Archive for November, 2009

On Writing for Peanuts

November 29, 2009
By Linda Formichelli
On Writing for Peanuts

A couple of weeks ago, someone posted a comment on this blog saying that in dissing content mills like Associated Content we “just don’t get it,” and bragged that she earns $1,200 per month on her articles on Associated Content and similar sites. (When I checked, I saw that the writer had over 1,000...
Read more »

Posted in Advice, Magazines, Money, Observations, Personal yammerings, Rants, Writing | 27 Comments »

New Teleclass for Writers: Secrets to Essays That Sell with Amy Paturel

November 24, 2009
By Linda Formichelli

I’m loving offering these free teleclasses for writers! My first class, on querying with confidence, attracted over 80 writers and was such fun to do. The one I held last week, Breaking into Food Writing with Monica Bhide, was a huge success as well. So I’m excited to announce that I’ve already set up...
Read more »

Posted in Writing | No Comments »

Recording of Monica Bhide’s Teleclass “Break into Food Writing” Now Available Online

November 23, 2009
By Linda Formichelli
Recording of Monica Bhide’s Teleclass “Break into Food Writing” Now Available Online

My teleclass Break into Food Writing with Monica Bhide was a success! We had over 60 writers in attendance, and Monica gave some wonderful information on little-known food markets for writers (including how to create your own), the skills you need to break in, and how to use social media to boost your food...
Read more »

Posted in Classes, Marketing, News you can use, Writing | 5 Comments »

Reach Out and Touch an Editor Today (No, Not Like That!)

November 17, 2009
By Linda Formichelli
Reach Out and Touch an Editor Today (No, Not Like That!)

Staying in touch works. Today, I followed up with an editor at a custom publishing company I write for (I’ve written for other editors there, not her). She quickly replied, “Thank you for e-mailing me now. What’s your schedule like for the next 10 days?” Ends up she had a big rush project in...
Read more »

Posted in Writing | 11 Comments »

Handout Available for Food Writing Teleclass

November 14, 2009
By Linda Formichelli

Are you planning to attend the free teleclass Breaking into Food Writing with Monica Bhide on November 18 at 8:30 pm ET? If so, please download the handout from my Free Teleclasses for Writers page and be sure to read it through before the class. If you’re interested in this teleclass and would like...
Read more »

Posted in Classes, News you can use | No Comments »

Turning Down Work: The Results

November 11, 2009
By Linda Formichelli
Turning Down Work: The Results

In August, I vowed to never again take on an assignment that had red flags, such as low pay or an unreasonable deadline. I even promised to turn down assignments that simply gave me a bad feeling in my gut. I had had problems with accepting any old assignment that came my way, sometimes...
Read more »

Posted in Advice, Money, Motivation, Observations | 6 Comments »

Planting Seeds

November 8, 2009
By Linda Formichelli
Planting Seeds

In October 2008, I had the brilliant idea to market my writing services to universities because I had heard that education was one of the few industries that was not suffering in the down economy. I created a list of every university in New Hampshire, Maine, and Vermont, and many of them in Massachusetts...
Read more »

Posted in Advice, Marketing, Motivation | 10 Comments »

New Free Teleclass: Breaking into Food Writing

November 6, 2009
By Linda Formichelli

My October teleclass on Querying with Confidence was a great success, and I’m excited to announce that this month we’ll have food writer extraordinaire Monica Bhide as a guest speaker on November 18. To get details and sign up, please visit my Free Teleclass Page.
Read more »

Posted in Classes, News you can use | No Comments »

Show Your Thanks and Win a Free Essay Writing E-Course

November 4, 2009
By Linda Formichelli
Show Your Thanks and Win a Free Essay Writing E-Course

This contest is being run by Amy Paturel, teacher of our class Essay Writing: How to Find the Story in You: And Sell It. As some of you know, Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. I should probably write an essay about WHY turkey day makes me light up. But since I have enough on...
Read more »

Posted in Classes, News you can use | 7 Comments »

How to Head Off Freelance Assignment Disasters

November 2, 2009
By Linda Formichelli
How to Head Off Freelance Assignment Disasters

Your key source is AWOL. Deadline day is tomorrow and you hate what you’ve written. You get a source on the line and he can’t answer any of your questions. The good news is that you can avoid freelance writing disasters like these. Here’s how. The disaster: A key source blows off the interview....
Read more »

Posted in Writing | 2 Comments »