4 Shortcuts to Save Blogging Time

You know those weeks where you're running around so much you barely have time to breath, much less blog? Where dinner consists of a Luna bar and a banana hastily consumed on the way to the subway? This is going to be one of those weeks for me, so you probably won't hear much on this blog or if you email me (don't worry, I'm not dying, I just have a crazy few days coming up). I had this outline saved, so this seems like a good time to use it.

1. Don't moderate comments. Sounds risky, I know, but I tried it when I went on vacation, and it worked out great. No one left offensive or inappropriate comments, and readers didn't have to wait three days for me to slog through my email and approve their comments. Of course, the feasibility of this one will depend on the nature of your blog and the number of comments you get. I've decided to leave my settings the way they are to make it easier for everyone, but if it becomes a problem, I would not hesitate to moderate again.
2. Bookmark interesting articles for later. I could spend hours blog-hopping, commenting, and reading posts about a myriad of topics, but it won't improve my output as a writer or blogger. I try to keep the mindless surfing to a minimum by saving articles that look interesting in my delicious links. I can include these in a future blog post or read them later as a reward for finishing a task.
3. Write posts in advance. On days like today when I'm rushing out the door, I don't have time to wrack my brain for blog post ideas (my muse doesn't work on demand; she's fickle like that). You can write a few posts at once when you have the time, and then spread them out for posting later on.
4. Post via email. Yes, I know that all you WordPress users can publish things years into the future, but Blogger users cannot. I get around this by saving drafts in my email folder, then pressing send when I want to publish. Blogger has more detailed instructions on publishing via email here.

What's your time-saving secret weapon when it comes to blogging? Leave a comment, and tell us about it!

5 Things to Change to Save Yourself from Burn Out

Last November's post about beating burnout out was so popular that I wrote a similar post for the 9-5 (or 9-whenever) crowd at Brazen Careerist, where I'm now a regular contributor. Some of my career-related rants may not be applicable to Urban Muse readers, so I won't shamelessly plug every post, but I think we could all use a little help to stay this side of sane. I give you: 5 Things to Change to Save Yourself from Burn Out.

5 Q's with Kristina Grish

Kristina Grish was featured in the new book Time to Write and has contributed to Marie Claire, Teen Vogue, and Men's Health. She's also written a few books of her own, including The Joy of Text: Dating, Mating and Techno-Relating. Here's what she had to say about writing...

Urban Muse: Tell us about your first big writing clip.
Kristina: Before I decided to write full-time, I was a fashion director and stylist. But my friend was an editor for Teen Vogue, so she assigned me a Q&A with a Nike footwear designer who was super hot, because I had such a specific knowledge of the market - and, well, he was super hot. I was single and he was newly married - although we didn't know about his nuptials at the time. I think I talked to him about shoes for 1/16 of the afternoon we spent together - and then I took him shopping. It was such a fantastic afternoon. I had to keep reminding myself that I was on an interview and not on a blind date!

UM: Do you have any tips for dealing with rejection?
K: It sounds cliche, but: try, try again. I've actually found that if you pitch 10 unusable ideas to the same editor in a really fun and friendly manner, you'll end up building rapport - and eventually landing a small story out of friendship, pity, or both. It's a foot in the door, that then leads to drinks, which then leads to bigger stories, and so on. I have more than a few half-cocked pitches to thank for some of my best magazine introductions.

UM: What is the best advice you ever got about writing?
K: This is such a hard question, because I don't think I've ever received a lot of advice about conceptual writing. But I did have an AP english teacher who was intent on making sure we mastered the transitional sentence. She taught us the importance of repetition and flow, and it's always stuck with me. That, and how to use semi-colons. God, I love a man who knows how to properly use semi-colons. I think it's so sexy.

I will say, however, that a lot of people insist that you find a writing niche and stick with it - and make sure you spend years developing a platform for magazine work or books. And I've jumped categories so much that I really refuse to buy it. I know it makes an agent's or editor's job easier, but a good writer can write about fruit flies for 1500 words and make them sexy, funny, or interesting. It's all about turning a phrase.

