers about freelance faux pas on Twitter, @G_Pryor suggested "Hosting a client meeting without cleaning the litter box first." Yuck! Many tweeple laughed, but I've actually gone to a prospective client's home and seen piles of unfolded laundry strewn across the couch. As you probably guessed, we didn't end up working together. I always meet clients on their turf or in a public space like a coffee shop. It's safer, and I don't have to worry about putting away dirty dishes or stacks of paper.

OK, fellow freelancers. What faux pas have you noticed? How would you handle the situations described above?

Flickr photo courtesy of •●pfaff

Open Thread: What Are You Working On?

Now that the excitement of the holidays and New Year's has died down, it's time to get down to the business of writing again. Last time I posed the question "What are you working on?," I got a wide variety of responses from proofreading ebooks to writing podcasts and magazine articles. This time I'm betting we'll get a similarly varied reaction.

I'll go first. I'm working on catalogue copy for several retail companies, a newsletter article for a professional organization of writers, and copyediting for a soon-to-launch career website. I also have some queries to polish and get out the door. What about you? Any new and exciting projects? What's on your to do list for this week?

5 Qs with Melissa Hart, Author of Gringa

Melissa Hart is a journalist professor at the University of Oregon and the author of two memoirs. Her most recent book, Gringa: A Contradictory Girlhood, explores the custody battle between her straight-laced father and lesbian mother. Melissa and I discussed the differences between essay and memoir writing, her inspiration, and more.

Urban Muse: Tell us about the inspiration behind Gringa.
Melissa: Inspiration comes to me in the form of images--in the case of Gringa, I recalled a pack of Spanish flash cards that my mother had when we took language classes together at the local library. I couldn't get one image--a line drawing of a disembodied ear--out of my head. Really, it was that flash card that provided the initial inspiration to sit down and write the first chapter. I'd told part of my story--about my mother coming out and losing custody of me and my younger siblings--in my first memoir, The Assault of Laughter. However, I didn't feel that I'd written the story as eloquently or thoroughly as I could have, and so I set out to write it once more and expand upon it with more sophisticated prose and a greater sense of how the dissolution of my family affected me as a young adult. I'd also been reading memoir and fiction with recipes--Laura Esquivel's "Like Water for Chocolate," Diana Abu-Jaber's "The Language of Baklava"--and as food provided comfort and intrigue for me as an adolescent, I structured each chapter around a key recipe.

UM: Was it difficult to write about events that are so deeply personal?
M: It is difficult to write about personal events. After almost thirty years, I still have a lot of pain regarding what happened to my family. Many women with kids who came out during the 1970s and 1980s lost custody of their children, and most don't want to discuss this. However, I think it's a critical period of history that needs to be explored, and while I shed many tears during my writing of Gringa, I also feel confident that this book offers insight into LGBT families and their value. The hardest scene for me to see in print is the sex scene in "Young Americans." I didn't want to include it, but my editor thought it was important. It's not erotic--more "theater of the absurd"--but I blush to think that my journalism students and my grandparents have read it.

UM: In addition to two memoirs, you've published a number of essays. Any tips on writing compelling essays? How is it the same (or different) from writing a memoir?
M: Essay writing can be so much fun. It requires a lot less time commitment and research than a book-length memoir; however, many of the writing techniques are the same. You have to go into an essay with a compelling introduction, and the whole piece is guided by a thesis (that is, a topic and a point you wish to make about that topic). I think it's important to include research, so that readers learn something about a subject, and you also need to include sensory details, stylish writing, vivid imagery, and a conclusion that really leaves people thinking. I get a lot of my ideas from what I'm thinking about or learning about at the time--for instance, I've just finished an essay exploring Jim Henson's "The Muppet Show," which was so important to my family in the 1980s, and which my three-year old daughter now adores. The trick was to make it personal, while exploring a universal truth and offering readers insight into the program and its influences on audiences then and now.

UM: Since you also teach journalism, what is the single most important thing that you impart to students each semester?
M: I think the single most important thing I impart is that publication doesn't have to be this far-off dream that one spends years pursuing. It's something that can happen within a few weeks of learning a few crucial skills, such as constructing a compelling short essay and submitting it to specifically-targeted editors with a succinct cover letter. My Feature Writing 1 students regularly get published in places including The Washington Post, The Oregonian, Horizon Air Magazine, and High Country News. They're amazed that editors are willing to publish their work, but why not, if they've worked hard at multiple drafts and submitted a polished piece?

UM: What books would you say should be required reading for aspiring essayists and/or memoir writers?

