It’s a question I get asked a lot: “Why isn’t my book selling?” This question isn’t reserved for the author who is clueless about marketing. I’ve been asked this by savvy authors, even business people who can’t seem to figure out the system for selling.

Sometimes the reasons why a book isn’t selling are easy: the cover is poor, the content is not edited or the topic is unappealing. But in most cases that I’ve seen, you need to dig deeper. So, overlooking the obvious, let’s go a step further because the mysteries of selling might be a lot easier to fix than you think.

1. Start Early: In many cases starting early means earlier than you think. Often, I see authors beginning their campaigns a month prior to book launch. If you do that, keep in mind that your results won’t show up for months (and months), often it takes up to six months to see anything you seed start to grow. That’s partially why marketing people will encourage you to start early because it can take so long to see results.

2. Limited availability: Having a book that can only be purchased off of your website isn’t a great way to promote a title. You want to make sure that the book is where your consumer is: on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and even if you aren’t stocked on a bookstore shelf, you want to be sure that someone can order it. Limit your book availability and you limit your success. If you don’t give your consumer enough places to get your book, they will probably get someone else’s title instead. Don’t let your marketing serve the competition better than it serves you.

3. The rule of seven: You need to be everywhere. A lot. But what does that mean, exactly? It means that your reader (or potential reader) needs to see your book in a lot of different places. Have you asked yourself how many ways you are marketing the book? Are you active in any social media? Do you participate in blogs? Are you getting reviews? Think of the seven ways or access points that you need for your book to gain traction with the audience. Seven seems to be the magic number for many marketing people so go with that, use it as a goal. Your book should have access points in seven different areas. With so much out there begging for your readers’ attention you want to be sure that your book is getting an equal amount of attention.

4. Multichannel marketing: How many different ways are you marketing your book? No, I don’t mean the rule of seven, though this applies here, too. What I mean is how many channels are you using to market your book to the reader? Email? Video? Print mailings? A successful campaign is one that encompasses the rule of seven, so seven public channels to reach your reader, but also consider multi-channel marketing, as well.

5. You don’t think this applies to you: Often when I give these talks, I have authors who say, “Well, this may be true for some, but it’s not really what I’m about.” It might not be what you are about, but I can guarantee you it applies to everyone, across the board. Are there success stories that break out of the norm? You bet, but it’s rare.

Now You Know, What Do You Do?

Let’s say that you’re reading this, you are knee-deep in promotion and thinking “oh, brother, this is me. What now?” A lot of authors just toss the first book out and focus on the second figuring they made the mistakes with the first and chalk it up to a “learning curve.” I don’t think that’s a great idea. You put a lot of work into that book, yes? Don’t you want it to succeed? I thought so. Here are some tips you can implement, right now, to get things back on track:

* Get to know successful authors: Yes, it’s good and cathartic to commiserate with other authors who feel their book isn’t selling, but beyond that it won’t really do much for your success. Step out of your comfort zone and start looking for authors you want to emulate. Successful authors who have it going on. Build your list. Find at least 10 authors in your market that are doing well and presumably selling books.

* Investigate: What do other authors do in your genre? You now have a list of other, successful authors, right? If you’ve collected this list, follow them on their blogs, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Pinterest. Follow them everywhere, start to build your tribe. Get to know them almost better than you know your own marketing campaign. You may say “well, they have more money than I do to market!” That might be true, but I bet it’s not – not entirely anyway. Most of the really successful authors don’t get there with just a checkbook, they probably have a great sense of who their market is, what their market wants and exactly how to give it to them. I’m not telling you to copy, I’m telling you to learn from other successful authors.

* Google Alerts: Now that you have your list of fabulous authors, plug their names into Google Alerts and see where they show up. Yes, when I say investigate I mean doing just that. Do your homework. Why does this matter? Because the blogs they show up on will be great places for you to network, and guess what? All it costs is a little bit of time.

* Count the ways: How many different ways can a reader access you? Count them. I’m serious. You should have at least seven access points. Maybe you are syndicating articles, maybe you are on YouTube, maybe you are on Facebook, Pinterest, whatever it is it’s an access point. If you don’t have seven of them and aren’t sure where to start, go back to bullets two and three.

