Writing, Editing & Coaching Services

Writing Services
Are you looking for an experienced freelance writer who can make your project shine?

Are you tired of working with writers who claim to be professionals but don’t have the talent, knowledge or credentials to back it up?

Do you want a writer who will not only meet deadlines and create clear, compelling copy, but will work with you as part of your creative team, brainstorming ideas, offering honest feedback and taking pride in your business?


I’m there for you.

Some of my services include...

- Feature articles (print and digital magazines)
- Newswriting
- Blogging
- Web copy
- Press releases
- eBooks
- Product descriptions

Niche markets

- home-based businesses and marketing
- social networking & technology
- health & fitness
- parenting & pregnancy
- audiovisual technology
- Christian writing (including house-of-worship technology & marketing)
- freelance writing/grammar
- paintball.

I love learning about new topics through writing. If you have a project that requires specialized knowledge, ask me! I might know about it or be interested in learning! Over the past two decades, I’ve written about everything from HVAC systems to teeth whitening – and hundreds of topics in between.

Email DawnAllcot (@) gmail dot com for rates or more information.

This blog was originally titled "Anything that Pays," a catchy phrase my husband selected to help me answer the question, "What do you write?"

It became my elevator speech, opening the doors to a variety of assignments.

As I moved from novice to experienced professional, the phrase seemed to imply desperation. But just the other day I told a friend, "I have lots of experience writing in fields where I have no experience!" And I love it.

My passion is writing and editing -- whatever the topic. My articles, web copy, press releases or marketing material entertain, make people think, move people to action.

While experience and growth leaves me in a position to be more selective about my projects, I bring passion and experience to every assignment, whatever the topic.

You can email me at DawnAllcot (@) gmail dot com for more information.

On Word Choice and Blog Titles

“Inconceivable!”
“You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.”
- The Princess Bride

Words hold power. If you don’t believe me, think about this:

Have you ever…

- been moved to tears (or action) by a speech or movie scene?

- felt embarrassed over an off-handed comment made by a friend or relative?

- been yelled at by a boss or parent?

- decided to vote for a political candidate based on speeches, debates or quotes in an article?

- read a book that changed your life?

- heard (or said), “I love you?”

Several times in the past few days I’ve taken friends and colleagues to task because the words they chose did not convey what they “meant” to say. It resulted in my misunderstanding their intentions. They brushed it off by saying, “Well, you know what I meant,” or, “Oh, I didn’t mean that!”

In one case, I did know. But that doesn’t mean everyone would – or, more importantly, that what they said (rather than what they “meant” to say) wouldn’t become embedded in their subconscious as part of their life views.

That’s where we have to be really careful about word choices. We may know what we mean, but the actual words we use have power – on others and on ourselves. An ancient Indian proverb states:

I am aware of my thoughts because my thoughts become my words.
I am aware of my words because my words become my actions.
I am aware of my actions because my actions become my deeds.
I am aware of my deeds because my deeds become my character.
I am aware of my character because my character becomes my destiny.
-excerpted from The Secret Abundance Files

Distilled to its most basic meaning: “Our thoughts and words determine our destiny.”

And, to cover all bases in this short post:

“I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.” (Mark 11:23)

Do you agree that selecting the correct word to convey your meaning – whether you are writing an article, an e-mail a speech, or even holding a casual conversation – is important?

Having said all this, I've been considering changing the name of this blog. At one point in my career, it was a useful catchphrase to describe what I do for a living, and kept me open to nearly any type of writing assignment. Now, though, it's beginning to reek of desperation.

I may consider holding a contest in the future, but for now, I just want to know:

Should I change the name of this blog or keep it "Anything That Pays?"

Please vote in the comments section. I appreciate it!

Guerrilla Networking for Writers

I frequently talk about networking on this blog. I believe it’s just as vital to success as the craft of writing (skill) and talent.

Many people view networking as something you do. Okay, language purists, networking is a verb and therefore, an action, literally speaking. But it’s not an action with a definitive start and end point, like washing the dishes. You shouldn’t put it on your to-do list and set aside time to complete it. (It’s actually a lot more fun than washing dishes, and not a chore to dread).

