Posted on Thu, Jan 27, 2011
Profitable Writing Workshop to help freelance writers hone business skills
RICHMOND, Va., January 27, 2011—WritingCoach.com, an online professional-development resource for freelance writers, today announced the launch of Profitable Writing Workshop (www.writingcoach.com/workshop), a group-coaching program designed to help writers develop and hone the business skills they need to thrive in a competitive marketplace.
Profitable Writing Workshop offers comprehensive training in project management, sales and marketing, financial decision-making, technology use and outsourcing. The yearlong program is now enrolling professionals who are committed to taking their freelance earnings to new heights. Participants receive the first lesson immediately upon registration.
“During and after the recession, many freelance writers discovered that their sales and marketing skills, not their writing ability, affected their financial success most,” WritingCoach.com founder Maya Payne Smart said. “Knowing how to identify prospective clients and consistently market your writing services to them is crucial. So is putting systems in place to effectively run your business. That’s why this program focuses on business fundamentals and not reporting or writing.”
Smart, a veteran freelance writer and journalism instructor with a background in business, knows this firsthand, and she developed this course with small-business people like her in mind. Smart has taught journalism courses at Clemson University and has given workshops at the Society of Professional Journalists national conferences. She serves on the boards of the Society of American Business Editors and Writers and James River Writers. She also created “Sales Strategies for Freelance Business Journalists,” a weeklong course for the Donald W. Reynolds National Center for Business Journalism at Arizona State University.
Whether you’re an established professional looking to boost sales or a recently laid-off reporter entering the freelance world for the first time, this program will help you grow your business.
Profitable Writing Workshop offers:
- 25 lessons (online MP3 audio recordings and PDF transcripts) covering specific business success topics;
- 25 step-by-step action guides to help writers identify great leads, qualify better prospects and close more sales;
- 12 live group-coaching calls in which Smart will answer participants' questions and help them address personal challenges;
- Bonus guest-expert sessions on topics ranging from tax tips and office design to contract negotiations and self-publishing;
- Exclusive offers, such as private live trainings and discounted pricing on other WritingCoach.com programs; and
- Two 30-minute one-on-one private coaching sessions with Smart.
“Our program and materials are designed to transform freelance writers into savvy small-business owners,” Smart said. “We teach the practical skills they need to navigate media industry turmoil and seize new opportunities.”
Profitable Writing Workshop is a total-immersion business school for freelancers. Expert instruction, dedicated client-service representatives and talented peers will make this a high-impact learning experience. Any working freelance writer may register. Participants pay just $50 per month, a fraction of what colleges and universities charge. Visit www.writingcoach.com/workshop to register or see additional details.
Contact:
Maya Payne Smart
maya@writingcoach.com
(804) 330-5832
Posted on Mon, Jan 24, 2011
At a time when anyone with an Internet connection can get published, freelance writers — from independent journalists to contract copywriters — need entrepreneurial savvy to set themselves apart as professionals and earn a good living. Requisite skills include identifying worthwhile clients, pricing services competitively and negotiating lucrative contracts. Writing Coach
(http://www.writingcoach.com) plans to offer a free webinar, “How to Charge What Your Writing Is Worth,” on Wednesday, January 26, 2011, from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. (EST) to help freelance writers to improve their business acumen and sales results.
Led by Maya Payne Smart, The Business Coach for Writers, the one-hour webinar will provide expert insight, helpful tips and specific details about:
· How to convey a professional image and set yourself apart from the ranks of amateurs;
· What the typical rates are for various media and industries;
· How to position yourself to earn more and why you must maintain a strong online presence to maximize your earnings;
· How to decide which types of clients are right for you; and
· What you need to do to get repeat assignments and negotiate higher fees.
Moreover, writers will leave the call with a clear, step-by-step action plan for raising their freelance rates. All registrants will receive an audio recording of the call after the fact, so professionals are encouraged to sign up for this free webinar even if they can’t attend live.
“After 23 years as a newspaper reporter, my position was eliminated. I wanted to take control of my writing career but I was intimidated about starting a freelance business,” says freelance writer Robin Farmer. “So I turned to Maya Smart. Working with Maya as my business coach has empowered me and kept me focused so I can flourish.”
To register for “How to Charge What Your Writing Is Worth,” visit www.writingcoach.com/webinar
About Maya Payne Smart
Maya Payne Smart has written hundreds of articles for newspapers, magazines and websites. She now focuses on sharing her business know-how with other freelance journalists and writers through a variety of training programs, including Book Proposal Boot Camp (http://www.writingcoach.com/bootcamp) and Sales Strategies for Freelance Business Journalists (http://businessjournalism.org/2011/01/03/sales-strategies-for-freelance-business-journalists-online-aug-16-19/).
