We wanted to get to know Jeanne Grunert (NAIWE’s Branding and Marketing Expert) better, so last month we sat down with her. Here are some thoughts she shared with us.

With the rise of Google AI Overviews and conversational search engines like ChatGPT, how should B2B companies shift their KPIs away from traditional organic click-through rates?

B2B companies should shift their KPIs toward AI visibility and influence metrics, because traditional organic click through rates collapse in an AI‑first search environment. The core shift is: stop measuring clicks; start measuring whether your brand appears, is cited, and shapes the AI-generated answer buyers read. And, of course, focus on what people actually do once they reach your website: engagement and conversation to leads.

Click-through is a poor measurement of success. It only measures (1) how many people saw your content and (2) how many were motivated to click-through to your website. What happens after they reach your website is the true measurement of success. Did they stay on the page and read what you have to say? (Engagement). Did they fill out a form or contact you? (Conversion to Lead).

AI search now answers something like 90% or more of most users questions. Impressions and click-through were always rather poor metrics; most marketers called them “vanity metrics” behind the scenes because they didn’t mean much for driving leads, but they did make people feel like their sites were at least being seen. Today, we focus much more on brand visibility in AI search and customer actions once they are on a website.

Today, the real indicators of success are:

• Brand visibility inside AI-generated answers
• Citation frequency and accuracy
• Whether your content influences the AI’s response
• What customers actually do once they land on your site

This is the new discovery landscape. AI is the first touchpoint; your website is the proving ground.

 

You talk about the changing nature of organic search. If search engines are summarizing answers directly, how does a freelance article writer change the way they structure a piece to ensure it still brings value?

In an era where search engines increasingly summarize answers directly, freelance writers need to shift from producing articles just to get clicks/traffic and to creating resources that search engines want to cite. This means structuring pieces so they open with a clear, direct answer that an AI overview can easily pull, then layering in deeper context, examples, data, and original insight that cannot be fully captured in a short summary. Writers should focus on intent‑driven organization, using clear headings and sections that map to the specific questions a reader might have. They also need to provide unique value through firsthand experience, expert commentary, or proprietary information, because AI cannot replicate those elements. The goal is to produce content that is compressible enough for a search engine to summarize, but rich enough that the summary still points back to the original article as the authoritative source.

I recommend testing and experimenting with a few different on-page SEO techniques:

1. An executive summary, key takeaways, or similar technique that answers the AI question near the top of the article
2. A table of contents or clear, skimmable outline for the AI search engines
3. Short, chunky paragraphs with subheadings that help organize the content

Which one works best depends on what you’re writing and the website where you are publishing the information. I’ve found that consumer-focused articles (home, garden, health, how-to) work when you implement 1 and 3; for long-form content, 1 and 2 work great; and a combination of these and other techniques may work better for some sites than others.

Go back and update older content on your own website like blogs, case studies, and other materials, too. Sometimes that can help boost a piece that used to generate strong traffic and leads if it’s now gathering dust in the eyes of a search engine.

 

Google prioritizes experience and expertise. How can a generalist freelance writer pivot their personal brand to show deep “topical authority” so agencies will actually hire them?

Generalists will have a hard time gaining customers through organic search in today’s market. Even a generalist needs a niche. It may be the type of content they write (long-form articles, courses, sales materials) versus the topics they write about (education, technology, parenting) but they still must define who they are, what they do, and who they do it for or else they will get lost in today’s AI-driven world. Deep topical authority is built around areas of expertise. This develops based on a combination of factors scattered over a period of time and across many websites. Search engines including AI search engines gather data from myriad sources in a matter of seconds and form an opinion of your expertise from this data. Use what’s under your control to build your topical authority: build clear, consistent messaging on LinkedIn, other social media platforms, directory listings, and of course, your website, to develop topical authority. And, whenever you have a third-party byline, such as a byline on a site where you are published, use it to build your authority in your niche.

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Organic search has undergone an enormous change over the past several years, and it’s vital for independent writers and editors to update their approach to SEO to be found online. AI Overviews, zero click results, and generative search engines are reshaping how clients discover us, and traditional SEO tactics are no longer enough. For freelance writers and editors, this new landscape presents both challenges and opportunities.