M: I'm an evangelist for Sue William Silverman's Fearless Confessions: A Writer's Guide to Memoir [ed. note: Sue has also shared her insights on this blog]. It's simply the most thorough and inspiring book I've found for memoir writers, regardless of the level of experience. And I regularly read and assign the "Best American" series to my students; in particular, I like "Best American Magazine Writing" and "Best American Essays." I also really enjoy the writing in the literary journals "Creative Nonfiction" and "Fourth Genre." They're essential reading for memoirists.

Thanks, Melissa!

Guest Post: 5 SEO Tips To Optimize Your Site

By Michelle Strassburg

Search engine optimization is the process of increasing the amount of web traffic finding your site through unpaid search engine results. If you haven't so far, you'll soon discover that optimising your content site is essential in today's business climate for a number of reasons. To name just two, you'll discover that some web users will only click on an organic search result, so all the advertising money in the world won't make them click on your ad. The second reason is simple: organic traffic is free. Let's get to work.

Here are a few golden SEO tips for content sites:

1. Use The Page Title and Page Description Fields Correctly - Each page should have unique metadata which is comprised from a page title and page description. To optimize your site for Google, limit the page title to 70 characters and page description to 150 characters. The information in the page title and page description should describe the informative nature of the page. It's important to pay attention to content duplication and avoid using the same page title or page description twice across the site.











2. Do Smart Link Building - Building the number of links pointing to your blog or site naturally is an important factor which the search engines look at when determining your ranking. However, the emphasis shouldn't be made on quantity, but rather on quality. In particular look at niche directories which are associated with your industry, blogs, or forums. You could even try to get a link from your clients. To check who's linking to your site or the progress of your link building, use one of the free backlink checkers.

3. Optimize Your Images For Search - Optimizing images across your site or blog can help increase web traffic from Google image search and normal search. The key is to use a descriptive file name for the images and use the image alt text field. For example, the image pillow-cases.jpg has a much better chance to rank for 'pillow cases' than pillow2397.jpg. In addition to driving up traffic from image search, naming the image correctly will help the page itself rank better in normal search, as search engines are able to read the alt text field of the image.

4. Find 404 Pages and Fix Them - 404 pages and "page could not be found" will result in a pooruser experience. And if those pages have some back links pointing to them, you're missing out. To find your 404 pages, you can use the free utility xenu which will test all your pages one after the other and report back its findings. Another option is to use Google Analytics. Most 404 pages have a page title such as 'page not found' so all you have to do in Google Analytics is head to 'content' then 'content by title' and type the page title. Click on the page title to view the problematic pages and fix them.

5. Add Quality Content - An important factor for ranking well is to constantly produce quality content. For content sites it can take the shape of reviews, useful tips, and even how-to guides. If you're struggling to find ideas for new content, use the wisdom of the crowds and search for ideas on Twitter trends or Google trends.

I hope my SEO tips will point you in the right direction. Any tips you'd like to add?

Michelle Strassburg is Head of Sales and Marketing at online wooden worktops vendor Wood and Beyond. Michelle has over 10 years experience managing online marketing.

Open Thread: What's Your Resolution?

I’m of two minds about freelance writers setting New Year’s resolutions. I’m all for setting goals and writing them down to reinforce that message. And I agree that it’s good to make those goals measurable so you’ll know when you’ve achieved them.

But at the same time, freelancing requires flexibility, so sometimes the goals you set at the beginning of the year just don’t make sense a few months in. And you could have a totally kick-ass year without meeting any of your goals if you discovered some other project or path that fulfilled you creativity (and hopefully also filled up your wallet to some extent). I didn’t follow through on my first goal for 2009 (“spend at least two days per month on creative projects”), but I still had a great year overall.

Also, writing is a subjective, creative discipline, so setting measurable goal like the ones I would have made a few years prior (for instance, “I will send out XX queries per week” or “I will earn XXX this year”) don’t tell the whole story. They don’t speak to the quality of those queries or whether the income came from clients who treated you with respect or whether your sanity suffered as a result of meeting those numerical goals.

Then there are goals like “get published in the New York Times” or “sign an agent for my book,” which are laudable goals but completely out of one’s control.

So, for 2010, I’m setting a few loose goals and will figure out the rest as it comes. This year, I will …

• Say no to low-paying, high-maintenance clients
• Complete my certificate in Writing for Professional Communication (I’m already halfway through and the plan is to be done by March)
• Finish that ebook I’ve been neglecting and get it ready to distribute
• Retake driver’s ed so I will feel comfortable driving on the highway when I need to (it’s been awhile for this city girl)

And if other awesome projects get in the way, I’m sure 2010 will still be an awesome year.

What are your resolutions? Do you have any other thoughts on resolutions?