The Six-Figure Freelancer – Blog

Solid overview article on becoming your own boss

“Everyday I’m Hustlin’” is a solid overview article on becoming your own boss:

Have you ever thought about creating your own job? … For many types of work, it’s possible to shop your skills around for short-term work as an independent service provider — a freelancer or consultant. You’d be in good company: according to Statistics Canada, there were 2.67 million self-employed workers (about 16 percent of the workforce) in this country in 2010 — 12 per cent more than a decade ago. About half were sole proprietors, unincorporated and working without paid help.

Being your own boss sounds awesome, right? Imagine it: more control over the work you do, greater flexibility in your schedule, and no more irritating commute to the office. And, in a way, you have more job security than you would working for someone else — no one can fire or downsize you.

But before you declare your independence, be warned:… [Read full article here]

Posted in Business Vision, Freelance Writing - General | No Comments »

Find & price corporate editing & writing freelance assignments – Toronto workshop

Conquering Corporate Markets:
Find & Price Corporate Editing & Writing Freelance Assignment
Sat. Apr. 14, Toronto; sponsored by Editors’ Association of Canada

Business writing and editing can be a lucrative source of income—if you understand how to sell your services to, and price your services for, corporate markets. To sell your services to corporations, small businesses, not-for-profit organizations, and government agencies, you need key skills you can learn from this seminar, such as how to do the following:
• establish a business vision
• create a marketing plan
• identify corporate writing and editing opportunities
• target corporate, not-for-profit, and government sectors
• find contacts within targeted sectors
• market yourself and your services
• price your writing and editing services for the corporate market
• issue accurate quotes and estimates
• manage the corporate approval process

Who should attend? Writers and editors who want to find, price, and manage corporate assignments, and boost their freelance income. Register online.
Date/Time – Saturday, April 14; 9:30 am to 4:30 pm (Lunch provided)
Registration - $225 members, $255 non-members (HST extra)
Early Registration (to April 7) – $185 members, $205 non-members (HST extra)
Location - Northrop Frye Hall Room 007, 73 Queen’s Park Crescent East, Victoria College, University of Toronto
Instructor – Paul Lima has worked as a professional writer, editor, and writing instructor for over 25 years. He has run a successful freelance writing, editing, and copywriting business since 1988. Paul is the author of ten books on writing and the business of freelance writing, including Harness the Business Writing Process, Everything You Wanted To Know About Freelance Writing, and Copywriting That Works.

Posted in Freelance Writing - Corporate, Workshops, Seminars & Online Courses | No Comments »

“Harness the Business Writing Process” workshop for HR professional in Toronto Mar. 29

I will be conducting “Harness the Business Writing Process: Become an Effective, Efficient Business Writer”, a workshop for Human Resources professional in Toronto on March 29.

The seminar is sponsored by the Human Resources Professionals Association. You can read the workshop description and other details here.

Posted in Workshops, Seminars & Online Courses | No Comments »

New kudos for business writing and freelance writing books

I’m please to share new kudos received from veteran writer Alastair Barnett about two of my books: Harness the Business Writing Process and Everything You Wanted to Know About Freelance Writing.

Well! How do you teach an old dog new tricks? When it comes to writing, I discovered the answer is simple: get your hands on Paul Lima’s books.

His Harness the Business Writing Process and Everything You Wanted to Know About Freelance Writing are like mini-workshops packed with practical instructions and exercises. Now when a new writing project arrives on my desk, instead of staring at the blank screen, I pick up one of his books, scan the appropriate sections and I’m off to a great start — every time.

I would not be writing successful copy and articles today without Paul Lima’s handbooks and guidance.

- Alastair Barnett
www.thewritingbutler.com

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The writer who made millions by self-publishing online

In “20 months Hocking has sold 1.5m books and made $2.5m” … all through self-publishing! – Disbelief! But true…

Amanda Hocking, the writer who made millions by self-publishing online

A couple of years ago, Amanda Hocking needed to raise a few hundred dollars so, in desperation, made her unpublished novel available on the Kindle. She has since sold over 1.5m books and, in the process, changed publishing forever… [Full article in the Guardian]

Posted in Self-Publishing & Print On Demand | No Comments »

Print on Demand blog posts and video trailer

If you are interested in learning a bit more (non-technical) information about self publishing, you might want to take a look at my blog posts on POD (print on demand) and e-books:
- Print on demand: Self-publishing getting started primer
- POD authors go Kindle, ePub: Here’s a bit of a primer

Also, I have a self-publishing video trailer on YouTube. Go to www.paullima.com/pod and scroll down to the video trailer link at the bottom of the page if you want to watch the trailer, based on a POD workshop I conducted for members of the Professional Writers Association of Canada.

