To be honest, I wasn’t sure if I should continue to post weekly letters. My poll tells me you really don’t like reading the reader mail, yet I received a flood of emails requesting I continue because it’s one of your favorite reasons to visit. I’ll just throw this out there and see what happens.

I usually get one or two letters a month regarding my last name and heritage. The past couple of weeks sent a storm of emails asking how I pronounce my name, where I was born and what dialect I speak. So here it is for the record, my last name is pronounced “ing”, I was born in Queens, New York and that is the dialect I speak.

Here’s some more mail:

Hi Deb. Cute kitties! I have a question about blogging vs. freelancing. I recently left my full time writing job (at an ad agency) after 14 years to freelance full time. I already had a few freelance clients, and, in the five weeks between the time I gave notice and actually left my job, I was able to build up my network of clients to the point where I’m going to be making more money this month (and next, I think) than I did at my job. Great, right?

The rub is that I left my job for a few reasons: 1) to work less and be with my family more (so far that’s not happening!); 2) to be more fulfilled by what I do; and 3) to be more in charge of my own future.

I’ve always been a writer, and I know that’s what I want to do. The type of writing … well, that’s not as clear. So, I have just come up with an idea for what I think could be a great blog. A great and potentially lucrative blog. A great and potentially lucrative, and really relevant blog. I have tons of experience writing about the industry in question, and have contacts that I hope would lead to advertisements on the site. But, as all of my writing over the years has been in advertising, marketing, newspapers, and magazines, the amount of info I have about how to run a blog is zip.

I don’t even know where to begin. I’ve started researching, but that is an anxiety-producing experience in and of itself. Despite my fear of the great blog unknown, the opportunity to truly develop and run my own thing, and be in charge of my own future, is sooo intriguing.

So, my question is this: do I go for it? And, if so, how?

I so appreciate any advice you have.

Thanks so much.

Jaymi

Dear Jaymi,

If you feel the time is right, then you should go for it. Don’t enter into it blind, however. Learn as much as you can about blogging first. I started FWJ almost three years ago without knowing a thing about blogs – I wonder if I took time to research in the beginning if I would have caught on quicker?

Even so, blogging takes time. It takes months, if not years, to build up traffic and revenue. By all means, go for it, but please don’t be disappointed if you don’t have hundreds of readers in the first few months. Most bloggers are lucky to have a couple of hundred readers after a few years.

The best of luck to you!

Deb

Dear Deb,

I read recently (on another forum) that your traffic and revenue took a big nose dive in November and you’re paying Jodee out of your pocket and taking a loss. First I want to know if you believe it’s due to all of the copycat blogs muscling in on your territory (you were the first, right?) and second I want to tell you how much admire you for keeping this blog going even though you’re losing money.

Sincerely,

Melissa M.

Hi Melissa,

Yes, my traffic and revenue took an enormous hit this month, but I don’t think it has anything to do with the other terrific writing blogs. I think it’s more from my changing the domain and moving away from Writer’s Row. I honestly believe there’s room in the blogosphere for all of us.

 Hopefully in a couple of months FWJ will be operating in the black again.

Thank you for your kind words!

Best,

Deb

Dear Deborah,

I see from your poll many of your readers like the cover letter clinics least of all. Please don’t stop with your cover letter clinic. It taught me so much I really think it helped me get a job.

Thank you,

Martin

Dear Martin,

Congratulations! I hope it’s a great job with a long lasting, regular client. Like the reader mail, I get mixed signals with the cover letter clinics. Some people find them useful, others are bored.  Maybe I’ll make it a monthly thing instead of a weekly thing. I really do aim to please.

Best,

Deb

Hello Deb,

I am wondering if you could help me clear up some boundaries of the online world. I’ve worked in newspapers and we never use photos unless they were taken by in-house photographers, are on a wire we subscribe to or are given to the paper for PR reasons ( i.e. mugshots of sports teams). I have read a lot of blogs recently and it seems that many sites will pull photos or even video found elsewhere on the Web - particularly blogs on TV shows, etc. Is it OK to use photos that are published by the “product” you are writing about ( i.e. a television show, hotel, etc.)? I have always been of the mind that you must contact the source and get permission to use such materials.

Thanks!

DLM

Hi D –

I’m not an expert on photo copyright. I know a lot of bloggers and webmasters like to use   image sites such as Morgue File or Stock Xchnge. In many cases you’re free to use the image as long as you notify the photographer. Sometimes you don’t even need to do that. You may also use album covers, book covers, magazine covers, etc. If you see an image on a website or blog you’d like to use for your own blog, contact the owner and ask who owns the copyright, then ask the owner for permission.

Hope that helps,

Deb