* Get rid of what’s not working: I was at an event a few weeks ago and talked to an author who was doing lots of Google ads. He was careful to stay within his daily budget, but he wasn’t sure if they were working. Why was he doing them? He had been to a seminar that talked about Google Ads and thought he’d give it a shot. Initially it did well, then not so much. He kept doing them because he thought eventually it would turn around. Sometimes things like ads have a lifespan, if you aren’t monitoring this stuff you’ll never know. Don’t hesitate to get rid of what’s not working and be brutally honest with yourself. Remember that if you keep doing something that’s not working it will take away time and probably money from doing something that could make your book successful. The choice is yours.

* Distribution: Make sure your book is out there, and I mean really out there. You may hate it that Amazon takes 55% of your book sales but would you rather have 45% of a sale or nothing at all? Don’t have an ebook yet? Why not? It’s easier than ever to have your book converted to an ebook. It’s so easy I’ve known authors to do it in less than 15 minutes. It’s no longer a matter of whether you can publish a book; it’s whether someone can find it. You might not be in stores nationwide, but if you can be on online e-tailers that’s a big and helpful start.

* Persistence: Maybe the biggest piece of success is persistence. I know I sound like a motivational speaker right now, but it’s true. Persist, persist, persist. Often I find that authors are just weeks away from their success and they give up because of some of the reasons cited in the first part of this article. Persist even on the days you can’t be bothered. On those days do just one thing. Just one.

The key to success isn’t always easy or clear-cut, but the key to failure often is. If you have produced a good looking, well-written book but it’s still not selling then go back through this article to find the missing piece or pieces. Once you do, I can almost guarantee your book will start to take off.

Reprinted from “The Book Marketing Expert newsletter,” a free ezine offering book promotion and publicity tips and techniques. http://www.amarketingexpert.com

More About Book Selling and Promotion:

• Jump Start Your Book Sales: A Money-Making Guide for Authors, Independent Publishers and Small Presses
• 1001 Ways to Market Your Books (1001 Ways to Market Your Books: For Authors and Publishers)
• 21 Ways to Promote Your Book on Twitter

Image: Craftyjoe / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Freelance writing is a career that can be difficult to get into initially, and even harder to maintain an income. After all, it is filled with rejections and uncertainty. Even the most experienced of freelancers can get frustrated by the continual search for work and dealing with client’s objections.

As with every other area of life, attitude is everything with freelancing. How can freelancers keep motivated to continue? Here are some thoughts.

Writer’s Groups Can Help Freelancers Stay Upbeat and Positive

Writers typically work alone, so having other likeminded people around to understand and support you is an important part of succeeding as a freelancer. If you’re not able to hang out with writers face-to-face, an online forum can work just as well. A search for “writers” on Facebook can help you find groups that can also lend support.

The key to being successful in a writer’s group or forum is to listen and provide support for others. The more genuine a friend you are to other writers, the more support you will receive in return. This is something that can’t be faked, so take some time to get to know your fellow writers in order to reap the benefits of their understanding and advice.

Learn How to Work More Efficiently as a Freelancer

When you write for multiple blogs, clients, or assignments, you can quickly get overwhelmed. Organizing your day is a crucial part of the freelance life and can help you remain motivated to accomplish your writing goals. To make better use of your time, learn to write in chunks.

For example, rather than writing a blog entry, posting a link to Facebook, and then checking email simultaneously, opt to write three or four blog entries at once. Try and post ahead to the extent that you can. You’ll actually take less time to write three quick posts than you will continually going back and forth each time you have an assignment or idea.

Email can also derail your time, so only check it once or twice a day, as opposed to having it open throughout. This way you can quickly respond to items or delete them, saving yourself time. Doing this will help you feel more in control of your day and more motivated to get your work done.

Avoid Taking Lower Freelance Writing Jobs

Nothing is more frustrating than working all day and having little income to show for it. Writing large quantities of articles each and every day can quickly leave you feeling unmotivated. To avoid this, search for the highest paying jobs you can find. If you need to take a break and get a part time job for awhile, it is better than giving up freelance work entirely. You’ll keep up your motivation to get better freelance gigs and not settle for something that pay peanuts.

Find Clients You Enjoy Working With

Difficult and demanding clients can push your patience to the limit, especially if they pay slowly or require rework. Always reevaluate your client list so when you do add new people you can end a few poor client relationships. Any time you take a new job, look through the work you currently have to make sure you have the clients and work assignments that make you happy.