I’m reminded of a cartoon in which a writer is walking around his office with a coffee cup. A colleague asks him what he’s doing and he replies, “Writing.” Networking is just like that. You can – and should – do it anytime, any place. If you’re doing it well, people won’t even realize you’re doing it.

For me, networking is what I do when I’m procrastinating writing. It helps me justify – to some degree – the time I spend on Twitter and Facebook. But I understand not everyone feels that way. The good news is, you have opportunities to network all around you.

- When you read blogs and leave an insightful comment because the writer impressed you -- that's networking.

- When you go to a party, with some friends you know and some people you don't, introduce yourself and tell them what you do -- that's a first step toward networking. Ideally, you’ll build on this to create relationships with some of the people you meet.

- When you IM or call an acquaintance, not someone you speak to every day, and ask what they're up to, that's networking. (Some pros call this "pinging" people.)

- I went to a comedy club Friday night with a friend I hadn't seen in months. Not only did I introduce myself to the people at the table behind us, I'm writing about the comedian and I found out my friend wants to start a home business... you guessed it – I was networking (and drinking wine -- what could be better?)

Most importantly, networking should take place wherever you are, at any time -- ALL THE TIME, even.

I'm not saying to be shmoozy or sleazy or always looking out for your interests. In fact, networking really is just taking a GENUINE INTEREST IN OTHER PEOPLE AND THINKING OF WAYS YOU CAN HELP EACH OTHER.

Probably the only time a successful writer shouldn't be networking is when they're actually *writing*. And both are equally important to success. Do you agree?

Writing Leads that Sell

I recently started writing for the Helium marketplace. Aside from a few paintball articles tossed up on Bukisa, this represents my first foray into content sites. Although others have recommended Associated Content and other sites, I like Helium because:

- the quality of writing, in general, seems better than some of the other sites
- the topics offered appeal to me
- the "marketplace" provides opportunities to be paid upfront for work.

Contributing to the marketplace is essentially writing on spec, so I'm careful to choose only topics I can use elsewhere if they are not selected for publication, or are so quick or interesting to write it doesn't bother me.

For instance, I wrote about the "Cash for Clunkers" program. I wanted to research the program anyway, and I've been doing so much finance writing lately, I figured the topic is bound to come up in an assignment soon.

Helium provides its members with an opportunity to "rank" stories written by other members. And during this process, I was reminded of the importance of a good lead.

You see, like many other people, I didn't sit and read every single article for ranking. I read the first paragraph and skimmed the rest. In many cases, a strong lead caused me to vote for one story over another.

In SEO writing, writers often neglect a strong lead, focusing instead on getting those keywords in the first sentence or paragraph. Like titles, though, the best leads appeal to real-life readers as well as search engine spiders.

Some examples of strong leads:

Anecdote – Stories engage. Marketing gurus and professionals from Dale Carnegie to Seth Godin have shared this principle. Start your article with an engaging, personal story (yours or someone else’s) and you’ll captivate readers.

Statistics – Startling – truly surprising – statistics capture people’s attention. It’s even better if you can share a statistic and illustrate it or personalize it in some way.

The Question – Some editors dislike the “hypothetical question” device. But if you can ask a question that gives your readers little choice but to answer, “Of course! That’s exactly like me!” you’ve got them hooked from word one.

Amazing facts – Like amazing statistics, it’s sometimes difficult to differentiate amazing facts from ho-hum statements. Test your lead by sharing the fact with a spouse, friend, or colleague. Don’t tell him it’s the first sentence of an article. If he responds with an enthusiastic, “Oh, really?” you have your lead.

My 8-week writing course, for sale for $129 at www.theabundantwriter.blogspot.com, takes you step-by-step through the process of writing a good lead and incorporating it into a query that sells.

Writing Leads that Sell

I recently started writing for the Helium marketplace. Aside from a few paintball articles tossed up on Bukisa, this represents my first foray into content sites. Although others have recommended Associated Content and other sites, I like Helium because:

- the quality of writing, in general, seems better than some of the other sites
- the topics offered appeal to me
- the "marketplace" provides opportunities to be paid upfront for work.

Contributing to the marketplace is essentially writing on spec, so I'm careful to choose only topics I can use elsewhere if they are not selected for publication, or are so quick or interesting to write it doesn't bother me.

