Don’t forget…our comments contest will end when I log on Thursday morning, November 1st. The person with the most comments since I announced this month’s contest on the 11th, will receive a $25 Amazon gift certificate. Don’t judge it by the standings in the sidebar! This is anyone’s race. The person who comments the most between November 1st and November 30th will win a one year subscription to Writer’s Digest. Good luck!

As promised, we’ll continue to do this once or twice a week as long as we have letters. Dear [always try for the name of an actual person in Design/Production]:   I am a freelance book designer and page layout artist. My experience goes back almost 15 years, working for book publishers, university presses, associations, book packagers, and a science journal publisher. For the latter I did layout of a slate of thirteen science journals. The publisher was in Florida. I worked from my studio on Long Island in New York.   My most recent work includes page design and [Read more…]

Leads… Information Technology Freelance Writer @ Hound.com Freelance Writer @ The Press of Atlantic City Freelance Writers @ The Texas Education Association News Writers @ Voice of America Copy Writer for Ad Agency – Lantana, FL Freelance Marketing Writer – Baltimore, MD Freelance Copywriter – Pharmaceutical Advertising – Philadelphia Web Content Writer – Contract – Houston ($30-$45/hour) Experienced Freelance Writers for Home/Lifestyle Magazine Jam Band Blogger @ b5 Media New York Music Scene Blogger @ b5 Media Rostra Blogging Seeks Bloggers for Tech, Products, Entertainment, Sports, and More Busy Mac Blog Needs Writers New York City Blogger @ b5 Media [Read more…]

It’s letter time again. Judging from some of my mail, this is your favorite part of the week. As always, I’m happy to oblige. If you do send mail, please let me know if you DON’T want to see your letters posted. This will save me the time of writing to everyone to ask permission. Thanks. Here are this week’s letters: Yes, these cover letter clinics have been very helpful! I’d love to see more of this on your (immensely helpful!) website. Thanks for all your hard work! Lauren Thanks, Laura. We’ll feature a couple of cover letters a week. [Read more…]

So…social networking. Yesterday I posted the benefits of social networking, but I didn’t explain what exactly it is, and how one goes about doing it. I keep forgetting you’re not all inside my head reading my mind. Really, it would make my job easier if you’d all learn to do that. Until you can read my mind, I’ll offer up a few FAQ’s. What is social networking? Social networking is communicating online. It’s what we do here in the comments, or by participating in forums. It’s using instant messaging and chat rooms to speak with others, and blogs such as [Read more…]

Social networking is important to me, and I credit it as the reason for my blogs’ popularity. It serves several purposes, it allows me to communicate with other grownups throughout the day, easing the loneliness of working at home. It allows me to promote my work, and it turns me on to new people, places and things. I think any professional blogger needs to be heavily involved in social networking to be a success. Here’s the thing… Social networking has become another great way to procrastinate. Whereas I used to visit a couple of online message boards and blogs for [Read more…]

This is my keyboard. The E, A, S, N and D keys are missing and the O and R keys are going. Is it because I use them most or because I type those keys harder? According to one bit of trivia, E is the most often used letter in the English language and Q is the least popular. I’ll tell you what, all these missing letters guarantee no one uses my keyword but me. Oh and this computer is only about three years old.

Please bear with me today – my cable keeps going. Again. I’m going to post as fast as I can so I can get some work done before it goes again. The person who sent in today’s letter actually sent in two, but I’m going to only post one at a time to keep things less confusing. People are still sending in letters, so don’t think there’s a cut off. I’ll keep this going as long as you like. Though I think I’m going to mix it up a bit only do the clinics a couple of times a week [Read more…]

Leads… Freelance Medical Writer – Sacramento Freelance Writers @ Wisconsin Law Journal Looking for a Creative Writer for Two-Week Assignment – New York Freelance Copywriters/Proofreaders Needed – Reading, PA Bloggers @ 451 Press AmericanProfile.com Accepting Queries from Freelancers Army Magazine Accepting Queries/Submissions Black Belt Magazine Accepting Queries – $150-$300 for a feature article w/ photos New “Loft Life” Atlanta Based Magazine Looking for Bloggers ($25 per post) Technical Writer – Contract Position Writers Needed – Contract – Wellesley/Boston ($40/hour) Denver Neighborhood Writer Needed ($500) Online Vocabulary Reviewers ($20 per hour) Freelance Wellness Writers – Hoboken Skilled SEO Copywriter @ Gigmaster.com [Read more…]

Ok, comments seem to be fixed. If you can, stop by yesterday’s cover letter clinic since we had issues. Here’s today’s victim… Hello! I read your ad on Craigslist seeking an experienced, creative editor to polish your ____ word novel. If you haven’t already found someone to work with, I would love to help you strengthen and develop your work before you submit it to prospective agents and/or publishers. I’m the owner of Austin-based (withheld), and am passionate about helping writers tell their stories in a way that best represents their voice and vision. I have a Bachelor’s degree in [Read more…]

Leads… Freelance Science/Medical Writer – Seattle Freelance Writer @ RetailFit.com Freelance Writers for NFL Features – All NFL Cities Freelance Web Writer @ The Mount Sinai Medical Center Freelance Copyeditor @ Billboard Magazine – New York Freelance Writers and/or Financial Journalists – New York Freelancer/Contributors for NY-Based Magazine Freelance Editor @ Mochila – The Media Marketplace Bloggers Wanted for Existing Deal, Coupon, Shopping Blog Copyeditor/Blogger @ TopSpeed.com E-commerce Copywriter/Editor Technical Writer – Healthcare Grant Writer @ Northern California University Technical Writer for Software/Editor for Website Personal Finance Blogger @ MoneySocket.com Restaurant Reviewer Case Studies/Technical Copywriter Needed Grow to Be Magazine [Read more…]

Is anyone else having or still having comment issues?

