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Secrets of Being a Successful Freelance Writer —
101 Real-World Lessons for Launching, Growing, and Sustaining a Profitable Freelance Writing Career

SECTION I. INTRODUCTION

  • Freelance Writer Mentor — Revealing My Freelance Writing Secrets to the World.
  • What is Freelance Writing? — An Ancient and Modern Perspective.
  • How I Became a Freelance Writer — Equal Parts Fate and Desire.
  • Who Chooses Freelance Writing? — It's Not for Everyone.
  • Join the Freelance Writer Mentor Group.
  • BONUS TIP A. Could You Become a Freelance Writer? — 10 Top Indicators of “Freelance-Ability.”
  • BONUS TIP B. 11 Certain Ways to Fail as a Freelance Writer.
  • BONUS TIP C. The Biggest Secret to My Success — 4 Proven Steps for Finding New Clients.

SECTION II. START UP PHASE — HIT THE GROUND RUNNING!

  • 1. When Should You Start Freelancing? — Should You Dip Your Toe in or Dive in?
  • 2. How Will You Find Work? — Be Proactive.
  • 3. Read Widely about Freelancing.
  • 4. Talk to Other Freelancers — Learn From Everyone.
  • 5. Put Your Freelancing Goals in Writing.
  • 6. Write an “Action-Oriented” Business Plan.
  • 7. Fake It — Until You Make It.
  • 8. Furnish Your Office — Make it Work for You.
  • 9. Opportunity Knocks — Where to Look for Freelance Work.
  • 10. Choosing Your Writing Niche.
  • 11. Building Your Portfolio — Should You Take Free and Low-Paying Jobs?
  • 12. Business Cards — Yes, You Need Them.
  • 13. Setting Your Fees — How Much Should You Charge?
  • 14. Introduce Your Services to Prospects with a “Bio Sheet.”
  • 15. Sending Prospects Your Writing Samples — Aim for Specificity.
  • 16. Respond Rapidly to Potential Clients' Requests.
  • 17. Meeting With Prospects — Don't Push It.
  • 18. Project Estimates — Put it in Writing.
  • 19. Contracts and Non-Disclosures — Protecting Yourself and Your Clients.
  • 20. Billing Your Clients — Be Flexible.
  • 21. Honesty Pays — Track Your Hours Carefully.
  • 22. Get Paid — On Time, Every Time.
  • 23. Keep Good Records — Create Systems that Work for You.
  • 24. Pay Your Taxes Quarterly — or You'll Pay More.
  • 25. Your Reputation is Critical — Build a Great One.
  • 26. Meet Your Deadlines — Every Time.
  • 27. Identify Your Weaknesses — as Soon as Possible.
  • 28. Dealing with Rejection — Like Water off a Duck's Back.
  • 29. Stay Positive — Remember that Failure is Not an Option.
  • 30. Realize that Freelancing is a Numbers Game.
  • 31. Facing Distractions? — Just Say “No!”
  • 32. Don't Tell Other Freelancers About Your Jobs.
  • 33. When it Rains it Pours — and Other Freelancing Truisms.