Posted in Self-Publishing & Print On Demand | No Comments »

Be Your Own Boss But Say “No” to Pajamas

I was one of several people interviewed for article on working at home: “Be Your Own Boss But Say “No” to Pajamas”. The article appears online in Possibilities: Toronto’s Online Employment Resource Centre

Be Your Own Boss But Say “No” to Pajamas

JOWITA BYDLOWSKA, Staff Writer

Working from home is perhaps the most misunderstood work environment. One imagines a dreamy poety type (sorry, real poets), slogging around the house in pajamas with a steaming cup of cocoa, greasy hair and a dreamy look on face, while … not doing anything specific in particular. A few years ago I tried it myself (freelancing, not slogging around) and can testify to the fact that this is an erroneous impression. As a self-employed writer and editor, I quickly realized that my saving grace was an increased dose of self-discipline and a steady schedule. And I considered burning my pajamas in a symbolic gesture of fighting the stereotype.

[READ the full article here]

Posted in Freelance Writing - General | No Comments »

Make sure your book title is Amazon “SEO” friendly

I can’t believe how How To Write A Non-fiction Book In 60 Days and several other of my books on writing and freelance writing continue to sell well on Amazon – in the US and the UK, especially as Kindles. I am doing no promotion, other than the odd tweet and blog post, and the information I have on my website.

The books are selling in numbers greater than my promo merits… It took me a while to figure out why, but I’ve figured it out, and it makes so much sense… But first, a bit of background…

When I first started to self-publish, I did not use a distributor that got my books into Amazon. I worked on optimizing my website so the book titles would show up in Google searches. People could then click through to my site and buy the book from me or Lulu (the POD company that I was using). Books sales have spiked exponentially since I found a POD printer/distributor (in my case, Lightning Source Inc.; you can now do this with Lulu and Create Space, and several other POD companies) that could place my books in Amazon.

Why the spike?
It took me a while to figure it out…

If I wanted a book on a certain topic, but didn’t know the title of a book, I might search Google, but let’s face it — I’d be more inclined to search Amazon (or Chapters) and read about the books that were returned in the search results. While I don’t have hard numbers, I suspect 80% of my print online bookstore sales, and maybe even more of my Kindle sales, are the direct result of searches conducted in Amazon.

With that in mind, when you title (and subtitle) your non-fiction book, make sure you use words and phrases that relate to what your book is about. For instance, in my case, you will find ‘non-fiction’ in 60 Days, ‘creative writing’ in (re)Discover the Joy of Creative Writing, ‘copywriting’ in Copywriting that Works and ‘freelance writing’ in my three freelance writing books…

Those key words in your title and/or subtitle can pay off if you are selling your books in online retailers like Amazon and Chapters – at least that’s been my experience.

Posted in Self-Publishing & Print On Demand | 4 Comments »

30 Things to Stop Doing to Yourself

I am stealing this list of 30 Things to Stop Doing to Yourself from the Marc and Angel Hack Life blog. You can read the full list with insightful commentary here.

30 Things to Stop Doing to Yourself

Stop spending time with the wrong people.
Stop running from your problems.
Stop lying to yourself.
Stop putting your own needs on the back burner.
Stop trying to be someone you’re not.
Stop trying to hold onto the past.
Stop berating yourself for old mistakes.
Stop trying to buy happiness.
Stop exclusively looking to others for happiness.
Stop being idle.
Stop thinking you’re not ready.
Stop getting involved in relationships for the wrong reasons.
Stop rejecting new relationships just because old ones didn’t work.
Stop trying to compete against everyone else.
Stop being jealous of others.
Stop complaining and feeling sorry for yourself.
Stop holding grudges.
Stop letting others bring you down to their level.
Stop doing the same things over and over without taking a break.
Stop overlooking the beauty of small moments.
Stop trying to make things perfect.
Stop following the path of least resistance.
Stop acting like everything is fine if it isn’t.
Stop blaming others for your troubles.
Stop trying to be everything to everyone.
Stop worrying so much.
Stop focusing on what you don’t want to happen.
Stop being ungrateful.

You can read the full list with insightful commentary here.

Posted in Freelance Writing - General | No Comments »

Paul Lima 2-for-one book sale

I’m holding a Boxing Week book sale…
Buy any book or report from www.paullima.com/books/, and get another PDF or Kindle book free… But you have to buy your book by Jan. 1, 2012.

Here’s how it works:
1. Buy a business writing, freelance writing, copywriting, media release writing, creative writing, SEO or any other book from www.paullima.com/books/ by Jan. 1, 2012
2. Email your book receipt (from Amazon, Chapters, Lulu, etc.) that indicates the book you bought to info@paullima.com
3. Indicate the free PDF or Kindle book you want from www.paullima.com/books/
4. Give it a day or two, and the book will arrive in your email in-box

It’s that simple. But if you have any questions, comment here on the blog or email info@paullima.com.

All the best with your writing in 2012. Hope my books can help give you a bit of a kick start.

Posted in My Books | 1 Comment »