Author Archive for Laura Spencer
I am a successful freelance writer with 20 years of copy writing experience. I am available for consulting, business writing, copy writing, editing, technical writing, and web content writing. In addition, I have written an ebook, How To Start A Freelance Writing Business, to help new writers.
Over 12 Must-Read Posts That I Wrote Especially for Writers
Some of you already know that I blog at a few other places besides WritingThoughts. I usually try to concentrate my writing advice here, but over the past few months quite a few of my posts on writing have been published elsewhere.
Why Not Everyone Should Be a Freelance Writer
Over and over again, I hear about the low barrier to freelance writing. Many folks, it seems, have the opinion that just about anyone can become a freelance writer.
I think this popular opinion is a misperception.
Is Blogging Journalism?
This question about blogging just keeps coming up. I’ve encountered it at least three times in the last month. I guess that’s a good sign that the topic should be addressed.
A lot of people seem to get blogging wrong. Companies get it wrong when they use their blog to simply publish their press releases. Individuals and companies both get it wrong when they turn off comments or otherwise fail to engage the reader.
Should Writers Be Paid by Word Count?
A common way of listing (and paying for) writing jobs is by word count. (For example: $XX.00 for 800 words.) I’ve even bid on writing projects using this method myself.
But, the other day I stopped in mid-bid. Does bidding on writing jobs by word count really make sense?
Should You Write Your Own Copy?
You own a business. You have a product or service that you need to sell. Chances are that you need to have some copy written–whether it be for your website, a sales brochure, a press release, or just a good standard follow-up letter that you can use often with prospects.
My Very First Professional Writing Gig Ever (Looking Back)
Getting started as a professional writer can be difficult.
I know I’ve been asked how I got started as a writer before. I’ve always answered in a very general way that I thought would help the most people. I don’t think I’ve ever shared the full story of how I landed my very first paid writing position, though.
Until today…
Are You Trapped in the Writing Web?
Do you feel like there’s nothing available for freelance writers except for low paying web content writing jobs?
Are you frustrated and beyond frustrated because every single client seems to want to argue about rates?
Does it seem like you’re working as hard as you can and getting nowhere?
Debunking the Freelance Writers as Corporate Trash Myth
I can’t believe I’ve been freelancing all this time (over seven years) and I haven’t really run into this myth before. Apparently, some folks believe that those of us who freelance are doing so because we are unable to do anything else. In other words, we couldn’t quite make it in the corporate world and therefore we must freelance because that’s the only thing left for us to do.
When Miscommunications Happen
We writers are communicators, so misunderstandings should never happen — right?
Wrong!
No matter how clearly you write, sooner or later someone is going to misunderstand something that you’ve written. It’s bound to happen.
Eight Reasons Why Editing Is a Whole Lot Harder Than You Think It Is…
Editing is hard work.
I read complaints about editors on forums and on blogs all the time. While I realize that sometimes a particular editor may be unfair, there are other times when I just have to wonder what the writer was thinking.
The way I look at it, if someone is paying you to write, then they have the right to ask that your work be edited.