UM: What are some of your favorite books or book authors?
K: Lorrie Moore, Jonathan Safran Foeur, Rick Moody. I also like Amy Hempel, Miranda July. "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" made me cry for days - no joke, DAYS. While Josh Kilmer-Purcell's "I Am Not Myself These Days" made me laugh harder than I have in years. I actually wrote Josh my first, and likely my last, piece of fan mail ever. It's weird as a writer to send another writer an email, but I had to love him up.

UM: Any new projects in the works?
K: Right now, I'm writing for a handful of magazines, wrapping up my blog for womenshealthmag.com about my first year of marriage ("Wedlocked"), and brainstorming like hell for a new book concept. I've had a lot of health issues lately, and so health/wellness is very top of mind. I'm too scared to memoir it though; it's a tricky genre, in which I'm lately hesitant to tread.

Thanks, Kristina!

P.S. This next week is going to be really hectic for me, so I'm skipping 5 Q's next week. Check out the archives if you're curious.

Advanced Search Tips for Bloggers and Writers

By now, even second graders how to do a simple Google search. But search engines offer way more options beyond that. Here are a few that I've recently discovered...

Search within a certain domain. This will come in handy if you've written a bunch of articles for X website, but you forgot to bookmark them. Click on advanced search from the Google homepage, do a quick search for your byline and you'll have a list of all your clips from your chosen domain (or enter your search term with site:XX.com). Say you want to write a query for Y website, but they don't have a search function (shame on them) and you can't remember if they've covered your topic already. Try a few different keyword phrases to see what the website has covered in the past so your query letter doesn't overlap with their archives.

Show cached pages. A kind reader shared this tip with me when I thought I'd lost a bunch of clips, because the website disbanded. Turns out that all I had to do was click on the word "cached" and I could pull up an older version of the article so I could see the clip. Then I copied the cached into a word doc, fixed the formatting, and converted to a PDF.

Use Google's keyword tool. This one is intended for use with Google adwords, but you can also use it to find related words and phrases for titling blog posts. For instance, if I enter the phrase "freelance writing" and sort by February search volume, the tool tells me that the most popular related phrases were "freelance writing jobs," "freelance business writing," and "freelance magazine writing." Obviously, there's a lot of competition for those phrases, so something slightly further down the list (like "freelance writing resources") might be a good term to use so I'll show up in more organic searches. A few weeks ago, I compiled a list of crazy keywords that showed up my Statcounter.

Update: Sign up for Google alerts. This one comes courtesy of Beth and her fabulous writing blog. Google alerts are fabulous, not just to see if anyone is misusing your work, but also to stay current in whatever your writing specialty is. Say your niche is medical writing, and you're especially interested in new treatments for adolescent depression. Set up a Google alert for a few related phrases (using quotes so you won't get a ton of miscellaneous results), and you'll get emails whenever a new study or article hits the web.

I admit it... I'm not the most tech-savvy person, so this will be old news for some of you. Anyone have any search tips they'd like to add?

New Site for Finding Sources: Help a Reporter

Several months ago, I blogged about using social networking sites to find sources for articles. Well, last night I heard that Peter Shankman's group "If I Can Help a Reporter, I Will" has outgrown facebook, so Peter created a website for his network. The new site is called Help a Reporter, and anyone can sign up to recieve email notifications of current needs for sources. It's sort of like ProfNet for the masses, so people who've grown disillusioned with that site might have better luck here. The more people who join, the better the opportunities for writers, so go check it out!

5 Q's with Janice Erlbaum

Janice Erlbaum is the author of memoirs called Girlbomb and Have You Found Her, which chronicle her experiences being homeless (update: I should clarify that the second book is when goes back to volunteer at the shelter where she used to live). I'm two-thirds of my way through the latter, and so far it's great read with sharp descriptions and memorable characters. Here's how Janice tackles writing...

Urban Muse: What time of day do you find you're most creative and able to write?
Janice: My routine goes something like this: Get up around 7:30 or 8, hit the treadmill for an hour, shower, answer some email, and get to my workspace (a writers' room called Paragraph) around 11am. Open my notebook and blow off some steam for twenty minutes or so, then write until 1, when it's lunchtime. After lunch, I get back to my desk for another two-hour writing session, then I stop by the grocery store and go home to yet more email, maybe a blog post, and a recap of the day in my notebook.