Take Time Away from Work

This one is a hard thing to do. I certainly need to learn to be better at it. If you’re like me, you have a tendency to log long hours, especially when you work in a telecommute arrangement. It’s important to take breaks throughout the day. Take a quick break every hour where you get up, stretch your legs, and allow your body to move. Focus your vision on something else besides a computer for a few minutes and allow your mind to wander.

Being a freelancer gives you freedom of choice in assignments and work schedule. However, the freelance life can also leave you feeling tired and unmotivated at times. Realize that this feeling is natural and with some of the suggestions above, you can better deal with the ebbs and flows of the freelance life.

More on Freelance Writing:

• Starting Your Career as a Freelance Writer (Second Edition)
• The Well-Fed Writer: Financial Self-Sufficiency as a Commercial Freelancer in Six Months or Less
• Make a Real Living as a Freelance Writer: How to Win Top Writing Assignments

Image: tungphoto / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Do you do a lot of interviews? I’ve done one or two (or 200) myself, and I’ve been interviewed by others numerous times also. Interviewing is definitely an art, and like most things in life, the more someone does it the better they generally get at the process. To start off on the right foot, there are a few things to keep in mind to make the interview the very best it can be.

Doing interviews is one way to get backlinks for a blog or website, and it’s also a good way to support other writers. They key in doing a good interview is to find out more about the subject before asking questions. The more an interviewer knows about his or her subject matter, the more natural (and at the same time, revealing) the interview will come off.

Make the Interview Subject Comfortable

It’s okay to use a method that the interviewer likes, but if the subject balks at having to email responses or prefers not to be taped for a phone conversation, it’s best to work with them. Putting an interviewee in a comfortable position mentally will help him answer questions more easily.

Now, at the same time, if you’re on the flip side of this (meaning that you’re the one being interviewed), you should be flexible. Don’t balk if someone wants to interview you live or via email. Granted, they should do everything in their power to make you feel comfortable, but if they want to do an email interview, don’t get all dramatic and tell them you just can’t. There are always ways to come to an understanding with someone.

Provide Questions Ahead of Time

It’s a good idea to give the questions to the interviewee ahead of time. In fact, before requesting an interview, the writer should be prepared to tell the subject a general idea of what the questions will be like. This is true even if you have not started writing the questions yet. No one likes to be caught off-guard.

Ask Original Questions

There’s nothing worse than repeatedly answering the same questions over and over in every interview. Interview subjects, especially if they are popular, will appreciate questions that make them think differently. With a little creative thinking, you can come up with questions from a different angle, which will make the end result much more interesting for the interview subject and the reader.

Investigating Without Leading

You may be in awe of the person you’re interviewing, but it’s important to keep the tone and presentation professional. It’s okay to tell the person how much their work is admired, but don’t go on and on to the point where the subject actually gets annoyed.

Throughout any interview, you should think about what types of information your readers would most enjoy hearing about, and conduct the questions keeping that thought in mind.

At the end, thank your interviewee and be sure to promote the interview.

More on How to Interview:

• The Craft of Interviewing
• The Art of the Interview: Lessons from a Master of the Craft
• 1001 Solution-Focused Questions: Handbook for Solution-Focused Interviewing (A Norton Professional Book)

Image: Ambro / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Guest post

Congratulations! You’ve decided to become an independent contractor. But before the glow of being your own boss wears off, promise yourself that you’ll avoid the worst mistakes that new freelancers often make.

Although working independently means you won’t have a boss standing over your shoulder, you may be surprised at how much more pressure there is when you “eat what you kill.” Bills pile up fast, and it’s easy to lose focus.

The good news? Few independent contractors – or, at least the ones that the author polled – could ever return to a life as a salaried employee. Guarantee your early success by learning from others’ mistakes before you let them happen to you. 

Learn to Love Sales

It doesn’t matter if you are an attorney, a writer, a Mustang accessories salesman or a personal trainer. When you’re an independent contractor, you’re in sales. And what are you selling? Yourself! Successful freelancers – according to some reports – spend as much as 30 percent of their time rustling up new business.

It doesn’t matter how solid your client relationships may seem; they will cut you loose when it suits them without a second thought, even if they were happy with your work. That means you always have to have new business in the pipeline.

Don’t Take Your Clients for Granted

Every salaried employee has – at one point or another – had an “off” day. Maybe you left early, took a long lunch or surfed the web all afternoon, knowing that your work would be there waiting for you the next day. Independent contractors have no such luxuries.