For instance, I wrote about the "Cash for Clunkers" program. I wanted to research the program anyway, and I've been doing so much finance writing lately, I figured the topic is bound to come up in an assignment soon.

Helium provides its members with an opportunity to "rank" stories written by other members. And during this process, I was reminded of the importance of a good lead.

You see, like many other people, I didn't sit and read every single article for ranking. I read the first paragraph and skimmed the rest. In many cases, a strong lead caused me to vote for one story over another.

In SEO writing, writers often neglect a strong lead, focusing instead on getting those keywords in the first sentence or paragraph. Like titles, though, the best leads appeal to real-life readers as well as search engine spiders.

Some examples of strong leads:

Anecdote – Stories engage. Marketing gurus and professionals from Dale Carnegie to Seth Godin have shared this principle. Start your article with an engaging, personal story (yours or someone else’s) and you’ll captivate readers.

Statistics – Startling – truly surprising – statistics capture people’s attention. It’s even better if you can share a statistic and illustrate it or personalize it in some way.

The Question – Some editors dislike the “hypothetical question” device. But if you can ask a question that gives your readers little choice but to answer, “Of course! That’s exactly like me!” you’ve got them hooked from word one.

Amazing facts – Like amazing statistics, it’s sometimes difficult to differentiate amazing facts from ho-hum statements. Test your lead by sharing the fact with a spouse, friend, or colleague. Don’t tell him it’s the first sentence of an article. If he responds with an enthusiastic, “Oh, really?” you have your lead.

My 8-week writing course, for sale for $129 at www.abundantwriter.com, takes you step-by-step through the process of writing a good lead and incorporating it into a query that sells.

When Stories Touch Us

Wow.

I read and copyedited a very disturbing article this morning before I even had my morning coffee. It drove home the real reason I write for a living.

I often joke that I’ll write “anything that pays,” and to some degree, that’s true. In the past few months,, I’ve written about cosmetic dentistry, digital signage, make-up and diaper bags. Not that there’s anything wrong with any of these topics but, with the possible exception of diaper bags, , none of these topics exactly touches mylife or my passion. (Makeup used to fall into that category. Ah, how life changes!)

On the other end of that spectrum, I’ve interviewed the band director at Columbine High School, cancer survivors, and people whose lives have been changed in ways big and small by the charity efforts of others.

This morning, I copyedited an article about a little girl in India named whose father burned her mother to death. Sushmita suffered third degree burns on her body, and emotional scars—as you might imagine—that last to this day.

As a new mother, the very thought of this turned my stomach. An organization called the Asian Christian Academy, however, took Sushmita into their House of Joy for children, where she has begun the healing process.

When the ACA brochure comes out, which I contributed writing to and also copyedited, I hope and pray it will move people as that story moved me, to give ACA the funding it needs to continue to do God’s work and spread His Word. I’m honored that Dr. David Fletcher invited me to be a small part of ACA and its mission. I am grateful that God chose to connect me with Dr. Fletcher so that I could use my talents in this way.

Why do I write? I write for a living.

But why do I write? I write because I want to share stories that can change small pieces of the world.

Writers: What stories have touched you lately? Please tell us here.

A Freelancer’s Four Most Profitable Words

Most of the freelance writing and editing work I receive comes through word-of-mouth and personal connections. Every few months, I’ll hit pot luck with a gig through Craig’s List or another job Web site and really hit it off with the client. But most of the time, I get to know my clients before they become my clients.

The four most profitable words in my freelance career:

“Do you hire freelancers?”


Who do I ask?

1. Since I often do marketing work as well as writing magazine articles, blogging and writing Web content, I often ask people at PR firms who pitch stories to me if they ever hire freelancers. Many do.

2. If I hit it off with an interview subject who owns their own business and has their own Web site, I ask if they are looking for anyone to write for them.

3. And of course, I sometimes make cold-calls or e-mails to interesting trade magazines asking: “Do you hire freelancers?” Trade magazines often don’t have their writers’ guidelines posted online or listed in writer’s markets and sometimes you can’t tell by studying the masthead if they ever work with freelancers.

By asking this question in a cold call, I save myself the trouble of constructing a query, or even outlining my qualifications, only to hear, “Sorry, we do all our writing in-house.”