UM: How do you stay disciplined when you're working on a manuscript?
J: I stay disciplined through fear! I hate, hate, hate being late or not following through with commitments I've made, so when I have a deadline, I will do anything to meet it. And when I don't have a professional deadline, I've used the unofficial deadline provided by my writers' group. The group meets every few weeks to discuss our recent work, so if I don't have any recent work, I make sure to write some for our meeting. I highly recommend working with a supportive group – it's made all the difference to me.

UM: You write about some pretty personal stuff. Have you had to deal with any criticism for this?
J: Oh yeah, tons. I've heard criticism from reviewers, who feel free to attack not only my writing, but my character, and the way I've lived my life (trust me, I'm not proud of all of it either); I've also heard criticism from people I've written about, who don't care what kind of personal shit I reveal about myself, but would prefer if I didn't write personal shit about them (hey, I tried disguising your character; sorry if you recognize yourself anyway). But most readers are awesome – most readers congratulate me for acknowledging the painful, ugly, embarrassing stuff about myself. That more than makes up for any criticism I receive.

UM: Any advice for first time authors?
J: If you find yourself in the enviable position of having a book published, I highly suggest that you sit down with your agent and ask her or him what you can expect from every step of the process. That way there will be no surprises when your editor announces that they've pushed back your publication date, that they're making your book a paperback original, that you're not getting a book tour, that your chances of getting on Oprah are nil, etc. Keep your expectations low and your gratitude level high. Be nice to everyone, everyone, and always say thank you. Work your ass off to get pieces published in magazines, on blogs, or wherever possible. And don't worry about sales – worry about readers' responses. If you only sell 750 books, but every one of those 750 people loved your book, that's a success. Your publisher might not think so, but your readers will.

UM: What's next for you?
J: Having written two memoirs, I think I'm turning to fiction next. I'm continuing to derive inspiration from my life, but rather than write the-truth-the-whole-truth-and-nothing-but-the-truth, I think I'm going to allow myself (and the people in my life) a little more privacy this time around. And I'm continuing to teach memoir writing, which is a vital part of my life. The satisfaction I get from helping people tell their stories is immense – I hope my students know how much I gain from our work together.

Thanks, Janice. Check out Janice's blog for more.

6 Ways to Network Between Projects

Freelance writing is a feast or famine kind of industry. One week you're drowning in work, and the next you're practically dying of boredom. Here are some things you can do during your slow periods (or when you just need a break from assignments) to feel productive and work towards your marketing goals.

1. Re-evaluate your website. Is the copy on your homepage still engaging or has it gotten a little stale? Do you have new clips to add your portfolio section? Can you get new testimonials from editors or clients? All things to think about when you have the time.
2. Update your profiles in facebook, LinkedIn, and any other social networking sites. See if you can add a new photo, get more specific about a recent project, or look for friends to connect with. What's that, you say? You're not on any of these sites just yet? Time to join web 2.0, my friends!
3. Catch up on blog and forum reading. Reading and commenting on blogs and forums is a great way to build relationships with other freelancers.
4. Email your favorite editors. If you're actively seeking assignments, then you could mention that you're available and ask if they have any current editorial needs. If you're enjoying a slower paced work flow but want to stay on their radar, you could email them an article with a personal note ("thought you'd enjoy this essay" or "check out this piece on new trends in food writing").
5. Take a class. Taking a class is a great way to hone your skills, branch out into a different genre or just hang out with other writers. It doesn't even have to be a writing course, because you could find material for new articles in that kickboxing or cooking class, too.
6. Hone those queries. Use your downtime to read through queries that haven't landed you assignments and see which ones are worth a second look. Also look through your list of article ideas, and choose a few to develop into queries.

Anything I've forgotten? Leave a comment and let me know!

Blog Etiquette, Part 3

Q: I have seen PayPal Donate Here icons on other blogs. At one point I put one on mine but didn't like the whole asking for money thing so quickly removed it. What do you think people think about something like that?

A: Well, I can only speak for myself, but I think it depends on what your blogging goals are. If you're really trying to promote your book, then you don't want to dilute that message by asking for donations. If you're doing it to sharpen your writing skills or express yourself creatively, then donations aren't really necessary. If your primary goal is to make money, then a Donate Here icon makes sense (and hopefully cents, too).

