Applying for scholarships, workshops, grants, and other opportunities can sometimes be daunting: What do the people reviewing this really want to know about you? What can you do to make your application stand out from the rest? A full scholarship is available right now for Freelance Writer Bootcamp. I talk about how to approach this application if you’re keen to work with me, and tips that can be used for any other competitive application process. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Request a copy of my f...
Dec 26, 2019•16 min•Ep. 70
A big or consistent gap between the work you most want to be doing and what you’re actually doing indicates a lack of right action. Keeping busy or chasing after low-satisfaction, low-paying work isn’t going to resolve the situation. Let’s look at what it means to instead identify the weakest link in your freelance writing chain, and focus on strengthening it. APPLY FOR FREELANCE WRITER BOOTCAMP AND GET THE GOAL SETTING BONUS WORKSHOP I’ll be offering an exclusive Freelance Writer Goal Setting W...
Dec 19, 2019•24 min•Ep. 69
Straight from my inbox: My answers to your questions. Today I’ll be responding to these questions: + I was interviewed on the radio about a story I wrote, but I got nervous and it didn’t go well. What can I do differently? + How can I plan far enough ahead to have the financial stability of a salary? + How can I improve my writing? + What sentence structure will improve the quality of my sentences? EXCLUSIVE GOAL SETTING WORKSHOP BONUS Apply to Freelance Writer Bootcamp in 2019, and as a special...
Dec 12, 2019•20 min•Ep. 68
This week we’re looking at three proven strategies to improve your freelance bottom line. Focus on putting these into place now for a strong end to this year and a strong start to the next one. APPLY NOW FOR FREELANCE WRITER BOOTCAMP If most of your pitches don’t get assigned, or you’re not sending enough out to get the number of assignments you desire, my small group coaching program in January may be just what you need. Click here to read the details and to begin your application. Click here f...
Dec 05, 2019•14 min•Ep. 67
Anything you read can inform your writing, regardless of genre. Yes, that includes dystopian novels impacting good journalism. I heard Margaret Atwood speak during her book tour for “The Testaments,” the Booker Prize winning sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale. Today I’m sharing some of her advice for when your writing isn’t going smoothly. MENTIONED ON THIS EPISODE: Favorite freelance writer resources Margaret Atwood Click here for more info and full show notes with links....
Nov 28, 2019•12 min•Ep. 66
Our online portfolio lets us showcase our best and most relevant work to new editors. Ironically, we’re often most aware of its shortcomings at the very time that we’re trying to move our careers forward. There can be a real disconnect between what we’ve done in the past and what we want to do now and in the future. Telling ourselves “I should have newer/better/more prestigious clips” doesn’t function as a motivator to pitch with fervor to refresh the portfolio. It’s more likely to evoke shame a...
Nov 21, 2019•17 min•Ep. 65
How familiar are you with your own process of writing? Do you see writing as a means to an end, or an activity that’s fascinating in and of itself? Do you use it as a time to explore and investigate? With a product mentality, you’re in an almost constant state of not-there-ness. With a process mentality, you can be fully engaged and learning throughout. Early bird registration for Freelance Writer Bootcamp ends in a few days. Join now and get access to a special bonus module on mindset, which in...
Nov 14, 2019•14 min•Ep. 64
This Wednesday, November 13, I'm teaching a free, live masterclass that covers three of the most pressing issues for freelancers who are struggling to get consistent, meaningful work that pays well. I'll share with you: A proven blueprint for pitching and selling freelance article ideas How to turn a once-off assignment into an ongoing gig The most effective way to get silent editors to respond to you Plus time for answers to your freelancing questions during our live Q&A Click here to register ...
Nov 11, 2019•4 min
How would you describe your relationship with your freelance writing business? Is it a fling, where you’re 100% focused for brief passionate stints and then sort of forget about it? Are you in a honeymoon period, where you want to learn more about every aspect of it? Is it a situation that was sweet once-upon-a-time, but has devolved into needy, clingy, obsessive behavior? Would you describe yourself as the parent of a young child, a bit tired out but always offering it nourishment? Whatever typ...
Nov 07, 2019•22 min•Ep. 63
PITA clients have nothing to do with breaking pita bread and eating hummus with your editors. Today I’ve got in mind those difficult clients who can be a real pain in the A. We all have a different PITA threshold. I think of those emojis in hospitals, where you’re asked to a face expressing your pain level. One person hit with a hammer says it’s a 3; somebody else says it’s a 7. Same with the editor who said they’d get urgent edits to you first thing in the morning, but only send them through in...
