10 Feb 10 Freelance writing – Have You Read Your Job Description?

If you thought by choosing freelance writing as a career you will just write, write, and do nothing else then let me prick the balloon. Your client wants many more things from you. Do not get scared, you will not be asked to do any fancy stuff like coding, scripting, PPC campaigns, and all.

Then what other works a client will demand?

Basically, you will be asked to do stuffs related to writing only. And in my career, primarily I have been asked to do following types of work (other than writing):

Many clients have asked me to do like keyword research, for writing purpose only. This actually is not all that bad. It helped me conceptualize the article or press release while researching.
At times, clients also asked me to submit articles to various social bookmarking sites. I helped my clients with 2-3 submissions, at max. I do not think I would have agreed to submit an article to 100 or so social bookmarking sites. It would have been waste of time for me, but for 3-4, I never said no.
Clients may also ask for content suggestions, and about other things he can do to meet his goal. This in fact is an opportunity in disguise to cross sell other services that you offer. If you are writing only articles for your client then you may suggest him to use press release to get some link juice, or may be forum posting and all.
I have also given some marketing and SEO suggestions to my clients. Depending upon your background (I have my background in marketing), you can either say yes or politely say no.

Word of caution

Do not say no to your clients’ request, at least not directly, if you can help him. And also do not ask for money for every suggestion that you offer—I know people who do so—because it looks cheap. For that work you may get paid, but it will reflect badly on your professionalism. You may lose the client.

If the work is going to take hours of your work then say this to client, and if it is going to take hardly 10-15 minutes then do not bother. It also depends upon your relationship with your client.

Tags: 15 Minutes, Background, Balloon, Campaigns, Caution, Content Suggestions, Disguise, Freelance Job, Job Description, Marketing, Press Release, Professionalism, SEO, Social Bookmarking Sites, Submissions, Suggestion, Waste Of Time, Writing As A Career, Writing Career, Writing Job

Filed in Writing with 0 Comments

29 Oct 09 What is Writing Prompt and How to Use It

Often times, we find ourselves staring on a blank sheet, or on a blank word processor hoping to get some idea, but as the luck would have it, nothing comes to my mind. After waiting for hours, when nothing happens, we feel the frustration. If you have been into writing then you must be aware of the monster called writer’s block. How many times have you faced this monster? This monster comes to haunt all of us, and even the award winning writers are not safe from this.

It is where when we need writing prompts to help us get out of this rut. Writing prompt can be anything that can make us write. It could be a picture, a word, a phrase, a quotation, an illustration, a person, a place, or anything. Anything that prompts us to write can be called writing prompt.

You will need writing prompts a lot in your writing career, hence I will ask you to maintain a list of writing prompts that can pull you out of the writer’s block. If you think, you are not going to face writer’s block in your career then either writing is not something in which you are going to make your career, or you are not planning to write much, at least not regularly.

How to use writing prompt

Make a list of writing prompts that will help you get out of the writer’s block. Always remember, writing prompt for a fiction writer cannot be same as writing prompt for a non-fiction writer. Writing prompt used by a self-help writer cannot be same as writing prompt used by writer writing on health-related issues. Hence, see what works for you and make a list of it.
Like anything else, writing using prompts also depends upon practice. The more you practice the more quickly you can get out of the block.
When faced with the writer’s block. Start with choosing any random prompt from the list, and then write on it continuously for 10-15 minutes.

In the next blog post, I will tell you how to build your own list of writing prompts. Till then practice what you have learned.

Tags: 15 Minutes, Blank Sheet, Face, Fiction Writer, Fiction Writing, Frustration, Health Issues, Health Related Issues, Illustration, Lot, Monster, Non Fiction, Phrase, Quotation, Random, Word Processor, Writer Health, Writer S Block, Writing Career, Writing Fiction, Writing Help, Writing Prompts

Filed in Writing with 0 Comments

09 Oct 09 Pre-Interview Preparation

How you prepare for an interview can be just as important as what you do in the actual interview. The way you prepare can dictate how you are received. Not preparing well could be the difference between getting a job, and sealing your fate to rejection. The importance of the little things cannot be understated. So you should remember that, when you’re getting ready for that next interview.

Everything starts in the phone call that you receive, notifying you that you’ve been chosen for an interview. Make sure that you write down the information on when and where the interview will be taking place. Jot down the time as well. Then make sure to find out any documentation that you need to bring to interview. Before ending the conversation, make sure to double check the time and place, and the documents you’ll need. The worst first impression you can make for an interview, is to show up late.

If you aren’t already familiar with the location of the interview, it’s a good idea to look up directions and do a run through. See how long it takes to get to the interview site, and learn the route. That way when the day comes you don’t risk being late by aimlessly looking for the location, or getting into unexpected traffic.

Now to the interview outfit. It’s best to pick your outfit in advance, so that you know what you are going to wear, and aren’t forced to figure anything at the last minute. Choose something professional, that’s clean and tidy. An outfit that fits you well, and that is free of stains or tears.

Finally, on the day of the interview, be sure to leave early. The worst thing you can do at an interview, is show up late. Many interviewers won’t hire an applicant that can’t show up to an interview on time. Keep that on time, and show up 10-15 minutes early. That way you show yourself to be prepared, and committed to the job opportunity.

Tags: 15 Minutes, Fate, First Impression, Getting A Job, Interview Outfit, Interview Preparation, Interviewers, Job Opportunity, Jot Down, Last Minute, Phone Call, Rejection, Risk, Stains, Time And Place, Unexpected Traffic

Filed in Job Interview with 0 Comments

09 Oct 09 Pre-Interview Preparation

Recent Posts

IT List Favorites

Categories

Gossimer Press Releases

Gossimer Promotions and Announcements