BUT I think in order for people to feel compelled to donate, your blog should be improving their lives in some way. For instance, Deb Ng's Freelance Writing Jobs blog posts writing gigs several days a week and many people have landed projects thanks to her postings. I think it's appropriate for Deb to have a link for donations, since she provides a valuable service to the freelance writing community. My blog, on the other hand, is more a creative outlet than a job board or service-oriented site, so I probably won't go that route.

Q: Do you need permission to link to another person’s site? Or what is the proper etiquette on that?

A: Nope, most people will be thrilled that you're linking to them. If you find that one in a million person who is not so thrilled, you can apologize and remove the link.

Q: Is there an etiquette to how often you post and can you post too often? Is once a day the ideal for posting?

A: Post frequency is up to you and your schedule. You'll notice that I've already posted a bunch of links earlier today, and I don't think two posts over the weekend is too much for readers to handle. I do try to spread it over the week, though, so that I don't go too long without a post or overwhelm readers with several posts at once (the links list is a quick read unless you're clicking on every single link).

I save posts in a email drafts so that when I'm ready to post, I can just shoot an email to my Blogger account and it posts automatically. This creates some inconsistent formatting, but the trade-off is that it allows me to stockpile posts for later (WordPress allows you to schedule posts in the future, but Blogger does not). I get the most traffic in the middle of the week (usually Wednesdays), so I always try to have a new post on Wednesdays.

Any thoughts you'd like to add?

Weekend Reading

For bloggers:
How to Keep Your Feed Subscriptions at a Manageable Level
5 Ways to Build Blogging Goodwill
How I'd Promote My Blog If I Were Starting Out Again

For freelance writers:
Tracking Down Sources
5 Tips for Marketing Your Freelance Writing Business
The Mathematics of Freelancing: What's Your Hourly Rate?
7 Heinous Freelance Writing Practices You Should Stop Immediately

5 Q's with Deborah Reber

This week's 5 Q's subject is Seattle writer Deborah Reber, whom I "met" through a Yahoo! group for writers (behold the power of online networking!). Deborah has authored several books, including In Their Shoes: Extraordinary Women Describe Their Amazing Careers and the forthcoming Chill: Stress-Reducing Techniques for a More Balanced, Peaceful You. We chatted about the publishing process and her newest projects.

Urban Muse: At what point did you decide to become a writer?
Deborah: I wrote a freelance article for a film and video magazine called "The Independent" when I was in grad school and working for UNICEF. I loved the whole process, especially having something tangible that reflected the ideas and words that came out of my brain. It was about two yearsafter that first article that I did some career management work and started visualizing my ideal future career, and that's when I realized I wanted to be a writer. I set a ten-year goal for making that dream areality, and I was able to do it in five.

UM: Could you tell us a bit about how you got your first book published?
D: My first book was a running book for women called Run for Your Life, and I kind of figured out the whole publishing process as I went along.When I first got the idea for the book, I went out and bought Michael Larsen's How to Write a Book Proposal, which basically walked methrough the whole process of what went into a proposal for a nonfiction book. I followed this book to the letter and put together a very hearty (albeit a little naive) proposal. I knew I wanted to try to find representation, so I then researched literary agents who were interested in handling nonfiction self-help for women with a fitnessedge, and put together a short list of about fifteen agents and followed their standard processes for submitting new projects. All but one agent passed on the book, but the one who was interested wasactually my top pick, so I was thrilled when she asked to represent me. My agent then went about pitching my book around, and we got a ton of rejections. But my agent's submissions editor assured me they would plug away until they found the right home. Then one morning about tenmonth slater, before leaving for my "real" job, I got a call from myagent saying that a publisher was interested, but wanted some moreresearch about the market for the book. By the end of the day, I emailed them every number I could find to prove to the publisher that there was indeed great potential for sales. The next day, they made an offer.

UM: Any tips on dealing with rejection?
D: Don't dwell on it and try to move on to another idea. Like many writers, I have a folder of perfectly good book proposals and ideas that never sold. But I hang on to them because just because something didn't sell right away, doesn't mean it won't down the road. Case inpoint, my book that came out last spring, In Their Shoes:Extraordinary Women Describe Their Amazing Careers, was initially entitled Dream On, and my agent pitched it unsuccessfully in 2002. But an editor I knew who had seen the project never forgot the idea,and two years later when she was in the position of overseeing a teen imprint, she emailed me and said, "I think it's time to do your careerbook idea." I'm hoping that I can resurrect some of my other book ideasas I become more established in my field.