Oct 31, 2019•20 min•Ep. 62
Movie trailers are a brief preview of what’s to come. We’re all willing to watch for two minutes—IF it’s any good. In a minute or two, we usually know if we’re in (“Ooh, I want to see that one!”) or if it’s a hard pass. What we never see is the screenwriter, director, or a critic talking to the camera and telling us what the film is about, what they think of it, how much we’ll enjoy it, etc. None of that. Not from the studio who wants us to make a decision to spend out time and money watching th...
Oct 24, 2019•14 min•Ep. 61
Are you terrified of what might happen to your freelance writing career if you put up an Out Of Office message on your email? In this episode, I talk about why I OOO while at a writing retreat and during a long plane ride, and the freelance chaos that did not commence. Turns out the drama was in my head—go figure. MENTIONED ON THIS EPISODE: WCP 13: Setting freelance boundaries and company policies Maya Angelou in the Paris Review SUPPORT THE PODCAST WITH A REVIEW: Did you enjoy this episode of t...
Oct 17, 2019•22 min•Ep. 60
Would you like to develop some real insight into the strategies that are most effective when pitching publications that feel out of reach right now? Are you curious to see how pitching effectively can lead to long-term clients and the kind of portfolio that draws editors to you (so that ultimately you wind up pitching less)? Do you have any pitching questions you’d like to ask? Perfect timing. :D On Wednesday, October 11 at 1:00 p.m. Eastern, I’ll be teaching a live class all about building and ...
Oct 15, 2019•6 min
As you probably know, the fourth quarter is terrible for all freelance writers. It will almost certainly be your worst 90 days financially of the year. Ok, that’s not true at all. It’s in no way a factual statement. It is a belief some people have, and it happens to be one that’ll get in your way when it comes to marketing and landing new assignments this month if you think it’s accurate. It’s so much easier to come up with evidence, such as all editors are away on holiday, then to do what it ta...
Oct 10, 2019•20 min•Ep. 59
Time for another edition of Listener Q&A. I’ve picked from the questions you’ve emailed me to cover a range of issues we face as writers. You’ll probably notice that you can learn a lot from a question that’s similar but not quite the same as your own situation. Today’s listener questions include: + I’m struggling with idea generation. Do you have any suggestions? + How can I improve my interviews? + I have no assignments. What’s wrong with my pitches? + Do sources get paid? What about my expens...
Oct 03, 2019•28 min•Ep. 58
Can—or should—journalists strive to be truly objective and unbiased when covering heated issues like climate change? Is it sometimes a moral imperative to speak out and advocate for justice? As a freelancer, does the act of choosing to pitch a particular story because we think it’s relevant and should be heard imply bias before we even begin reporting? MENTIONED ON THIS EPISODE: WCP57 Finding story ideas you can’t Google at live events WCP45 Listener Q&A, Vol. III DOWNLOAD MY FREE GUIDE ON HOW T...
Sep 26, 2019•16 min•Ep. 57
This month marks a year of the Writing Coach Podcast. An episode each week, plus some bonus ones. Would you please help me celebrate by writing a review on iTunes ? On your phone: 1. Tap on your Podcasts app icon. 2. At the bottom, tap Search. Search for “Writing Coach Podcast.” (Make sure to choose the one with the yellow pencil.) 3. Tap on the podcast. Subscribe if you haven’t already. 4. Scroll down until you see Ratings & Reviews. 5. Choose some stars and click “Write a Review.” On your comp...
Sep 24, 2019•3 min
The questions isn’t do you want to play it safe, but where are you playing it safe in your writing life? And why? We all want some security and safety, but these feelings are always relative perceptions rather than objective realities. Given the same exact situation--such as achieving a freelance income goal, landing several anchor clients, or writing disposable first drafts--one person can feel secure, while another feels unstable. Some people prioritize safety above everything else. Sometimes ...
Sep 19, 2019•12 min•Ep. 56
Live events like conferences, conventions, trade shows, can be a rich source of multiple story ideas—or an overwhelming waste of time and energy. Learn how to leave with a small notebook bursting with everything you need to write up pitches for feature ideas instead of a bunch of lousy brochures. MENTIONED ON THIS EPISODE: WCP 47: Listener Q&A, Vol. III WCP 39: Listener Q&A, Volume II WCP 28: Listener Q&A Free guide on how to pitch: 5 proven steps to writing queries that sell WCP 25: Using juicy...
Sep 12, 2019•22 min•Ep. 55
Author Nir Eyal joins us to talk about his new book, Indistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life. What’s distracting you from your writing time? As Nir breaks it down, distraction always starts from within. We’ve been avoiding uncomfortable emotions way before the modern siren call of the smartphone. In this conversation, Nir shares lots of examples from his own writing life. Nir wrote the Wall Street Journal bestseller Hooked, and trained as a journalist. Many business bo...
