“Thanks, but we decided to go with someone else.” You don’t understand what happened. You’ve lost the gig… but everything was going so well! The client seemed keen to work with you, you’d hammered out the details, and the only thing left was the final go-ahead to start the work. Instead of getting a green light, you receive a one-line email from the client that says they chose another freelancer. That’s when warning signals start going off in your head. Maybe the problem isn’t with the client – maybe the problem is you.
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Agent X
Agent X is the name many mysterious and intriguing people take on when they guest post at our site. Their mission is to slip in like a thief in the night, leave you with entertaining, valuable and useful content, and slip away again - without getting caught.
How to Get Back to Writing After a Death in the Family
Written by Hugh Smith
2013 was a good writing year. At least, for me: I wrote and self-published two books, began writing a third and had articles published as well. I was proud of what I’d accomplished and was determined to ride the momentum to make 2014 even better. I set my goals, made my plans, and on January 1st, I was off to the races. Then one morning in mid-February, I got the news that a cherished family member had died. All my writing progress came to a grinding halt.
> Read MoreHow to Find Your Muse – and Fire Her
Written by Daryl Rothman
The Muse – the source of creativity and inspiration that all writers search for so desperately. I’d found mine a few years back, and oh, what a vision she was! Airy and beautiful, lulling me with dulcet tones. I was enthralled. No more writer’s block, no more floundering for inspiration and ideas. She was the answer to my literary prayers. I summoned my beleaguered Muse more and more often until we arrived at an impasse. “I’m sorry,” she said, “but this is untenable. Can’t you do any of this yourself?” I sought out the answers
> Read More28 and a ½ Ideas for Business Blog Posts
Written by Steff Green
Ah, the business blog. Everyone knows they need one, but no one knows what to say on it. My clients moan, “It’s easy for you. You’re a writer. I’m a cake decorator/photographer/project manager/bookkeeper – what on earth can I write about?” Blogging for your business helps attract new customers, and it solidifies your brand for current clients as well. It keeps your website fresh, alive and updated, which in turn makes you more attractive to search engines. And of course, writing for your business blog helps brand you, the owner, as an expert in your
> Read More4 Ways to Get Emails Past Sorting Programs – and In Front of Your Clients
Written by David Anderson
Fifteen years ago, email was such an exciting concept that it inspired a movie. Millions of people watched Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan fall in love in “You’ve Got Mail”, and millions more fell in love with their inbox. Today, the romance has faded. We dread our inbox and its overwhelming demands. And yet, more people than ever use email. In 2012, 2.2 billion email users worldwide sent an average of 144 billion messages a day – and more than two-thirds of it spam, according to a Pingdom report. The email oversaturation spawned a variety
> Read MoreHow ‘Same Old, Same Old’ Can Make You a Successful Writer
Written by Diana Kightlinger
In July, I moved into a farmhouse in Montana on 20 acres of land. It’s a dream I never seriously thought I’d realize – a home in the country. And in almost every way, the dream has met its promise. I said almost: The dream didn’t provide much guidance on Internet access. Turns out that there’s no cable or DSL at my new dream home. So I relied on my wireless hotspot and for about two weeks, life was good. But the introduction of 4G confused my blinky little friend, and I began losing my
> Read MoreThe Proven 3-Step Formula for Success
Written by Chris Nosal
If there’s one thing that devastates us, that stops us from doing what we’re truly capable of and prevents us from achieving our dreams, it’s fear of failure. Many of us go through our lives never knowing what we could have done… if we hadn’t given up our dreams. What if you had given up on learning to talk, walk, read, ride a bike, or any other achievements before you were even 5 years old? How different would your life have turned out if you’d given up instead of sticking with them? Now, how different
> Read MoreWhy Being a Ghostwriter isn’t as Soul-Sucking as You Think
Written by Nicole Pyles
Over the past few weeks, I’ve started down the path of “ghostwriting“. To be honest, I did not like the idea. I despised the whole concept of allowing someone to put their name next to my work. I loathed plagiarizers in school. I was baffled at how they could use someone’s work like that and still sleep well at night. How could I give my writing to someone else so they could slap their name on it? In the past, whenever I was offered a writing job, I inquired whether my work would be credited
> Read More3 Simple Questions Your Website Should Answer
Written by Jesse Lancos
Are you aware that your website may be costing you fistfuls of money? An eye-catching website design will set the stage for your business, obviously. But that powerful first impression only buys you a few seconds of attention. If what you SAY on your website gives visitors the wrong impression, you’re chasing potential clients away. And that problem is far more common than you think.
> Read MoreWhy Cliffhangers Keep Readers in Your Raft
Written by J. E. Fishman
Some years ago, a few friends, my wife, and I took a one-day rafting trip down the Payette River in western Idaho. I made the arrangements, and without consulting the rest of the party (nice guy that I am) I opted for the most difficult route that the outfitter offered, a journey that included several Class 4 rapids. The guides were dead serious when it came to instructing us about safety. And as they handed out paddles and strapped us into life vests and helmets, one friend turned to me and pointed. “I’m going to
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