If you mail it in – even for a day – your client has a million more yous right outside the door, just waiting for the plum assignment you gave away. Think of giving your best every single day as the ultimate in customer service for your clients. You expect good customer service when you order French fries in the fast food line – why wouldn’t your clients expect it from you? The competition is stiff, and you need to stay in front.

Be Realistic About Your Goals

When establishing your business’s budget, think clearly about what you can realistically achieve. Deciding that you are going to work six or seven days per week, 12 hours a day may not fit in with your family’s life. On the other hand, don’t expect full-time money if you can only devote three or four hours per day to your new venture.

When it comes to freelancing, you’ll get out what you put in. If you want your freelance work to replace full-time employment, expect to spend more of your free time working.

Know Your Worth

The Internet age means there is plenty of opportunity to expand your services to clients from across the globe with the click of a mouse. The downside is that your competitors may be willing to work for less – substantially less – than what you know you’re worth.

Any market – from CJ Pony Ford Mustang parts to western Mustang ponies – has competition. Differentiate yourself with excellent service and fair pricing, and you’ll be well on your way to establishing yourself as an industry expert.

Now that you know more about working from home, you might want to learn more about how to differentiate yourself from your competition, whether you’re in the business of designing CJ Pony Mustang accessories or writing about cars. 

More on Starting a Freelance Career:

• Starting Your Career as a Freelance Writer (Second Edition)
• The Well-Fed Writer: Financial Self-Sufficiency as a Commercial Freelancer in Six Months or Less
• 102 Ways to Earn Money Writing 1,500 Words or Less: The Ultimate Freelancer’s Guide

Image: Phaitoon / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Writers tend to be a shy group, and making cold calls to get new clients might just equal the joy of having your teeth drilled. In other words, you’d rather not. By writing a letter of introduction first, it can make it easier to do. Not just that, but a letter can also be a nice follow up when you’ve met someone briefly and aren’t sure if they have a need for your services. I’ve found letters of introduction to be extremely helpful in getting freelance clients.

What Is It?

First, the basics. A letter of introduction is a one-page correspondence piece that highlights a writer’s achievements and background. The letter should be short and to the point, and convey that the writer is looking for work and believes he or she can assist the recipient of the letter.

Letters like these can be emailed or sent. So even if you’re going to email a contact, it’s not a bad idea to firm it up like a more formalized letter.

Purpose

You can use a letter a couple of different ways. First, it serves as an icebreaker for contacting a client. You could first send a letter to let the potential client know that you’d like to speak further about freelance work. This letter would end on an open note, with a promise to call the client again at a later time.

A second purpose for the letter is to obtain freelance writing work directly. This type of letter will highlight the writer’s work history and also make a bid for future work with the client.

I’ve used this when I knew a client’s needs well enough that I could make a pitch on what they were missing in the way of writing coverage. In this case, I would come right out and say that I’d like to write X, Y, and Z articles, and I would give specific article titles as a pitch. I’d then follow it up with links to where I had written something similar for someone else.

Example

You have to address these letters to the right person in order for them to be effective. So that takes some digging. But you’re a writer, and digging for facts is what you do. So this should be no problem.

How to do this? Look on their website first, but even if you find a name, call the company to make sure your contact info is current.

Then, in the first few lines, state why you are writing. For example, “I wanted to get in touch with you regarding blogging for your organization” or “I wanted to offer my freelance writing services to you in times of heavy workload or during the vacations of your staff.”

The second paragraph should immediately talk about your experience. A writer should make this succinct and directly related to the work he or she is trying to obtain. For example, “I have worked for ABC Company and XYZ Firm, which also produce truck engines” or “I have worked with organizations similar in size and scope to your firm.”

The next paragraph should list specific tasks that the writer has been successful with. These can be an paragraph form, or in the form of bullet points. Typical points could be:

• Wrote press release for ABC Company to initiate PR campaign
• Helped XYZ Organization create a white paper outlining their new technical product
• Drafted direct mail copy for HGH Corporation

Ask for the Job in the Final Part of a Letter of Introduction

To wrap up the letter, highlight why hiring you would be a great idea. Perhaps you can get up and running quickly, thereby reducing training costs. Or maybe a writer can take over the workload during times when the company is understaffed. Each writer has a different benefit he can provide for a company to hire him.

Finally, close out the letter with a promise to follow up with a phone call. Always end any correspondence with your website address, so potential clients can find out more about you background and experience. Then, don’t forget to follow up!

