We Get Letters…

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. I think everyone got “cover lettered” out when I posted them every day.

Deb

Dear Deborah,

I’m bored with your cover letter clinic. Can we move on now? We get it. Short…sweet…talk about the client.

George

Hi George,

At least I know you’re paying attention.

Deb

Dear Deb,

I really look forward to reading the new freelance job postings every morning. I’ve gotten 3 great gigs in the last two weeks from your blog, and have just received another assignment from one of my clients!

Thanks again and keep up the great work.

Debi

Hi Debi,

That’s awesome! I’m thrilled you found jobs through this blog. I never get tired of success stories so keep them coming!

Congratulations,

Deb

Hi Deb,

First, thanks for all the great links you post. I really enjoy checking in to see what you’ve got!

I’m writing to you about one of the letters you posted today (from the mailbag, as they would say). Danielle asked whether she should try writing for blogs that pay a percentage of revenue rather than a rate per post or hour or something more specific. In general, I agree with your statement that you shouldn’t really work for those kind of “we’ll pay you whatever” sites. However, I noticed that Danielle said she’s just starting out in freelance writing but still has a full-time job. I wonder if in a case like this, where she’s not dependent on freelancing for her income, it might not be a good idea for her to be selective, choose a site where she thinks she can shine and do some writing there regardless of how it pays. That will allow her to build up a portfolio, you might say–some samples that she can submit to other sites to show she’s actually done this kind of work for someone else. That would help her with the eternal catch-22 of getting any kind of job: no one wants to look at you unless you can prove you have experience…so how do you get experience? I know we don’t want to devalue ourselves as writers, but you have to start somewhere (full disclosure: I also act and actors do an awful lot of shows for free just to fill up their resumes and network. It’s just considered part of the process).

Just a thought.

Thanks!

Kirsten

Hi Kirsten,

It’s a great thought. A lot of people use “percentage pay” type sites to start out, and I don’t discourage it. I do want the writer to be aware of what she’s getting into, however. If you accept a percentage of revenue for pay, be aware your earnings may total nothing. I built up my blogging portfolio with this blog. I learned about building traffic and revenue and best of all, I got to keep all of the advertising dollars, but not everyone wants to take three years to build a blog, either.

I maintain that one can still build up a portfolio while earning decent money. It takes a lot of time, however. If you’d rather get your start with someone paying a percentage, go for it.

Thanks for your insight,

Deb

I believe on one of the threads on your blog a while back, someone (was it you?) mentioned charging rush order fees. I am thinking of starting to do that, and want to get a feel for how much is standard. Would this make a good discussion thread on your blog? If not, I’d love to at least find out your thoughts on the matter.

I usually don’t have a big problem with rush orders, but I got two this week, one of which is a major pain and definitely could have been prevented had the client thought about the need for a press release before they launched the product! I’m thinking it’s definitely time to institute a rush-order fee. (

Sincerely,

Katharine

Hi Katharine,

I always add a “rush” fee. If a client is expecting his project to be front and center, and you’ll have to backburner other clients and obligations to get the job done in a hurry, of course you should ask for extra.

Many other businesses slap you with a rush charge or overnight shipping charge, writers should feel free to do the same.

Best,

Deb

Deborah,

Are you what’s considered an “A” list blogger?

Sami

Hi Sami,

I think I’m somewhere on the D list.

Deb