Over at the AbsoluteWrite forums, many of us are sharing our New Year's goals and resolutions.
This is the first year of my life (seriously... sad as that may be) that, going into the New Year, I feel like a "SUCCESS." I have made more money than I've ever made in my life, finally passing the $40K mark (that's gross, prior to expenses), have a beautiful daughter, and am somehow managing to handle it all.
This success makes me even more determined to achieve my goals in 2009. They are modest by some standards, but accomplishing them will mean a lot to me.
1. Publication in a big-name glossy newsstand magazine
2. Make at least $100/mos. as an affiliate through my blog and social networking
3. Exceed 2008's freelance income (which will not be easy between the economy and the baby)
4. Blog at least 5 X a week on BabiesOnline and at least 2 X a week on my own blog (that's here... so stay tuned!)
5. Get at least one more regular account that pays $400+ per month.
I'd like to wish everyone a Happy New Year and a prosperous 2009.
Transcription Tips for Freelance Writers
Most freelancers have a love/hate relationship with interviews. They love doing them, but hate the tedious transcription process that follows.
Personally, I enjoy transcribing. It’s just the type of mindless task I can do when I don’t feel like writing but want to be productive. And since I type close to 100 wpm, transcription makes me feel very productive!
Fellow writer Mary asked me in an earlier post if I had any tips for transcribing. I’ve used all of these techniques at some point in my career, so hopefully Mary and other freelancers will find them helpful.
1. Get the right tools.
When I used an analog tape recorder, it featured a dial for variable playback speeds, a conveniently-placed pause button and a “forward/reverse scan” option. I confess, I haven’t figured out how to properly rewind and fast forward on my new digital model, so I download the files onto my PC and use Windows Media Player. Not quite as convenient, but it works. I drool over the start/stop foot pedal professional transcriptionists use, proving that the “right tool for the job” makes life so much easier.
2. Don’t transcribe it all.
Because of my typing speed, I find it easier to just transcribe everything. “Re-living” the conversation in this way helps me form my articles. But if you’re looking to save time, or only need a handful of supporting quotes for your story, keep an eye on your tape counter, on an analog recorder, or the timer on a digital model, and jot down the number when your subject says something quotable. Then you can easily fast forward to get the material you need in a snap.
3. Edit as you go.
This not only makes transcription faster, it makes it less tedious because you are actually thinking about your article as you type. As you listen to the interview, type only the parts you’ll need. Fast forwarding through large chunks of text saves time and energy. Warning: Whenever I try this, I inevitably skip a section that, in retrospect, I decide would be perfect for the article and have to go through the entire interview again to find the quote I need. But I’m throwing it out there because it might work for someone.
4. Take a touch typing course.
It amazes me that many professionals still write by means of “hunt and peck.” This may work for articles, as you can probably type about as fast as you can compose the words, and it allows you to re-write as you go.
But there’s no advantage to slow transcription. If interviews and transcription is a large part of your job as a freelancer, take a touch-typing course or invest in Mavis Beacon software. I still cite my typing class as THE most valuable course I ever took in high school. By that time, I already knew how to write. Although good English teachers helped me hone my skills, they didn’t get me anywhere I couldn’t have gotten on my own. But hours of typing on those big heavy—not even electric!—typewriters, paper over my hands so I couldn’t see the keys, gave me what is perhaps my biggest money-making skill.
5. Don’t transcribe.
Hate transcription with a passion? Not every interview needs to be recorded. Learn shorthand, either the real kind or your own version, and take handwritten notes with only the information you need. This is also a great skill to have in a pinch, in the event of equipment failure or if you find yourself in the midst of a great story without your trusty recorder. I learned it the hard way, on the street as a cub reporter for a local weekly, because I couldn’t afford a tape recorder. I still take notes by hand at paintball games, rather than risking my pricey, high-tech Olympus WM-800.
Oh, your other choice if you don’t want to transcribe is simply to hire someone to do it for you. And yes, I’m available.
Personally, I enjoy transcribing. It’s just the type of mindless task I can do when I don’t feel like writing but want to be productive. And since I type close to 100 wpm, transcription makes me feel very productive!
Fellow writer Mary asked me in an earlier post if I had any tips for transcribing. I’ve used all of these techniques at some point in my career, so hopefully Mary and other freelancers will find them helpful.
1. Get the right tools.
When I used an analog tape recorder, it featured a dial for variable playback speeds, a conveniently-placed pause button and a “forward/reverse scan” option. I confess, I haven’t figured out how to properly rewind and fast forward on my new digital model, so I download the files onto my PC and use Windows Media Player. Not quite as convenient, but it works. I drool over the start/stop foot pedal professional transcriptionists use, proving that the “right tool for the job” makes life so much easier.