This webinar is designed specifically for independent professionals who rely on their online presence to attract clients. You will learn how search has changed, why broad keyword ranking is no longer realistic, and what practical steps you can take to strengthen your visibility in 2026. We will cover how to position your niche clearly, optimize your website and service pages for modern search intent, create authority-building content that AI systems can easily interpret, and use platforms like LinkedIn to reinforce your expertise.

By the end of this session, you will know exactly how to adapt your marketing strategy to today’s search environment so clients can find you, trust you, and hire you.

You can join in this conversation on October 15 at 2:00 pm eastern, when NAIWE will host a discussion on the organic search and how editors and writers can use it in their marketing efforts. The cost for NAIWE members is only $10! Nonmembers can join for $30. Register today!

 

Jeanne Grunert is the president and founder of Seven Oaks Consulting, a business-to-business content marketing agency. She is an award-winning writer and direct marketing expert with over 30 years of writing, marketing, and business experience. Prior to founding Seven Oaks Consulting, Jeanne led marketing for divisions of McGraw-Hill Education, Teachers College Columbia University, The College Board, and retail, publishing, and financial service companies in the New York City area. Known worldwide for her exceptional leadership and communication skills, Jeanne works seamlessly across cultural and corporate barriers to achieve outstanding results. She holds an M.A. in writing and an M.S. in direct and digital marketing (awarded with distinction) from New York University, as well as certifications in social media marketing, content marketing, and adult education. Originally from the New York City area, Jeanne currently resides with her husband, John, and many pets on a 17-acre farm in rural Virginia. When not leading marketing teams through her work at Seven Oaks Consulting, she enjoys gardening, reading, cooking, and writing mystery novels.

We wanted to get to know Melissa Yi (NAIWE’s Medical Crime Expert) better, so last month we sat down with her. Here are some thoughts she shared with us.

Your protagonist, Dr. Hope Sze, routinely faces horrific crimes—from bioterrorism to serial killers—yet she frequently lets fly a terrible pun or a sarcastic observation. How do you strike a balance between maintaining high stakes and dropping in comedic relief?

If you’re reading this, you’re probably a super reader. You’ve absorbed enough books, and maybe watched enough movies, that you now have an intuitive grasp of when you can crack a joke and when you need to push adrenaline to the limit. It helps to have a beta reader or ten, so you can sift through their reactions and figure out when you’ve gone too far. You’ll notice stand up comedians do the same thing, trying out new material live, checking how it lands. Keep learning, keep testing, and above all, have fun.

 

Many reviewers and peers comment on how fast-paced and incisive your writing is. Do you find that a comedic voice naturally speeds up the pacing of a thriller?

Humor is that spoonful of sugar that makes everything more palatable. Pages whirl by faster if you not only care about Hope and her friends, and sweat over how she’s going to get away from the latest killer, but also if you giggle over some of the phrasing. I know that when I’m deep in a book, I’m always highlighting jokes that make me want to re-read. Right now, I’m listening to Mhairi McFarlane, who is so witty that I’ll come back to her again and again. And I don’t even understand all of her Scottish jokes!

 

Humor is highly subjective. When you are writing a witty line or a funny interaction between characters, how do you test if it hits the mark? Do you read it aloud or lean on early beta readers?

All of the above! Reading aloud is a super way to catch mistakes. I love to have people read it and chortle, or tell me if they don’t understand or if I crossed the line. I never want to hurt feelings unnecessarily, and it’s often not worth offending people. But sometimes, you also need to go with your gut and say, I am the Grand Poobah, and I have the final say on this matter. In the end, you gotta be you. You could spend your whole life not offending people, wearing a mask, and is that really what you want to do with your one precious life? I say, choose wisely. Laugh often.

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Writing can transform a book into a bestseller. It eases your way through life and makes you more resilient when things invariably/incessantly go south. Or to paraphrase Mary Pettibone Poole, “She who laughs, lasts.” Join Melissa Yi, medical crime and award-winning author, for a humor workshop brimming with writing tips, samples, and hands-on exercises.