UM: You do a lot of writing for teen and tween girls. How do you stay current on what teens and tweens are thinking and doing?
D: I'm a research junkie, and I read as much as I can from a variety of sources to stay "in the know." I subscribe to all the teen mags like CosmoGIRL and Teen Vogue, watch MTV and The N, am an avid reader of a blog called Ypulse that highlights news about tweens and teens, andhave Google Alerts set up for a myriad of subjects relating to teens. I also have a fairly broad network of teens that I communicate with, mostof whom I met through the writing of my Chicken Soup series for teens,"The Real Deal." Lastly, I have a small advisory board of teens from around the world who I touch base with when I'm researching an idea.

UM: Could you tell us about your next project?
D: I have a book for teen girls coming out in April called Chill: Stress-Reducing Techniques for a More Balanced, Peaceful You with Simon Pulse. It's basically aimed at overwhelmed, overscheduled teensand gives them tools for surviving their hectic lives. My agent is also about to go out with a new proposal for a nonfiction self-help/chicklit book aimed at twenty-somethings... fingers crossed!

UM: I think we could all use a book like that, Deborah. Thanks so much for sharing your story. Read more on Deborah's website and blog.

Blogging Etiquette, Part 2

Q: On my blog I have re-posted some older articles as I find they get lost in the Older Posts and your new readers haven't had the chance to read them. Is there an etiquette on re-using your older posts on a blog? Is it considered tacky blogging?

A: I'm not sure about the official verdict on this one, but I do know that posting duplicate content doesn't help you from an SEO standpoint. I also think it's potentially annoying to your regulars who've already read the post. If you wanted to reuse an article that you'd posted on a different blog, that'd be OK (but in the eyes of Google, it's still duplicate content, so I wouldn't do it all the time).

Here's what I'd suggest instead… You could include your favorite posts somewhere in your blogroll so that new readers can check them out on their own (feel free to rotate as often as you see fit). You could also revisit an old topic and include a link to the original post for more information. For instance, "blog etiquette seems to be a hot topic lately, and I've thought of a few more points I'd like to add since my last post…" Or at the bottom of the post, you could write "see these related posts."

Another option, if you know you're getting a bunch of new traffic from a popular blog or website is to do a round-up of posts. For example, "Welcome to all those readers who are coming from The Urban Muse. Here are a few posts that might be of interest…" Popular bloggers including Penelope Trunk and CatalystBlogger often use this method.

Any additional thoughts on the topic of reusing old content?

Lessons from Guest Bloggers

Last month, I opened up The Urban Muse to some guest bloggers so that I could keep the conversation going while I was on vacation. Brilliant plan, right? Well, as it turns out, hosting guest bloggers was nearly as much work as writing the posts myself. Over the course of the month, I exchanged dozens of emails with readers about finding the right topic, setting deadlines, adding links, editing their posts, etc.

Not that I'm complaining. It was something I didn't anticipate, but it worked out really well in the end because it gave me a taste of being an editor and feeling accountable to my contributors. At first, I tried to keep all the information in my head, but the need for a formalized schedule became apparent when I assigned two people to the same topic and forgot to publish a post (which is very much out of character for me, but hey, I was on vacation part of the time). It all worked out, because the two writers brought very different insights to their topic. And since people were writing these for fun, no one got too impatient with my sometimes sluggish response times or my general forgetfulness (which I blame on all those Mai Tais consumed in Hawaii).

If anyone emailed me a guest blog post and I somehow forgot to publish it, please let me know so that I rectify the situation. Thank you to all my talented and patient guest bloggers last month!

Two Left Feet

Friday evening the boyfriend and I met up at a formal dinner and dance downtown. Work ran later than I'd hoped, so I dashed home to change into my dress and grab my black beaded purse. I even bought new shoes a few days beforehand. Unfortunately, when I went to put them on, I realized that I'd bought two left pumps and no right one. Some good that did me! Note to self: put out important outfits the night before to double-check shoes and accessories.