Good morning all. I’m a little cranky this morning. I used an online discount airline place to book my flight to blog expo, and after I changed the flight they socked me with hundreds of dollars in fees. A lesson to you – always read the small print! Anyway, back to our cover letter clinic. The response has been quite positive. And remember, if you want to ask an editor questions regarding hiring practices, Ann MacDonald from LoveToKnow has agreed to do a Q&A. Send me any questions for forwarding. Let’s get it on… Dear Editor(s), I am writing to [Read more…]

Leads… Freelance Copywriter @ Xacti Corporation Finacial Market Freelance Writers Wanted Freelance Writers for Christian Publishing Company Playground and Park Reviews – Fort Worth ($20 per review) Business Plan Writer – Part-Time/Contract Article Writers – Job and Career Topics @ JobMonkey.com ($20 for 600 words) Writing Project – Careers in the Oil and Gas Industry ($665-760 – $19/250 words; 35-40 pages needed) Destination Blogger – Phoenix Freelance Proofreader @ The After-School Corporation (TASC) – New York ($20-$30 per hour) Freelance Writers @ Forum West – New York ($25 for 500-750 words) Freelance Writer @ River Falls Journal Seeking Freelance Writer/Research [Read more…]

Blogging Jobs are up at About Weblogs. Good luck!

Dear Deb, I see lots of bloggers are now posting job leads. Since you are the first blogger to do this how do you feel about the copycats? Some of them are obvious and blatant rip-offs. Don’t you get frustrated when people can’t come up with their own original ideas? You’re still the best! Regards, Beth Hi Beth, I think there’s room for all of us! If others can make it work, why not? Thanks, Deb Hello, Deb! I have a quick question for you and I would love to hear opinions about this incident. I saw a job I [Read more…]

I have over 300 blogs saved on my Bloglines. As you can imagine, it’s a lot to keep up with. Saturday mornings, while the rest of the world is sleeping late, I like to enjoy a cup of coffee and catch up. Here are some cool links – some have to do with writing, some don’t and some are blatant self promotion. Visit the ones you like and share your own link love in the comments. My latest blog is called Hygenie. A fun look at germs, bacteria and anything hygiene related. Do check it out. The cover letters featured [Read more…]

We have enough cover letters to continue this on through next week. I want to thank not only those who are helping to critique the cover letters, but also those brave souls who sent cover letters in so we can take a look. This week has been enjoyable and informative. Let’s get it on: Dear Ms. Name Withheld, I’m writing in regards to the job posting for a freelance Copy Editor with publishing company. This position fits my desire to continue in the freelance copyediting industry, as well as my experience working on magazines with Southern flavor. I have been [Read more…]

My friend and colleague at Writer’s Row, Ann MacDonald is also managing editor for LoveToKnow. Ann hires many writers and sees dozens of applications, resumes and cover letters each week. Ann has also graciously agreed to answer our questions regarding what editors look for in cover letters, applications, resumes, samples, etc. We need to act fast for this Q&A, however. Ann will be unavailable to us after November 1st. Please send questions to deborahng(at)gmail(dot)com within the next week and Ann will be happy to shed some light on our many questions.

Leads… Freelance Content Author – Los Angeles Freelance Writer @ WJLA – Newschannel 8 – Arlington, VA The Current Newspapers Seeks Freelance Writers – Features Section – Washington, D.C. Restaurant Reviewers Wanted @ East Bay Express – Emeryville, CA Project Manager Blogger @ b5 Media Men’s Shopping/Fashion/Style Bloggers Design Blogger @ Yanko Design Business Writer for Ongoing Part-Time Assignment ($200 per project) Business Article Writers for Website ($25) Creative Fantasy Writer for Fairy Name Generator ($100-$200 for the project) Seeking Several Freelance Writers/Bloggers Music Website Seeking Writer Grant Researcher and Writer Neurological Med-Quick Guide Writer ($15/hour) Freelance Writers for Local [Read more…]

I want to thank everyone who is offering kind but constructive criticism. I think we’re all learning so much with this, don’t you? I am looking to get someone who is in a position to hire writers to do a Q&A with us about cover letters and samples. I’ll keep you posted. Let’s get it on: Dear Hiring Manager: I am writing to you in response to the advertisement that your company posted on website.com, for a freelance writer. I have included my resume and samples of my work and I am confident that you will find my skills to [Read more…]