More on Letters of Introduction:

• The Art of the Personal Letter: A Guide to Connecting Through the Written Word
• Webster’s New World Letter Writing Handbook
• Strategic Business Letters and E-mail

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Guest post by Sarah Rexman

Tax deadlines are quickly approaching. If you haven’t already filed, you still have time to take advantage of some deductions available to freelancers to lower your overall tax burden. If you have already filed, you can consider amending your return if you missed some key deductions, or you can consider how to better report the following deductions that you can take as a freelance writer when you file next year:

Home Office

If you work from home, there are many deductions you can take for your “home office,” including a portion of your rent, utilities, Internet bill, and more. You must have a dedicated space in your home that you use for writing and for nothing else. Then you can calculate what percentage of your home the space uses, and apply that percentage to your total household bills. For example, if your office takes up 20 percent of your home (by square footage), you can deduct 20 percent of your mortgage, 20 percent of your light bill, and so on.

Equipment

Every business requires equipment to run it, and freelance writing is no different. Computers, printers, printer ink, paper, pens, sticky notes, and more can all be deducted if they are used for your freelance writing. Computers and other durable equipment may either be deducted in whole the year they were purchased, or a depreciation value can be deducted each year.

Cell Phone

Most freelance writers use their phones as a primary means of doing business. You call clients, you conduct interviews, and you schedule advertising. You can deduct all or a portion of your cell phone, depending on how it is used.

Interview Expenses

If you have to interview experts or other sources for your articles, you can deduct the cost of any expenses for that interview. This can include the coffee or lunch you bought for your interview, the mileage you used to drive to your interview, or any fees you had to pay for the interview.

Travel

If you attend professional conferences or have to travel out of the area to interview a source, you can deduct these expenses. Mileage, airfare, train fare, lodging and meals can all be deducted when they are purchased in relation to travel for your business.

Books and Periodicals

Do you subscribe to industry publications, like Writer’s Digest? Or did you buy some books this year about how to improve your writing or how to market your work? The cost of these publications is deductible as part of your continuing training.

Professional Memberships

If you belong to a professional organization that is related to your work as a freelance writer, you can deduct the cost of membership. You need not attend meetings or serve on any committees in order to apply the deduction.

Professional Services

At times, you may have to call on the services of other professionals in order to conduct your business. Fees for accountants, personal assistants, and even other freelancers can all be deducted from your taxes. Bank fees and Paypal fees can also be deducted.

Advertising

Do you run a Web site or online portfolio for your work? do you purchase advertising in magazines or on Web sites? These expenses and any others you incur while promoting your services can all be deducted from your taxes.

Insurance

When you work for yourself, you have to provide your own “benefits.” If you pay for your own health insurance, you can deduct the premiums from your tax burden. Ditto for life insurance or disability insurance.

There may be many other deductions you can claim depending on the type of freelance business you run and the expenses you incur. Typically, any expenses you incur as a result of doing business will be able to be deducted at the end of the year. Be sure to keep receipts and to maintain mileage logs, and always consult with a qualified tax professional to get expert advice about what deductions are allowable.

Sarah Rexman is the main researcher and writer for www.bedbugs.org. Her most recent accomplishment includes graduating from Florida State, with a master’s degree in environmental science.  Her main focus for the site involves researching ideas for people who need bed bug help.

More on Tax Deductions:

• Tax Deductions A to Z for Freelance and Contract Workers (Tax Deductions A to Z series)
• Ultimate Homebased Business Handbook

Image: Grant Cochrane / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

You know, I never used to be in writers groups of any kind, but in the last few years I’ve suddenly found myself in quite a few. I have to say, they have been very valuable for my career and personal satisfaction. A writer’s group can help you deal with the ups and downs of the freelance writing life and give you some perspective on days when negative clients and low rates get the best of you.

If you’re new to the idea of a writer’s group, here are some ideas on how to join or start one.

Online Writers Groups

You don’t have to be face-to-face with someone in order to reap the benefits of emotional support. Being a part of an active online group can work just as well. If you’re a work-at-home writer, there are several forums online that accept new people.

If you write for an online magazine or website, you can also check to see if they have a writing community. Suite101, Examiner, and About.com, and the like are all sites that have an online forum.

Yahoo Groups is another great way to find other writers. Go to the Yahoo home page, then click on “Groups.” (The “groups” link will either be on the left side or at the very bottom, depending on your personal site preferences.) Enter “writers” in the search box at the top. Or, you can start your own group on the site by clicking the link at the top.