Weekend Link Sharing

Hare a couple of articles I enjoyed reading over the past week, so I thought some of you might appreciate them, too.

Quiz: What's your freelancing style?
March 4 is National Grammar Day
You Don't Know SWOT
BTDT (Been There, Done That)
The Time vs. Task Dilemma: Why You Could Be Working Too Much
The Hidden Key to Cosmo Headlines: Sex and the City?*

*This one is from awhile back, but I couldn't resist adding it.

Fun with Web Designers

Today we were adding a new feature to one of the websites I oversee at my day job. Right before we pushed it live (of course), I noticed that we were missing a period, so I asked the web designer to add it.

"But it's a command," he insisted. "It doesn't need a period."

"It has a subject and a verb," I told him, "therefore it's a sentence, and it needs a period."

I turned to the writer I supervise for reinforcement. "What do you think?"

"We could use an exclamation point!" she suggested. (This is a girl who often uses exclamation points to convey her excitement, and I'm the one who generally edits them out so her excitement doesn't go overboard.)

Our coworker the web designer shuddered at the thought of an exclamation point prominently displayed on his masterpiece. That was the end of the great grammar debate. Period.

Q & A: Blogging Etiquette, Part 1

A reader emailed me with some questions about blogging etiquette. I'll be answering her questions as part of a three part series this week and into next week.

Q: I read on someone's blog that if you post a comment on a site you should include your URL. I have tried that, but I feel a little self-promoting doing it and wondered in the blogging community how this was viewed.

A: Blogging etiquette is tricky, because it’s such a new medium and the rules are changing really quickly. Plus, the potential anonymity of online interactions means there’s a lack of accountability (some people leave comments that they would never say to the person's face, because they can get away with it online).

But most I think linking to your blog in a comment is a totally acceptable (and widespread) practice. Most blogging programs allow you to link to your blog automatically. In Blogger, your comment would link to your Blogger profile, which then leads to your blog or website. In WordPress, you would enter your blog URL as your website. Both of these options are commonly used and inconspicuous enough that you needn’t feel self-conscious using them, especially if your comments are genuine and somehow meaningful to the conversation.

Jennifer over at Catalyst Blogger wrote an interesting post about what she calls “comment whores.” For the purposes of this post, we’ll assume that your comment relates to the topic at hand, rather than shamelessly promoting your own blog, product, service, website, etc. Few people mind comments that are on-topic, even if they include a link to your blog or website. So, don’t be shy about leaving a link when you comment, because this is a great way to connect with other bloggers and (as an added benefit) encourage readers to visit your blog!

Do you have a question about blogging or freelance writing? Email me, and I'll try to answer it on this blog!

5 Q's with Amy Paturel

Now that I'm back from vacation, it's time to start up 5 Q's again. This week I'm interviewing health writer Amy Paturel, who has written for Self, Shape, Cooking Light, and many other publications. I discovered Amy's website because her query letter was one of the examples in Query Letters That Rock! Here is Amy's advice on writing.

Urban Muse: Could you tell us about your first big clip?
Amy: My first big clip was for Health Magazine. I read a story in Tufts Magazine (my alma mater) about two researchers who had discovered a healthy bacteria (probiotic) called LGG. I was fascinated by the idea of bacteria that could be good for you, so I crafted a query, sent off the pitch — and waited! I followed up every week or so, until the editor finally got back to me with a yes. She wanted a department length story. I was thrilled.

UM: How do you handle the financial ups and downs of being a freelance writer?
A: It’s tough. For me, it’s a matter of having at least one or two solid contract gigs that provide stability. I do newsletters for one organization and some editing work for a second, so no matter how slow things are with freelancing, I know I can rely on some income coming in.

UM: Is there anything you know now that you wish you knew at the start of your writing career?
A: Hmmm ... That’s a tough one. There are A TON of things I know now that I wish I knew at the start of my career, but I suppose learning those things along the way is how we grow — both personally and professionally. I fell on my face at least a few times and made some really stupid mistakes, but somehow I ended up on my feet with a fantastic career. You just have to trust the process and enjoy the journey.

UM: Any tips on finding original (and saleable) ideas for stories?
A: Look in obscure places — local papers, alumni magazines and don’t forget friends and family. More often than not, the stories I write relate to me on some level. I choose to write about topics that move me, whether it’s food, wine, personal relationships or health. The ideas come at the most unexpected times. Get out into the world, talk to people, watch ... The ideas will come.