About Writing Coach
Writing Coach (http://www.writingcoach.com) is the business resource for freelance writers, providing all the news, tips and advice that they need to succeed and profit. Writing Coach understands that freelance writers are a special kind of entrepreneur with a specific set of needs. To best serve them, the site offers accessible, affordable assistance in all aspects of launching, developing and managing a professional freelance writing business.
Contact:
Maya Payne Smart
maya@writingcoach.com
(804) 330-5832
Posted on Wed, Jan 05, 2011
RICHMOND, Va., Jan. 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- WritingCoach.com, an online professional-development service for journalists and other scribes, today announced the launch of the Writing Coach Network (http://www.writingcoach.com/network). This online directory of mentors-for-hire seeks to connect coaches with our rapidly growing group of new and veteran writers, many of whom seek specialized support to stay competitive in the challenging creative marketplace.
"WritingCoach.com's focus is teaching freelancers the business side of writing, but writers often come to us looking for help with grammar and style or insights into a particular publishing niche," says founder Maya Payne Smart. "Through the Writing Coach Network, we can connect writers to a broader array of coaches poised to help them achieve all of their writing goals."
The Writing Coach Network will unite up to 100 writing coaches with expertise in diverse subject matter and media. We're looking for people who are committed to helping aspiring journalists, columnists, bloggers, and book authors improve their product and expand their portfolios. Whether you're an established writing coach looking to boost sales or a new coach establishing a practice, we invite you to join the directory.
The Writing Coach Network can help you grow your business. "The network is designed to transform writing coaches into outstanding small-business owners who can seize emerging opportunities to serve writers and thrive financially," Smart says. "It offers the visibility and community they need to excel."
During our inaugural month, annual memberships cost just $30. This buys:
- A directory listing including your name, contact information, website link, specialties and brief service descriptions;
- A list of recommended reading, resources and vendors to help writing coaches attract great clients; and
- A periodic e-newsletter with additional tips and tools for writing coaches.
"I signed up for the Writing Coach Network because I know from experience that Maya is serious about helping wordsmiths build businesses," says Robin Farmer, a freelance writer and writing coach. "I've participated in several of her business coaching programs and her training doubled my writing income. In fact, her referral led to one of my best-paying clients."
To join the Writing Coach Network, sign up at http://www.writingcoach.com/network or send a $30 check made payable to Ralston Payne Enterprises LLC, 3126 W. Cary St., #606, Richmond, VA 23221 by January 31, 2011. (After that, the price increases to $40/year.)
Posted on Tue, Jan 04, 2011
In the free Webinar, “Sales Strategies for Freelance Business Journalists,” participants will learn simple things they can immediately incorporate into their daily work to help them identify great writing clients, win more assignments and earn a healthy living. You can attend a daily, hourlong, interactive session at either noon or 4 p.m. EDT on Aug. 16-18 and noon EDT on Aug. 19. To register for this free training, click here.
Attendees will learn how to broaden their view of available opportunities, present themselves and their story ideas in a compelling fashion, and bolster their freelance-writing income. Different surveys have pegged freelance business journalists’ annual income at $25,000 to $40,000 a year. Salesmanship is the key weakness that keeps many capable journalists from thriving outside of the newsroom, according to webinar instructor Maya Payne Smart, freelance business journalist and founder of WritingCoach.com.
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
- Who is looking for freelance business journalists
- How to decide whom you want to work with
- How to consistently turn leads into clients
Register for this free Webinar.
AGENDA
Aug. 16: Who Hires Freelance Business Journalists? — A wealth of opportunities is available for freelance business journalists in the traditional, new media, trade, academic, newsletter and custom-publishing fields. Too many freelancers think their options end with newspapers and consumer magazines.
Aug. 17: Branding and Marketing Yourself — Learn how to evaluate your brand identity and marketing messages. How much should it cost to market yourself? Check out these specific examples of how real freelancers have used 20 different tools (business cards, advertising, PR, direct mail, networking, trade shows, speaking, joint ventures, ezines, link exchanges, Google Ad Words, search engine optimization, affiliate programs, e-mail marketing, article marketing, blogging, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube) to reach new clients.
Aug. 18: Closing the Sale — How do you get from a lead to a prospect to a customer to a client? How do you win repeat business? What are the best electronic options for storing and organizing prospect, customer and client data? How can you evaluate your sales and marketing efforts and improve results?
