The Practical Freelance Writer's Guide to Author Websites Review

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(More customer reviews)Angela Atkinson delivers important and practical information with great regard for the reader. She conducts a thorough tour of the process of setting up an author website, from hosting and optimizing to promoting and maintaining it, with pros and cons to consider along the way. Each recommended Web page element is covered in detail, with examples and reminders for the beginner and experienced writer alike.
I appreciated Atkinson's straightforward delivery of this wealth of information and the encouraging tone throughout. The book showcases her own writing abilities as well as her experience with the subject matter. It was a help to me as I developed my website and I highly recommend it.

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The Practical Freelance Writer's Guide to Author Websites is a complete guide to building, managing and promoting author websites, specifically geared toward offering freelance writers real, workable solutions for the unique challenges they face in this venue. Learn why freelance writers need author sites to succeed in today's market, and find out what types of pages and content can help to catch the attention of their potential clients. You'll find tried and true tips on webhosting options, SEO for author websites and writing author bios. Plus, learn new ways to market and promote author websites, including advice on social networking and social media marketing and much more-all from a freelance writer and website designer who knows what works.

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The ASJA Guide to Freelance Writing: A Professional Guide to the Business, for Nonfiction Writers of All Experience Levels Review

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(More customer reviews)One glance at a bookstore will confirm there's a plethora of how-to books relating to every aspect of writing, but there's only a handful of authoritative books which address the critical issues of writing as a business.
The ASJA Guide to Freelance Writing: A Professional Guide to the Business, for Nonfiction Writers of All Experience Levels is one of them. Produced by the American Society of Journalists and Authors, the book features 26 chapters from 26 ASJA members ~ all seasoned, working writers and experts in their fields.
 
The guide presents a great variety of opinions on a wide range of topics of value to freelance writers, including establishing a freelance business, self promotion, research tools, writing for the Web, contracts, taxes and deductions, and working with editors and agents.
Each chapter contains the latest information, relevant anecdotes from the contributor's life and straight-forward advice on how to succeed in business as a writer. The ASJA Guide to Freelance Writing comprises the following chapters:
* Freelance Writing Today ~ and Tomorrow by Jim Morrison
* Planning a Writing Business by Erik Sherman
* The Writer's Office and Tools by Samuel Greengard
* The Mystery of Ideas by Jack El-Hai
* Seven Secrets of a Successful Magazine Query by Lisa Collier Cool
* How to Sell a Book by Sherry Suib Cohen
* Writing for the Web by Lisa Iannucci
* Why Literary Agents Need You More Than Ever ~ And How to Get the Agent You Need by Michael Larsen, AAR
* Research: Finding the Right Stuff by Minda Zetlin and Steve Weinberg
* How to Find Experts by Estelle Sobell
* Writer-Editor Relations by Megan McMorris
* Collaborations: The Pleasures and Perils of Shared Bylines by Sarah Wernick
* The Serendipity of Specialization by Claire Walter
* Self Publishing: Alternatives for Getting Books into Print by Marilyn and Tom Ross
* Networking by Sandra E. Lamb
* This Pen for Hire: Leveraging Your Skills by Anita Bartholomew
* Op-Eds and Essays: Leveraging Your Knowledge by Larry Atkins
* Reprints, Re-Slants, and Other Ways to Resell Your Work by Kelly James-Enger
* Making Pictures by Barbara DeMarco-Barrett
* Employing a Writing Assistant by Lester A. Picker
* Contracts: Protecting Your Writers' Rights by Richard A. Marini
* Creating Brand You : Promoting Yourself and Your Work by Jennifer Pirtle
* Writers and the Law by Sallie Randolph and Timothy Perrin
* Taxes and Deductions by Julian Block
* Forays and Fiction by Kathryn Lance
* Moving to Full-Time Freelancing: It's Not a Leap by Robert Bittner
* Appendix: Tips from the Pros
 
As you can see, this anthology turned reference book covers a lot of territory and addresses all of the major business issues facing professional writers today. Most notable are chapters, 'Research: Finding the Right Stuff' and 'How to Find Experts' which offer helpful hints and online links for researching and tracking down experts. I also particularly enjoyed the chapters on contracts, working with agents and self-promotion as a 'brand'.
That's the wonderful thing about The ASJA Guide to Freelance Writing ~ it addresses such a wide range of specialist areas that there's something in it for every writer working in any genre. And one of the surprise sections is the Appendix which features a variety of quick but insightful comments from other professional writers. They share their trade secrets, everything from techniques for improving their craft to increasing productivity and profitability.
While the bulk of the material is aimed at journalists and non-fiction writers (since these writers make up the bulk of ASJA's membership), much of the information and advice can be applied by all writers to improve their skills and their business. If you're serious about writing, read this book and have a pen handy.
 