UM: Your specialties are health and nutrition. How important do you think it is for a freelancer to find a niche?
A: For me, it was vital. I think it depends on the writer though. Kelly James Enger’s book for freelance writers called Ready, Aim, Specialize offers some excellent tips in that regard.

Thanks, Amy! Next week I'll be chatting with Deborah Reber about writing for teens and tweens.

Top Search Terms for the Urban Muse

I admit it... I'm a little addicted to StatCounter. I'm fascinated by how people find my blog, what browsers they use, and how deep they delve into the archives. It's almost sick, but then it's probably better than being addicted to TMZ.com (in fact, I'm not even going to support those pseudo-journalists with a link).

Usually people find me using the search terms that you'd expect: my name, the names of the writers I've interviewed, or phrases like "dealing with disappointment" or "promoting your blog." Other times I have no idea how they typed a bunch of seemingly random keywords into Google or Yahoo and came up with this blog.

In fact, I've been tracking my blog keywords for the past few months, and here are a few gems:

• my best bra
• shiny spandex clip
• new york and inside the wall and scratching
• baning girl clips
• psychosomatic bedbugs
• everything in this world de paris hilton
• problems with dell inspiron 1200

That last one is pretty self-explanatory (and also kind of funny when you think about people contemplating buying a new laptop and finding this). Is "baning" even English? Where do people come up with this stuff? I can only imagine how disappointed some guy must have been when he typed in Paris Hilton and found a blog about freelance writing.

In case anyone is curious, the two most popular internet browsers used by my readers are Firefox 2.0.0 and Internet Explorer 7.0. Now I'm curious... what's the weirdest keyword sequence that has brought readers to your blog?

5 Tips for Juggling Writing and Work

Many people are surprised when I mention how I balance freelance writing with a full time job. Yes, it’s tough sometimes, but the thing to remember is that I don’t have kids, pets, or even houseplants. Writing is one of my top priorities outside of work, but I still can’t do as much of it as I’d like. I’m interested in how other part timers make it work, so here are some of the strategies I (try to) use:

1. Choose assignments carefully. I try to only take assignments that interest me (otherwise, it's not worth the sacrifice of time since I could be doing other things). And I learned the hard way that taking on too many source-heavy projects is a recipe for insanity. You can drive yourself crazy playing phone tag during your lunch break and running home in time for your 6pm interview. Instead, you could be writing in otherr forms. Essays and short stories are all about your experiences and imagination, so they don’t require formal interviews, making them the perfect genre for a part time writer. Quizzes, blog posts, and theater or restaurant reviews are also a safe bet (the last two usually require time beyond 9-5 anyway).
2. Try to do interviews over email. Some of my colleagues are probably laughing at the lack of journalistic integrity in this suggestion, but plenty of full time journalists do this, too. It’s probably not appropriate for a full-on profile piece, but it can work if you need a short quote for a service article. And hey, at least you know you’re not misquoting your source! (By all means, fix any typos.)
3. If you must do phone interviews, then find a source in a different time zone or someone who's available during off hours. Six o’clock is only three on the West Coast, so it’s perfectly appropriate to schedule a late afternoon phone call with someone in Oregon or California. Or if you're interviewing someone who's a night owl, they probably won't mind talking to you after 5 or 6 pm.
4. Ask for extensions before you start writing. I'm constantly overcommitting myself, but I'm not shy about saying "I'm really booked this week, could we push the deadline back a few days?" You need to be realistic about your other time commitments and ask for appropriate time up-front so you're not letting down your editor. Unless you're writing hard-hitting news (and you're probably not if you have a full time job), most editors will give you a few extra days if you ask nicely. In fact, I've done this with several high-profile pubs and still gotten repeat assignments.
5. Make friends with other freelance writers. They'll help you stay sane and they can share their own time management tips. Using the buddy system ensures that you always have someone you can email at 2am when you're freaking out because you still haven't come up with a clever headline for your article that's due at 9am.

I'm reading Time to Write, which has more strategies that I'll share when I've finished the book. So, readers, how do it? Do you tell your boss and your editors about your freelancing? I'd love to hear your stories!