Articles

Freelance Writer: Time Management

While in Portland, I’ve developed a reputation as a fast writer and editor.   I like to be realistic about time frames so there are no surprises for my clients. How do I manage my time?  I’m glad you asked! 1.  Good Mornings I have a regimented morning schedule.  I used to think I could switch

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Freelance Writer: Copywriters Can Save Your Business

I kinda want to file this blog post under,  “a damned shame.”  On Sunday night, my wife Sara and I decided to eat Mexican food at a favorite neighborhood restaurant, where we’ve gone for the past three years.   We enjoyed its food and ambiance.  A type of music called norteño always played over the speakers,

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Freelance Writer: Portland and Non-Local Clients

As a freelance writer, I’m often asked if the majority of my clients are in the Portland area or in far-off locales (like Salem, haha, just kidding).  The immediacy of Portland clients is attractive, but I’ve had clients as far away as Panama. The benefits of working with local freelance writing clients is that we

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2011 Aspirations

Happy New Year! I’ve never been one for resolutions.   I know the half-joke is that they’re not supposed to stick, but that seemed kind of counter-productive to me (why make ’em if you know you won’t do ’em?!) Anyway, a few years ago, my Mom introduced me to the concept of “New Years Aspirations.”  These

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What Worked in 2010

It’s the season for taking stock and end-of-year lists.  For myself, I made a pretty big life change in 2010.  I voluntarily became a full-time freelance writer in January 2010.  Leaving a salaried position with a company that I helped build was difficult, but who said personal growth was easy? Of course, like every other

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Seth Godin, Tony Hsieh, and Julie Andrews

Last night, Sara and I were sitting on the couch as we often do in the evenings after she is done painting and I am done writing or editing.  She was working on the Sunday New York Times Crossword Puzzle, while I alternated reading Seth Godin‘s Linchpin and Tony Hsieh‘s Delivering Happiness. I checked my

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Lauren Edwards: Content Strategist

Lauren Edwards is an experienced writing coach with 10 years of public relations expertise – first with A&R Partners, and then with Edelman.   Lauren gives some of the best writing advice I have ever read.   I’ve trained people how to write for specific audiences – primarily the lending, investing, and venture capital community.  This ain’t

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Writing and Editing

I like to think of writing and editing the way a boxer might think of his fists.  One’s steel, the other is iron.  If one don’t get ya, the other one will. For me, the writing process is chaotic, disorderly, and powered entirely by imagination.  Whether I’m writing website content, brochure copy, book reviews, business

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Freelance Writers and Networking

Two days after I parted ways with my job, I had my first client as a solopreneur.  How?  Because of networking.  Networking has been one of the biggest power boosts to my career as a Portland freelance writer. In fact, my current active client list is composed largely of referrals from my networking group, the

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Web Content Writing

People surfing the web for a certain product or service – such as graphic design – are already half-sold when they visit a website. Well-written website content makes your products/services enticing.  It compels the prospect to click “order,” “buy,” or “e-mail for more information.”  Badly-written copy does the opposite.   Confused or bored surfers will leave

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