Aug. 19: Ask the Hiring Editors — Get your questions answered in an online panel discussion with editors and others who hire freelance journalists. Find out how to establish and maintain good client relationships.
Register for this free webinar.
YOUR INSTRUCTOR
Maya Payne Smart
After spending six years in the trenches as a freelance business journalist, Maya Payne Smart founded WritingCoach.com to help journalists, authors and other writers build profitable businesses. Her mission is to provide the tools, information and advice that freelancers need to thrive, from marketing basics to advanced business-building strategies. Smart teaches entrepreneurial journalism courses for the Society of Professional Journalists, the Donald W. Reynolds National Center for Business Journalism and other organizations for wordsmiths. With Poynter.org careers columnist Joe Grimm, she taught the Reynolds Center’s highly successful “How to Be an Entrepreneur as a Business Journalist” webinars in 2009 and 2010. She serves on the boards of the Society of American Business Editors & Writers and James River Writers. She holds degrees from Harvard University and Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism.
“Business journalists are poised to succeed as freelancers because they can read financial statements and analyze business trends, but too often they fail because of an ingrained disdain for sales. They want to write and report, but haven’t worked up sufficient enthusiasm for market research, self-promotion and pitching,” she said.
Posted on Thu, Dec 09, 2010
Book Proposal Boot Camp™ Launches in Richmond, Virginia
Business executives, professional speakers, coaches, consultants and other aspiring authors who have a nonfiction story to tell can soon receive expert advice on how to outline and sell their books for publication.
Nationally published authors Stacy Hawkins Adams and Maya Payne Smart have launched a six-week workshop called Book Proposal Boot Camp™, which will teach writers interested in landing an agent, securing a publisher, or self-publishing a book how to organize material to grab an agent or editor’s attention and effectively sell their story.
The boot camp will be held on Tuesdays from Jan. 18 to Feb. 22, 2011, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at a nonprofit training center in Richmond’s Willow Lawn area. The modest course fee (just $50 per session) will include:
- Six weekly instructor-led classes with audio recordings for review
- A notebook of lessons, activities and supplementary materials
- A copy of a noted book proposal guide that has sold more than 100,000 copies
- One 30-minute private coaching follow-up session with Stacy or Maya
- Free admission to one 60-minute Author In You™ teleseminar
“We’ll take students step by step through the process of completing their proposals and give them a better understanding of today’s publishing industry,” said Adams, an award-winning inspirational author whose credits include six nationally published women’s fiction novels (such as Watercolored Pearls and The Someday List) and one nonfiction book, all of which were sold through proposals. Adams is also a long-time journalist and freelance columnist for the Richmond Times-Dispatch. “Our goal is to support participants as they transform their book ideas into agent-ready proposals.”
Book proposals are crucial business plans that can help writers develop commercially viable book ideas, pursue literary and financial goals with focus and accountability, build strong relationships with agents who can help them navigate the marketplace well and negotiate better fees and contracts.
“Beyond learning the nuts and bolts of book proposal writing, students will benefit from the live community of fellow writers and the sense of confidence and accomplishment that come with setting and attaining ambitious goals,” said Smart, an experienced trainer who teaches the business side of writing for numerous groups including the Society of Professional Journalists and the Donald W. Reynolds National Center for Business Journalism. She also has been a freelance journalist for CNNMoney.com, Fortune Small Business and Black Enterprise and a contributing author for Princeton Review books such as 120 Jobs That Won’t Chain You to Your Desk.
Aspiring authors interested in enrolling in the boot camp can register online at www.writingcoach.com/book. The registration fee is $250 for those who pay in full by Jan. 14 and $300 for those who pay in two installments. For more information, email info@writingcoach.com.
Posted on Tue, May 18, 2010
MAY 2010 WRITING SHOW - Can I Get a Witness: Writing for Social Change
Featuring:
-- Michael Paul Williams, journalist -- Linda Beatrice Brown, novelist, playwright and poet -- Emily Troutman, essayist and photojournalist
With your host, JRW Board member Maya Payne Smart
Thursday, May 27, 2010 6:30-8:30 p.m. The Pavilion Room The Children's Museum 2626 West Broad Street, Richmond $10 in advance, http://www.JamesRiverWriters.org $12 at the door $5 students at the door
Michael Paul Williams is a columnist and reporter for the Richmond Times-Dispatch. A Richmond native, he is a graduate of Hermitage High School and Virginia Union University, and holds a master's degree in Journalism from Northwestern University. Hired by the Times-Dispatch in 1982, he has won Virginia Press Association awards for column writing in 1992, 1994 and 2007. During the 1999-2000 school year, he was one of a dozen U.S. journalists awarded a yearlong Nieman Fellowship at Harvard University.
