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WMW 2021 Writing Challenge Day 1

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To help bring your words to life, how do you use them so your readers hear them?

 

Prepare for the Writing Challenge

During Words Matter Week, we host a writing challenge. Each day we will post a question on our blog and various social media outlets.

Respond to the question on your blog or social media page (be sure to include #WMW2021 in your response), and then link back to it in the comments of the corresponding article on the NAIWE blog. For each challenge you respond to, you will receive one entry (and a bonus entry for each response written on your NAIWE blog).

At the end of the week, we will have a drawing, and one person will win a fabulous prize, along with a mention and link in the next newsletter.

Words Matter Week Begins Today!

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Words Matter Week, which is in its 13th year, is a holiday that is celebrated annually the first full week in March by the National Association of Independent Writers and Editors.

Words are the basis for communication, no matter the language spoken. Babies make sounds, which eventually are formed into words. Here at NAIWE, we know the importance of words, and we want to celebrate it!

We may only celebrate it for a week, but we believe in the importance of words all year long!

Spread the Word

Join us in promoting Words Matter Week! You have NAIWE’s permission to reproduce the poster on your website, with a link back to this page, and you may also print and display it. Please invite your friends to participate in this year’s event and show your support for Words Matter Week by placing the poster in your newsletter, on your blog, or in your social media. Words really do matter, so let’s spread the reminders!

Prepare for the Writing Challenge

During Words Matter Week, we host a writing challenge. Each day we will post a question on our blog and various social media outlets.

Respond to the question on your blog or social media page (be sure to include #WMW2021 in your response), and then link back to it in the comments of the corresponding article on the NAIWE blog. For each challenge you respond to, you will receive one entry (and a bonus entry for each response written on your NAIWE blog).

At the end of the week, we will have a drawing, and one person will win a fabulous prize, along with a mention and link in the next newsletter.

Days to Celebrate in March

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March: Small Press Month. Shine the light on many of the great authors, and publishing houses, around the world.

March 2: National Read Across America Day (Dr. Seuss Day). This day is a motivational and awareness day, calling all children and youth in every community across the United States to celebrate reading.

March 4: National Grammar Day. Some people might suggest that grammar is a set of rules for language, but it is a system for understanding language.

March 7-13: Words Matter Week. Words are the basis for communication, no matter the language spoken. Even babies make sounds, which eventually are formed into words. Here at NAIWE, we know the importance of words, and we want to celebrate it!

March 7-13: Read an E-book Week. This is an opportunity for book lovers and writers alike to share their passion in digital form.

March 8: National Proofreading Day. This day was created to bring awareness to the importance of proofreading.

March 14: National Write Down Your Story Day. This day challenges you to tell your story in written form.

March 30: National Pencil Day. Hymen Lipman received the first patent for attaching an eraser to the end of a pencil on this day in 1858.

Member Benefit: Book Chat

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Your book will have the opportunity through a Book Chat interview to be featured on the NAIWE blog and podcast and in The Edge: Success Strategies for People Who Work with Words, one of NAIWE’s newsletters. This benefit has great PR potential, as you can post the recording of your Book Chat interview on your own site, and it will be archived on the NAIWE site for as long as you remain a member. Doing a Book Chat will provide an opportunity for you to share your story with readers or potential clients and network with other members. This is the kind of positive press that helps to build your career!

Visit the NAIWE website to see all of the member benefits.

Kajli Prince, The Tax Expert

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We wanted to get to know Kajli Prince (NAIWE’s Tax Expert) better, so last month we sat down with him. Here is what he shared with us.

We hear that freelancers may be eligible for the Payment Protection Program (PPP). What are the qualifications that freelancers need to meet?

The main qualification for PPP is that the business has less than 500 employees (i.e., small businesses). These loans can be forgiven if the borrower spends a minimum percentage of proceeds on payroll costs within a specified time frame called the “covered period.”

 

Regarding a PPP loan, how do freelancers determine if we should use 8 weeks or 24 weeks for calculating loan forgiveness?

The covered period is either 8 or 24 weeks, depending on when the loan was assigned a loan number. Before June 5th, 2020, the covered period was 8 weeks. After June 5th the covered period was extended to 24 weeks. Borrowers who received their loan before June 5th may keep their original 8-week covered period or apply the new 24-week covered period. Generally, the 24-week covered period is a better option.

 

What is the rule of thumb for how much a freelancer should/can save for retirement?

