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During the month of October, subscribers to Writers on Call, weekly teleclasses for freelance writers, will learn how to create a professional press kit and make some aspect of their business “press worthy.”

Subscribe TODAY and take your freelance writing career to the next level!

If you’re just starting to develop a network, read this article and learn more about networking and how it can help you develop a freelance writing career.

Networking: How, When, and Why It Can Help You Develop Your Freelance Writing Career
by Suzanne Lieurance
the Working Writer’s Coach

In business it’s not what you know, but who you know that counts. And if you’re just starting a freelance writing business, you need to take stock of just who you know that might be able to help you develop your new career. In other words, you need to start networking.

HOW networking works is simple. You already have a network. It’s made up of every person you know, including friends and family. When someone becomes a part of your network, you become a part of their network, too.

Every person you meet becomes a potential business “contact.” The more people you know–and who know you–the more opportunities you create for business. You develop a web of people and businesses that can either use, or be used by your business.

WHEN to network is easy, too. Networking can be done any time, any place. But some places and times are more effective than others (see the following steps). You’ll begin to recognize the best networking opportunities as you become more comfortable with the process.

WHY networking builds your business is not hard to understand either. Networking helps ensure a steady stream of clients for your business because it helps people realize you’re out there to help them. For example, if you’re a member of your local Lions Club and everyone knows what a good job you do writing press releases, the next time one of the members needs a press release for his business, he won’t look in the Yellow Pages for a writer. He’ll call you!

To make the most of networking opportunities follow these steps:

1) Attend the right functions - Wherever you go and whoever you meet, you’re networking, whether you know it or not. But for the most effective professional networking opportunities, go where you’ll meet other business people who want your help and want to help you. When everyone has a common goal in mind (in this case, to gain more business contacts and referrals), it just makes sense they’d be more effective in reaching that goal. Don’t over extend yourself, though. Attend just one or two of the following to get started:

* Chamber of Commerce meetings
* Community organizations
* Rotary/Kiwanis/Lions Clubs
* Business associations

2) Be Prepared - People meeting you for the first time tend to judge the quality of your company by your appearance and your actions. Dress appropriately for the occasion, and be ready to promote your business. Have plenty of business cards with you. Scribbling your name, address and telephone number on a dinner napkin doesn’t put you or your business in a favorable light. It’s also a good idea to really know what kind of client you’re looking for. If you can convey this need in a clear and concise way, people are more likely to provide you with appropriate referrals. Before you attend any networking session, develop a clear description of your ideal client - the person who is most likely to want, use, and afford your writing services.

3) Don’t Overwhelm People - You know a lot about your business, and you may be eager to tell everyone all about it. Don’t. Not at first. Also, don’t try to sell anyone your writing services the first time you meet them. You’re not after the quick sale here. You want to build relationships that will result in long term business and eventual referrals from happy clients. Over-whelming new acquaintances with all the details of your business and trying to get them to hire you for a project is the fastest way to get them to back off - for good!

4) Have the proper attitude - Sure, networking is about helping yourself, but you want people to feel you have a great desire to help them, too. After all, networking isn’t a one way street. If you don’t provide as well as receive you aren’t really networking. As you meet people ask them about themselves and learn to really “listen” to what they tell you.

5) Attend functions more than once - When you attend functions regularly you really get to know people. You’re trying to build relationships and a reputation, not just acquire a huge list of acquaintances. People can’t possibly know if you’re a person of integrity after just one meeting. It’s only with time that people know and trust you enough to feel comfortable giving you referrals and accepting your recommendations as being good ones.

6) Create your own networking group - If you can’t find any professional networking groups in your area, start one of your own. Contact the business editor of your local paper and talk him into a short article about small businesses in general, then explain the need for a referral network for these companies. Tell him you’ve been thinking about starting a network geared to small businesses, so if anyone is interested they can contact you.

If you follow these steps to effective networking, it won’t be long until you’ve developed a successful freelance writing business based on who you know.

Writing for any of the major magazines is a great way to substantially increase your writing income.

In fact, many writers who focus ONLY on writing for magazines earn more than $60,000 a year doing so.

But writing for magazines isn’t for everyone.

It isn’t easy or quick to break into the major markets.

Yet it can be challenging and fun once you do finally land an assignment with a major magazine.

In fact, you’ll probably be “hooked” on writing for magazines with your first published article (and big check)!

If you’d like to find out if writing for magazines might be right for you, subscribe to Writers on Call - weekly teleclasses for freelance writers.

