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11 Urgent Questions to Ask Before You Hire a Writing Coach

11 Urgent Questions to Ask Before You Hire a Writing Coach

Earn More: How to Choose a Writing Coach. Makealivingwriting.com

Have you ever wondered whether you could achieve your freelance dreams a lot faster if you hired a writing coach?

Spoiler: You definitely could. I know because I’ve been coaching freelance writers for about 5 years now.

But.

There are a ton of people on the interwebs today, offering to coach you to freelance success. How do you know if a particular coach could help you, or if you’d be wasting your money?

Remember, there is no official freelance-writing coach school. Anybody can hang out a shingle.

Since a key part of my mission is helping writers avoid ripoffs and scams, I offer this guide to vetting a writing coach. It’s derived from my experiences on both sides of the table, as I’m not just a coach myself but have also productively invested about $20,000+ hiring coaches during my career.

Yes, I know this list means you may ask me tougher questions before you hire me as a coach. I say: Bring it on.

What do you need to know before you hire a writing coach? Here are 11 key question to ask:

Two $120K Earners Reveal Exactly How They Make Money Writing

Two $120K Earners Reveal Exactly How They Make Money Writing

Do you wonder sometimes if it's really possible to make money writing? I'm talking good money, not the kind that barely covers a weekly latte. I meet a lot of writers who believe reliable writing income that truly pays your bills is an urban myth, like alligators in...

The Unexpected Path to Becoming a Six-Figure Freelance Writer

The Unexpected Path to Becoming a Six-Figure Freelance Writer

Follow the Six-Figure Freelance Writer Path. Makealivingwriting.com

Ever wonder if there’s a well-trodden path to being a six-figure freelance writer?

You know…a step-by-step plan, without any twists and turns, that leads you straight to that sought-after income goal for a lot of freelance writers.

If you’re just starting out or you’ve been a freelance writer for some time, you’ve probably experienced the ups and downs of freelancing. It’s part of the gig.

So how do you get to be a six-figure freelance writer?

Here’s the thing. There’s more than one way to get there. Everybody’s path is a little different.

In fact, one freelancer almost gave up on writing for a living to teach English in Asia. And then unexpectedly found her way back.

At first it was a rough and winding road that included a stint on food stamps. But she hustled. She worked hard. She got some help along the way. Last year she broke the six-figure mark as a freelance writer. And so can you.

Want to be a six-figure freelance writer? The path is this way…

Three Magical Words to Earn More as a Freelance Writer

Three Magical Words to Earn More as a Freelance Writer

Freelance Writer Income - 3 Magical Words to Earn More. Makealivingwriting.com

What if there were some magical words you could utter as a freelance writer and earn more money?

You’d probably chant those words in front of the mirror, calling on the Money Fairy to grant your freelance writer wish.

But in reality, it probably sounds too good to be true. Right?

That’s what I thought when I quit my job as a business reporter to be a full-time freelance writer. It seemed like every day was a hustle, and earning more money meant working more hours.

But then something happened.

A prospect called to see if I could do some writing work for them. I took a deep breath, and then I uttered three magical words that unlock the key to making more money as a freelance writer.

Do you know what those words are?

“I’m fully booked.”

This might not be on your radar as a freelance writing goal. But trust me, when you can start telling prospects this, you’re on the edge of a major breakthrough as a freelance writer.

Here’s what happens to your business when you’re fully booked:

Free Review: Here’s a Chance to Buff Up Your Pitch Letter

Free Review: Here’s a Chance to Buff Up Your Pitch Letter

Offer: Help to Buff Up Your Pitch Letter. Makealivingwriting.com

You write a pitch letter, send it off, and get nothing.

That ever happened to you? Every freelance writer knows what it’s like.

You crank out queries and letters of introduction to editors and marketing managers.

You try some heavy-lifting techniques to engage prospects and land assignments.

You even flex your writing muscles and try different approaches to crafting pitch letters.

You hustle.

That’s exactly what you should be doing. But your pitch has to be strong enough to get noticed.

If your pitch letter is weak, it’s gonna feel a lot like working out at the gym, even though you’re not really sure if what you’re doing is working.

And that’s not what you want. You want to connect with prospects, land assignments, and make a living writing. Right?

If you’re not getting the results you want when you send a pitch letter, it’s time to get some help.

Ready to buff up your pitch letter? Here’s a chance for a free review:

Freelance Writing Game Plan: 5 Plays to Boost Productivity + Income

Freelance Writing Game Plan: 5 Plays to Boost Productivity + Income

Follow This Freelance Writing Game Plan. Makealivingwriting.com

What’s your freelance writing game plan?

If it’s “keep your butt in the chair,” that might not be enough to help you win at freelance writing.

That advice translates to: Stay focused and avoid distractions. It works. But only if you’re completing work that deserves to be done in the first place.

I’m talking about work or tasks that further your writing career, such as posts for your blog, podcast interviews, letters of introduction to prospects, and of course client work you’re getting paid for.

But spending hours researching a 200-word article or shopping online for office supplies? I don’t think so.

If you want to get more out of the time you spend writing, researching, and marketing your freelance writing skills, you need a game plan.

Want to see my playbook for earning a six-figure income as a freelance writer?

Here’s how it’s done:

Quit Your Job: Inside My Low-Risk Leap Strategy to Full-Time Freelancing

Quit Your Job: Inside My Low-Risk Leap Strategy to Full-Time Freelancing

The Freelancer's Low-Risk Leap Strategy to Quit Your Job. Makealivingwriting.com

Ready to quit your job for full-time freelancing? Hold on just a second ghostrider.