By asking interview subjects, I am targeting specific clients based on a rapport we’ve already developed. Since my gut instincts about people are pretty spot-on, this minimizes my chances of getting one of those “problem clients” we all dread.

If a PR agent is pitching me a story, chances are they are already familiar with my work and they like what they see. I have nothing to lose by asking if they’d like to work with me in a different capacity.

Sometimes, the people I ask aren’t hiring right now, but they will keep it in the back of their minds. Other times, they didn’t know they were looking for freelance help, but when I plant the idea in their mind, they grab it! Sometimes, you achieve that serendipitous moment when, indeed, a person is seeking freelance help, and there you appear, right in front of them!

Like so much freelancing advice, this, too, boils down to the JHS (Just Hit Send) philosophy.

“Do you hire freelancers?” Just. Ask.

Finding Expert Sources to Enhance Your Articles

Many writers today find everything they need on the Internet to put together an article. But expert sources add validity to your points and professionalism to your story. If I find myself stuck on beginning an article, it’s often because I don’t know enough about the topic, or I don’t have enough information in front of me to find that perfect lead or –if it’s a longer article -- to outline the story from beginning to end.

How do professional freelance writers network with expert sources? Several ways.

Find experts.
Social networking makes it easier than ever before to find expert sources. Peter Shankman’s popular “HARO” network connects reporters to PR people who can connect you with experts or even experts themselves. Tweeting a query on Twitter will also connect you with people, or try Facebook. Perhaps a friend of a friend is an expert in the area you need.

You can find experts on message boards and forums, but people may be turned off if you just sign in announcing that you’re a writer and asking questions. Spend some time lurking on the forum, learn the rules of the land, and connect with the regulars. How long does this take? There’s no rule. You should know when you feel comfortable enough to start approaching members with questions for your article. You might do this through private messaging or, if you feel comfortable enough, start a thread asking for comments.

Finally, you can often find experts by doing a Google search on your topic and looking over the more popular blogs. Contact experts who write blogs via e-mail if you can’t find a phone number. Again, it helps to become an active member of their community, by reading and commenting on their blog, but chances are good they will want the positive publicity a reporter can offer, so they might be more than happy to speak with you even if you are a new reader.

Collect experts.
Keep a file in your computer, listing the names of different expert sources. As this file grows, you may want to break it up into several categories—public officials, technical directors, teachers, historians, or whatever categories best suit your needs.

List the person’s name, when you first spoke to them, and regarding what, their area of expertise, and any personal details that will help jog your memory so you can connect with them on a personal level. You may want to add a JPG to their file, too, because some editors request headshots of interview subjects.

Ping your sources.
As your writing experience grows, so will your file. Keep in touch with your expert sources on a regular basis, asking them what’s new in their industry. Soon, you’ll be the first one to hear about ground breaking news. “Pings” don’t take long. Simple notes on Twitter, Facebook or an e-mail once a month works. Some people prefer phone calls. Make a note in their file of each expert’s preferred contact method so you don’t intrude. You can also include special notes about the best times to reach them, like “always reachable by cell,” or “works from home Mondays and Wednesdays.”

Of course, these are just the basics. If you trust in synchronicity and the law of attraction, experts will come your way when you need them. These tips help that process along. If you would like to learn more about how I've been using the Law of Attraction to help in my writing career, please check out The Secret Abundance Files.

Writers: What’s the oddest way you ever found an expert source for an article?

Life Coaching: Scam or Road to Success?

Thanks to the generosity of fellow freelance writer Julie Fletcher, I received a free coaching session from Stacey Mayo. Since I wrote about coaching for DASH magazine several years ago, I had always wanted to have a session. But I wasn't sure what to expect.

Speaking with Stacey for 40 minutes was like having a brainstorming session with a non-judgemental, understanding, creative and highly intelligent friends. She was completely transparent, and I felt like she had no other motives other than the desire to help me succeed.

Why did I feel like I needed a life coach? Honestly, I don't. I have a wonderful husband, a beautiful daughter, the opportunity to work from home while raising my daughter, and I'm doing a job I love. I am earning an honest living in one of the most expensive regions of the country. But I wanted to take my business to the next level, while still managing the new demands of parenthood.

