Two Writers, One Name: A Case of the Name Game

A fellow writer posted on a forum I frequent saying she discovered another writer publishing under her name. This caused her concern because the other writer was less experienced and might publish less than stellar work which editors could might if they googled her name.

Somehow I wasn't terribly sympathetic to her "plight" - after all, I have one of the most generic All-American names imaginable. It didn't occur to me early on in my career that maybe I should include a middle initial or write under a pen name to distinguish myself. And I certainly didn't assume that I was the first "Susan Johnston" to publish an article (in fact, there's another Susan Johnston who published a book around the same time I launched my website).

I just figured that editors would look at the clips I sent them and wouldn't bother with the 42,400 results that come up when you google me. In fact, I did include my middle initial (a vowel) in my email address and it's a common source of confusion for people, which makes me think it might not belong in my byline.

I posted a response saying that I wouldn't be terribly concerned if I were in her position and that editors would focus on the clips she sends them (esp. if the newbie writer's articles are buried deeper in Google). But get this: another writer actually said that she received a copy of the other Susan's book and for a fleeting moment, she thought maybe I had taken a break from career and lifestyle articles to pen a children's book about princesses and bubbles. I find that funny, but I still don't think it's a major problem.

Just in case this issue keeps you up at night, there are a couple of ways to secure your writerly reputation. First, buy your domain name! That is a sure fire way to take control of Google search results. Alternatively you could marry someone with an unusual last name (joking) or add a middle name or initial to personalize your byline.

Now it's your turn. Am I making light something that should be taken more seriously? How do you deal with a "doppelgänger"? Leave a comment and let me know!

How to be a Frugal Freelancer

I admit it: I'm kind of a cheapskate. Which is a good thing now that I'm freelancing full time. I recently contributed a post called 7 Ways to be a Frugal Freelancer to Freelance Switch. Here are some more tips that didn't quite make the cut:

• Hang out with frugal friends. They'll be more likely to understand why you can't split an expensive bottle of wine or spend the weekend at a fancy resort.


• Check out books and movies from the library instead of buying.


• Volunteer as a hair model and get your hair cut or styled for free.


• Find out when your local museum has a free night and time your trip accordingly.


• Make lunch at home and reheat the leftovers for dinner.


• If you must eat out, take advantage of happy hour specials.

Well to Freelance Switch readers! How do you keep your spending in check?

5 Recommended Reads for Writers

There's no substitute for actually sitting down to practice writing, but reading about writing is helpful, too. Here are some of my favorite books for writing insights and inspiration.

Six-Figure Freelancing
Kelly Jame-Enger's breezy, conversational style and her knowledge of the freelance life kept me hooked through the entire 320 pages. She does a nice job of balancing tips on writing books, magazine articles, and copywriting projects, but she devotes the highest number of pages to magazine writing (my kind of book). Case studies from other successful writers show how to get into a business mindset and start negotiating for what you're worth!

The Well-Fed Writer
Peter Bowerman covers everything from creating a list of leads to cold calling to keeping in touch with clients after you've finished a project. The book is focused primarily on writing for businesses, so if your primary goal is to break into the glossies, then this probably isn't the book for you. Still, it offers tons of practical advice on the business of writing.

Bird by Bird
This one is a bit more literary than instructional, but Anne Lamott's descriptions are dead-on. She writes about jealousy, publishing, and success with humor and acuity, and I know I'll be reading this book again when I need inspiration. Though the advice is especially tailored to novelists, the concepts of "shitty first drafts" and "Radio Station KFKD" (aka that little voice in your head that tells you you're a terrible writer and no one will want to read your work) are applicable to writers in any genre.

The Renegade Writer's Query Letters That Rock
If you've ever wondered what separates a so-so query letter from a sensational one, then this book is for you. It includes examples of successful queries for a variety of markets and commentary from the writer and editor on what made the query. Linda Formichelli and Diana Burrell sure know their stuff, and they provide a light, humourous touch to put new writers at ease.

The Anti 9-to-5 Guide
This sassy guide to self-employment by Michelle Goodman covers finding your passion, mangaing your time, and building a support system, among other topics. One of the best things about the book is that it doesn't use an "all or nothing" approach. Instead, the women profiled in the book show how to juggle a side gig along with a 9-5, search for part time work, or find some other way to balance a pet project with the need to pay the bills. I'm really looking forward to reading Michelle's next book, My So-Called Freelance Life, which is due out on October 1!

Freelancing During a Recession

Today I'm guest blogging over at WordCount by Michelle Vranizan Rafter. The topic is Going Freelance in a Down Economy. Check it out!

Welcome to Writer's Digest Readers!

To those who are discovering the blog courtesy of Writer's Digest's 101 Websites for Writers, thanks for reading. As the tagline goes, The Urban Muse is all about reading, writing, and being a freelance writer/creative soul. Usually I post musings on freelance writing, but sometimes I also share observations about life in general.

Here is a selection of my favorite posts so you can get an idea of what I cover:
Five Ways to Promote Your Blog
Five MORE Ways to Promote Your Blog
Six Ways to Find Writing Markets
Six Things to Do Before You Send Your Query Letter
Six Ways to Network Between Projects

If you like what you read, then please add me to your feed so you can stay up to date on new posts.

Health Insurance for Freelance Writers

Last weekend, I registered for health insurance through the Massachusetts Health Connector (I've been using COBRA, since I worked during part of May and wasn't eligible for Health Connector coverage until June 1). Don't get me wrong: I'm grateful to live in a state that has (relatively) low cost health insurance. But they certainly don't make it easy.

First I entered my birth date and zip code. Simple enough. Then I had to find my "industry code." They have a list of professions ranging from forestry workers to textile manufacturers and professional gamblers. They even list "nonstore retailers" and "death care service providers" (whatever those mean). But there is no industry code for freelance writers, journalists, editors, or proofreaders. I kid you not - I looked through every single category and we are conspicuously missing.

Finally, I settled on "other professional, scientific and technical services." I fully expect a call from my new insurance company to verify the specific scientific or technical service I provide. That is an excellent question... Maybe I should have registered as a forestry worker?

If you're looking for actual advice on health insurance as a freelancer, then check out these posts:
Freelance Switch: Health Insurance for Freelancers
Renegade Writers: Health Insurance Options for Freelancers

Temp Agencies for Writers

Now that I've cleaned up from yesterday, I thought I'd share Lori Widmer's Temp Agency Primer. I have been marketing like mad these last few weeks and I've gotten emails from two different creative staffing firms wanting to discuss writing projects. But not having any experience with this type of work and fearing it could turn into a bad remake of Office Space (it was bad enough the first time), I asked Lori's advice. She kindly obliged.

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.

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!