Angela Booth’s Life Stream

Writing and more...

Email Sense and Sensibility for Writers

For writers, email messages are not merely a communications mechanism, they're also the way to get more writing clients, keep all our clients happy, and make much more money.

Unfortunately, very few people use email effectively -- and I'm not merely targeting writers here, this applies to everyone online. It even applies to individuals and companies which make the greater portion of their income online... Go figure. :-)

Let's look at ways in which you can not only get your email messages read, but which will also create an impression of confidence and professionalism, as well as inspire trust in your recipients.

1. Think from the point of view of your recipients

I receive over 400 email messages most days. This is average for anyone who operates online. Some people receive many more messages than this. A mass-market magazine editor I know receives over 1000 messages a day.

To avoid being overwhelmed when you're dealing with volume, you resort to triage. For example, I scan the senders and subject lines and batch-delete anything I don't want, don't have time for, or which is obviously spam.

I also have filters in place, so that messages from SYWON students are sent directly to a SYWON folder, and messages which are obviously from writers are sent to folders which Julia manages.

Therefore, since your recipients will judge the value or otherwise of your messages strictly on the sender and subject line, it's vital that you give some thought to this. 

Tell the recipient exactly what your message is about in the subject line. For example, if you're sending a magazine query, the subject line should consist of: "Query: ___________ (the title of your article)".

2. Never ever assume that the recipient knows who you are

In the first few lines of your message, introduce yourself. Yes, do this even if you've corresponded with the recipient in the past. Remember that everyone struggles with the volume of email messages they receive. Unless you're a close personal friend, or are otherwise important to the recipient, it's unlikely that they'll remember you instantly when they're focused on clearing their Inbox as quickly as possible.

You could write:

I'm _______(your name.) I spoke to you at...

I'm _______(your name), and I'm sending you a query for __________ (magazine, website)

I'm a __________ (a writer, a freelance writer) and I'm writing because _______ (your reason for sending the message)

Telling the recipients who you are even applies when you're sending out bulk emails to a list -- say your client list. Take the time to introduce yourself in the first paragraph, or use email stationery which clearly states who you are in the first few lines.

3. Keep messsages short, BUT do include everything the recipient needs to know

When it comes to email, shorter is always better. However, while keeping your messages brief, take a few moments to frame each message you write, so that the recipient knows why you're writing, and exactly what you want him/ her to do.

4. Make it easy for the recipient to respond

The easier you make it for your recipients to respond, the more likely it is that they will.

When you're dealing with your writing clients it's especially vital that you give them a choice of ways to get in touch. Include your landline number, and cell number too. People who aren't writers are usually happier talking than writing. :-)

Email is a powerful tool, but it's also a royal pain. Use these simple tips to ensure that your messages are read with pleasure, and that you get the responses you want.

Next week's ezine: best-ever money-making writing tips

In next week's ezine, our theme is the best money-making writing tips.

Here's an excerpt from the Editorial:

Birds, humidity and walking: is writing the life you want?
It's the end of February in Sydney, Australia, so the humidity which always drifts down from tropical Queensland during the monsoon season is abating. Goodbye to air so moist you feel as if you're swimming, rather than walking.
The air was crisp this morning, with a welcome chill, as Honey, my Jack Russell terrier, and I enjoyed our walk. Even the birds seemed to appreciate the end of the humidity. Clouds of screeching white cockatoos soared from one eucalyptus grove to another, keeping us company, while bright red/ turquoise parakeets startled us as they whizzed past us out of Banksia shrubs. 
(I'm sure these cute little parrots do this deliberately. Honey chases them out of our backyard – this is payback. :-))
I develop ideas for my writing while I walk, and then spend the day writing. Writing all day, every day, (often seven days a week), is the life writers lead. All writers.

Enjoy this issue, which will be out next Tuesday.

Today's writing tip: Make Money Writing Success -- Challenge Yourself

Although it's very easy to make money writing online, for best results you need to challenge yourself. This is because you're working alone, you don't have anyone to push you. The more you write the more you earn, so get into the habit of challenging yourself.

