Tag Archives: freelance copywriting

The New Daughter vs. Writing Routine Death Match (or, Sleepless in Shasta)

It turns out that pitting our tiny new daughter against my previously comfortable writing routine results in the following: the wholesale slaughter of the routine.
Embarrassingly, I had to read my own blog to discover where my last post left off (hint: Zombie Copywriter attacks Slacker Building Contractor).
The Good News?

The new kid is doing great (she [...]

Eight Great Reasons I’m Still a Freelance Copywriter

I used to spontaneously craft lists just for fun, and today seems like the perfect day to revive the practice.
And rather than beat around the bush, let’s just call this list the “Eight Gratifying Moments in the Life of Any Freelance Copywriter or Consultant:”

Reading a short, pithy, “The copy’s perfect” email from a client
Shipping solid [...]

The Biggest Menace Facing Copywriters (So Far This Week): Sleepwriting

In my prior post, the concept of writer’s market oversaturation found a little traction, and today, I’m here to discuss the Biggest Menace Facing Copywriters Ever (So Far This Week):
Sleepwriting (or Zzz-mailing if our wacky group of sleep experts are to be believed).
The UK Telegraph reports on this sinister new trend, which threatens the very [...]

My Short, Sweet Thanksgiving Message to the Undergrounders

It’s easy to fire up a whole list of things we should be thankful for – our lives are easier by almost any measure than those who came before us – but this is a writing blog, so I’ll stay on topic.
The simple truth is I’m thankful I get to write for a living, and [...]

Surviving a Bad Economy: Why Businesses Need You More Than Ever

In addition to the usual workload, I’ve wiled away my “spare” time developing and teaching classes in online marketing for entrepreneurs.
And yes, answering emails from copywriters wondering what to do about our cratering economy.
A couple of things have become very clear.
First, even non-techie micro-entrepreneurs quickly grasp the competitive power of the Internet. They’re excited by [...]

The Ups and Downs of Freelance Copywriting: The Perils of Proposals

I’m beat.
My wife and I both worked a very, very long work week. And when it lands hard on both of us at once, neither can pick up the slack.
It’s not true, but the last few days, I feel like I’ve eaten nothing but cereal.

Does it look like I’ve been sleeping here? (It feels like [...]

Could The Feelance Writer’s Most Important Tool Be The Lowly Spreadsheet?

I just finished a conversation with a client who wanted to send me money. Sadly, they expect me to perform a written act of marketing before sending a check, and they wanted a project estimate.
Long ago, I made a rule to never give off-the-cuff estimates on complex projects.
Perhaps I do it badly (perhaps everyone does), [...]

How to Pitch New Clients, How to Pick Them, and Why You’d Want to do Either

Say you wanted Double Chocolate Fudge ice cream, but the ice cream folks kept handing a single scoop of Mango Fruity Bubblegum across the counter.
You’d leave and go where you got to pick the flavor, right?
So why do so many copywriters passively let the universe pick their clients for them — when they [...]

I Decry Deceptive Mailing Practices in BrandWeek: Are Copywriters Really Responsible For Ethics?

Brandweek ran a story on deceptive marketing practices, and because of my outspoken advocacy of ethical marketing, I was extensively quoted.

Guess I Didn’t Want to Work For Free Badly Enough

Copywriters are being asked to write for little more than the exposure, and many are apparently saying yes. If we value our work so little, why should our customers value it more?