One of the first things Stacey mentioned (ah, here it is AGAIN) was the wisdom of bringing in someone to help me with the baby, even just a mother's helper for a few hours a day. It is increasingly difficult to run a business during naptime, and I try to resist the urge to plop Ashley in front of Baby Einstein DVDs. While breastfeeding, though, it doesn't make sense. I might wind up paying someone to take care of Ashley, but if it's her mealtime, I'll still be sitting there feeding her. (Please don't ask me about pumping.) Nonetheless, I have the luxury to choose.

Summer will be easier, with TJ working less hours. So after Ashley is weaned in the fall, I will bring in a mother's helper. Issue one, crossed off my concern list.

I spoke with Stacey about earning "passive income," through affiliate programs and the like. As I described my plan to earn passive income, she showed me the truth. "Now, none of that is very passive at all, is it?" I laughed at the truth of her statement.

We considered the possibility of my selling articles PLR (Private Label Rights). Again, not very passive to get it launched.

Then Stacey asked me about my various writing niches, and I rattled off my lengthy list. "Wow," she said.

"Well, I believe in diversification."

"But what's your passion?" she asked.

I thought for a second. "The writing." I explained where the title for this blog came from, and how my passion is in the craft and art of the writing, regardless of the topic.

That's when she reminded me of an idea I'd had about a year ago: to launch a course for beginning writers, to share my passion with them and hopefully help them to achieve a full-time income.

In between my various assignments for this month from multiple magazines and Web sites, I'm putting together the marketing material for my e-course, which I hope to launch come May.

Meanwhile, I'm still looking for other ways to achieve multiple streams of income on the Web. I found a site where I can get paid (about a dollar a minute!) for taking surveys. Check it out here: http://tryvindale.com/VJHjyXNP2

I'll also continue to add affiliate buttons if I feel they fit this blog and would help serve my readers. But I won't lose site of my passion: writing "anything that pays."

Thank you, Stacey for a wonderful coaching session. (Psstt... If you would like to learn more about Stacey's coaching, click here.)

When Are You Inspired to Write?

The surest way to kick my muse into action is to take away my opportunities to write. My daughter is asleep, but my iPod Touch has a dead battery. And I’m certain that if I boot up the laptop, she WILL wake up. So I’m in bed, jotting down blog posts on an old filing folder because I can’t even find a notebook… and my pen is about to run out of ink.

I’ve already written three full posts and every sentence I write seems to spark an idea for another article.

My only problem? It’s been so long since I’ve written anything by hand, I’m afraid my penmanship will be illegible in the morning. (If you’re reading this, obviously, I was able to decipher my own personal brand of shorthand that I’ve developed over my 20 years as a writer.)

While I decode the rest of my articles, here’s a poem I wrote a long time ago on this very topic and it was originally published in Calliope’s Notes, a literary journal. If I can find the link, I will re-post it here.

Miss-Inopportunity

I have a stubborn muse
She likes to write at midnight
Family gatherings, funerals
And parties find her
Penning poems
For posterity.

We sit at my desk, finger
Poised over the keyboard
And she demands coffee,
Long-distance phone calls
To long-forgotten friends.
She wants to pet the cat.

She’ll offer up feature stories
On Highway 95
No rest stop in sight.
Leaving me muttering to myself,
In hopes of remembering
A segment, one catchy line.

On deadline days
I can whip her into submission
Greedy harlot loves checks
Even more than she enjoys
Taunting me with captivating leads
In the middle of the workday.

The house is quiet,
I’ve no plans,
And she’s run off.
She finds me when dinner’s burning,
And wants to finish this chapter.
Complete masterpieces emerge at 3 AM.

But if I tear myself from
The warm blankets,
Grabbing a pen and notebook
To capture a carefully constructed,
Chronologically-sound dream
She wants to pet the cat.

2009: The Year When Procrastination Can Wait

I didn't make any New Year's Resolutions, but I did post a few goals here. I also changed my mindset going into 2009. This is the year I am going to stop procrastinating.

Part of this philosophy began when I first had Ashley. With a baby, you never know when you'll have a chance to do something, so you better do it when you have the chance. I don't know whether the saying originated with Robert Heinlein or the Marines, but I follow the credo of: "Eat when you can, sleep when you can. Never stand when you can sit and never sit when you can lie down."

