Six-Figure Freelancer Blog

Harness the writing process…

If you want to be an effective and efficient writer, follow the writing process. According to two University of Toronto professors, effective and efficient writers spend:

• 40% of their time planning (preparation, research, and organization)
• 25% of their time writing
• 35% of their time revising

On the other hand, less effective and less efficient writers spend more time on projects and distribute their time differently:

• 20% planning
• 60% writing (writing, pausing, sighing, tinkering, writing, tinkering…)
• 20% revising

Notice that the writers in the “less” category spend less time planning and more time writing. Then they have hardly any time to revise — edit and proofread their work. If you follow the writing process, you spend more time up front and less time writing and you have time to spare to do a final, and thoughtful, revision.

The Writing Process includes…

• Planning: topic, audience, purpose, scope, media
• Research: internal and/or external
• Organization: brainstorming and outlining
• Writing
• Revision: editing and proofreading

If you think about it, it all makes sense. You wouldn’t write if you didn’t know your topic. Would you write if you didn’t know who you were writing for (audience)? If you don’t have a purpose or reason for writing, why bother? If you don’t know the scope of your project - how much detail is required to cover your topic, meet the expectations of your audience and achieve your purpose - you could write too much or too little. And if you don’t know your media - email, letter, report, PowerPoint, broadcast script and so on - you might format your message incorrectly.

Once you finish planning, make sure you conduct appropriate research. You might only have to conduct internal research if you are the subject expert; however, if you are writing a long document and want to appear objective, or if you lack knowledge, you will have to conduct external research to gather information before you write.

Most people, once they have all that information stuffed in their brain, fact the blank screen and start to write… Wrong!

Take some time and get that information out of your head and down on paper. You can use a variety or right-brain brainstorming techniques to do this. Then, use your left brain to organize the information - create a document outline. Literally, put down all the points you want to cover, in the order you want to cover them. I don’t know about you, but I’d rather start writing with a detailed outline in front of me, rather than try to hold everything I have to cover in my head while I attempt to fill the blank screen.

Once you have an outline, write from point to point to point to point until you are done. Then edit, revise and proofread. In other words, don’t edit as you write. Or at least complete a full section of a long document before you edit.

Hint: Keep the writer and editor separate. If you have spell check and grammar check turned on in Word, turn it off. You do not need to revise your work until you have completed a solid, for-your-eyes-only draft.

Follow the process and you will be a more effective writer, which is cool because it means you will communicate more clearly. If people understand what you need and why you need it, they are more likely to oblige or work with you. You will also be a more efficient writer. If you increase your performance and decrease the time it takes you to perform, you become more productive. Considering how much we write in the era of email and electronic documents, boosting productivity is something you might want to achieve. However, even if you save no time by following the writing process, you will communicate more clearly and effectively - and that is something we should all aspire to do.
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Paul Lima is a freelance writer, copywriter, business writing instructor and media interview trainer. He is also the author of several books on business writing and the business of freelance writing. His latest book is How To Write A Non-Fiction Book in 60 Days.

Posted in Business Training, Business Writing, Copywriting | No Comments »

Every document should…

Any document you are writing on should do the following:

• Capture Attention
• Maintain Interest
• Change or influence Attitude
• Motivate Action

Think about it. If you do not capture my attention, I will not read (or view if you are producing a broadcast message). If you capture my attention but do not maintain my interest, I will stop reading or viewing. If you hold my interest but do not influence my attitude, what have you accomplished? And if you influence my attitude but do not motivate me to act, I will do nothing but move on.

Yes, this model is followed by advertisers; however, I suggest it is a model that should be followed by anyone who is trying to communicate with anybody. You may not be in sales, but if your purpose is to make me act — do something for you, send you some information, respond to your request to meet or even buy something, you are in sales and your message must AIAA — capture my Attention, maintain my Interest, change or influence my Attitude and motivate Action.

How do you capture attention? There are several ways: you can let me know your reason (purpose) for writing, you can outline a problem and let me know you have the solution or you can hint at the fact that there is something for me in your message.

To hold my interest, you have to build your case with facts and data related to whatever you used to capture my attention. In other words, your writing must be focused.

To change or influence my attitude, you need to overcome objections that I might have and/or spell out the benefits or consequences — in other words, answer: What’s in it for me (the reader)?

Finally, to motivate action, you need to be specific: tell me who should do what, when, where and, if required, how. In addition, if appropriate, provide an incentive to act.

Ideally, you follow the above steps in order; however, there can be some overlap. For instance, in direct mail, you want a headline that will capture my attention. At the same time, you may want to allude to an incentive that will motivate me to act. Ironically, while you ultimate goal is to motivate me to buy something or make a donation to a cause, the allusion to the incentive on the cover of your brochure or on the direct mail envelop is really meant to motivate me to open the darn thing and read. So it is actually part of the attention-grabbing device.