-- Michael Meanwell, author of the critically-acclaimed 'The Enterprising Writer' and 'Writers on Writing'. For more book reviews and prescriptive articles for writers, visit www.enterprisingwriter.com

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The Wealthy Freelancer: 12 Secrets to a Great Income and an Enviable Lifestyle Review

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(More customer reviews)I had downloaded "The Wealthy Freelancer" to my Kindle for a plane trip to and from Austin, TX. I thought just to pass the time. Boy, did I ever pass the time quickly. These guys have written an amazingly compelling page turner that will resonate with new freelancers just having made the leap as well as old hands who think they have seen and heard it all. I am always skeptical about books like this, thinking it's just so much cheer leading. This is anything but that. From the opening chapter it is crystal clear that these guys have the street cred to talk the talk. I was disturbing my seat mate on the flight by periodically saying aloud, "I've done that" or "I've thought that" or "Damn Right!" This is a book that I will keep as a reference manual and a booster shot for those times when I need reminding why I escaped from my office cubicle. In summation I would say you can read "The Wealthy Freelancer" now or waste several years of your life, read it later and say, "Why didn't I think of that."

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Being your own boss can lead to incredible profits-here's how... Whether you call yourself a freelancer, consultant, independent contractor or solo professional of any kind, The Wealthy Freelancer: 12 Secrets to a Great Income and an Enviable Lifestyle shows you how to get the clients, income, and lifestyle you deserve. So you can put more money in the bank, enjoy more time with your family and make a great living doing what you truly love to do, free from the burden of employment...forever! Filled with proven ideas and real-world examples from dozens of successful freelancers, The Wealthy Freelancer is essential reading for any solo professional who wants to enjoy a lifestyle that's "wealthy" in every sense of the word. Here's a glimpse of what's waiting for you inside this book: *Why the typical one-size-fits-all marketing advice rarely works, and a fool-proof system for determining the optimal mix of marketing activities for your specific circumstances and goals *How to get more prospects to say "Yes!" to the fees that you propose *Why striving to be the "best" in your field almost never works, and what to do instead *How to charge more - and earn more - by creating new income streams closely related to your core business *How to have more time for the life you want and still have a great income *How to "test the waters" and land freelance work now, even if you're already employed *Why freelancing has moved beyond creative fields and into mainstream careers such as engineering, software development, bookkeeping and more than 160 other professions *Stories of real-life freelancers who destroy the myth that freelancers barely scrape by And dozens more proven tips and strategies to build a more profitable and fulfilling solo business.

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Getting Started as a Freelance Writer (Culture Tools) Review

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(More customer reviews)Many people want to know how to begin the journey of a freelance writer. To learn a new skill like freelancing, you are wise to follow someone who has "been there." Bob Bly writes with authority and wisdom about the details of a freelance writing career.
Whether you are just starting out or have been in the writing business for a long time, you can gain vast insight from this book. The book covers the details of so many issues which concern writers like how to get properly compensated, how to concentrate on the main thing you want to do (write), how to run your writing career as a business (and all of the details), what are the range of possibilities for your writing and how do you grow your business.
In the introduction, Bob points out a key distinction of this book: "One thing that makes this book different from other "how to become a freelance writer" books on the market is the experience and financial success of the author." (page 2)
The information in Chapter 13: Maximizing Your Personal Productivity" is worth the cost of this entire book. Bob gives six keys (and the explanation in the book): Don't do everything yourself, don't shy away from the Internet, don't become addicted to Internet chat, don't get up, don't go out, and don't undervalue your time." (page 170-171)
GETTING STARTED AS A FREELANCE WRITER is packed with useful information for every writer--beginning or professional. I highly recommend you get this title and study every chapter.

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This expanded edition goes beyond advice on making a living as a business writer to include the more creative forms of writing. There are new chapters on writing and selling poems, short stories, novels, and essays, plus a new section on cartooning. Existing chapters have been brought up to date. You learn to start, run, and build a freelance writing business doing whatever type of writing you prefer.

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Make-Money-Online Series: How to Make Money Writing for the Internet: A Step-by-Step Guide to Publishing Your Work Online Review

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(More customer reviews)The co-authors of this book have careers that make them more than experts at writing, editing, and using the Internet as the vehicle to get your work published, read, and ultimately to get paid. Not only do their backgrounds make them primary experts in this field but as you begin to read Make Money Online, you realize this is the REAL DEAL. This truly is a book for writers that explains how to turn your words into cash in the 21st century using technology that's all around us.
Perhaps the nature of eBooks has made me a little jaded lately but I was first of all pleasantly surprised this was a full-length book, jam-packed with immediately-usable wisdom that any writer could put to use right away. The big key starting out is knowing our audience and finding the need for what you do. Then the book takes you step-by-step through the various avenues and venues online, from search engines to social media to ebooks. The entire gambit is here and is explained in just the right detail for you to get started. I've gotten started! I'm proof the info here is usable. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

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The world needs writers more than ever. Text-and increasingly online text-is still our strongest communication tool. With the rise of the Internet and the fall of the economy, aspiring writers face formidable competition. If you want to generate income writing online content, you must stand out from the crowd.How to Write for the Internet shows you how to do that.This book also explores in detail the major online markets for writers and writer wannabes. You will learn how to: write for Search Engines, create & promote a Website, approach Content Providers, embrace Social Media, write an Ebook, sell your Editorial Services, author a Blog, write for Online Magazines, create online Press Releases, become a Google News publisher, and much more. Are you ready to take up the challenge of writing online?