This urgency to accomplish "life" tasks has translated into everything. No longer do I let projects, from small to large, sit. If I have an opportunity to do something, I do it right that minute. Of course, I still follow my to-do lists for business-related tasks.

Here's a small example. I have a bad habit of making purchases and then leaving the bag in my car overnight, or for weeks. I'm not hiding purchases from my spouse ala "Shop-aholic." I'm just too lazy to carry them inside, because that would mean finding a place for them. (Yes, that's a whole different issue of buying things when I don't have room for anything else in my house or in my life!)

Now, if I see something that needs doing, I just do it. This means no more dirty coffee mugs on my desk. If I see a smudge on the bathroom mirror, I wipe it off immediately. I don't wait until I have time to clean the entire bathroom. Nothing has to be perfect. It just has to be *done.*

After only a week of living this philosophy, my house is a bit more organized and I feel like I'm accomplishing more.

The same philosophy works in business. I don't wait for one-hour chunks of time to complete a task any more. 15 free minutes? I will knock out a blog post. An extra half-hour? I'll try to transcribe a 15-minute interview.

I just purchased an eBook and educational program titled "How to Write an Article in 7 Minutes" and hope this will boost my productivity even more. I will return with a complete review after I use the program and, if I find it effective, I'll add an affiliate link to this blog.

In the book, Jason Fladlien talks about "article-writing frenzies," where you take a grain of an idea from one article and create an offshoot article (or 10.) You can sit down and write these continuously, in a frenzy. If you don't have time for a frenzy, though, you can always jot down the ideas and write another article when you have another seven minutes. Keep in mind, I haven't read the book yet, so I'm paraphrasing based on my understanding from the promotional materials.

I'm going to try that right now, however, as this post has sparked an idea for a post about the concept of writing ANYTHING in seven minutes. (Teaser: I used to think it was impossible!)

Stay tuned... and while you're waiting, why not use a few free minutes to tell me:

What tools and techniques do you use to combat that ugly, lazy monster called procrastination?

"Ask Me How"... Advice for Freelance Writers

Confession: I made a New Year's "Goal" to blog at least 2 times a week here. But I often find myself staring at this tiny box and wondering what on Earth to write.

With nearly 15 years experience as a writer and editor, I've launched magazines, written press releases, reported for a local newspaper, pitched countless article ideas and written thousands... but I find myself stumped when I stare at this little blog space and wonder what I could possibly have to share with the world.

So, I'd like to give you, my readers, the opportunity to ask me anything you want. Ask me how I made more than $40,000 as a freelance writer this year, putting in less than 30 hours a week (for the most part). Ask me how to impress editors. Ask me how to build a social network of people who need writers. Ask me the best places to find freelance writing jobs. Ask me why I won't work for less than $30 an hour, but why it's okay to blog for $5 a post sometimes.

In short, ask me anything else you'd like about the freelance writing life.

Some facts:

1. Although I call myself a full-time freelance writer, as it is my only source of income, I don't work full-time hours. There's no need. I never made $40,000 at any of my "day jobs," even as the Editor-in-Chief of 'top in their industry' publications. But I did it this year solely through freelance writing.

Can I do that--and better--while taking care of an infant in 2009? We'll see.

2. I rarely send queries--although that will change in 2009 as I attempt to achieve the goal of being published in a non-niche, mainstream glossy newsstand publication.

3. I love my job. More than anything I've ever done in my life.

4. I have the freedom to travel, to stay home and take care of my daughter, to set my own hours.

5. The one thing I've learned is that success is all about relationships. People hire people they like to work with... whether they're working long distance or side-by-side in an office.

I sometimes get e-mails or private messages through Absolute Write asking me how to make a living as a freelance writer. Unfortunately, many of the people who e-mail don't want to work at it. They don't want to hear it's hard work. They want the magic solution. I won't lie... freelancing *is* hard work and it takes time to build up contacts and connections (I'm assuming would-be writers have some level of talent).

But I will do my best to answer any questions posted here... it's up to those asking the questions as to what they do with the information.

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.*

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?

Inspiration, E-Marketing and Powerful Women

It has been such an inspirational day! I love when interviews with great people leave me feeling refreshed, renewed, and just a little bit smarter.