Try to write effective messages or promotional copy without AIAA. I suspect you will find it difficult — even impossible — to do so.

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Paul Lima is a freelance writer, copywriter, business writing instructor and media interview trainer. He is also the author of several books on business writing and the business of freelance writing. His latest book is How To Write A Non-Fiction Book in 60 Days.

Posted in Business Training, Business Writing | No Comments »

How to write a non-fiction book in 60 days to go into wider distribution

I’ve just completed an agreement with a small but aggressive publisher that is using print on demand to get a very select list of self-published books into wider circulation — online and across North American. Currently available only through my website (via Lulu.com), How to Write a Non-Fiction Book in 60 Days will be released early 2009 by Five Rivers Chapmanry, and available through online booksellers worldwide, as well as select book stores in Canada.

While some writers have suggested 60 Days must be a work of fiction, I swear it is indeed non-fiction! I’ve written 8 books and 2 short e-reports, each in under 60 days.

Again, the book (ISBN 978-0-9739278-4-9) is slated for release early in 2009, possibly sooner. The 6×9 trade paperback will come in at about 128 pages and will be priced at $14.95 (both US and CDN), $7.85GBP, $9.56EU. The book will be available through online retailers worldwide - Chapters/Indigo, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, W.H. Smith, Borders, Tesco, and hundreds of others.

Posted in Freelance Writing - General, Self-Publishing & Print On Demand | No Comments »

Guest Post: Brainstorming and Writing Brief Articles

If you start browsing the Internet for any length of time, you will come across hundreds of thousands of brief articles. These articles are generally 350-500 words in length and take a very short time to read. Web surfers seem to love these short pieces on a variety of topics because they can quickly read the information, get what they need out of it, and move on without wasting too much time.

Writing these brief articles can be quite fun and easy, once you have the process down. What follows is a short list of steps for quickly and effectively writing brief articles for your own blog, or to submit to someone else’s.

1. Isolate your main topic. What do you want to write about? If you already have an idea, that’s fantastic. If not, try doing a Google blog search and see what others are blogging about. Sometimes this is all you need to get the creative juices flowing.

2. Do some research. Read some other articles on similar topics and learn a bit more about the topic you’ve chosen. The more short articles you read, the better you will understand the style and flow.

3. Identify commonalities. You’ll begin to see that many people are saying similar things, just using different wording. You want to bring together something that’s already out there and add to what’s being said on the topic. This will help to separate you from the crowd.

4. Get away from the computer. Take a note pad to another location and spend some time writing notes about what you’ve been reading. Identify your main points and sub points so that when you return to the computer you have a clear idea of what direction you will be taking.

5. Start writing. After your brief brainstorming session, get back to the computer and pound it out. You will see quickly just how fast and easy the process is when you have a road map leading you through the article. Having approximately 5 key points will get you somewhere between 350 and 400 words very easily.

This post was contributed by Kelly Kilpatrick, who writes on the subject of online colleges and universities. She invites your feedback at kellykilpatrick24 at gmail dot com

Posted in Business Writing, Copywriting | 1 Comment »

A successful person is…

“A successful person is a person who says, I’m gong to become this, then begins to work towards that goal… A successful person is anyone who is doing deliberately a predetermined job because that is what he or she decided to do, deliberately… People with goals succeed because they know where they are going. It’s that simple… We become what we think about.” - Earle Nightingale

In other words, define your business vision before you do anything else. Otherwise, how will you achieve success or even know when/if you have achieved it?

I am often asked questions about finding corporate writing work. I reply with this: “What can you write? For what sectors can you write?” I am frequently greeted with blank stares or people reply with something like this: “I want to write anything for anybody.”

Allow me to be blunt: If you want to write anything for anybody, you will most likely write nothing for nobody. (And if the double negative negates my meaning, let me put it this way: If you want to write anything for anybody, good luck with that.)

In other words, if you have never written a white paper, you would not position yourself as a white paper writer. Leave that up to thatwhitepaperguy. If you know nothing about the automotive market, why would you target the automotive sector?

I am not saying you will never write a white paper or never write for the automotive sector. I am saying start marketing the writing services that make sense to you to potential clients in sectors that make sense to you. Grow in terms of your scope and range as you gain experience and as your business and business contacts grow.

If you think you need help defining what you can do and who you can do it for (what I call defining your Business Vision), consider buying the Business Vision short eReport.

Having a business vision is no guarantee of success. But not having one can lead directly to failure. Why? If you don’t define your business vision you will struggle with your business plan and your marketing plan. And if you don’t have a business vision, business plan and related marketing plan, you will struggle with your business. It’s that simple.