Sep 05, 2019•29 min•Ep. 54
Growing a thick skin is kind of gross if you think about it. When it comes to rejection, creating a barrier between the outside world and our feelings doesn’t help either. Ironically, rejecting rejection compounds and complicates the pain. MENTIONED ON THIS EPISODE: WCP 1: What’s your problem? WCP 10: Becoming a confident writer Toni Morrison SUBSCRIBE AND REVIEW: The best way to catch all the episodes of the Writing Coach Podcast is to subscribe. You’ll be notified every time a new show, includ...
Aug 30, 2019•19 min•Ep. 53
What we write matters. Today we’re looking at how using a social justice lens can provide both meaning and a decent living. Many freelancers see their work as divided: this piece for passion, that piece for pay. I’d argue that for true freelance writing success, you’ll be more satisfied when you pursue work that provides both. MENTIONED ON THIS EPISODE: WCP51: Democratizing food writing with Ishay Govender-Ypma WCP1: What’s your problem? WCP2: Thinking thoughts and feelings feels How Sarma Melng...
Aug 22, 2019•18 min•Ep. 52
Ishay Govender-Ypma is a food and travel journalist and author of “ Curry .” This week we discuss the intersection of curry and colonialism: what happens when a food journalist uses the lens of social justice to examine who eats what, how, and why? We also discuss what once seemed like a never-ending assignment, structuring research materials, and making time to enjoy the process of reporting and writing. Ishay on Twitter and Instagram MENTIONED ON THIS EPISODE: Open Book SAPOC at the Table on t...
Aug 15, 2019•28 min•Ep. 51
The Writing Coach Podcast celebrates the big five-oh! Check out the links below for recommendations of the best episodes. One thing I didn’t appreciate before I became a full-time freelancer is that it’s nobody’s job except my own to help me improve. Enter the power of the self evaluation. When done properly, this will give you precise insight into exactly what you need to change, providing momentum and a clear answer to “What should I do now?” Learn three questions that can be used to uplevel n...
Aug 08, 2019•26 min•Ep. 50
Have you interviewed somebody who wanted to review your copy before publication? This is a surprisingly high-tension issue for many journalists, even thought it seems like it could be nipped in the bud with a simple, “Sorry, that’s against the publication’s policy.” Today we cover: + A simple method to reduce the number of times sources ask to review the copy + Why they or you get so hot under the collar with a seemingly benign request + How to use this conflict to build trust and better communi...
Aug 05, 2019•29 min•Ep. 49
Running out of reasons to avoid pitching? I’ve got you covered with 100 reasons why you shouldn’t pitch today. Many of these can be adapted to be reasons why you should not write anything else today, like the article you were assigned last week, or your book proposal, or your novel. You’ll probably recognize a few of these reasons—ones you already believe to be true. Those seem real, immutable. Pick another one that you’ve never used as a reason not to write a pitch. I want you to experience how...
Jul 25, 2019•14 min•Ep. 48
This week I’m answer a number of your questions … and asking you quite a few myself. This isn’t slippery side stepping, but trying to help you get to the heart of the matter. Best to listen to this one with your freelance journal at the ready: Jot down the questions that you know you need answers to, and write into them for 20 minutes. Today’s listener questions include: I don’t like my niche. How do I know if it’s time (or wise) to make a switch? Should I take an unpaid writing test? I need som...
Jul 18, 2019•18 min•Ep. 47
Nichole Robertson, author of the new book “Literary Paris,” (and four others) joins us this week to talk about books, Paris, writing, photography, Instagram, and what happens when the internet wants to label you as a photographer instead of a writer. Nichole is the co-founder and creative director of Obvious State, which creates bookish gifts for all of us former English majors. MENTIONED ON THIS EPISODE: Nichole Robertson online and on Instagram Obvious State website and Obvious State on Instag...
Jul 11, 2019•23 min•Ep. 46
Want to break into your dream publications and cultivate long-term clients? Join me for this free, live class on becoming your editor's go-to freelance writer. Click here to register: www.rebeccalweber.com/freeclass Join us LIVE this Thursday, July 11, to learn: + A proven blueprint for pitching and selling freelance article ideas + How to turn a once-off assignment into an ongoing gig + The most effective tip for getting editors to respond to you + Answers to your questions during our live Q&A ...
Jul 09, 2019•3 min
In the first two quarters, we discussed setting and working toward your goals. Today we talk about something you might not have bargained for: You reached your goal but it turns out it isn’t all you thought it would be. Your life didn’t change. That big article didn’t make you famous. Or rich. Or confident. You did all the hard things and you’re still you. Now what? REGISTER FOR NEXT WEEK’S FREE CLASS ON PITCHING Click here to claim your spot. Be sure to note which session is best for your time ...
Jul 04, 2019•20 min•Ep. 45