2. Don’t transcribe it all.
Because of my typing speed, I find it easier to just transcribe everything. “Re-living” the conversation in this way helps me form my articles. But if you’re looking to save time, or only need a handful of supporting quotes for your story, keep an eye on your tape counter, on an analog recorder, or the timer on a digital model, and jot down the number when your subject says something quotable. Then you can easily fast forward to get the material you need in a snap.
3. Edit as you go.
This not only makes transcription faster, it makes it less tedious because you are actually thinking about your article as you type. As you listen to the interview, type only the parts you’ll need. Fast forwarding through large chunks of text saves time and energy. Warning: Whenever I try this, I inevitably skip a section that, in retrospect, I decide would be perfect for the article and have to go through the entire interview again to find the quote I need. But I’m throwing it out there because it might work for someone.
4. Take a touch typing course.
It amazes me that many professionals still write by means of “hunt and peck.” This may work for articles, as you can probably type about as fast as you can compose the words, and it allows you to re-write as you go.
But there’s no advantage to slow transcription. If interviews and transcription is a large part of your job as a freelancer, take a touch-typing course or invest in Mavis Beacon software. I still cite my typing class as THE most valuable course I ever took in high school. By that time, I already knew how to write. Although good English teachers helped me hone my skills, they didn’t get me anywhere I couldn’t have gotten on my own. But hours of typing on those big heavy—not even electric!—typewriters, paper over my hands so I couldn’t see the keys, gave me what is perhaps my biggest money-making skill.
5. Don’t transcribe.
Hate transcription with a passion? Not every interview needs to be recorded. Learn shorthand, either the real kind or your own version, and take handwritten notes with only the information you need. This is also a great skill to have in a pinch, in the event of equipment failure or if you find yourself in the midst of a great story without your trusty recorder. I learned it the hard way, on the street as a cub reporter for a local weekly, because I couldn’t afford a tape recorder. I still take notes by hand at paintball games, rather than risking my pricey, high-tech Olympus WM-800.
Oh, your other choice if you don’t want to transcribe is simply to hire someone to do it for you. And yes, I’m available.
Whatever it Takes
A corollary to my stipulation that I will write "anything that pays" is the philosophy that I will do "whatever it takes" to get a job done.
In fact, my husband teased me that my water broke only *after* I submitted a story, on deadline, to a well-paying trade magazine. I'd been struggling with the article, as source after source fell through. I submitted the article at close of business Friday... early Saturday morning, my water broke. I do remember thinking, "My last assignment's done, NOW I can go into labor." But I'm sure the two events weren't actually related.
In those last few weeks before I had Ashley, I conducted interviews during Braxton-Hicks contractions. When I transcribed the tape, I could tell when I was breathing deeply through the pain. (Yes, I had false labor that actually hurt... you can read about it in Ashley Lyn's birth story.)
My husband teased me that if I went into labor, I would interview Seth Godin from the delivery room (I was thatclose to my due date, but there was no way I was turning down that opportunity!
I'm not saying all this to blow my own horn. I had another, let's call it an experience, today.
After a major story fell through at the post-last minute, another lead came across my desk. (It's great to know wonderful, friendly PR people!) I picked up the phone to call the source ASAP. The phone line was dead. Panicked, I picked up my cell phone and reached the source. But I don't have the means to record interviews on my cell phone. After years as a local news reporter, I have pretty good shorthand skills and I've done interviews on the fly with no tape before. Except I couldn't imagine holding the telephone and my daughter while trying to take notes on a very technical article... I'm short one hand to even attempt it.
So I call my husband, the household tech guru, in a panic. He came home and tried everything he could to fix the phone, to no avail. Finally, he offered me his cell phone, which has a better speakerphone. Not trusting the system, however, I still wanted to take back-up notes by hand. So there I was: telephone on desk, digital recorder right next to the phone, squirming baby in arm, (she had just woken up from a three-hour nap so there was no chance of that!), and pen in hand. I'm not going to say this freelancing thing is easy, but it's do-able.
The downside to this story is that we may need a new telephone, because our phone, Internet and cable are all tied together, and only the phone isn't working.
But that's minor compared to what people in the New England area are experiencing right now. Entire sections of Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts are without power. The shelves are bare at the few Wal-marts still open for business. And they're expecting another ice storm this evening. Please pray for everyone in those areas, and across the country, experiencing what I'm afraid is only the start of a very bad winter.