If you’ve got nerves of steel, piles of money in the bank, or you’re living rent free in your sister’s basement, go for it.

Or if you stare in the mirror every day and recite this old-school pro wrestler’s mantra: “I dine on danger and snack on death,” maybe you’ve got the guts to quit your job and walk out.

That wasn’t me. I’ve got plenty of hustle and freelanced on the side for years.But making the leap from a job as a staff writer to full-time freelancing felt a little too risky. As in three kids, a mortgage, pending divorce, life…

Sound familiar?

If you’re a risk-averse freelancer, you need to find a practical way to quit your job for full-time freelancing with the least financial impact as possible.

When I finally walked away from my day job last year, I already had $4,000 in monthly freelance contracts lined up, and I’ve made more than that every month since.

Want to know how I did it? Here’s my low-risk leap strategy to full-time freelancing:

Stop Hearing Crickets: These Pitch Changes Get You More Writing Jobs

Stop Hearing Crickets: These Pitch Changes Get You More Writing Jobs

Hearing Crickets? One Change Gets More Writing Jobs. Makealivingwriting.com

Are you desperate to find more good-paying writing jobs?

I hear from a lot of writers who send out pitch after pitch…and hear absolutely nothing back. Crickets.

Recently, I met a writer who said they had sent 800 pitch letters out, and gotten zero responses!

That’s just wrong.

If you never get a response to your pitches — even just to say, “We don’t use freelancers” or “We already have this topic assigned” — you’ve got big trouble.

Stop what you’re doing. It’s time to re-assess.

Getting off the intermediary places like Upwork, content mills, and Craigslist ads, is key to earning better rates. To do that, you’ve got to be able to target better-caliber clients you want, pitch them, and get them to say ‘yes.’

If you’ve been hearing crickets from your pitches, and you’re confused about how to change things, good news: there are basically only three things you can do to make this better. The road to a better response rate isn’t complicated.

There are three big levers you can throw to improve your situation. Ready to start getting more responses, client meetings, and assignments?

Here are the only three things to focus on, if your pitches aren’t getting results:

Hunting for Work? 15 Tips to Track Down Freelance Writing Jobs

Hunting for Work? 15 Tips to Track Down Freelance Writing Jobs

How to Track Down Freelance Writing Jobs. Makealivingwriting.com

Are you on the hunt for freelance writing jobs?

If you’re not looking in the right places, you might spend a lot of time chasing tracks that lead to nowhere.

Maybe you’re in a barren client landscape. Or you’re surrounded by hoards of other hunters looking for freelance writing jobs. Or maybe you took a wrong turn, and you’re completely lost.

It happens. But don’t panic. All you need to do is reorient yourself and get back on track.

If you haven’t seen any well-paying freelance writing jobs lately, it doesn’t mean they’re not out there. In fact, there’s more than enough to go around in almost every niche.

So how do you track down good freelance writing jobs? Use these tips to find work. Happy hunting.

Earn Money Blogging: 3 Ways I Get $500+ Per Blog Post

Earn Money Blogging: 3 Ways I Get $500+ Per Blog Post

Earn Money Blogging for $500 Per Post. Makealivingwriting.com

Are you tired of writing blog posts for tiny money? If you want to earn money blogging — real money — this post is for you.

There are several ways I’ve been well-paid for blog writing. And today, I thought I’d run down three great ways to leave terrible, $5-$25 blog post pay behind.

What does it look like, to get paid $500 per blog post? How does that happen? All my tips are below.

I’ve been earning well writing blog posts for a long time, and there’s never been more opportunity for bloggers to make serious money.

We’re going to begin with the biggest obstacle to being well-paid for blog-post writing. It’s not content mills, or Upwork, or Craigslist ads.

It’s between your ears.

Writing Career Reboot: 5 Steps to Pick Yourself Up After Trauma

Writing Career Reboot: 5 Steps to Pick Yourself Up After Trauma

Reboot Your Writing Career After Trauma. Makealivingwriting.com

Is your life and writing career moving along in a linear fashion, continuously getting better?

Be honest. It’ doesn’t work that way for anyone.

The reality is bumpy.

Sometimes you have to abruptly take off work for personal reasons:

  • A major illness or death in the family
  • An accident
  • A baby born prematurely
  • Or any number of unexpected and traumatic reasons

I didn’t pick those examples randomly. They’ve all happened to me or my writing friends.

If you step away from your writing career to deal with major life events, hopefully you’ll reach a point where it makes sense to resume work.

But how do you get back on track?

If you’re restarting after taking a break because of trauma, illness the death of a loved one, or some other traumatic life event, here are five tips to reboot your writing career:

Looking for writing courses & community support?

Our online community, Freelance Writers Den, was founded in 2011. Since then, we’ve helped 14,000+ writers connect with peers, improve their skills, and grow their freelance writing income.

Our lively community is stuffed with useful tools and career-building resources. Use our 24/7 forums to get your questions answered by pros. Tap our 300+ hours of self-study trainings to learn new skills.

The Den has live events and multi-week bootcamps where you can tap experts’ knowledge, an exclusive job board, accountability buddies, live chats, and more. Also, if you want feedback on your writer website, LinkedIn profile, or article draft, we’ve got you.

Visit the Freelance Writers Den site to see if we’re open for new members right now. Sign up on the waiting list if we’re not, and you’ll be first to join when we reopen (plus, you’ll get useful free resources in the meanwhile).

Freelance Writers Den - A Writing Community