Let's look at this simple method for doing this.

1. Set One Writing Goal

I like to challenge myself by creating goals, and achieving them. Tip: every goal you achieve gives you an instant boost of confidence.

Start by setting a simple goal. Perhaps you want to get more clients to buy your articles. So create that as a goal.

Write it down: "I will get five more clients this week".

2. Create a Plan to Achieve That Goal

The more simple you make your plan, the more likely it is that you will achieve it. Your plan can include various items, and you need to chunk that plan down into a list of daily tasks.

For example, your plan could include items like: bidding on writing jobs on the outsourcing sites, advertising, and staying in touch with clients by sending out regular mailings.

3. Create a List of Daily Tasks You Know You Can Achieve

From the list of items which will help you to achieve your goal, create a list of daily tasks. I like to keep all my tasks short, so that each takes no longer than half an hour. I find I'm more productive this way. There's no time to dither on a task when you know you have just 30 minutes to complete it.

How it works: if one of your items included advertising for example, then one of your tasks could be to create a couple of ads which you will post on one of the free classifieds sites. (The posting of the ads deserves its own task.)

4. Put on Blinkers: Be Single-Minded and Complete Your Tasks

Make a commitment to yourself to a complete every task on your daily task list, every day.

Making a commitment is freeing -- you know what you'll do, and you do it.

Tip: your commitments must mean something. Make a list of benefits to you in completing your daily task list. The benefits could include: being your own boss, tripling your income this year, and going on that European vacation you've planned.

You can make money writing, and your success is in your hands. Just reach out and grab it.

Image: Blackadder -- his best quote "I have a cunning plan..."

Today's writing tip: write now, research later

Sit down and write -- research later

Write first, research later. This sounds counter-intuitive, but it helps you to write more and sell more. It's easy to get caught in the quagmire of research. You can collect so much material that you lose all enthusiasm for the project -- the more you collect, the more overwhelmed you feel.

For example, let's say you're writing a novel. Your hero is a cop. You don't need to know that much about his day to day working life. Write your story. Either research as you go, or research after you've written the first draft. 

If you're writing a magazine article about a topic you know nothing about, create an outline before you begin to research. Your outline can be as simple as: Who, What, When, Where, Why and How. As you research, write a first draft of your article.

Today's writing tip: develop a successful writer's mindset

In next week's Fab Freelance Writing Ezine, our theme is Freelancing for Profit.

Here's an excerpt from the Editorial, in which we discuss a successful freelancer's mindset.

Success or failure? It's all in your mindset

Your mindset will determine your success, or your failure in any activity. 

Many writers make writing too complicated. There's nothing complicated about writing – if you can talk, you can write, and if you can write a letter that gets a response, you can make money writing. 

The only thing that stops you is you. Here's how to develop a successful freelance writer's mindset:

1. Stay positive

Staying positive is all about where you put your attention. Everyone has problems. If you put your attention on your problems, you'll get more of them, and the problems you already have will get bigger.

Here's how to deal with problems. You're a writer, so this should be easy. Describe your problem in 25 words or less. 

Now make a list of solutions -- be creative here, make your list as long as possible. Now forget about the problem.

Tomorrow, you look at your list. Choose one solution and work out how you can put it into action -- then do it.

From now on, whenever you find yourself mentally occupied with any problem, start thinking about solutions.

Successful people have as many problems as you do. However instead of focusing on the problems, they focus on solutions, and only solutions.

There's more on developing a successful writer's mindset in the issue. Not a subscriber? Subscribe today, it's free. This issue is out next Tuesday.

Today's writing tip: your (writer's) website: WHO are you?

Start by adding content to your site which tells your visitors what you do, and for whom you do it. Describe your products and services, and the benefits they provide. Tell site visitors how long you’ve been in business, and who past customers are.
via angelabooth.com

Your About page is the most important page on your website. You've got mere seconds to establish yourself in your visitor's mind. Think about how you want potential clients and others to see you.

Vital: be honest, be genuine, and above all, be enthusiastic.

Today's writing tip: play!

 

Are you having enough fun with your writing?