You can join in this conversation on September 29 at 2:00 pm eastern, when NAIWE will host a discussion on adding humor to your writing, no matter the genre. The cost for NAIWE members is only $10! Nonmembers can join for $30. Register today!

 

Melissa Yi could slice your throat and sew it back up again. Legally. Because she’s an emergency doctor. This inspires her heroine, Dr. Hope Sze, to solve everything from ingrown toenails to full-blown murder. In the thriller Killing Me Slothly, Hope confronts a cult that worships the alien god, Cthulhu–and that may overtake Hope’s own mind. Melissa writes multiple genres, including romance (hockey! Pride and Prejudice!) and memoir (The Most Unfeeling Doctor in the World).

We wanted to get to know Robin Pool (NAIWE’s Sci-Fi/Fantasy Expert) better, so last month we sat down with her. Here are some thoughts she shared with us.

You have a deep background in sci-fi and fantasy. What are the most common world-building mistakes you see indie authors make during a developmental edit?

My father is notorious for reading a half dozen guidebooks before he travels. He wants to know the details before he visits. Readers are not like that!

They are not reading a book to understand the history, socioeconomic system, recent secession crisis, outcome of the war, and environmental turmoil . . . before they even get to know the characters!

Indie authors often add details just to give their reader an overview, but that is not a good strategy, especially not early in the book! Imagine you got off a train in a strange city. What details would you discover first, and what would become clear later in your visit? Spin the details out slowly as they become germane to the story. Keep us in suspense. Save the bird’s eye view for the birds!

If it helps the author to have all of that written out ahead of time, put it in a separate preparation document so it’s not the first thing that comes out when you start the book.

Unless the beginning is already top notch, I advise authors to simply start writing the book wherever it seems right and come back and write a more dynamic beginning later. The beginning is so important that it should not be set in stone when you are just getting your feet wet with the plot or topic.

You can also lose readers by not connecting the details of the world to action or character growth or by setting too many world components against the character, taking away their “elbow room” to act. The world should be like one of those Ninja Warriors courses: plenty of challenges to help the character grow, but also a plausible way through.

 

How does your background in art history from Princeton influence the way you help authors visually map out or design their fictional worlds?

Before I studied art history, I thought the visual details in a portrait just set the general scene. But actually, they are carefully chosen. It’s not just a general flower, dog, or jewelry the artist wanted to paint; they’re specific images that would resonate with the intended audience. Visual details in a book should be the same.

Writers tend to write about what they think is interesting, or they want to give readers a general visual orientation. But it’s better to choose key details that support the reader’s experience. Don’t describe the wallpaper and the furniture and the lamps and the china. Describe how the delicate bone china teacup trembled in the daughter’s hand as the doctor carried the bowl of blood across the plush carpet of the drawing room. That creates tension and anticipation . . . and keeps the pages turning! Is the character wearing a fancy dress because she is a princess (boring!) or because the voluminous skirts allow her to hide a dagger underneath? Both can be true, but only one is worth writing about!

 

As a professional writing coach, what is the number one strategy you use to help an author overcome severe writer’s block or structural overwhelm?

In my experience, if writer’s block cannot be alleviated by a couple of days off, a creative recharge, or a fresh perspective, there’s typically a deeper problem. My number one strategy is to ask questions to identify it.

Could be severe burnout, a mindset issue like perfectionism or excessive pressure, or even trouble getting back on the “writing horse” after a setback like a bad review.

Often, I find that writers don’t really understand their best writing energies. If writing is a good activity for you, there should be a way to make it pleasurable. However, most of us were trained in school to try to please others and keep grinding even when we didn’t like the work. If you don’t know how to make writing enjoyable, that’s where a professional writing coach can help! Don’t try to hammer down the door. Look for a key to open it.

Once people uncover the problem and retool their approach or mindset, severe blocks typically lift. That can take time, though, so it’s important to be patient with yourself and not cling to old assumptions and habits around productivity or performance. I encourage writers to get the support they need to find their happy writing flow.

