Resources for writers

As I began rebuilding my writing career here in the States, there were a number of things I needed to do in order to better position myself for success. New writers, and even experienced ones, benefit from updating their skills, learning new strategy, and revamping their branding. For me I had been marketing to and writing for European publications for nearly five years. It was time to reintroduce myself to the American market.

Along with tweaking a few pages on my website and refreshing my resume, I spent considerable time researching freelance writing rates, best practices, and ways to polish my professional brand. Here are some great articles and resources for writers that I have unearthed so that you don’t have to.

Updating your writing website:

Putting Together A Freelance Portfolio – Freelance Writing
“Although these tips are optimized for writers, they are applicable for almost any type of freelancer whether your field is SEO, graphic design, or even architecture.”

How to use your author website to get readers to care about you as a writer – Web Design Relief
Encourages us “to create a narrative that hooks the reader, raises curiosity, elicits empathy, and leaves the reader satisfied. But have you ever considered how these fundamentals of storytelling can be harnessed to improve your author website?”

Five ways to attract clients with your writer’s website – Elna Cain
This is a little pearl that I discovered while surfing the internet for best practices on writer’s websites. Even as an experienced writer, I benefited from Elna Cain’s wisdom. Check her out.

How to get visitors to spend more time on your site – Web Design Relief writes that the average bounce rate for an author website is about 56%. Here’s how to get readers to hang around.

Business Practices for Writers:

Go Freelance – Mediabistro
Journalism advice, Business practices. An outstanding resource

A Freelancer’s Letter of Introduction – The Balance
How to craft a solid letter of introduction and how it differs from a the pitch or query letter.

What every freelancer should know – Business News Daily
Some good suggestions on building a community, joining a writer’s union, and keeping the pipeline full.

Three examples of Writing Pitches That Sold – The Write Life
Lisa Rowan provides helpful suggestions on how to craft the perfect pitch.

Getting Paid to Write Personal Essays – Make a Living Writing
For those of us who have had unique experiences or perspectives. Here are 16 publications that pay for personal essays.

Freelance Writing. I’ve been getting newsletters from Freelance Writing forever. Articles, tutorials, resources and job listings keep you on top of your game. Some of my favorite articles include a 12 Point Checklist for Writing Feature Articles  and How to set Your Freelance Rates.

The State of Freelance Writing 2017 – Freelance Writing
FreelanceWriting.com ran a survey from April 10th to May 9th, titled “The State of Freelance Writing, 2017.” The results revealed a tremendous amount about the state of freelance writing and what being a freelance writer is like, especially in terms of earnings and lifestyle.

Writing with Style:

The Write Practice. I’ve been getting Joe Bunting’s newsletters for some time now. He and his team will guide you in developing your writing style, your voice, and your identity as a writer.

How Creative Subheadings Can Make or Break Your Content – The Write Life
Beyond the headline, getting your readers hooked.
https://thewritelife.com/creative-subheadings/

Research:

The 2018 Writer’s Market. The source to guide you with thousands of publishing opportunities–including listings for book publishers, consumer and trade magazines, contests and awards, and literary agents. These listings feature contact and submission information so you can get started right away.

The Journalist’s Resource is a gold mine of reliable research as well as inspiration for your next freelance article. A project of the Harvard Kennedy School’s Shorenstein Center and the Carnegie-Knight Initiative, Journalist’s Resource is an open-access site that curates scholarly studies and reports.

Help a Reporter Out. HARO provides journalists with a robust database of sources for upcoming stories and daily opportunities for sources to secure valuable media coverage.

You can also follow me at Flipboard where I regularly update my magazine The Writer’s Corner with articles and resources for a writer’s life.

Lisa Mikulski is an international writer/photographer based in Boston, MA. Available for print or online publications. Editorial, features, content development, and creative. Contact me to discuss your story.