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Writing White Papers: How to Capture Readers and Keep Them Engaged Review

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For those who are interested in understanding the potential value of white papers to business development and customer relationships, this book and Robert Bly's The White Paper Marketing Handbookare the most valuable resources on the subject that I have as yet encountered. I strongly recommend both. Opinions vary as to the origin of the genre. Both Bly and Stelzner seem to agree that white papers can be traced back at least to early in the 20th century when what was then referred to as a "white book" consisted of information published by a national government. Perhaps the most famous is the "British White Paper of 1922" (also known as the "Churchill White Paper") in which the political conflict in Palestine is discussed. Interest in the commercial potentialities of white papers has increased rapidly and substantially in recent years and my own opinion is that exploration and fulfillment of those potentialities has only begun.
In this volume, Stelzner offers his detailed definition of a white paper: "...a technical or business benefits diocument that introduces a challenge faced by its readers and makes a strong case why a particular approach to solving the problem is preferred. A white paper usually proposes a solution to a problem, but can also introduce a new concept or describe how to perform technical tasks.
He explains with rigor and eloquence "how to capture readers and keep them engaged."He suggests that there are four primary types of white papers: technical white papers tend to be targeted at engineers, business benefits white papers are usually targeted at decision-makers in management positions, hybrid white papers are usually targeted at both influencers (e.g. engineers) and decision-makers, and government white papers which usually discuss implications of policy decisions.
Here's a key point which both Stelzner and Bly stress repeatedly: A white paper must never be -- or be perceived to be -- an "infomercial" in print form. A white paper has value to the extent it provides information and counsel which help its recipients to answer questions and to make decisions. What's in it for the provider? There are several significant benefits which include positive association with the given answer or solution, the recipient's appreciation (i.e. good will), and perhaps most important of all, maintaining direct and relevant contact on a non-solicitation basis.
What I especially appreciate about Stelzner's approach is that he provides a step-by-step framework for what can - and should - become a cohesive, comprehensive, and cost-effect "game plan" for the production, distribution, and promotion of white papers (regardless of type) which will have the greatest appeal to what should be their carefully selected recipients. The ten-step process which Stelzner explains may - and probably will - require a segmented database. These are the sequential steps:
1. Clarify the topic ("focus your lens")
2. Identify your ideal reader (s)
3. Decide on primary and secondary objectives
4. Develop a detailed outline
5. Interview the experts (or at least identify expert and relevant sources)
6. Research
7. Write the first page
8. Write the title
NOTE: You may prefer to identify several candidates and select one later.9. Write the core ("Where's the beef?")
10. Hire an editor
NOTE: Stelzner probably prefers that a professional writer be retained but, if that is precluded by limited resources, at least obtain feedback from several qualified persons who meet the profile of the "ideal reader."
Stelzner thoroughly discusses each of these steps, offering countless "dos" and don'ts,"while reiterating that the most effective white papers tend to be those which address a specific problem and then offer a solution which in no way is - or is perceived to be - self-serving insofar as the provider is concerned. I totally agree. Over the years, my own extensive experience with white papers - either as a provider or as a recipient - has convinced me of the importance of viewing a white paper as a no-strings "favor" or benefit. The integrity (i.e. credibility) of the white paper itself as well as that of the provider must be impeccable.
Initially, I said that I highly recommend both this book andRobert Bly's The White Paper Marketing Handbook. That's true. I also strongly suggest that both be purchased and then carefully read. Whereas Bly addresses more of the marketing aspects of white papers, Stelzner focuses heavily on the craft of writing them. Absorbing and digesting the material in both books will assist substantially the process by which important writing and marketing decisions are made.

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Insightful tips to master white paper writing and marketingThe white paper is a crossbreed of a magazine article and a brochure.White paper guru Michael Stelzner reveals his secrets for creating compelling white papers that attract readers in droves.The first of its kind, Writing White Papers provides critical how-to details for every step of any white paper project—from performing the needs assessment to attracting prospects with creative marketing tactics.With this book, you will learn to: * Create outlines that work * Master interviewing techniques * Focus content on your readers * Inject persuasion into your paper * Quickly find research data * Write the core parts for any white paper * Craft compelling titles * Apply proven marketing techniquesWhether you have been tasked to write a white paper for your company, are a freelance writer wanting to grow your practice or a student seeking to master the art of writing white papers, this book will be your priceless guide.

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