SECTION III. GROWTH PHASE — TIME TO ACCELERATE

  • 34. Sustain Your Business With an Ongoing Self-Marketing Program.
  • 35. Send a New Years Email — to Kick the Year Off Right.
  • 36. Looking for Work When You Are Busy — a Classic Dilemma.
  • 37. Your Contact List — Treat it Like Gold.
  • 38. Do You Need a Web site? — Not Necessarily.
  • 39. Beware of the Single-Client Trap.
  • 40. When Your Good Clients Go — It's Never Easy.
  • 41. Realize Your Business Will Follow the 80-20 Rule.
  • 42. Listen Up — Your Clients are Talking.
  • 43. Meetings with Clients — Strike the Right Balance.
  • 44. Don't Push Too Hard for More Work — Right Off the Bat.
  • 45. Want More Job Referrals? — Ask for Them.
  • 46. Team Up With Other Freelancers — When Necessary.
  • 47. Show Appreciation to Clients, Contacts, and Referrals.
  • 48. Lunch With Clients — Who Pays?
  • 49. Deliver What You Promise — or, Better Yet, More.
  • 50. Collect Testimonials from Your Clients — and Use Them.
  • 51. Dead-End Prospects — When to Cut and Run
  • 52. Always Retain Your Values — Never Compromise Your Principles.
  • 53. Clients From Hell — Don't Work With Jerks.
  • 54. Fire a Bad Client — to Stay Sane.
  • 55. Beware of Project ”“Scope Creep” — Proactively Manage Growth.
  • 56. When You Hit Trouble Spots — Speak Up Quickly.
  • 57. Conflict Resolution — Do it Quickly and Painlessly.
  • 58. Control Pride, Anger, and Self-Righteousness.
  • 59. Beware Chain Emails — They Could Return to Bite You.
  • 60. Enjoy Your Work — Most of the Time.
  • 61. Stay Inspired — Inspiration is Everywhere.
  • 62. Cabin Fever? — That's What Coffee Shops Are For.
  • 63. Don't Become a Hermit — Get Out of the House Occasionally.
  • 64. Don't Lose Touch With the Business World.
  • 65. Join — or Launch — a Freelance Writer Support Group.
  • 66. Expand Your Connections through Volunteer Committees — But with Care.
  • 67. Should You Do Pro Bono Work? — Maybe.

SECTION IV. SUSTAINED MATURITY PHASE — REACHING CRUISE CONTROL

  • 68. Rewarding Client Relationships — Look for 12 Key Characteristics.
  • 69. Cherish Your Best Jobs — They Make it all Worthwhile.
  • 70. Do not — Necessarily — Give Up on Companies that Say "No" the First Time.
  • 71. Stay on Your Toes with Existing Clients.
  • 72. Clip and Send Unique Industry News to Clients.
  • 73. Stay in Touch with Old Clients — Whenever Possible.
  • 74. Email Etiquette — Make Sure You Always Sound Good.
  • 75. Email Appropriately — Don't Become a Spammer.
  • 76. Keep Your Clients' Secrets Secret — and Avoid Conflicts of Interest.
  • 77. Expand Your Social Media Skills — to Expand Online Connections.
  • 78. Saying “Thank You” — Should You Give Your Clients Gifts?
  • 79. Track Your Success — for Future Reference.
  • 80. Taking Credit — Where Credit is Due.
  • 81. Mission Impossible — What to Do in Challenging Situations.
  • 82. Your Clients' Clients — Tread Carefully in their Territory.
  • 83. Don't Burn Bridges — They'll Return to Burn You Back.
  • 84. Office Politics — Stay Out of the War Zone.
  • 85. Wrong Fit — When You're Not Right for the Job.
  • 86. Beware of Recommending People You Don't Know.
  • 87. When You Are in a Hole — Stop Digging.
  • 88. When Clients Don't Pay — What Do You Do?
  • 89. Lower Pay — When Clients Ask You to Take Less Money.
  • 90. Raising Your Rate — Plan a System that Works for You.
  • 91. Maximize Downtime Between Projects.
  • 92. Guard Your Online Reputation — With a Vengeance.
  • 93. Can You Switch Writing Specialties Mid-Career? — Yes!
  • 94. Do Some Public Speaking — or Not!
  • 95. Won Any Good Awards Lately? — If You Got 'em, Flaunt 'em.
  • 96. Share Your Experience with Others — Mentor Junior Freelance Writers.
  • 97. The Work-Reward Continuum — It's Not Just About Money.
  • 98. Avoid Career Burnout — Take Vacations for a Healthy Work-Life Balance.
  • 99. Positive Mental Attitude — It's Not Just a Cliché.
  • 100. Love Your Brain — Keep it Forever Young.
  • 101. Never Retire — Stay Active and Engaged in Writing.

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