Linda Beatrice Brown holds a PhD in African American Literature and Creative Writing, and is presently the Willa B. Player Distinguished Professor of the Humanities and Director of the Honors Program at Bennett College for Women in Greensboro, NC. In addition to her latest novel, Black Angels (Putnam, 2009), written for young readers, Linda is the author of the novels Rainbow 'Roun Mah Shoulder and Crossing Over Jordan. She has written several plays, including Wildfire: Black Hands White Marble, and her poetry has been published in several anthologies and magazines. She is a member of the Spiritual Renaissance Singers in Greensboro, Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, the NAACP, and NOW. Linda lives in a 100-year-old house in Greensboro, NC where she is working on a sequel to Black Angels. http://www.lindabeatricebrown.com
Emily Troutman is a writer and photographer whose work focuses on international humanitarian issues. In 2009, she was one of five people named United Nations Citizen Ambassador for her winning video responding to the question, "If you could speak to world leaders, what would you say?" She received widespread media attention for her photo essay, "President Obama Inauguration: Words for How We Feel Now." Since the devastating earthquake in Haiti, Emily has been based in Port-au-Prince. Her photos, articles and personal essays have been carried by AOL News, Time.com, Slate.com and Truthout.org. She holds a Master of Public Policy from the University of Minnesota, Humphrey Institute for Public Affairs. http://www.emilytroutman.com
Maya Payne Smart is a professional writer who has written hundreds of articles for newspapers, magazines and web sites. Her 2010 client list includes Black Enterprise, CNNMoney.com and Savoy Professional. She received a bachelor's degree in Social Studies from Harvard University and a master's degree in editorial journalism from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. She serves on the board of governors of the Society of American Business Editors and Writers and on James River Writers' board of directors, and is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists and The Society of Professional Journalists. http://www.mayasmart.com
James River Writers is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization dedicated to promoting the craft of writing and love of literature. http://www.JamesRiverWriters.org
Media Contact:
Anne Westrick 804-433-3790 tel 804-291-1466 fax anne@JamesRiverWriters.org
Posted on Thu, Jan 14, 2010
WritingCoach.com, an online professional-development service for freelance writers, today announced the launch of Writing Coach PRO, a group coaching program designed to help writers develop and hone the business skills they need to thrive in a competitive marketplace.
The six-month program will enroll up to 30 freelance writers who are committed to taking their business savvy to new heights. Writing Coach PRO offers comprehensive training in project management, sales and marketing, financial decision-making, technology use and outsourcing.
“Despite media industry woes, it is possible to earn a healthy living as a freelance writer,” WritingCoach.com founder Maya Payne Smart said. “But it takes a clear plan, hard work, and ongoing support to do it.”
Smart, a veteran freelance writer and journalism instructor with a background in business, knows this firsthand--and she developed this course with small-business people like her in mind. She taught journalism courses at Clemson University and was a conference speaker for the Society of Professional Journalists. She serves on the board of governors of the Society of American Business Editors and Writers and teaches “How to be an Entrepreneur as a Business Journalist,” a weeklong course for the Donald W. Reynolds National Center for Business Journalism at Arizona State University.
Whether you’re an established professional looking to boost sales or a recently laid-off reporter new to the freelance world, this program will help you grow your business.
Writing Coach PRO offers:
-- Live training calls with Maya
-- Live Q&A calls with Maya
-- Online and MP3 recordings of all calls
-- Transcripts of all calls
-- A private, members-only online forum
-- Monthly step-by-step action plans to put lessons to work
-- A list of recommended reading, resources and vendors
-- Regular accountability check-ins
"Our curriculum is designed to transform freelance writers into outstanding small-business owners who can successfully navigate media industry turmoil and seize emerging opportunities to serve readers and thrive financially,” Smart said.
Writing Coach PRO is a total-immersion business school for freelancers. Expert instruction, dedicated client-service representatives and talented peers will make this a high-impact learning experience. Any working freelance writer may apply. Participants pay just $97/mo. — a fraction of what colleges and universities charge. (Each applicant will be interviewed prior to admission into the program to limit enrollment to freelancers with demonstrated writing and business potential.)