You’ll immediately receive links to mp3 files for 3 recorded teleclasses that took place earlier this month about writing for major magazines, and an invitation to our final teleclass about magazine writing tomorrow evening. That’s almost 4 hours of instruction about magazine writing for only $47.00!

Subscribe to Writers on Call right now and learn how to substantially increase your income by breaking in to the major magazine markets.

You’ll MORE than recoup your $47.00 with just a single sale to a major magazine - so what are you waiting for?

Whenever you’re having trouble reaching one of your goals, start writing.

Simply sit down and start writing about the problem in a spiral notebook or on some loose pages of notebook paper (but be sure to have plenty of paper available).

What’s the big obstacle at the moment that is keeping you from your goal?

Explain it, in great detail, on paper.

Just keep writing and writing about this problem for at least 15 minutes.

Whine and complain on paper all you want, but just keep writing about your problem.

After about 15 minutes, you’ll begin to notice your writing has changed.

You’re no longer just whining and complaining about the problem. You’re starting to uncover some possible solutions that have been hiding in your subconscious all along.

Once these possible solutions start to come forth in your writing, you’ll feel as if some higher power is doing the writing - not you.

It’s an awesome experience that few people ever experience because they simply won’t sit down and write without stopping for at least 15 minutes, so they never connect with their subconscious.

But it’s well worth the effort.

This is what I do whenever I’m having trouble reaching a goal.

And I always uncover something valuable from my subconscious.

Try it!

**********************

Today’s post is a sample of what you receive every weekday morning when you subscribe to The Morning Nudge.

To subscribe to the Nudge, simply fill in the information in the boxes at the top right of this page. In addition to the Morning Nudge, you’ll also receive a f.ree e-book for writers.

Do you dream of writing a book and getting it published?

Does your dream include your book on a best-seller list?

Seems like a big goal, doesn’t it?

How on earth do you start to plug away at such a goal?

My friend, Diane Eble, is an expert in helping people write and publsh books. She has nearly 30 years of publishing experience as an author of 11 traditionally published books and hundreds of articles. She’s also been an editor of fiction, nonfiction and magazines, and a copywriter!

Diane wants to help you not only start your book, but start it right. She wants to make sure your book will actually sell.

You see, most authors go about writing a book in exactly the wrong way, according to Diane.

They get an idea for a book, then they start writing.

That’s exactly the WRONG way to start!

At least, it is if you don’t want to waste gobs of time and money.

Diane is going to do a special teleseminar TONIGHT about one of the key factors of writing a book that sells — coming up with a winning title.

During this teleseminar, she will answer questions about choosing a best-selling title, and give a preview of her upcoming 5-module course on the topic.

And, guess what?

I’ll be Diane’s guest tonight and tell everyone about the experiences my coauthor, Jerry W. Willis and I have had writing our new book, The Life of Your Dreams - Building Your Life and Career Around the Things You Love Most.

So, plan to join us on this free teleseminar tonight at 7:00 (CST).

Here’s where you can go to sign up and ask your question. (If you don’t have a question, that’s okay–type “none” and sign up anyway so you can get access to the teleseminar!)

The teleseminar will be offered as both a phone interview you can listen to, and a webcast you can access at no charge from your compputer. From your computer, you can also ask questions during the call.

Click on the link below to read Diane’s article, then scroll down to the bottom of the page to sign up for tonight’s teleseminar:

When to Choose Your Book Title.

Talk to you tonight!

Suzanne Lieurance

The Working Writer’s Coach

Napoleon Hill says, “There is a difference between wishing for a thing and being ready to receive it.”

How do you know when you’ve moved beyond the “wishing” phase and are ready to receive the object of your dreams?

For me, whenever I can actually “see” myself doing or having something I have dreamed about, I know I’m now ready to receive it.

I can’t tell you what causes me to make this leap from wishing to being ready to receive. I just know when it happens.

Here’s an example.

For years I was a classroom teacher, and I enjoyed many aspects of the job.

Yet, I always longed to work from the comfort of my own home, and I knew that no matter what job I held, if it was a job that required me to work outside of my home, day in and day out, it wasn’t ever going to be the career of my dreams.

One day, I woke up and suddenly SAW myself working at home. My workspace was in a corner of the bedroom at the time, but suddenly I envisioned a real home office in another room, and I SAW myself working in there while I watched teachers trudge off to work every morning at the school behind my house.

A few months later, when school started back in the fall, I was working in my office overlooking the school.

As I watched teachers arrive for work every morning, I realized I had been ready to “receive” my new life as a fulltime freelance writer, working from home.

