If you’re considering hiring me as a writer or editor, we’ll have to discover a few things about each other. You’ll likely interview me. And you might send me some samples of your writing and your ideas. I’ve been through this so many times that I no longer worry about the impression I’m making. I…
Book publishing nearly always requires a team of people: editors, copy editors, designers, publishers, publicists, researchers, and so on. But when I’m hired as a developmental editor, a coach, or a ghostwriter, I have only only one rule: I work for the author. Life is just simpler if you serve only one master. What does…
In the nine years I’ve been freelancing, I’ve chosen not to work with a number of potential clients. There were also a few I probably shouldn’t have worked with. I thought you might benefit from seeing why I say no to business. To be clear, these are a small percentage of the opportunities I see….
I’m disciplined and strategic about meetings. Reflecting on that, I’ve realized just how much it improves the quality of my client relationships and the work I do. For context, I’m a freelance writer and editor. But these principles may be helpful to you as a creative worker, regardless of what you create. Your meeting strategy…
When I make a referral, I don’t usually have to think about it very much. I know who does a good job and whom I can depend on. If you need a hybrid publisher, I’m going to send you to Amplify. They’re not the only good choice. I’ve worked with Wonderwell, Ideapress, and PageTwo and…
My friend Merlina McGovern — the smartest copy editor I’ve ever worked with — got laid off from my old company last month. After 16 years working for Forrester, she’s starting a business as a freelancer. She had questions, so we talked. Since any freelancer starting a business might have similar questions, let’s walk through…
After eight years as a freelance writer and editor, I’ve figured out what works and doesn’t work for my business — and for clients. This post includes everything I’ve learned about pricing and billing. One principle drives everything you are about to read: all freelance arrangements should create value for the client and be rewarding…
I price jobs by the project, not by the hour. That allows me to maximize value and enjoyment both for myself and for the client. And I include some unusual factors in my pricing strategy to maximize my happiness. Why price by the project? If you’re a freelancer, charging by the hour has significant problems:…
When I was an analyst I would appear on TV news programs from time to time. The production staff would sometimes refer to “the talent” (for example, “Have you miked the talent yet?”). It took a moment for me to understand that I was “the talent.” The thing about the talent is that if you…