Local Colleges Have Writers Groups

Many local colleges and technical schools will have a writers group that meets regularly. I was actually asked to speak to two of things last year in our local area. These may meet after class, at night, or even during the day. Generally these types of groups have a wide variety of people, from freelance writers to aspiring novelists. The range of people can help writers get a variety of feedback about their work.

Writers Groups on Meetup.com

Meetup is a wonderful way to connect with other like-minded people. There are a variety of groups listed on the site, many of them having to do with writing or books. Simply enter your zip code and do a search to find one that is right for you.

The site also asks members for their areas of interest, and even if there is not a group formed they give suggestions on how to start one. Knowing there are other people out there looking for the same types of groups you are can be a motivating factor in creating your own.

Join a Writing Organization

In the last few years, I’ve joined a couple writing organizations, and these have had several different meetup opportunities. Some of these are in the form of classes, but quite a few have been small luncheons and coffee meetups to get to know other writers. Go to a few events and meet some people, and these can turn into friendships, lunch dates, “coffice time,” and more.

Start Your Own Group

As mentioned above, Meetup and Yahoo provide easy ways for you to start your own writers group. These groups can be formed online initially, and brought to the real world if enough local members sign up. You can also post a notice in your local coffee shop (where writers are known to hang out) or library to help generate interest.

Connecting with other writers is a great way to get sympathy on a bad day, get over a rejection quicker, and receive an honest critique of your writing. The best part is being surrounded by people who know exactly what you’re going through. Writing, even for the business world, is often connected to emotions, so having a group of like-minded people you can share your triumphs and frustrations with will help you put the ups and downs in perspective.

More on Writers Groups:

• The Complete Guide to Writers Groups That Work
• No Red Pen – Writers, Writing Groups & Critique
• Writer’s Workshops Book 2

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Ever had to drop a client? It stinks. I don’t know of a single writer that likes to do it. First of all, writers are usually very paranoid about dropping clients because they’re always afraid they won’t find another one. (Or maybe that’s just me.) Second of all, ending a client relationship is a form of conflict and who likes that? Nobody.

In the past I’ve had to drop clients for a lot of different reasons. Sometimes my schedule was just too full and since I had too many projects, I couldn’t give the proper attention to certain clients. Other times, the client didn’t pay on time (which as a business person I can’t deal with), and other times a client may be have been just too difficult to continue working with.

Regardless of the reason, ending a client relationship is never easy. Freelancers need to be especially mindful of how they say goodbye to a customer.

Resignation Letter

Freelancers should treat their client relationships the same as if they were an employee of an organization. Proper notice of at least two weeks is customary, but may be much longer depending on certain project work.

A letter of resignation can be just as important as the initial contract. Writers should state when they are leaving, which projects have been completed, and any other pertinent information that may help a client move on from the situation. Writers should make sure the resignation is respectful and positive, as it will likely be one of the last pieces of communication the client keeps.

Reasons for Ending the Partnership

As with romantic breakups, ending a client relationship is all about form. Never use it as an opportunity to trash the client. Word-of-mouth can always help a freelance writer get new jobs, so they should prevent burning a bridge even when ending a relationship. Freelancers can be honest with a client, but must do it in a professional and respective way.

For example, it’s perfectly acceptable for a writer to tell a client that he or she is moving on from the relationship due to financial circumstances. Clients that consistently ask for more work with less pay need to understand that writers have to make a living. If the client cannot pay the writer, the writer must get clients that can. This is a lesson for both the client and the writer.

In the case of a problem client, the writer should merely say that he or she is moving on to focus on a select number of clients for the time being. Never complain about a client’s behavior unless it is completely unprofessional, such as: excessive calls during off-hours, sexual harassment, inappropriate comments, or refusal to pay for work. Even then, writers should handle the situation with grace and resist the urge to angrily tell someone off.

Get a Referral Letter

If the client relationship has been a positive one, freelance writers should ask for a referral. I’ll admit, I never think to do this myself. It isn’t until I’m applying for something else that it comes to mind. So if you can get one before you walk away from the client, that’s probably better than after.

A good way to do this is to draft a sample letter of reference that a client can copy and add his or her personal remarks to. This can also speed up the process of gaining a reference since the client does not have to write it from scratch. Drafting up a sample is also an easy way to show exactly what the writer is looking for in terms of a reference, and it helps reinforce the ending of the relationship.