My simple Rule of Thumb for retirement is: save as much as you can. So, you AsQ, “What small business retirement instruments are available to me and how much can I save with them?” Great question. Here are the big ones:

• 401(k)/403(b): $19,500 (under 50 years of age) and $26,000 (50 years of age and over)
• SIMPLE: $13,500 (under 50 years of age) and $16,500 (50 years of age and over)
• IRA, Traditional and Roth: $6,000 (under 50 years of age) and $7,000 (50 years of age and over)

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2020 was a year full of dramatic stimulus efforts intended to relieve huge financial stresses felt by most Americans. It seems that everyone is hopeful for 2021, but huge questions still loom large as to what happens next, especially with a new administration on the horizon. Kajli Prince will share the 21 questions he is asked most frequently about what to expect in 2021. The topics range from small business loans (and loan forgiveness) to retirement contributions/distributions/deductions, child & dependent care expenses, working virtually, etc. These 21 answers are intended to enlighten viewers as well as provoke further Q&A.

You can join in this conversation on February 25, at 7 pm eastern, when NAIWE will host a discussion on figurative language. The cost for NAIWE members is only $10! Non-members can join for $30. Register today!

Value of Diversifying Carries into All Industries

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Over the five years leading up to 2020, the book publishing industry has experienced decreasing revenue as its products are increasingly replaced by digital substitutes. Although education and scholarly markets have achieved healthy growth, that growth has been largely offset by losses in the sales of trade books.

Industry operators are expected to continue to struggle over the next five years, even as the rest of the economy recovers from the coronavirus. Although the educational segment has been partially supporting the industry, it struggles with the digital challenges that have beset other conventional media over the past decade. This was further accelerated by the need for schools to adapt to remote learning due to social-distancing requirements. E-book sales are expected to rebound from their slump, which will sustain industry profit, but will continue to generate less per-unit revenue.

While this may seem disheartening, how has the coronavirus affected industry professionals, not all of whom work with book publishers? Chasidy Rae Sisk, a NAIWE member and business writer, said:

“2020 made me realize I had not been treating my writing as a business. With my primary client cutting back drastically, it forced me to start marketing and diversify my client base a bit.”

We have heard these kinds of statements from numerous NAIWE members. 2020 forced industry professionals to take their businesses more seriously and increase their marketing efforts.

Unexpected and significant loss of work can have detrimental effects, but some people chose to use the free time positively, by expanding their genres and improving their skills. Rochelle Broder-Singer, a NAIWE member and journalism and business writer and editor, said:

“Because I had a lot less work during the first three quarters, I expanded my marketing and also said yes to projects I may not have considered in the past. Because of this, I have edited two nonfiction books, with a third in progress. I have also been able to break into the world of technology, which I’ve always wanted to do. I am writing regular in-depth blogs for one software company and helping with a variety of communications needs for another.”

While losing work from a client is not ideal, diversifying your client base is always ideal and can prevent significant losses in the future, as can be seen in a comment by Ruth E. Thaler-Carter, NAIWE’s Networking Expert.

“One of the few bright spots of 2020 was that my editorial business remained stable and even added some new clients and projects. Only one client had to cut back on projects for me, and only for a month in the spring—that is a retail business, and most of their member shops had to close due to the pandemic for anything from a month to the remainder of the year. The owner helped those businesses ramp up their online presence, so there was work for me after that first month. His project is one of my smallest in terms of income, so it wasn’t a major issue on my end, although it did serve as a good reminder of the value of having more than one client and income stream.”

Jake Poinier, NAIWE’s Freelance Expert, had a similar experience:

“This year was a testimony to the power of diversifying clients and industries. My largest-revenue client in 2019 (an ad agency that I was copywriting for) had major budget cuts in Feb./March with their own clients and hasn’t really recovered. (We’re still in touch, but it may be a while before they’re busy enough to need me.) On the positive side, several other long-term clients ended up ramping up the number of projects I was working on, since their industries were not negatively affected by the pandemic. I also added a few new clients through referrals.

“The net effect is that my revenues were slightly up this year, even with the disappearance of 2019’s biggest client—which is definitely NOT what the situation looked like as of springtime. So, in addition to diversification, it’s a comment on staying positive and capitalizing on opportunities when they arise. Like the old stock market saying, ‘There’s always a bull market somewhere.’”

As with many aspects of life, attitude is key. As Henry Ford said, “Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right.” And that has been proven correct time and time again, including during this past year. As another NAIWE member said:

“In the best of times, there are always people who struggle, and in the worst of times, there are always people who thrive. I have come to witness, believe, and experience that the difference is attitude, about recognizing what you can control, and what you can’t—not stressing about the latter. It’s about making peace with what is and deliberately choosing to live in a mindset of appreciation, reframing through a lens of optimism, and finding things every day to appreciate—because there is always an abundance of good to be found, if you open your eyes to it.”

Days to Celebrate in February

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February: National Self-Check Month. Take charge of your health, and increase your odds of avoiding chronic diseases or other preventable diseases.

February: Free and Open Source Software Month. Recognize the cooperative approach to computer programming, open licensing, and free distribution of software.

February: National Library Lover’s Month. Enjoy your library, but also consider volunteering your time this month in a library.

February 1: National Get Up Day. This is a day to persevere, to pick ourselves up when we’ve fallen. We never know when our efforts to seek a goal or overcome an obstacle will encourage another person.

