February 8, 2010 by karenzo
An excerpt from the Freelance Writer’s Toolkit.
When doing freelance writing work or when submitting your written work to various publications, it becomes very easy to lose track of what was sent where and to whom. Here is an easy way to keep track of all those queries by using Microsoft Excel or a similar spreadsheet.
OPEN YOUR SPREADSHEET and give it a title. I title mine Queries.
CREATE DIFFERENT FOLDERS for different kinds of queries. I use five separate folders titled Contests, Freelance, Magazine, Online and Other. Creating separate folders simply makes tracking your queries that much easier.
DECIDE WHAT IMPORTANT INFORMATION YOU NEED TO KEEP TRACK OF in your Query spreadsheet. I track the following details of a query: Name of publication, Contact information, Type of query (email, phone, or snail mail), date query was sent and Other. The Other column is for any other pertinent information.
TRACK ANSWERS YOU RECEIVE to your queries by highlighting in different colors. For example, you can use yellow for queries that have been sent but have not been answered and green for queries that have been answered and given the green light. You get the idea.
ADD A COLUMN FOR NOTES. This column becomes very useful when talking to an editor on the phone or through email because you can refer back to the dates and times you have spoken with the editor before.
KEEP COPIES OF YOUR QUERY SPREADSHEET so that you can double-check to see if you have submitted to a certain venue before and what their answer was.
UPDATE YOUR SPREADSHEET on at least a weekly basis.
BACK IT UP! Don’t forget to back up your work frequently!
TRACK IT ONLINE. Use an online query tracker like Duotrope to track submissions or try this online Writer’s Tracking Tool.
Order the Freelance Writer’s Toolkit for more help with starting and running a successful business.
Posted in Freelancing, Uncategorized | Tagged write, writing, recommend, book, freelance, ebook, editor, internet, elance, demand studios, online, article, job, manage, business, tools, queries, query, track, spreadsheet, duotrope | Leave a Comment »
January 3, 2010 by karenzo
Posted in Lifewriting | Tagged autobiography, book, family history, genealogy, ghostwrite, life, lifetales, memoir, personal, publish, record, research, tips, tools, write, writing | Leave a Comment »
January 1, 2010 by karenzo
An excerpt from the Freelance Writer’s Toolkit.
Become an expert at something. While you may perform well in all the areas listed below, train yourself in one of them. I tried all of them and found that I excelled in a few select areas. Those are the areas that I specialize in and now I am turning people away who want to hire me.
Writing a corporate history is an important business tool. Frequently, potential clients will base their decisions on whether or not to hire a corporation based on the company’s past history. Compiling a corporate history takes a little bit of time and effort but will benefit the company in the end.
Begin the corporate history with a list of the current owners and board members. Include a brief biography on each person and what the position is in the company. Include in this section the corporations mission statement and why they are writing a corporate history.
Include a photograph section that shows the growth of the corporation over time. Perhaps the company had its beginnings in a warehouse or basement and now they occupy a entire 10-building complex. Showing the growth of the corporation in a pictorial history adds depth to your narrative.
Bring in the past. In the next section, write about the key players in the corporation over the years: past presidents, board members, managers and other influential employees. Include brief biographies on these people and write about their contributions to the company.
Include a section about how the corporation has interacted with the community. In this era of “going green,” it is an asset to a company to be active in their community and to take an active role in preserving the environment. Show in this section how the corporation has participated in charity events, etc.
Add only the major events that happened to a corporation that had positive outcomes. Because the corporate history is a valuable marketing tool, you do not want to include things like the time your office manager was indicted for money laundering!
Find a reputable printing company to print and bind your corporate history. If money is an issue, check out small presses such as Lulu or Infinity Publishing.
Add your corporate history to your bookshelves and distribute a free copy to potential clients.
- Consider sending out copies of the history to potential clients as a marketing tool.
- List your corporate history with online booksellers.
- Donate a copy of the history to local libraries.
Order the Freelance Writer’s Toolkit for more help with starting and running a successful business.