Yesterday I received a message from a newish writer: "I never seem to finish anything. I've started dozens of writing projects. Why do I lose interest in them after a few pages? All these false starts make me feel so guilty."

Here's my response:

You sound as if you're putting too much pressure on yourself. Remember that your creative self is very child-like (not childish, however). Your creative self likes to PLAY.

Starting a project, and telling yourself: I'm writing a book, or even I'm writing an article for _________ can be enough to squelch your enthusiasm and child-like creativity.

Why not put all your start-up projects into the same file, or box, if you will? Think of that box as a planter box full of project seeds. Starting off new projects in your planter box keeps them all in the same place. Since you're only playing, there's no pressure; it's guilt-free.

You can create a "box" out of any file, in any program, or in a notebook, or in index cards. Call it your Play Box, or Toy Box if you like, and take your box out when you're ready to play. Once a project takes off -- it's sprouted in your planter box so to speak, you'll know -- you'll remove it to its own file automatically, without thinking about it.

If you keep all your new projects together, you'll find they're cross-fertilize. :-) As you're reading through one, you'll get ideas for another, and can play with that one for a while.

Useful programs for your writing Play Box on your computer include: Curio (Mac) and OneNote (PC). Here's a great article Is Curio the answer to no OneNote on the Mac? 

I cover growing your writing organically in the Top 70 Tips to Help You to Write More.

FWIW, I start all my projects in my Play Box in Curio -- I must have around 100 mini-projects, and I enjoy playing with them.

Try this simple idea to help you to have more fun with your writing, and be more productive: PLAY. :-)

Photo

Today's writing tip: create AND promote

For many years, one of my mantras was: create and promote. I wrote about it extensively in my marketing skills for writers book.

Both creation (writing) and promotion (marketing) are essential for a writing career however, since most writers don't have a business background, they somehow feel that if they continue writing, the promotion will take care of itself. Unfortunately, it won't. Marketing is essential.

It's essential for every writer, unless you want to remain a generic writer, who accepts low rates and wants to stay on the lower rungs of a writing career.  

Writer's Digest has an interesting article "How to Build a Marketing Platform" which is essential reading for anyone who's either in the middle of, or who's contemplating a writing career. It covers the topic brilliantly.

Here's the thing: you MUST promote every day, even if you're booked solid for months ahead. If you don't, in a few weeks you'll be looking around wondering where all the people went. 

Sometimes, the constant promotion can feel as if you're the ringmaster (and clown) in a three-ring circus, but that's the way it is. You need to not only make your peace with the necessity of promotion, but get highly creative at it. If you do, you'll thrive. If you don't... you need to get a day job.

Today's writing tip: make money money writing press releases

Topics for Press Releases

Although the terms “news release” and “press release” can be used interchangeably I usually use “news release” because it reminds me that a press release must contain something newsworthy.

Here’s a list of the elements of a news release. Your news releases should contain at least one of the following elements: timeliness, public interest, conflict, tragedy, humor, sex, money, human interest, the future, or animals.

via sywon.info

If you're copywriting, here's a tip to increase your income: encourage your clients to use press releases for promotion.

Few businesses use press releases consistently. Create a marketing plan, and propose the plan to your clients. Not only will you make money, but so will your clients.

I wrote the above article for Sell Your Writing Online NOW (SYWON)students, but you can use the information too. :-)

Today's writing tip: Wolfram|Alpha sparks your creativity

Wolfram|Alpha is a great resource for writers. It has an enormous words and linguistics database that writers can use for such things as word definitions, origins, synonyms, hyphenation, and Soundex lookups.

Type “word contest”, and Wolfram|Alpha will retrieve the word data for the English word “contest”. The results tell you many definitions of the word, that its first known recorded use was in 1603, that it rhymes with “conquest”, and a wealth of other data on just that word.

via blog.wolframalpha.com

Excellent if you're stuck for ideas. I just entered "word clever", and the network synonym map at the bottom of the page is wonderful. Try it yourself -- I'll bet you couldn't get from "clever" to "chicane" without this tool.