Anderson - You write, they pay : how to build a thriving writing business from nothing!

You Write, They Pay

How to Build a Thriving Writing Business from NOTHING!

Written By: Susan Anderson

www.workingwriterhappywriter.com

Published by Archangel Ink

Copyright 2007, 2009, 2015 by Susan Anderson

This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If youre reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Amazon.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Disclaimer

Although the author and publisher have made every effort to ensure that the information in this book was correct at press time, the author and publisher do not assume and hereby disclaim any liability to any party for any loss, damage, or disruption caused by errors or omissions, whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other cause.

The freelance writing business is not for everyone. Income results are based on a variety of factors; therefore, we have no way of knowing how well you will do. Your background, your work habits, business skills, and further personal skills will determine how well you do in any business you undertake. Therefore, we do not guarantee that you will get rich, do well, or make any money at all. In reading this book and putting the contents to use, you accept full responsibility for your own results.

For the joy of the journey and the pleasurable accompaniment of other creators.

To God be the glorygreat things He has done.

Foreword

The curse of knowledge.

Thats the in-vogue term used to describe an experts inability to think about a problem from the perspective of a novice.

I was that novice back in 2003, the year I decided to launch my part-time freelance writing business.

As I researched ideas and options, it was clear that much of the advice I came across was geared toward established freelancers. And when I did come across material for beginners, the content often felt outdated, incomplete, or irrelevant for my situation.

It was frustrating, to say the least!

Even today, its challenging to find practical advice on how to get started as a freelance writeradvice thats grounded in reality, is based on the current outsourcing landscape, and is focused on the best available success paths.

Thats what I love about You Write, They Pay . In this book, Susan Anderson details whats actually working today in the world of freelance writing. Its based on reality, not some theoretical or outdated scenario. And her advice is clear, sound, and simple, which makes it easier to consume and implement.

I also respect the fact that Susan has been there, done that. She endured enough struggle as a budding freelancer to remember what it was like to start from scratchthe mistakes, self-doubt, confusion, and fear. The fact that she still works closely with new writers keeps her grounded and in touch with her readers.

And as youll soon discover, Susan is a great teacher. Shes done a masterful job of taking a big, complex topic and distilling it into actionable steps anyone can follow. And shes done it with a friendly and encouraging tone (and a good dose of humor!).

Study this material. But above all, apply it diligently. It will work if you work it.

Ed Gandia

Co-author, The Wealthy Freelancer

Host, High-Income Business Writing podcast

www.b2blauncher.com

Table of Contents

Is This You?

The final straw was being told what time I could take a bathroom break.

Id just taken a temp job at a nonprofit organization, and my supervisor was laying out the rules.

That was it.

With a college degree, half a Masters, and a long history of being a stellar employeebut always wishing I could find a career that really fitbeing told I could only go when I had permission gave me the courage I needed to make a change.

Maybe youre in the same place.

You might be working at a job thats okay, but really not what you ever dreamed about. Maybe its not even okay, and youd leave in a heartbeat if you could find another way to make money. Maybe you have children at home and want to find something you can do that doesnt completely disrupt your family lifeyou want to work just a little when theyre at school or napping. Maybe youre dying to go travel the world and want a business you can do from anywhere. Maybe youre retired and want to try your hand at something new or make some extra moneyand the idea of being a greeter at Walmart doesnt do it for you.

If any of these scenarios sound familiar, then this book is for you!

Theres a whole world of writing out there that you may have never considered. Its easy to get jobs that pay well. Its never boring. You can be picky about what youll write about and whom youll write for. And you can do it anywhere youve got a computer. In fact, Ive worked from all over the United States, in Guatemala, and even in Fiji!

If you want to start a writing business of your own, you could definitely go the route of hiring a coach. Thats what I didto the tune of $5,000 back in 2005. Best money I ever spentso much so that Ive hired several coaches since. A good coachs input and guidance flattens the learning curve and nudges you forward toward your dreams.

But if youre not in a position to lay out that kind of cash, this book may be a pretty good substitute to get you started.

First, a confession: I cant teach you how to write.

I can teach you how to write many of the projects that businesses will hire you to write. I can teach you how to build a business. I can even teach you how to build an agency of writers to ramp up your earning capacity.

I can teach those skills because I remember learning them. Not so with writing. Its always come naturally to me. So, I cant teach you thatyouve got to have some talent coming into this.

But the rest? Game on!

There are so many topics we could cover here, but my goal in this book is to help you see whats possible and how to earn your first dollars as a freelance business writer. Well take it from there in other books and in my Bootcamp course. (OK, I felt your impatience thereIll give you details on that at the end of the book. Now youre probably flipping to the end its okay, well wait.)

This book will answer the questions buzzing around in your brain:

If thats what you need to know to get your start, game on! Or, as my son says, This pleases me greatly.

So how about we start now?

Chapter 1: So, What IS This Business?

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes

Turn and face the strange

Ch-ch-changes

David Bowie

You might have noticed that this is the third edition of my first book. It was time for an update.

Not because the info in the prior versions had gotten out of datealthough some of my tactics for getting work have changed, and Ill share them with you.

Not just because in my first go-round, I mistakenly thought most of my readers would be like me, stay-at-home moms. Turned out about half of you guys are guys! And you werent in it for a little mad money; you (like me) went on to support entire families with your writing income. Some of my early readers now travel the world and send me videos from exotic places.