If you want to know more about defining your business visions and about marketing your services, read my marketing blog posts. All the best with your business, and with defining your business vision!

Posted in Marketing Your Services | No Comments »

Use your computer to manage time, not waste it

Email and the web are incredible business tools. Most small business owners wonder how they functioned without them. However, email and the web can be time wasters too.

If you turn on your computer and spend an hour or more reading and replying to non-business e-mail, reading electronic newsletters and surfing the Web, then you are letting e-mail and the Internet steal your time.

How can your computer – Outlook or other scheduling applications in particular – help you manage time?

First off, you need to know what you want to do with your time: you need detailed business and marketing plans. Based on your plans, build to-do lists to guide you through your business life.

Once you know how you want to spend your time, use scheduling software, such as Outlook’s Task and Calendar functions, as your time-management friend:
- Task allows scheduled tasks to pop up at the start of the day; when you open Outlook you see the business tasks you have to do that day.
- Calendar allows you to schedule dates and times of meetings and events. A reminder can be set to pop up days, hours, or minutes before the event. If you have to shower, dress and travel to a meeting, schedule your reminder to pop up several hours before the meeting start time.

Before you check email or surf the web, review and work on the Task and Calendar entries that will help keep your business on track. After you have accomplished your business tasks, take a break and visit your Inbox or surf the web.

You can use Task and Calendar to manage business-related email too. As you access messages do one of the following:
- Read and delete
- Read, reply and delete or file in a project folder
- Read and file in Task or Calendar (drag and drop messages in Task or Calendar).

By deleting or filing messages in project folders, Task or Calendar, you keep your Inbox empty, which is psychologically liberating, while continuing to use Outlook to help you manage your time.

Posted in Freelance Writing - General | No Comments »

With new advances in technology, why are we still jumping in the car?

Special to The Globe and Mail - October 20, 2008

All around the world, workers in branch offices use the latest technology tools, from e-mails and instant messaging to Web portals and video conferencing, to get their jobs done. Even employees in the same building - often on the same floor or in adjacent cubicles - use these and other communication tools to collaborate.

So why do so many people, especially those in information-based industries, still make the physical commute to and from the office, when they could just as easily use these tools to work from home and cut gasoline consumption and greenhouse gas emissions?

The answer is complicated, says Dave Senf, director of security and software research with Toronto-based IDC Canada. Many companies still have an Industrial Age mentality in which managers believe they can’t manage what they can’t see.

But technology has made it easier than ever to telecommute and also to oversee the work of employees, and many businesses are starting to look at it more seriously, he says.

A recent survey by Washington-based human resources consulting firm WorldatWork found that rising gas prices, improved technology and a general desire for a better work-life balance has led to an increasing number of Canadian and U.S. employers offering teleworking.

The survey of 2,700 organizations found that 40 per cent of them in Canada offer employees the option of working from home or a remote location, up from 25 per cent in 2007. In the United States, 42 per cent said they offer telework options, up from 30 per cent last year.

While businesses are aware that telework is good for the environment - with thousands fewer cars making the daily commute, cutting tonnes of greenhouse gases - companies that set up such programs are not motivated mainly by environmental concerns, according to IDC surveys.

“Companies are very pragmatic. Cost reduction is the primary reason for setting up telecommuting programs,” Mr. Senf says.

However, the environment also benefits when people work from home.

Cars, minivans and SUVs accounted for about 45 per cent of Canada’s transportation emissions for 2005, according to Zerofootprint, an organization that devises ways for communities, businesses and organizations to contribute to a low carbon world.

Canada must reduce its transportation-based greenhouse gas emissions by 25 per cent by 2012 to meet Kyoto targets, and telecommuting can contribute to the reductions, says Peter Howard, director of climate change services with the Zerofootprint group of companies.

For every 4 million workers who telecommute, 840 million gallons of gasoline are saved annually, according to the Consumer Electronics Association. That’s the equivalent of removing 2 million vehicles from the road every year, according to the association.

Commuting can make up a significant portion of the carbon footprint of a business, says Deborah Carlson, climate change campaigner with the David Suzuki Foundation. In addition to introducing telecommuting options, employers can support the use of public transit, carpooling, walking and cycling to work.

Ikon Office Solutions Inc., a distributor of office equipment and document management services, is implementing a telework plan, says president Sean Smith. The Ontario-based company has 1,400 employees in Canada, spread over 40 offices, with the largest centre in Edmonton where its call-centre staff and most of its administrative and accounting staff are located.

Ikon’s 800 field staff work in the offices of the companies that Ikon supports, so they can’t telework. But about 250 sales staff work from home when they are not making sales calls, and 25 of the employees in Edmonton telecommute or are on flex plans that let them work at home several days a week.