Posted in Freelancing | Tagged article, biography, business, business plan, client, corporate, editor, expert, freelance, growth, history, internet, job, manage, mission, money, outsource, owner, pay, publish, recommend, research, specialize, tips, tools, write, writer, writing | 1 Comment »
January 1, 2010 by karenzo
An excerpt from the Freelance Writer’s Toolkit.
A sole proprietorship is the easiest form of business to start, as there are virtually no legal formalities to complete. In a sole proprietorship the business has only one owner.
The business also does not have a legal identity distinct from the owner, and is therefore considered a personal wealth investment. The owners of a sole proprietorship only have to answer to themselves, but the business will cease to be a legal entity if the owner dies or sells the business.
A sole proprietorship has the ability to borrow funds, but that borrowing status is dependent on the owner’s personal financial status. The owners are personally liable for any defaults or lawsuits, and their personal property can be taken away in the event of a lawsuit.
Profits from a sole proprietorship are not taxed–they are considered as income on the owner’s personal taxes.
Order the Freelance Writer’s Toolkit for more help with starting and running a successful business.
Next: Finding Your Niche: Writing Corporate Histories
Posted in Freelancing | Tagged advantages, business, business plan, disadvantages, freelance, internet, money, outsource, owner, pay, publish, sole proprietorship, strategies, tips, tools, write, writer, writing | 2 Comments »
December 31, 2009 by karenzo
An excerpt from the Freelance Writer’s Toolkit.
CREATE A BUSINESS STRATEGY. A business strategy includes researching the business you are planning and the market conditions. It then details the objectives you have for your company.
HAVE A BUSINESS PLAN. Unless you have a plan, how will you know whether you’re on the right track? This should cover the main elements of your business.
KEEP YOUR BUSINESS PLAN SIMPLE and easy to revise in the future. The key to making a business plan before starting your business is so that you will go into business with a clearer picture of where your business is headed and provides you with a glimpse at obstacles that you may need to overcome.
KNOW WHERE YOU ARE GOING. What vision do you have for your business? This is an important part of the business plan and will help you in determining the direction your business will grow in the future.
Order the Freelance Writer’s Toolkit here for more great tips and resources on starting and running your freelance writing business.
Next: Advantages & Disadvantages of a Sole Proprietorship
Posted in Freelancing | Tagged business, business plan, freelance, job, manage, money, strategy, tips, write, writer, writing | 1 Comment »
December 31, 2009 by karenzo
An excerpt from the Freelance Writer’s Toolkit.
Background
- assess your strengths and weaknesses
- establish business and personal goals
- assess your financial resources
- identify the financial risks
- determine the start-up costs
- decide on your business location
- do market research
- identify your customers
- identify your competitors
- develop a marketing plan
Business transactions
- select a lawyer
- choose an entity (proprietorship, partnership, or corporation, for example)
- create your business (register your name, incorporate the business, etc.)
- select an accountant
- prepare a business plan
- select a banker
- get financing
- establish a line of credit
- select an insurance agent
- obtain business insurance
First steps
- get business cards
- obtain a lease
- get furniture and equipment
- review local building codes
- obtain a license or permit (if applicable)
- send off for federal and state tax forms
- get an employee identification number (if applicable)
- join a professional organization
- line up suppliers (if applicable)
- set a starting date
Order the Freelance Writer’s Toolkit for more help with starting and running a successful business.
Next: Making a Business Plan
Posted in Freelancing | Tagged business, business plan, checklist, freelance, karenzo, new, start, startup, writing | Leave a Comment »
October 12, 2009 by karenzo
Just found the first article I ever had published! I was paid $300 for this piece (article and photography). My father probably spent more than that to drive to Key West with me for the research! Thanks Daddy!
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged architecture, autobiography, family history, florida, freelance, gingerbread, houses, karen hamilton, key west, memoir, pirates | Leave a Comment »
September 19, 2009 by karenzo
Posted in English Composition | Tagged english, grammar, learn, links, paragraph, practice, reading, skill, spelling, writing | Leave a Comment »
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When doing freelance writing work or when submitting your written work to various publications, it becomes very easy to lose track of what was sent where and to whom. Here is an easy way to keep track of all those queries by using Microsoft Excel or a similar spreadsheet.
