My freelance copywriter and editor networking group, The Copywriter Conclave of Portland, recently engaged in a lively and free-wheeling discussion about prospective clients and proposals. We were able to attract prospects and even get to the proposal stage, but sometimes, the almost-projects fell through shortly thereafter. We all determined that some unseen, emotional aspect comes
I’m an experienced freelance writer, so I’m acquainted with the ups and downs of this vocation. One of the more challenging aspects of being a professional writer – especially in the aftermath of a terrible economic recession – is that some people expect writers to work for free, or below their market rate. For example, some
Last year, I wrote about the pros and cons of working from my home (based near Portland, Oregon). I discussed benefits, such as taking a break from being a writer and editor by lying on my bed, and making my own hours. It’s a timely discussion now, considering Yahoo! CEO Marissa Mayer’s decision to end
I went in for a haircut a couple of weeks ago, and while chatting with the barber, I mentioned how I worked on the same desktop for six years, and used a BlackBerry as my mobile workstation for three years. As you can tell, I like stability. Around this time, my desktop started flashing Blue
I’ve been blogging about copywriting and editing for the past few years, but I decided to create a new name for my business this fall. I’ve always enjoyed the word, “enlighten.” It’s a word woven into the fabric of my entire life. It’s part of my spiritual background (I’m not a proselytizer, don’t worry!), and
I should clarify something. In previous blog posts, I’ve said that I started freelancing full-time last year, but it’s more accurate to say that I went back to freelancing. I’ve been a professional copywriter/editor since I was 21, and have been sending out my work since I was 16. So I have experience seeking work,
My father was a doctor for more than 35 years. He never had a website or hired a freelance writer, but he also worked in a different era. In the 70s and 80s, the Internet was not widely used by the general public, so his pediatrics practice was referral-based. When he saw my portfolio of
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
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
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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