"Writing Coach PRO offers freelance writers the content, community and coaching they need to excel," Smart said. "We have the blueprint for profitable freelancing in 2010, and we’re eager to share.”
Posted on Tue, Dec 01, 2009
Dec. 10 WritingCoach.com Teleclass Gives Writers Tools to Boost Profits and Succeed
RICHMOND, Va., Dec. 1, 2009 — As a seasoned freelance writer with a
background in business journalism, Maya Payne Smart knows it’s a jungle
out there for self-employed freelancers. Which is why she founded http://www.writingcoach.com, an online business service designed to help freelancers make a profit, even in today’s economy.
“Despite what you may be hearing, it is possible to make a healthy
income as a freelance writer - even during a recession,” said Smart,
who worked for Crain’s Cleveland Business before striking out on her
own three years ago. “There are writing jobs out there that pay very
well… but you need to know where to find them and how to demand the fee
your work is worth.”
WritingCoach.com offers a program of monthly teleclasses and
webinars to help writers tackle the tough issues beyond creative ideas
and good writing - how to find good clients, market your talents, pitch
story ideas, negotiate contracts, manage your cash flow and more. On
Dec. 10, Smart and Marcia Layton Turner of BecomeASixFigureWriter.com
present “The 7 Secrets to Profitable Freelancing in a Recession,” a
coaching session jammed with practical info, ready-to-use skills and
reliable resources with one goal in mind - to empower freelance writers
and help them make more money. Teleclass details are available at http://www.writingcoach.com/success .
“Think of this as a business school for freelancers at a fraction of
the price,” said Smart, who keeps class prices at an affordable $29 to
appeal to even beginning freelancers. “Our focus is on what it takes to
be profitable,” she said. “Go on any journalism listserv and you will
find writers griping about more competition and smaller fees. It’s
true, publishing has changed - but it’s our job to figure out how to
tap new markets, work efficiently, and make better use of our time and
resources.”
Geared to freelancers of all types, from established writers looking
to boost sales to recently laid-off journalists new to the freelance
world, WritingCoach.com is:
- Convenient - the site provides critical information, when and where you need it
- Practical - simple and effective information and techniques that you can apply to your business and your life
- Affordable - “business school for freelancers” at a fraction of the price
- Empowering - tools and information to help you advance your career, achieve your goals, and enjoy your success
“The Dec. 10 teleclass provides tips and tactics from two writers
who are thriving,” said Smart. “We’re ready to share what works so you
can be confident and succeed as a freelance writer.”
About WritingCoach.com
Founded by Maya Payne Smart, WritingCoach.com gives journalists and
authors the information and business skills they need to build the
businesses they want.
Contact:
Maya Payne Smart
804-368-1614 ext. 2
maya@writingcoach.com
Posted on Wed, Sep 16, 2009
Writing Coach Maya Payne Smart will host a series of five interactive webinars on how to be an entrepreneur as a business journalist. Each one-hour session, offered from Nov. 16-20, is crafted to teach interested freelancers how to apply their skills and make a successful living outside of mainstream media. Smart will cover the ins and outs of starting a business from legal and accounting questions to branding and marketing.
Along with tips and advice from an experienced freelancer, participants will hear from Ask-the-Recruiter columnist Joe Grimm and five successful business journalists turned entrepreneurs.
Sessions are offered by the Donald W. Reynolds National Center for Business Journalism. Register here. It’s free!
Posted on Thu, Mar 19, 2009
Society of Professional Journalists Convention
August 27-30, 2009 | Indianapolis, Indiana
Writing Coach founder Maya Payne Smart will present “The Truth About Freelancing: How to Run a Profitable Writing Business” at the 2009 Society of Professional Journalists Convention.
Seismic shifts within the news business are prompting many journalists to strike out on their own as freelance writers, bloggers and columnists. And it’s not a bad option. Better work/life balance, higher pay and greater fulfillment are all within reach for skilled journalists with the knowledge and work ethic to pursue them. Attend this workshop to learn the ins and outs of running a profitable writing business. You’ll leave with a strong grasp of the diverse ways freelancers make a living from pitching articles and blogging for dollars to ghostwriting books and selling information directly to consumers. You’ll also learn seven secrets of profitable freelancing, and only one of them has to do with writing. This panel will help beginning freelancers formulate a business plan and more experienced freelancers will gain fresh insights into how to take their businesses to the next level.
Following this workshop participants will be able to:
1. Identify a viable business model for them
2. Develop the support systems they need to accelerate profitability
Register for the Society of Professional Journalists Conference