I just had the opportunity to interview Casey Conrad from Communications Consultants, Inc. and Take It Off. The article won't come out until January, so I don't want to reveal where it will appear until I ask the editor for permission to do so.

Casey just sold out print copies of her latest book, Selling Personal Training but the eBook is still available (of course). This is appropriate as Casey's most recent focus is e-marketing for health club owners and operators.

It was very hard for me to stay on track during our interview and ask only the questions that needed to be answered for a 700-word article. I could have spoken to her forever about the various tenets of e-marketing, and she even introduced me to a site I had heard of, but hadn't thought about very much. (Squidoo.com -- check it out.)

The health club industry is a bit behind other fields (say, the work-at-home industry, which is very on top of the trend) when it comes to e-marketing and social networking, but it was interesting to hear how something as global as the Web can be used for successful local marketing.

Yes, I'm being intentionally vague. I need to transcribe our hour-long conversation and then decide what doesn't make the cut for the article. Stay tuned for some e-marketing tips that can be applied to help you target leads and close sales, whether your customer base is your community or the world.

Hmm... I had wanted to discuss a few other powerful (I won't use that other word!) women I know, as well... but this is probably long enough for one night. You ladies know who you are and why I love you... but here are the links so readers can get a hint of what I experience every day by having each one of you in my life. ;)

www.onewomansheart.wordpress.com
www.rebeccalaffarsmith.com
http://juliefletcher.blogspot.com/2008/07/when-i-was-first-asked-if-i-wanted-to.html

Writing and Researching for Life

I write in so many diverse industries, most articles give me a chance to learn something new--but not anything I can apply to my life.

It's great when I get to write about topics that I would research even if I wasn't being paid to do so! That's why I feel truly blessed to have landed a spot as a blogger over at Babies Online. I will be writing a pregnancy diary, filled with tips and advice for expecting moms.

I've also been a guest blogger at Family Resource, thanks to the lovely and talented Julie Fletcher.

In addition to all this research about pregnancy, I also did a bit of research for after the baby is born. You'll see my article, "Baby On Board: How to run an at-home business with an infant in tow" in the latest issue of TheWAHMmagazine, coming out March 5.

Between new blogging gigs, trade magazine assignments, and ongoing work for RECON, I've sorely neglected this blog.

I'm going to get on a twice a week schedule of some sort for March. It is one of my JHS goals!

Writer's Evolution

Writing is evolution. Individual works evolve as a story grows from a germ of an idea to an outline, then a first draft, second draft, etc. etc., to final copy. (And then, if it is accepted for publication, continues to evolve until it is in its truly final stage on the newsstand or bookstore shelf.)

Evolution also takes place within a writer's larger body of work—in everything that a writer has created throughout his or her career.

A friend of mine noted that writer’s block is, itself, a form of evolution. (Or, again, revolution). It is our mind pushing us to that next level of writing… to push us beyond the cliché, the usual phrasing, the voice that flows so naturally from our fingertips, to create something truly wonderful and unique.

We all fall into ruts as writers. We grow to love certain words, phrases, rhythms. We adopt them. They become part of our repertoire. Then they become second nature. Writer’s block is, quite often, our minds telling us that we can do better than the instinctive writing that tends to pour out during first drafts.

When Rachel, over at That Which Deranges the Senses, and I were discussing the evolutionary stages of writers, we decided that you can gauge the stages of evolution by noting when you started creating work that doesn’t make you cringe when you re-read it. (This is also, probably, a good way to determine a final draft—when nothing makes you cringe! Although, we may want to aim higher than that. Say, no cringing, along with a few “oohs” and “ahhs.”)

The other day, putting together clips to post, I pulled out two old magazines, from 2000 and 2001. I re-read two of my favorite stories—stories I had re-read over and over when they came out, marveling at my journalism skills, my wit, the flow, the layout. (Yeah, really. Every so often, you hit a winner like that).

Blah and Bah Humbug! My work was stilted. It needed tightening. It sounded forced. I could barely stand to read anything in the magazine except my editorial, which was written in my journal-ing voice. That particular style (what you’ll see on my blogs and in forums) hasn’t changed much.

I have noticed a more recent evolution, too. After teaching an online writing course for paintball writers, re-iterating the principles of good writing to my students-- I became more conscientious of these principles in my own work. Work I wrote just last week bothers me in some way or another.