It's a good reminder for those of us who haven't YET been hit. When I go out to get a new phone this evening, I'm also going to stock up on some essentials like water and batteries (we'll need Ds for flashlights AND the bouncy chair!) and make sure our storm kit is well-stocked.
I guess there's my tie-in: Surviving a storm is like building a freelance career... always be prepared to do *whatever it takes.*
In fact, my husband teased me that my water broke only *after* I submitted a story, on deadline, to a well-paying trade magazine. I'd been struggling with the article, as source after source fell through. I submitted the article at close of business Friday... early Saturday morning, my water broke. I do remember thinking, "My last assignment's done, NOW I can go into labor." But I'm sure the two events weren't actually related.
In those last few weeks before I had Ashley, I conducted interviews during Braxton-Hicks contractions. When I transcribed the tape, I could tell when I was breathing deeply through the pain. (Yes, I had false labor that actually hurt... you can read about it in Ashley Lyn's birth story.)
My husband teased me that if I went into labor, I would interview Seth Godin from the delivery room (I was thatclose to my due date, but there was no way I was turning down that opportunity!
I'm not saying all this to blow my own horn. I had another, let's call it an experience, today.
After a major story fell through at the post-last minute, another lead came across my desk. (It's great to know wonderful, friendly PR people!) I picked up the phone to call the source ASAP. The phone line was dead. Panicked, I picked up my cell phone and reached the source. But I don't have the means to record interviews on my cell phone. After years as a local news reporter, I have pretty good shorthand skills and I've done interviews on the fly with no tape before. Except I couldn't imagine holding the telephone and my daughter while trying to take notes on a very technical article... I'm short one hand to even attempt it.
So I call my husband, the household tech guru, in a panic. He came home and tried everything he could to fix the phone, to no avail. Finally, he offered me his cell phone, which has a better speakerphone. Not trusting the system, however, I still wanted to take back-up notes by hand. So there I was: telephone on desk, digital recorder right next to the phone, squirming baby in arm, (she had just woken up from a three-hour nap so there was no chance of that!), and pen in hand. I'm not going to say this freelancing thing is easy, but it's do-able.
The downside to this story is that we may need a new telephone, because our phone, Internet and cable are all tied together, and only the phone isn't working.
But that's minor compared to what people in the New England area are experiencing right now. Entire sections of Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts are without power. The shelves are bare at the few Wal-marts still open for business. And they're expecting another ice storm this evening. Please pray for everyone in those areas, and across the country, experiencing what I'm afraid is only the start of a very bad winter.
It's a good reminder for those of us who haven't YET been hit. When I go out to get a new phone this evening, I'm also going to stock up on some essentials like water and batteries (we'll need Ds for flashlights AND the bouncy chair!) and make sure our storm kit is well-stocked.
I guess there's my tie-in: Surviving a storm is like building a freelance career... always be prepared to do *whatever it takes.*
Lists: The Lifeblood of a Successful Business
Before I started freelancing, I was never a big list-maker. Things just got done at work and I’d stay late during crunch-times to make sure they did.
Then I joined the JHS team at Absolutewrite.com and everything changed. Following the lead of successful women over there, I started to write everything down. Long-term goals, short-term to-dos, article assignments and ideas.
After Ashley was born, though, I misplaced my calendar. I’ve been without it since October. While I haven’t missed any deadlines or fallen behind, I’ve felt directionless. I know I have a handful of stories due the end of this month, beginning of next, but I sit in front of my computer once I get my daughter to sleep and stare blankly.
Fortunately, I have a brand-new planner, still in its wrapping, to crack open for 2009, so I’ll have a fresh start and will keep meticulous records of all my assignments, appointments and interviews. I have a feeling I’ll need it even more than I ever did before. My daily to-do lists will be significantly shorter than they ever were in the past, but I’ll aim to accomplish every item and then some. I used to be able to complete several interviews, 2 to 3 transcriptions and maybe a blog post or two (or a full-length feature article) in one day. Now I’m thankful if I get one “large project” done per day. But that’s okay.
On today’s agenda? I have at least five hours worth of interviews to transcribe that I will begin to tackle, and an interview scheduled for a few minutes from now. I’d also like to get a few blog posts written. Once the transcriptions are done, I can begin to write one of two articles due within the next few days. I have a feeling T.J. and Ashley will spend quality time together tonight while I type like a madwoman!
How about you? Do you keep lists or just remember it all in your head? What organization tools would you not be able to live without?