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How do authors create characters with special abilities that readers can’t get enough of? Ever wondered why Latin incantations and super strength produce perennial best-sellers?

Learn to design compelling character abilities by using a simple 3-step process and avoiding a few basic pitfalls. For any Speculative Fiction genre (from Paranormal Romance to High Fantasy to Steampunk Sci-Fi, even Vampire Littles) this class will help you:

• maximize your writing gold for your ideal audience
• integrate abilities into genre expectations, character growth, world-building, and reader aspirations
• avoid “puncturing the mystery balloon” and “pasting postage-stamps”
• prevent abilities from feeling overpowered or overused
• craft inclusive language and avoid sensitivity “hot spots”

This hands-on training includes workshopping case studies and editing real-life examples. Takeaways include a 3-page PDF with Do’s and Don’t’s, a 5-Step Design Framework, and a Compelling Characters Checklist to help you create from scratch or troubleshoot during revisions.

Learn to write special abilities that get your readers to finish a book, start the next one in the series, and recommend it to their friends. Make your words work like magic…or super strength! No Latin needed.

You can join in this conversation on August 20 at 2:00 pm eastern, when NAIWE will host a discussion on creating and developing characters and plots. The cost for NAIWE members is only $10! Nonmembers can join for $30. Register today!

 

Robin Pool loves the challenge and reward of sci-fi and fantasy. Take all the regular story hurdles – engaging plot, compelling characters – and add in an unfamiliar or even impossible world? That’s an uphill climb! But it’s so worth it! To get good at making the imaginary feel real, Robin has studied social, spiritual, and magic systems from around the globe, including learning Koine Greek and Arabic to read texts in the original. She is equally at home in story settings from pre-history to the speculative future. With decades of experience as a successful small business owner, Robin has coached over 3,000 clients to achieve their writing goals, including major publication credits, prizes, recognition, and readers. She is also an artist (blogging about creativity, knitting, and crochet @robinfpool on Substack), and she loves a good charity shop, especially if she can walk through a garden to get there.

We wanted to get to know Helen Armalas (NAIWE’s Style Guide Expert) better, so last month we sat down with her. Here are some thoughts she shared with us.

Authors have praised your ability to deliver constructively critical feedback directly and honestly during initial video consultations. How do you establish trust and set realistic expectations during that first 30-minute discovery call?

Establishing trust in an initial client call requires professionalism (fundamentally respect), being proactive and prepared (by reading sample material and writing out questions and potential next steps beforehand), and actively listening to the client. Since many authors are not versed in the language of and the different types of editing, I always ask them what their expectations are for an editing project, what specific concerns they have with their manuscript, what level of editing they desire (which typically tells me how receptive they are to criticism), and what questions they have for me. Listening to the client’s needs and drawing certain information out of them through having an authentic, honest conversation and by asking questions helps to get us on the same page so that we both have a clear understanding of what my services would entail for their specific manuscript.

 

Many student editors struggle to balance accuracy with professional speed expectations. What exercises or habits do you recommend to help novice editors increase their words-per-hour efficiency?

To become a faster editor while still being accurate, become fluent in Word’s different features and keyboard shortcuts. Also, use checklists and do multiple passes through the manuscript concentrating on different common mistakes (e.g. number formatting, capitalization, hyphen usage, etc.). As you move through a manuscript, you will become more acquainted with not only the author’s style but their mistakes (and people tend to make the same mistakes over and over again until they become aware of them). You can then search and correct these mistakes all in one pass, speeding up tedious editing. Also, if you find an error that you are having trouble finding the solution to, bookmark it and come back to it later. Instead of wasting time agonizing over one detail, keep moving. Often the answer comes to you as you work through the manuscript.

 

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Style sheets are important tools that editors create while copyediting manuscripts. When done well, they serve as a useful resource to the copyeditor, author, proofreader, and (if applicable) in-house production team to track a manuscript’s stylistic decisions, words and terms, citation preferences, and, in fiction, timeline and character development. In this webinar, we will go over how to make a style sheet for both fiction and nonfiction books using The Chicago Manual of Style as a primary resource. While covering the importance of using the style sheet as an aide to ensure consistency and correctness in manuscripts, we will also go over different Chicago Manual sections as well as other resources that are often referenced when copyediting manuscripts.