This happens to me with every major change in my life. I SEE it happening first - sometimes the picture in my mind is rather dim, but after a few days it becomes clearer and clearer.

When the picture is entirely in focus, I automatically make the change. I don’t think about it much. I just do whatever I need to do to make the vision in my mind become reality.

Today, as a writing coach, I meet many people who say they wish to develop a career as a freelance writer.

And they’d LOVE to have me coach them, but they just don’t have the money for that right now.

And they really think that MONEY (or lack thereof) is the issue, the determining factor as to whether they will pursue the life of their dreams - or not.

But I know what’s really going on.

They just aren’t ready to receive because they can’t “see” themselves as successful writers, earning a living doing what they love to do most - write.

When they’re ready to receive, they’ll be back - because “I” can already SEE them as successful.

I just have to wait patiently for THEM to be able to see it.

In the meantime, I enjoy working with those clients who are ready to receive.

Here’s something to try - just for fun!

Food writing isn’t as easy as it looks. Can you make someone’s mouth water just by writing about food?

Read my new list of Best Comfort Foods and see if you can add something to the list.

Food writing just might be in your future.

Try it.

I constantly meet writers and wanna-be writers who are stressed and anxious. They never have enough time for their writing. They are unhappy with their lives and their life’s work. Plus, they can’t wait to be published, or they feel they’ll never make a living from their writing if they don’t accept any and every little job that comes their way.

I feel bad for them because I can honestly say that I wake up excited and happy every day.

When the weather is as glorious as it has been here for the past few days, I start the morning outside in the backyard, enjoying a cup of coffee on the deck as I write in my daily journal, my two dogs lazying at my feet.

I used to be like those other writers, always accepting any and every little writing job, packing every day with so many activities that there was no way I could possibly keep up with them all.

But now, here’s what I do:

I treat my life like a closet.

If I keep it jam packed with things - most of which I probably don’t even need anymore - then there is little, if no, room for new stuff.

Plus, I waste time just trying to locate something that I have jammed into the back or top of the closet in order cram even MORE stuff in there.

But, if I keep my closet cleaned out, I can see everything I have at a glance and easily remove it from the closet when I need it.

I also have room to put new and more exciting things into the closet.

It’s fun to wake up each morning and anticipate something delightful to add to my closet; some new writing project, a new coaching client, or an opportunity to speak at a writer’s conference.

That anticipation helps me continually weed through my closet, picking and choosing what to keep and what to let go of, so there is always plenty of room in the closet.

Try it yourself and see what happens.

Happy writing!

Suzanne

The Working Writer’s Coach

If you took our recent book title survey, thank you so much for your help.

The results of that survey are in, and here’s the winning title, along with a blurb about the book:

The Life of Your Dreams - Building Your Life and Career Around the Things You Love Most! by Jerry W. Willis and Suzanne Lieurance

Are you unhappy or dissatisfied because your life and career have little or no connection to the things you love most? Did you merely stumble into your current relationships, job and even your neighborhood?

Using real-life examples and humorous and entertaining insights, Willis and Lieurance show you step by step how to build the life of your dreams based on simple principles that few people understand much less ever practice!

By reading this book you will:

· Discover YOUR Purpose in Life
· Learn principles to guide everything you do
· Uncover your unique gifts and talents
· Find or create the work you were born to do
· Recognize the person you were born to be
· Be happier than you’ve ever been before - and that’s a promise!

What do you think? Please leave a comment or suggestion.

Thanks so much.

Suzanne Lieurance

The Working Writer’s Coach

Helping YOU become a “working” freelance writer

We can’t all be Ernest Hemingway or William Shakespeare.

But we CAN all become better writers.

How?

Well, the best way would be to sign up for a basic writing course or hire a tutor for some one-on-one instruction.

But the next best way would be to grab a copy of The Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr. & E.B. White and read it cover to cover to become AWARE of the types of mistakes you tend to make when you write.

For example, many people misuse the word “I” when they really mean “me.”

Others tend to spell “loose” when they really mean “lose.”

After you’ve read this little book, keep it handy as you’re writing.

When you aren’t sure if you mean “lose” or “loose,” or if you should use the word “I” instead of “me” or “myself” in a certain case, use the book to help you apply the information contained in the book to your actual writing.

Good writing is often a case of becoming aware of our mistakes and then correcting them.

But you have to realize something is incorrect before you can correct it.

This book will help you learn to recognize those basic writing mistakes you tend to make over and over again so you can STOP making them.