At the start, Mr. Smith says, there were some concerns that teleworkers might not be fully engaged in their jobs while in their own homes, which proved unfounded. “We had the fear before we started the program. It is no longer a fear at all. Most are more productive at home.”

When Mr. Smith, who works in the Mississauga head office, wants to talk to his marketing representative in Whites Lake, N.S., he doesn’t care whether she is at home or in the regional office. Because they use an instant messaging system, he can see her IM status on his computer and knows whether she is available to chat online or take a phone call.

Ikon did not introduce its telecommuting program to save the environment or even save money, Mr. Smith says: “We did it for retention and productivity. The environment is a nice byproduct.”

Patti McDougall, telecom services manager for Reliance Protectron Security Services in Mississauga, Ont., agrees that telecommuting can make for a more productive work force and save money, too.

Reliance has about 800 employees in head offices in Montreal and Edmonton as well as in branch offices across Canada. Staff in the field and in the central security response centre are not able to telecommute, but 150 customer service and call-centre staff qualify for the company’s program.

In Alberta, where Reliance competes against larger call centres, this has helped the company recruit new staff from areas outside Edmonton and has helped it retain veteran employees who might otherwise be tempted to look for other jobs. Internal surveys found that the telework program helped Reliance retain “55 [staff] years of knowledge and experience” that might have gone elsewhere if the program did not exist, Ms. McDougall says.

All phone calls to and from Reliance teleworkers go through the company’s Avaya Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone network. Parties who call those employees do not realize their call is being directed to a home phone line, and when the teleworker makes an outgoing call, the recipient sees the Reliance name on the call display.

“It’s all seamless to the customer,” Ms. McDougall says.

Although the program was established to boost recruitment and retention, she says it has cut the company’s expenses (about 50 per cent per teleworker) and is also helping the environment. Some employees cut more than an hour of daily commuting from their workday, saving time and cutting fuel consumption as well.

Posted in Published Articles | 2 Comments »

Freelancers: Finding Corporate Markets

From Paul Lima’s talk at Wordstock 2008, held at Ryerson University in Toronto:

A PR agency representing a major IT company called and asked if I would ghost write an article for an executive of the IT firm. The article would be 800 words and would appear in a technology trade magazine that I wrote for on a regular basis. I said that I was interested and the PR contact asked me that dreaded question: “What do you charge?” The trade magazine paid me 35-cents per word but I knew that the holy grail of freelancers was a buck a word. With that in mind, I said: “$800.” The PR representative didn’t even pause. “I’ll set up the interview. The article is due on…”

I wrote the article, invoiced and was paid in no time. And that got me thinking: How can I get myself more of this? That was almost 15 years ago and I am here to tell you how to get corporate writing work, or for those of you doing some corporate work, how to get more of it.

There is no big secret to finding corporate writing assignments. You need a business and marketing plan, and you need to implement it. However, before you put together your business and marketing plans, make sure you establish your business vision.

Business Vision
Answer the following questions:
1. Who do you want to be?
2. What do you want to do?
3. Who do you want to do it for?
4. Where and when do you want to do it?
5. Why do you want to do it?
6. How do you do it? (Okay, ‘how’ is actually your marketing plan, so you don’t have to answer that now.)

What next?
I am presuming the answer to ‘who do you want to be?’ is a freelance writer. Once you have selected the ‘what’ (type of writing you want to do for the corporate market) and the second ‘who’ (the corporate sectors you want to target), you need to develop business and marketing plans. Both are spelled out in detail in The Six-Figure Freelancer: How to Find, Price and Manage Corporate Writing Assignments.

We are going to look at how to set your corporate rate and the five marketing tasks you can use to promote your business.

How much can you earn as a freelance writer:
Here is what I call “the rate formula.”

• 5 Billable hours per day x 5 = 25 billable hours per week
• 25 Billable hours per week x 50 = 1,250 billable hours per year
• 1,250 Billable hours per year x hourly rate = gross income

Example: 5 hrs/day x 5 days/wk x 50 wks/yr x $50/hr = $62,500

FYI: I consider $50 per hour the lowest rate one would charge for corporate work, unless on a decent retainer. I charge $125 per hour for most of my work and I work about 20 billable hours per week, 48 weeks a year. Do the math and you will know why my book on conquering corporate markets is called The Six-Figure Freelancer. And I know writers who charge more, quite a bit more, than I do.

If you want to make a decent living as a corporate freelance writer, you have to work regular hours and charge a decent rate. It takes work to get freelance work but as far as I am concerned, it beats taking a job that has you asking, “Would you like fries with that?” So how do you find freelance gigs?