You can join in this conversation on July 22 at 2:00 pm eastern, when NAIWE will host a discussion on creating and using useful style sheets. The cost for NAIWE members is only $10! Nonmembers can join for $30. Register today!

 

Helen Armalas is a freelance editor currently residing in Chicago, Illinois. She provides a full range of editing services to traditional publishers, university presses, museums, independent authors, and business clients. A versatile editor, Helen edits nonfiction and fiction (adult and young adult), academic journals, museum-exhibition text, and really anything you throw at her. She is fluent in The Chicago Manual of Style, MLA, APA, AP, and the AMA Manual of Style. Before starting her own freelance editing business in 2023, Helen worked for over ten years in different professional service industries as an accountant and then executive assistant. Disenchanted with the business world, Helen quit her job and decided to pursue her lifelong dream of working with words and being her own boss. Helen has a BA in Art History, Theory, and Criticism from Columbia College Chicago and has completed the Editing certificate program, with additional coursework in medical editing and writing, from the University of Chicago. When she is not reading or editing, Helen is spending time with her two extra-spicy dogs, Louise and Jackie.

We wanted to get to know Ruth Thaler-Carter (NAIWE’s Networking Expert) better, so last month we sat down with her. Here are some thoughts she shared with us.

What are the key factors for success in your specific niche?

My factors for success include responding promptly to client requests, doing high-quality work, looking for new ways to provide services, and using networking to enhance what I provide. I aim to provide more than the minimum for every assignment and request.

How can you update your offerings or roll out new phases of your business to reach more clients?

We can update our offerings and roll out new phases of our businesses by being plugged into what’s going on with colleagues and clients through networking, reading reputable publications for trends and to confirm facts, doing training to develop new skills and improve existing ones, and generally being proactive rather than reactive. Not everyone needs or wants to find more clients, but we can often expand our services to current clients as a way to expand our businesses.

Do you periodically contact everyone you’ve ever worked with to let them know you are available for new projects?

Contacting people we’ve worked with in the past is a great way to generate new projects. It’s also smart to let current clients know that we’re available as needed and to inform them of any new services that we provide.

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Many NAIWE members have been in business for several years, but nowadays, some might be feeling a little bored or burnt out, some have lost clients due to AI, some are experiencing stalemate, some seek new challenges — and all of us want to see our businesses not just survive but grow and expand. In our April webinar, longtime freelance writer/editor/proofreader Ruth E. Thaler-Carter will provide suggestions for taking an independent communications business to the next level and position ourselves for growth through new directions.

Ruth has been freelancing since high school and full-time since 1984. Over the years, she has expanded her writing business to include editing, proofreading, and speaking, and a diversity of topics. She has great insights into how to develop new skills and services to make an independent business go beyond static and toward sustainability.

She is the Networking member of the NAIWE Board of Experts, among several other association memberships, and will include perspectives on how active networking and membership can contribute to growing an independent communications business.

You can join in this conversation on April 16 at 7:00 pm eastern, when NAIWE will host a discussion on developing and expanding your freelance business. The cost for NAIWE members is only $10! Nonmembers can join for $30. Register today!

 

Ruth Thaler-Carter has been a full-time freelance writer, editor, proofreader, desktop publisher, and speaker for more than 40 years. She has been published locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally in, and does writing, editing, and proofreading for, publications, associations, nonprofits, websites, service firms, independent authors, and businesses. She sold her first freelance articles when she was still in high school. Often called the Queen of Networking, Ruth is active in about a dozen professional associations, serving as a newsletter editor, webmaster, publication author, speaker/presenter, blogger, program host or planner, and chapter leader. In 2006, Ruth launched the Communication Central Be a Better Freelancer conference — now cohosted with NAIWE — to help aspiring and established freelancers find greater success. Ruth is also owner and editor-in-chief of the An American Editor blog and owner of the Publishing with Flair publishing business. Her honors include member of her high school alumni hall of fame, in part for her publishing work and networking services; Writers and Books Big Pencil Award for teaching adults and contributions to the literary community; EFfie awards for writing, editing, and newsletters; an APEX award for feature writing; the Philip M. Stern Award of Washington (DC) Independent Writers for service to freelancers; and IABC/DC Communicator of the Year and Silver Quills for magazine writing and newsletters.