And now, as Promised, CUTE BABY PIX
Ashley Lyn, at about 1 mos. old (taken November 17, 2008)
(Left) Ashley loves getting wrapped up in "Lammy" (her thick fluffy hooded towel) after her bath.
(right) Panzer takes a nap on Daddy and Ashley takes a nap on Panzercat. Ghost (not present for photo) sulks. This is life in our house.
More Changes
I recently interviewed author and parent-prenuer Julie Lenzer Kirk for www.theWAHMmagazine.com. She said something (well, a lot of somethings, actually!) that really resounded with me. Should you happen to read this post, Julie, let me thank you for such a wonderful talk!
The line that keeps echoing in my head is: "You can't build a business during naptimes."
To some degree, I agree, especially if she was speaking metaphorically. If you want to make money working from home, you have to be serious about it and run it as a business. It can't be something you "just do while the baby's sleeping."
However, I know that Julie meant it in quite a practical sense, and, for now, that is exactly what I'm doing. My business was "built" prior to the arrival of Ashley Lyn, of course, but as every freelancer knows, success means constantly RE-building -- especially in today's economy. Fortunately, I believe that if you have already built a reputation and a client base, and if you work hard and (most importantly) efficiently during those naptimes, I believe you can schedule your business hours, for the most part, around naps and other convenient times of day.
Maybe I'm wrong... ask me my opinion in six months. And if I am wrong, I will definitely let Julie know. (I'm also not the CEO of a major corporation or running a Fortune 500 company the way she is, either, so we are talking different ends of the business spectrum.
Anyway, I do have a point.
In the next few weeks, I hope to revamp this blog with the subtitle: One WAHM's journey to build a business during naptime. We will see if I'm right, that it can be done on the scale I wish to do it.
I have other motivations for re-creating this blog into more than just a clearinghouse for my clips and an ocassional rambling post. I want to create content that keeps people (and Parent-preneurs in particular) coming back.
So yes, continue to expect photos of my daughter. What's better for Web traffic than photos of cute babies? Forget it, don't answer that... I intend to keep this blog purely PG-rated!
But seriously, I'm turning this site into a resource for WAHMs and others who want to make a living on their computers in a crappy economy. What will you find here? Helpful links to posts related to business, marketing and freelance writing. More posts like "90 Minutes in the Morning," with tips on how to streamline your business efforts. (P.S... I have that down to about 10 minutes now!) More of an effort to stay connected to the rest of the blogosphere and create a community feel on this site.
Of course, this blog will remain a clearinghouse for clips, links and, yes...baby photos.
So please, come back often.
The line that keeps echoing in my head is: "You can't build a business during naptimes."
To some degree, I agree, especially if she was speaking metaphorically. If you want to make money working from home, you have to be serious about it and run it as a business. It can't be something you "just do while the baby's sleeping."
However, I know that Julie meant it in quite a practical sense, and, for now, that is exactly what I'm doing. My business was "built" prior to the arrival of Ashley Lyn, of course, but as every freelancer knows, success means constantly RE-building -- especially in today's economy. Fortunately, I believe that if you have already built a reputation and a client base, and if you work hard and (most importantly) efficiently during those naptimes, I believe you can schedule your business hours, for the most part, around naps and other convenient times of day.
Maybe I'm wrong... ask me my opinion in six months. And if I am wrong, I will definitely let Julie know. (I'm also not the CEO of a major corporation or running a Fortune 500 company the way she is, either, so we are talking different ends of the business spectrum.
Anyway, I do have a point.
In the next few weeks, I hope to revamp this blog with the subtitle: One WAHM's journey to build a business during naptime. We will see if I'm right, that it can be done on the scale I wish to do it.
I have other motivations for re-creating this blog into more than just a clearinghouse for my clips and an ocassional rambling post. I want to create content that keeps people (and Parent-preneurs in particular) coming back.
So yes, continue to expect photos of my daughter. What's better for Web traffic than photos of cute babies? Forget it, don't answer that... I intend to keep this blog purely PG-rated!
But seriously, I'm turning this site into a resource for WAHMs and others who want to make a living on their computers in a crappy economy. What will you find here? Helpful links to posts related to business, marketing and freelance writing. More posts like "90 Minutes in the Morning," with tips on how to streamline your business efforts. (P.S... I have that down to about 10 minutes now!) More of an effort to stay connected to the rest of the blogosphere and create a community feel on this site.
Of course, this blog will remain a clearinghouse for clips, links and, yes...baby photos.
So please, come back often.
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