Place Five Arrows in Your Marketing Quiver
Freelance writers like to write. Freelance editors like to edit. Few like to sell their services. I find that ironic, because most sales efforts require writing and editing. Think in terms of telemarketing scripts, sales letters, promotional e-mails, advertising copy, direct mail brochures, Web copy, media releases, case studies and so on.

Why is it we can so easily do for others that which we don’t do for ourselves?

The answer is simple. Many freelance writers and editors, even those who work for corporate markets, don’t understand that they are in business. They fail to apply basic business principles to their freelance business. Once you accept that you are in business, and that sales and marketing is part of what makes a business successful, it is easier to use basic sales and marketing tools to develop your business.

Like any business, I have five arrows in my marketing quiver. I shoot them all a planned and systematic manner to generate new and repeat business. The five arrows include:
1. Generate repeat business, testimonials and referrals
2. Build and optimize a website
3. Network with friends, relatives and associates and through organizations
4. Advertising and promotion
5. Cold calling and mailing

Note: The rest of the talk was based on a synopsis of the chapters in The Six Figure Freelancer that outlined the “five arrows”. You can read the synopsis here: http://paullima.com/blog/?p=137.

Not every arrow in the marketing quiver will hit the target every time, but if you are not taking shots in a controlled and systematic manner, you will never hit the target.
So remind yourself that you are in business, and start marketing like it matters. Because if you are in business, marketing does matter.

Paul Lima is the author of:
- Everything You Wanted to Know About Freelance Writing…, which combines his two most popular books…
+ The Six-Figure Freelance: How to Find, Price, and Manage Corporate Writing Assignments and the
+ Business of Freelance Writing: How to Develop Article Ideas and Sell Them to Newspapers and Magazines
- Copywriting That Works: Bright Ideas to Help You Inform, Persuade, Motivate and Sell!
- How to Write Media Releases to Promote Your Business, Organization or Event
- How To Write A Non-Fiction Book in 60 Days

Visit him online at:
- www.paullima.com/books
- www.lulu.com/paullima

Posted in Freelance Writing - Corporate, Marketing Your Services | 3 Comments »

How to write a non-fiction book in 60 days: WCDR talk

On October 11, I had the pleasure of giving a talk based on my book, How to Write a Non-Fiction Book in 60 Days to members of the Writers Circle of Durham Region. Below are notes from my talk.

How to Write a Non-Fiction Book in 60 Days

Talk Presumption
You want to write or are writing a non-fiction book – perhaps one that you will self-publish; you can edit and proofread your book or will hire someone to do so.

Who is Writing Non-Fiction Books?
With the growth in Print on Demand (POD), public speakers, seminar leaders, consultants, technical trainers, financial planners, real estate agents, lawyers, nutritionists and fitness experts, people who have lived interesting, and not so interesting, lives, are all writing non-fiction.

Super Powers Not Required
- Writing a book can feel intimidating and overwhelming when you are facing the blank page: Where do you start? Where do you go next? How do you structure it? What do you put in; what do you leave out?
- Non-fiction book writing does not have to be intimidating; anyone who can write can write a solid first draft of a non-fiction book – in 60 days.
- I have written 11 books and short reports — each in less than 60 working days. It can be done. It is being done. You can do it – as long as you follow the process.
- Working days: If you devote about 4 hours a day to writing your book, you can write it in 60 days. If you devote about 4 hours one day a week, it will take you 60 weeks, but still 60 working days.

What Does it Take to Write a Book?
- It takes an idea. If you do not have an idea, it will be difficult to write your book.
- It takes purpose. Your purpose should be clearly defined so you can focus your writing and achieve what you set out to do.
- It takes knowledge of your reader. Determine what your readers know, and what they need to know.
- It takes organization. Organize your thoughts before you start to write.
- It takes time. It should take no more than about four hours per day over 60 days to focus your book idea, outline your book and write a solid first draft.

Day One
Scan books thematically related to the book you want to write: how to, autobiography, health and nutrition, business development… Look at how they are structured in terms of chapters and topics. Where they start, how they progress, where they end… what they cover. Spend some time on this over the first 30 days. Also, jot down a working title that encapsulates the subject you are writing about.

Days 2 – Pre-writing Exercise I
- Two pre-writing exercises detailed in the book — Freefall and Undirected Freefall — were described. Participants engaged in a a Directed Freefall exercise.
- You can probably write about 200 to 250 words in 10 minutes using Freefall. There are about 25,000 to 50,000 words in a non-fiction book. Do the math:
- 25,000 words / 200 words per 10 minutes = 125 10-minute chunks or 21 hours.
+ It takes less than a day to write a 25,000-word book.
+ It takes less than two days to write a 50,000-word book.