NAIWE’s Copyediting Expert Rachel Bradley was recently interviewed on “Unemployable,” the Opolis podcast.

In this episode, Freelance Editor, Indexer, and NAIWE Board Expert Rachel E. Bradley opens up about her personal journey, sharing how she overcame the loss of her husband and found balance in her life with her new partner. Rachel offers invaluable advice on setting the right prices for your services, and taking daily steps toward achieving your business goals. Hosted by Opolis Steward Joshua Lapidus, this conversation is packed with insights and inspiration for freelancers looking to overcome challenges and build a successful writing career.

In this podcast, you can learn more about how being a NAIWE member gives you special access to health and payroll benefits!

Rachel E. Bradley holds a BS degree in paralegal studies from Northeastern State University in Oklahoma and graduated summa cum laude in 2006. She is a gold member of the Christian PEN: Proofreaders and Editors Network, is an established freelance editor with the Christian Editor Connection, is an instructor with the PEN Institute, is a judge for the Editors’ Choice Award, and has served as faculty for PENCON, the only conference for editors in the Christian market. After serving nine years in the legal field and becoming an advanced certified paralegal, Rachel started her business as a freelance editor and indexer. She now owns Revisions by Rachel Inc. In 2018, she lost her first husband, Matthew, after an intense battle with brain cancer. She now edits with a new understanding and a fierce compassion for people who feel broken and hurt. In celebration of continued life and hope, she became a licensed skydiver and takes to the skies with her rainbow canopy, “Promises,” any chance she gets. In early 2021, she asked God to choose her next husband. In an incredible tale of trusting God and giving him her yes without exception, she is now joyfully married to Alexander Bradley. They have been assigned the awe-inspiring and continually humbling task of raising two incredible children. Beyond reading, Rachel enjoys Bible studies, dancing during church worship, skydiving, swing dancing, rock climbing, reading, teaching, discussing important issues, watching Star Trek, sewing, cooking, Pilates, horseback riding, water sports, playing guitar, and snow skiing.

We wanted to get to know Jake Poinier (NAIWE’s Freelance Expert) better, so last month we sat down with him. Here are some thoughts he shared with us.

What considerations should be factored into every price?

The more detail you can put in your calculation, the better. At a minimum, you want to know the length/format/content you are dealing with, what you’re expected to do to it, communications/meeting time, revisions anticipated, and deadline. A proper estimate also needs to incorporate a ton of gray areas. The more unknowns there are, the more conservative you should be about estimating–which is particularly true with new, unproven clients.

 

Is it ethical for freelancers to revisit a price in the midst of a project?

Everything about price should be spelled out and agreed upon prior to the start of the project; you can’t just change a price midstream because the project (or client!) turns out to be more challenging than you estimated. One of those elements would include price implications of tasks that are outside of the scope of work. So, if you agree that a project is a 5-page website and the client expands that to 10 pages, you need to have a contract that defines what happens–and you should be very clear with the client when they are making requests outside the scope. In other words, you don’t want to just surprise them with a bigger invoice.

 

Should freelancers set their prices to be comparable to other freelancers’ offering the same services?

In business, there’s no requirement to be comparable, so I’d say “should” doesn’t really apply. If you personally know freelancers who have similar skills, experience, and client types, however, you’re likely to be in the same range, simply because that’s what the market is willing to bear. This is why I don’t put much faith in industry surveys–you have no idea who is answering them.

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Freelance pricing isn’t a one-size-fits-all proposition — and overlooking the nuances can leave you feeling overworked and underpaid. In this webinar, Jake “Dr. Freelance” Poinier discusses the principles of estimating, incorporating a range of diverse practice examples with real-world project descriptions and client scenarios.