Have you had to dump a client? What lessons did you learn from it?

Promote Your Book!

• 21 Ways to Promote Your Book on Twitter
• Virtual Book Tours

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Recently I got some really good news about an article I did, and I wanted to share it with someone. But then, I’m working at home. Sometimes I go to a coffee shop, but even then I wouldn’t have just waltzed up to a stranger and said “Hey, guess what just happened to me!”

But lucky for me, I have a few people I can call when I need a human (a real human, not just a Twitter or Facebook human) connection, and I called up another writer friend who lives across the country, but who I’ve chatted with numerous times. We like to encourage each other. I shared my news with her, and she said, “Wow, so I’m your virtual cube mate?”  What a cute way to look at it.

Importance of Virtual Cube Mates

I think it’s extremely important to have people you can call up and also see face-to-face when you’re a writer. Never underestimate how important a human connection is as a writer. A lot of writers, especially when you’re working full-time, are very isolated. We’re also people who enjoy spending time to ourselves, but we need to break that up with real people now and then. It’s one thing to post something on Facebook and get a “great job” or “like” but another entirely to hear the voice of a friend tell us they are happy for us.

Finding Virtual Cube Mates

In the case of my virtual cube mate above, we met through a mutual client. The thing is, we live across the country. Even with that, we’ve talked many times. In fact, both of us prefer to chat via the phone instead of email. It’s just different when you can hear someone’s voice.

Mutual clients or writing sites are a great way to find virtual cube mates. Here are some others:

• Writers groups
• Meetup groups (your cube mate doesn’t have to be another writer)
• Friends from old jobs (from before you were a writer)
• Others who are at home during the day (shift workers or stay at home parents)
• Church

Making the Most of Your Virtual Cube Mate

Of course, being a virtual cube mate means you have to be a friend, too. So make the most of your relationship by reciprocating the goodwill. So be available for your virtual cube mate, offer cheer, and most importantly, listen. See how this type of relationship can make you a more complete person and better writer.

More on Working Remotely:

• The Virtual Office Survival Handbook: What Telecommuters and Entrepreneurs Need to Succeed in Today’s Nontraditional Workplace
• Flex: The Virtual Office Advantage
• So You Want to Work from Home without Leaving Your Current Job: Business Essentials for Working Remotely

Julie Jarnagin writes inspirational romance and is a self-proclaimed plotting addict. (I love that, don’t you? LOL) She earned a B.A. in Journalism/Professional Writing from the University of Oklahoma and is a member of America Christian Fiction Writers. Enjoy learning more about her writing process:

Do you tend to write nonfiction or fiction?

When I was younger, I always thought I would write nonfiction, but I finally found my home writing inspirational romance.

How long does it take you to finish a book?

It takes me between a month and a month and a half to write a first draft, but it usually takes me anywhere from three to nine months to edit it, depending on the length of the book and whether or not I’m on a deadline.

What’s your usual approach? Seat of your pants? Outline?

I’m a very detailed outliner. I have a spreadsheet where I list every scene with its POV character, setting, goal, conflict, and disaster (or the reaction, dilemma, and decision if it’s a sequel). I spend about a month brainstorming and plotting before I ever begin writing.

How many rough drafts do you usually go through before you’re satisfied with the final version?

I write a rough first draft. Then I go through an intensive round of rewrites. My final stage is reading through the manuscript several times to polish the writing.

Do you have someone you give your manuscript to for feedback before you give it to an editor or agent?

I have critique partners who read one or two chapters at a time. They’re amazing, and I don’t know what I would do without them.

Sometimes writers get so close to a piece that they aren’t good at judging what needs to stay and what should be edited out. How do you get perspective when this happens?

My critique partners help a lot with this. They are honest when telling me something isn’t working. It also helps for me to step away from a chapter for awhile. When I look at it with a fresh eye, I can see it more clearly. Because of my detailed plotting process, I have less to delete than I think I would if I were a seat of the pants writer. I have my story structure pretty pinned down before I begin writing.

What’s your latest project?

I just finished a series of contemporary romances with Heartsong Presents, Canyon Walls, Canyon Crossing and Canyon Café. Now I’m working on a full-length contemporary romance titled The Wedding Chapel.

Where can we catch up with you online?

I love to connect with writers and readers online:

www.JulieJarnagin.com

www.JulieJWrites.blogspot.com

www.twitter.com/JulieJarnagin

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Julie-Jarnagin-Books/118825474838968