Days 3 – Pre-writing Exercise II
Participants were given a brainstorming writing exercise known as Clustering to help them get organized. Clustering (also known as brainstorming, mind mapping and word association) helps you put down on paper everything you know about and associate with a topic and sparks themes and ideas related to your topic that you might not have otherwise thought up.

Day 4 to 6 – Understand The Writing Process
The writing process you use to create your book includes five steps:
- Preparation: Establish your purpose. Assess your audience. Determine the extent of the detail required to achieve your purpose.
- Research: Determine if the research will be internal, external or a combination of both.
- Organization: Select an appropriate method of development so your writing unfolds in a logical manner. Prepare an outline.
- Writing: Write from your outline, expanding your points into sentences and paragraphs.
- Revision: Revise to ensure your document is clear, concise, focused and supports your purpose. Check your spelling and grammar. Have someone edit and proofread your work.

Day 7 & 8 - Research & Get Organized I
- Extensive external research is not part of the 60-day book writing process. If you are an expert in your field, most of the research you have to do is internal.
- Select an appropriate method of development so your writing unfolds in a logical manner. Logic depends on your subject, your purpose and your reader — what the reader already knows and what the reader needs to know, and the order in which the reader needs to know it to achieve the desired purpose of the book.
- Jot down 15 to 20 points that answer the following: Where do you start and why? Where do you go next? And then…? And then…? And then…? And then…?
- Order the points to facilitate learning. In other words, arrange the topic points and any related sub-points in the order in which you think you should present them.

Day 9: Get Organized II
- Get 20 or more sheets of 8½ by 11 paper or flip-chart paper.
- Pick a key word or phrase that represents the subject or topic of your book.
- Cluster it. Extensively.
- You may want to Cluster several different words and phrases that represent your topic; don’t be concerned about overlap in your clustering.

Day 10: Get Organized III
- Based on your Clustering, create a Table of Contents or major topics (big picture) outline of your book; organize the Table of Contents base on the appropriate method of development or logical flow you have selected.

Days 11 to 31: Producing Outlines
- Based on your Clustering, create chapter by chapter linear outlines of your book:

Chapter 1: Major topic of chapter
1. Major point 1
a. Sub-point 1
i. Secondary point A
ii. Secondary point B
And so on until you have a detailed outline. For instance, if you were writing a chapter on “the benefits of outlining”, your outline might look like this:

Benefits of Outlining
1. Provides logical structure
a. Gives you a detailed road map
2. Ensures all major and minor points are covered
a. Produces greater clarity and focus
b. Helps you detect errors in logic
3. Removes stress of trying to hold on to all you know while writing
a. Allows you to write quickly in manageable chunks
b. Ensures you do not lose your train of thought when you take breaks
4. Facilitates the approval process, if one is required

Days 31 to 60: Write
- Write from outline point to outline point, chapter by chapter, until you complete you book; if you devote 2 to 4 hours a day to writing, you will write a chapter a day.
- Do not edit your book until you have completed it. But if you absolutely have to edit, do not edit a chapter until you have completed it. Then move on and write the next chapter.

Once You’ve Written the Book…
- Once you have a final manuscript in hand, you can look for an agent or publisher or you can self-publish your book using Print on Demand. But ensure you edit it and proofread it first, or hire some one to do so.
Note: There is a chapter on print on demand in How To Write A Non-Fiction Book in 60 Days. You can also read more about POD in my blog. For POD topics go to: www./paullima.com/blog/?cat=19.

Paul Lima is a freelance writer and writing trainer. He is also the author of:
How To Write A Non-Fiction Book in 60 Days and other books on the business of freelance writing and business writing.

Posted in Freelance Writing - General, My Books, Self-Publishing & Print On Demand | 2 Comments »

Why I’m voting Green in 2008

I know this blog is about the business of freelance writing, but I just want to take a moment to add my voice to the election blogsphere. Here’s why I am voting Green…

I am not a natural Green constituent. I drive an SUV and live in a big old house. If the Green’s formed the government, it would cost me. But I am prepared to pay.

In the past, I have voted Liberal and occasionally have voted NDP. And I have, maybe once or twice, voted Conservative. So as I say, voting Green does not come naturally to me. However, I felt open and honest discourse and debate came naturally to Elizabeth May.

She was the most articulate of the leaders, and seemed the most sincere and real. Jack Layton felt strident, as if he were grand staging — looking for that knock-out punch. And to keep his base, he has to support a rapidly fading industrial strategy. Harper is, plain and simple, ideological and is playing for the hardcore conservative crowd while attempting to appear to soften his image. I don’t buy it for a moment.