I’d like to hear others’ ideas on their evolution as writers. Have you ever noticed yourself going through stages? (“Ah, that was my ‘make sure I include all five senses in every scene’ stage or, “Oh, my ‘use everyone’s height in their description’ stage.”)

How new does a piece of work have to be that it doesn’t make you cringe when you re-read it? Do you notice evolutions you’ve already gone through in other, less experienced writers? Has an evolution ever snuck up on you, like it did to me just recently? Is my friend’s theory on writer’s block true? Have you noticed a significant difference in the quality of your work after you’ve successfully battled a bout of Writer’s Block?

Following Your Passion

What I like best about being a writer and publicist is the opportunities to talk to people about their passions.

Last week, I spoke with two men who are extremely passionate about what they do: Jayson Nielson of the SPPL and Toby Dagenhart of iPrayerworks.

Jayson, my business partner for RECON Magazine, took over the SPPL scenario paintball tournament league last year and has implemented a ton of changes for the 2008 season. The introduction of Divisional Play at three levels, a ranking system, and player ID cards will make the SPPL -- the premier woodsball tournament league in the sport -- more like the major paintball leagues, the PSP and NPPL.

For those unfamiliar with the sport, this will help turn woodsball players (long the invisible majority as far as marketing and sponsorships) into rock stars.

Nielson's enthusiasm is infectious. When he told me about the refinements to the league, I said, "This is the best thing to happen to scenario players since SpecOps!"

While I was still reeling in anticipation of covering the 2008 SPPL season in RECON, Paintball Sports, Paintball News and a host of other media outlets, I had a conversation with Toby Dagenhart, who designed Web-based prayer room management software.

The coolest thing about the program is not that it lets people pray for congregation members from their homes, anytime (although that IS cool.)

The software also manages the records of homebound and hospitalized members of the church. People can log in, track a congregatoin member's condition, see who visited last, and when. After a visit, a church volunteer can log in straight from their Blackberry, iPhone or any web-enabled device and post an update.

While the data is computerized, the ministry is 100 percent human. As Toby said to me: "It's less administration and a whole lot more ministry."

I could hear in Toby's voice how much it means to him to be able to offer the software.

That's what happiness is about: finding a way to make a living using your talents and following your passions.

Me?

I'm passionate about freelance writing. As much as I know about the field, I realize there's a lot more I have to learn, and many people out there who know more than I do.

I recently updated this blog to include more links to sites of interest to freelance writers. If, like me, you enjoy learning about the craft and business, or you're just looking for a few good markets, check back often.

From Idea to Article to Action

I had a meeting today with Todd Morena of Ultimate Fitness & Sports Performance, in the Northport Wellness Center. Todd, along with Frank Brady, created a muscular robotics machine designed to increase athletes’ range of motion and flexibility. I wrote about the machine in the November 2007 issue of Club Business International.

But I first spoke with Todd in 2006 when I talked to him about the predecessor to this technology for a feature story in DASH Magazine. When I walked into his Fitness Center today, I saw the magazine article, mounted and framed, hanging right on the wall beneath an article in Vogue.

It’s a shame I wrote the article under a pseudonym because it would have been cool to see my name hanging there. Regardless.

I received a treatment from the muscular robotics machine. Very cool. Todd demonstrated how it increased the range of motion in my shoulders. When cycling season begins again, I want to get the treatment on my legs. I can see how it could really improve my performance.

We also discussed future business possibilities. But being surrounded by all this fitness and wellness reminded me how badly out of shape I am. I’ve had free passes to Crunch fitness sitting on my desk for a month. It’s too cold (in my opinion) to bicycle, although I still see a lot of cyclists out, and the high school track team runs right through our neighborhood every morning.

Fortunately, TJ set up the weight bench in the foyer/weight room today for the first time in over a year; the weight bench has been crammed in the spare room with boxes still left unpacked since we moved, books, and who knows what else… Feng wha--?

Okay, one life goal at a time. Today, fitness. Tomorrow, clutter. Right now? Writing.

I love when my writing inspires me into action--whether it's trying something new or putting into practice something I know I should be doing, like straightening out my home office or implement a work-out regime.

What about you? What positive changes have article assignments or ideas sparked you to make?