You can join in this conversation on July 25 at 2:00 pm eastern, when NAIWE will host a discussion on estimating your projects. The cost for NAIWE members is only $10! Nonmembers can join for $30. Register today!

 

Jake Poinier made the leap into freelance writing and editing in 1999 after a decade of positions in the publishing industry, giving him key insights from both sides of the desk. As the founder and owner of Boomvang Creative Group, he has worked with a diverse array of Fortune 500 and small businesses, consumer and trade magazines, and independent authors. Jake is committed to helping freelancers improve their businesses and shares his knowledge and experiences frequently as a speaker at industry conferences, through webinars, and on his blog.

We wanted to get to know Ruth Thaler-Carter (NAIWE’s Networking Expert) better, so last month we sat down with her. Here are some thoughts she shared with us.

How many questions should be asked in an interview?

There’s no standard limit for the number of questions to ask someone in an interview. Sometimes the client will provide the questions they want to answer; sometimes the interviewer handles that aspect. I always prefer to ask more questions than I might need, even if that means having to spend some time on editing responses to fit a word limit. I love it when there’s no word limit! The absolute minimum would be three questions: Please confirm your name, title, and affiliation. What is important about your job or project? What (else) would you like our readers to know about you/your topic?

 

As the interviewee, how can you get the interviewer to ask the questions you want to answer?

The interviewee can say something ahead of time, by email or phone, about the topics you see as most important to cover. Let the interviewer know something like, “I’m most passionate about …,” “Let’s be sure to include X as my favorite [whatever],” “I think achievement X is my most important contribution,” etc.

 

What ways can interviewees get selected for an interview?

Being visible in social media and professional association outlets, having a blog with regular posts, speaking at events, presenting webinars, disseminating press releases about achievements, writing letters to the editor with opinions about local or national issues, and similar outreach can get attention that leads to interviews. You can even contact someone with a blog or publication where you’d like to be interviewed and let them know what you would like to talk about and why it might be of interest to their audience. In turn, the interviews can result in more invitations to speak, contribute blog posts, participate in events, and so on. It’s a self-propelling process or cycle. All of these activities feed each other and help establish you as an expert.

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Interviews are key to a variety of writing and editing work. Whether you’re doing an interview with a subject for a project or are the subject of one yourself, interviewing is an art and a skill. This webinar will focus on how to craft interviews that make the topic and subject come to life, along with tips on being a better subject oneself.

Ruth E. Thaler-Carter has been interviewing experts and colleagues on a wide range of topics for many years and has been the subject of varied interviews herself.

You can join in this conversation on June 24 at 7:00 pm eastern, when NAIWE will host a discussion on becoming an expert interviewer. The cost for NAIWE members is only $10! Nonmembers can join for $30. Register today!

 

Ruth Thaler-Carter has been a full-time freelance writer, editor, proofreader, desktop publisher, and speaker for more than 30 years. She has been published locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally in, and does writing, editing, and proofreading for, publications, associations, nonprofits, websites, service firms, independent authors, and businesses. She sold her first freelance articles when she was still in high school. Often called the Queen of Networking, Ruth is active in about a dozen professional associations, serving as a newsletter editor, webmaster, publication author, speaker/presenter, blogger, program host or planner, and chapter leader. In 2006, Ruth launched the Communication Central Be a Better Freelancer annual conference, now cohosted with NAIWE — to help aspiring and established freelancers find greater success. Ruth is also owner and editor-in-chief of the An American Editor blog and owner of the A Flair for Writing publishing business. Her honors include member of her high school alumni hall of fame, in part for her publishing work and networking services; Writers and Books Big Pencil Award for teaching adults and contributions to the literary community; EFfie awards for writing, editing, and newsletters; an APEX award for feature writing; the Philip M. Stern Award of Washington (DC) Independent Writers for service to freelancers; and IABC/DC Communicator of the Year and Silver Quills for magazine writing and newsletters.