I’ll do anything to avoid writing a proposal

This morning I surfed funny cat videos, visited some of my favorite blogs, did some dishes, messed with my hair, organized my shoes in the closet.
I’ll do anything to avoid what I really need to do, which is to put together a proposal for a potential client to write emails and content for a “nurture [...]

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What does a brand new business owner tell wanna-be business owners?

Since I quit my job this summer to start writing professionally, one of the coolest things I’ve landed is a gig as a columnist for a local San Diego monthly newspaper.

The Espresso is distributed for free in coffee houses and the like in San Diego. I’m not getting paid, but it’s got a circulation of [...]

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Making the commitment to finish

Thanks mostly to my conversations on this blog, I recently picked up a job writing copy for a redesigned website. I have 11 pages in all to write, and minutes ago I finished page 6.
Three of the pages are linked and should be written together, and I’m committed to getting those done before bed. I’ll [...]

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I’ll Write Your Brochure Today, CHEAP

I’ve been wanting to take a picture of a handwritten sign near my house for several days. In bold black marker, it reads, “I’LL BUY YOUR HOUSE TODAY!! CA$H” plus a phone number.
This marketing technique is intriguing to me. What kind of consumer will respond to this entreaty? Someone with a missed payment, fearful [...]

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Lamenting the loss of direct deposit: Chores I didn’t count on

Before I quit my day job to become a professional copywriter, I had a regular job and a regular paycheck. Every 15 days or so, I’d get an email or an invalid check or something to tell me that, once again, I could buy groceries.
But now checks come v-e-r-y  s-l-o-w-l-y to my post office box. [...]

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Favorite Freebies from the World’s Cheapest Copywriter

Since leaving my jet-setting, executive-type sales/marketing position at a technology company, I’ve become ultra cheap.
 
Not just kind of cheap. I mean really, almost insanely cheap.
Example 1: at first I budgeted 3 trips a week to my favorite coffee shop, but then I discovered that I can buy 25 tea bags and make chai at home [...]

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Estimating a writing project

Yesterday someone asked me how I determine a cost estimate for a writing project if I’m not charging by the hour. This is a tough problem, and it’s important professional writers learn how to do it well. With my 60 days of experience, I’m still learning.
I try to break down a project into several time [...]

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Six big marketing mistakes I made seconds ago

Ugh. I just finished an email blast to people who received a letter describing my copywriting services last week. Here’s what I did wrong:

I didn’t verify that the link to my document worked before sending (whew — it does).
I totally forgot that today’s a US holiday (it’s not for me).
I sent email out on a [...]

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Cold Feet for Cold Calling

This weekend, I spent time at my favorite coffee shop reading one of my favorite copywriting business gurus. Peter Bowerman’s The Well-Fed Writer is one of the best guides for becoming a freelance writer. I’ve gotten a handful of really good gigs from my first 50 days as a professional freelancer, plus I’ve got a [...]

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What weekends are like when you run your own business

Yesterday afternoon (Friday), I sat for a moment in the crisp, cool afternoon sunshine that makes San Diego autumn so amazing. I made a list of things I need to get done over the weekend, plus some of the chores for Monday.

I need to work on three things for my biggest client: help him [...]

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