Dion seems like a nice enough fellow and I suspect his “English as a second language” speaking manner hurt him in the debate. He also had a bit of a deer in the headlights look - he seems to be running scared rather then running for government. In addition, I believe the Liberals need to take a solid time out so the party can reinvent itself before it forms the government again.

Sadly, in my opinion, this means we will most likely end up with a Conservative minority or perhaps even a majority. With that in mind, I am parking my vote with the Green Party - but feel I am doing it for all the right reasons. The environment is an issue - the issue. May is bright and articulate and she is also willing to work with other parties for the common good of the country. I know there is no realistic chance of May becoming Prime Minister. With that in mind, my ideal outcome would be a Liberal minority with the Greens holding the balance of power… Ah, I can dream can’t I!

Posted in Freelance Writing - General | 2 Comments »

Writing Query Letters that Rock

From Paul Lima’s talk at Wordstock 2008, held at Ryerson University in Toronto:

There are two basic approaches to marketing your article ideas:
- Submitting unsolicited manuscripts (on spec)
- Querying (pitching ideas) by mail or e-mail.

This talk is about the latter, querying editors. To sell your ideas you need to pitch them to editors using the query letter. The query letter is your calling card. It is proof you have done some thinking and research and can write. It gives you the chance to sell your idea and yourself. Editors expect to receive query letters.

For newspaper or magazine articles, a query letter addressed to the editor outlines the following:

• Your article idea – the focus of the article or what the article is all about
• The sources, or potential sources, of information
• Why readers (of the target publication) would want to read the article (demonstrating your knowledge of the magazine’s readership)
• Why the article should be written now
• Why you should be the one to write the article, i.e., a paragraph about you

Your idea and writing must command the editor’s attention. It must intrigue the editor and tickle his or her curiosity. Also, it must seem like something the publication’s readers would be interested in or benefit from.

The idea must also be credible. If you propose to profile or interview the President or Prime Minister, for example, and you have no political experience or no obvious access to that person, the idea will not appear to be credible. It will appear to be beyond your reach unless you explain exactly how you will accomplish what you propose to do.

Here are 21 Rules for Writing Stellar Query Letters

To be effective your query letter should follow these basic rules:
1. Open with a brilliant lead, one that is as brilliant as your article lead will be. Why? The query letter, in part, demonstrates your ability to write.
2. Match the tone, flavour and style of your query to the tone, flavour and style of the magazine. That implies you have read the publication.
3. Demonstrate an understanding of what the publication covers.
4. Demonstrate an understanding of the publication’s readers.
5. Demonstrate what the reader will get from the story. Will they be educated or entertained? Will they become more productive? More knowledgeable? More informed?
6. Before you Query, focus. Define the gist (angle or slant) of the article in one sentence. The harder it is for you to describe the story to a friend, the more you need to tighten the idea.
7. Answer “Why this story?” What is it about your story or your take on it that makes it stand out from other queries?
8. Answer: “Why this story now?” What is it that makes your story idea timely?
9. Demonstrate an appreciation of the publication’s lead-time. What’s hot this week may not be hot in three or four months (yes, it can take that long to go from query to publication). Therefore, your story needs a timely hook to pique the editor’s interest and the hook needs to be timely down the road.
10. Conduct research to support the idea and demonstrate that you have appropriate sources.
11. Keep your query tight and snappy. No more than two pages at most. One page usually suffices, unless you are pitching a detailed investigative piece.
12. Include your contact information: name, phone number, address, email address, website.
13. If you’re new to the publication, include some clips (two or three samples of your writing) or point the editor to your website. (You do have a website, don’t you?)
14. Send the query letter to the right person. Your query should go to the right newspaper section or magazine “department” editor. Not sure who to send it to? Look for contacts on the publication’s web site. Email someone at the publication. Pick up the phone and ask. (File by email unless the publication’s guidelines request mail or fax queries.)
15. Send one idea if this is your first query, although you may send two slants on the idea. If you have written for an editor before, ask if he or she is open to receiving two or three ideas at time.
16. Spell and grammar check your query. (Not my forte, but don’t be like me!)
17. Don’t take it personally. If the editor does not respond in a timely manner, follow up (give the editor a couple of weeks). If there is still no response, move on. Pitch your story elsewhere. Perseverance is worthwhile. But don’t become a pain!
18. Be prepared to negotiate. You might pitch a query that does not quite connect, but your writing may impress the editor. Be open to negotiating the slant or angle of the assignment. (And don’t forget to negotiate the assignment details.)
19. Fulfill the promise of your query. Remember, your brilliant query sold the editor on the idea. Deliver an article that relates to and reflects your query.
20. Meet your deadline and word count.
21. Repeat all of the above as often as required to earn a living.

The YES Checklist
Keep this checklist handy to help you discuss/negotiate assignment details when an editor says “yes” to one of your ideas. Use it as the basis of an assignment contract or letter of agreement.

1. Angle/slant or central idea of the article - agree on this before you begin; it could change from your query idea
2. Style (request a style guide or read the publication analytically)
3. Contacts for research/interviews - both you and the editor may have contacts
4. Word count - stick to the agreed word count unless you have more or less material than you thought you’d have; if that’s the case, discuss word count with the editor
5. Sidebars - if you can sell a sidebar, you can produce extra income
6. Due Date - meet your deadline
7. Fact checking contact list - supply contact list even if not requested
8. Photography/illustrations - something you can do for extra income? Do you have to ask the interviewee to supply pictures
9. Return of photos/illustrations - set up a return by date
10. Method of filing - email, no doubt; Word file? Embedded in email message?
11. Fee - per word or per article (with word range)
12. Expenses - does the publication pay for long distance calls, travel, lunches you buy the interviewees? Know before you spend and find yourself out of pocket
13. Rights sought: First Serial (print) rights: local, regional, national; Electronic (web, database); Translation; Copyright; Moral rights… Know what you are selling
14. Contract or confirmation letter: Is a contract required? If so, who provides it? Is confirmation letter required? If so, who initiates it? If you, use this list!
15. When/who to invoice - no invoice, no pay, in most cases
16. Payment due: Upon receipt, acceptance, or publication. Know the differences
17. Maximum Time to Publication - crucial if payment is due upon publication; negotiate payment in full if publication exceeds maximum time to publication
18. Kill fee: amount; under what circumstance(s) is an article “killed”
19. What if: you have less/more of a story than discussed; a contact is not co-operative; you need a deadline extension

Paul Lima is the author of:
- Everything You Wanted to Know About Freelance Writing…, which combines his two most popular books: The Six-Figure Freelance: How to Find, Price, and Manage Corporate Writing Assignments and Business of Freelance Writing: How to Develop Article Ideas and Sell Them to Newspapers and Magazines.

He is also the author of:
- Copywriting That Works: Bright Ideas to Help You Inform, Persuade, Motivate and Sell!
- How to Write Media Releases to Promote Your Business, Organization or Event
- How To Write A Non-Fiction Book in 60 Days

Visit him online at www.paullima.com/books

Posted in Freelance Writing - General, Freelance Writing - Newspaper/Magazine | No Comments »

Write a Non-Fiction Book in 60 Days - breakfast talk

Write a Non-Fiction Book in 60 Days
Paul Lima spells it out at October writers’ breakfast

Durham Region, ON September 22, 2008: Itching to write a book? Successful freelance writer and trainer Paul Lima explains “How To Write A Non-Fiction Book In 60 Days” on Saturday, October 11 at the Writers’ Circle of Durham Region breakfast meeting. You’ll learn how to take your book from inspiration to completion in days, not years. Lima helps you define your purpose and spells out the process to move from your idea to a solid first draft.

The breakfast talk is based on Paul Lima’s book How To Write A Non-Fiction Book in 60 Days, available online at www.paullima.com/books/60days.html.

Experienced and aspiring writers gather, learn and connect at WCDR’s monthly breakfasts. Join us to enjoy an industry speaker or a special event, network with creative people and chow down on all the eggs, bacon and fixings you can eat! Everyone is welcome. Meetings run from 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the J.P. Fitzpatrick & Son restaurant in the Whitby Entertainment Centrum at 75 Consumers Rd. west of Thickson Rd. S. The cost, which includes a hearty breakfast, is $15 for members; $20 for guests. (Ask us about becoming a member and save!)

To attend, please register online at www.wcdr.org, by phone message at 905-686-0211 or by e-mail at breakfast2008@wcdr.org no later than noon on Thursday, October 9th.

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The Writers’ Circle of Durham Region (WCDR) is dedicated to raising the profile of writers of all kinds, and at all levels, by offering a forum through which they can find support, education and networking opportunities. As a non-profit umbrella organization, WCDR has worked since 1995 to draw together individuals and groups with common interests in promoting the art and skill of writing, fostering literacy, and providing moral support to our members. To find out about the many writing-related activities WCDR offers, please explore www.wcdr.org

Paul Lima has worked as a freelance writer and trainer for over 15 years. For corporate clients, he writes case studies, media releases, website copy and other documents, and conducts business writing and media interview preparation training. He has written for the Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, National Post, CBC.ca, and many other periodicals, and is an active member of the Professional Writers Association of Canada (PWAC) and conducts workshops on the business of freelance writing. He has written 8 books and 3 e-reports on the business of freelance writing and business writing. Paul also maintains a widely-read blog about the freelance writing business. You can read more about him online at www.paullima.com.

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