February 4: National Thank a Mail Carrier Day. As a small business, you likely work your mail carrier a little harder. Let’s take time out of our day to thank the mail person who is responsible for getting your mail in your mailbox six days a week.

February 7: National Send a Card to a Friend Day. Send a note to a colleague or client to let them know you are thinking about them.

February 11: National Clean Out Your Computer Day. Over time, files and programs that are unused clog the memory of your computer. This is a day to take some time to do the needed care on your computers. Organize your files and folders. Delete junk files. Delete duplicate files. Delete old files and programs that are not being used.

February 11: National Don’t Cry over Spilled Milk Day. Think positive. Don’t worry and don’t stress over the little things. Life is too short.

February 11: National Make a Friend Day. Get to know one of your clients a little better. Meeting new people can help sharpen our social skills and keep us from becoming lonely.

February 11: National Giving Hearts Day. Make a donation from your business to a charity that you love.

February 14-20: National Freelance Writers Appreciation Week. Celebrate these hardworking writers by showing some gratitude, highlighting a fun behind-the-scenes moment.

February 17: National Random Acts of Kindness Day. Write a note or do something nice for one of your clients today.

February 26: National Tell a Fairy Tale Day. Share a favorite fairy tale with friends or family.

Member Benefit: Member of the Month

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You have the opportunity to be interviewed as the featured member of the month on the NAIWE podcast and blog and in The Edge: Success Strategies for People Who Work with Words, one of NAIWE’s newsletters. This benefit has great PR potential, as you can post the recording of your interview on your own site, and it will be archived on the NAIWE website for as long as you remain a member of NAIWE. This interview will provide an opportunity for you to share your story with readers or potential clients and network with other members. And the positive press helps to build your career!

Visit the NAIWE website to see all of the member benefits.

Stephen Colwell, The Branding and Marketing Expert

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We wanted to get to know Stephen Colwell (NAIWE’s Branding and Marketing Expert) better, so last month we sat down with him. Here are some thoughts he shared with us.

When a freelancer is working in a team environment, i.e., with authors and publishers, and trying to meet the deadlines of both, what suggestions do you have?

As freelancers, too often we give in to our natural desire to please others. Our very human impulse is to leap into action and dive into a project, often at the hair-on-fire whims of our clients. Too often, we end-up over committing ourselves, rushing the work, and delivering sub-optimal results, all at a cost that takes a toll. Instead of operating under an Idea>>Action mindset, a simple shift to an Idea>>Plan>>Action mindset can make a world of difference. It’s the Plan part that often gets overlooked or lacks a thorough process. At its most fundamental level, planning is about achieving clarity and alignment with the stakeholders charged with deciding, then reaffirming a complete, shared understanding before work begins. By adopting a plan-first approach and guiding clients through a well thought-out process, clients are more likely to see us as professionals who know our craft and who care deeply about the outcome. In turn, they’re more willing to accept and engage. By deploying the right planning exercise upfront, then affirming alignment before jumping in, you’ll be better positioned to meet or exceed expectations while preserving your sanity. Bottom line: by resisting the very normal impulse to quickly agree and move into action, I’ve found it’s best to pause and guide clients toward a plan-first mindset. That way, you’ve got a better shot at saving yourself from the fire drills and project fatigue that besets so many creators.

 

A freelancer is working with a client who suddenly becomes distant and unavailable, what should the freelancer do?

The first step is to resist jumping to conclusions, spending precious energy guessing at a client’s state of mind. It’s likely a fruitless exercise. More often than not, life’s events get in the way and a client’s lack of communication is entirely innocent. If a client goes dark and you need a response, my rule of thumb is to reach-out 3x over a logical period of time depending on context. I’ve found clients appreciate when I am direct and to the point, skipping the formalities. Example: “Mr./Mrs. Client, I need your feedback today to the question below. Otherwise, the deadline may be at risk. Please advise.” What’s relevant here is to speak to clients directly as the professional and expert you are. Remember, they’ve hired you for a reason. They trust your skills and ability to deliver. If the silence continues, move on to other work. Don’t ruminate. If they value the relationship, they’ll eventually emerge and you can have an honest conversation about communication and the importance of maintaining a responsive two-way street.

 

As assignments change due to lack of communication, how is this overcome to eliminate waste?

No question, this is one of those ubiquitous topics that cuts to the root of how organizations operate, right down to their core values. The answer is rarely a simple one. Clearly every situation is unique. With that, before every project and during the foundational planning stage, I make a point of addressing communication expectations upfront with a goal to reach “same-page” agreement between all participants before work begins. I’ve found early alignment around communication expectations, workflows, channels, and meeting cadence are all tremendously helpful when addressed at the beginning, then continually refined. Fundamentally, defining how you work together as a team is equally as important as the work itself. 

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As freelancers, we often find ourselves thrust into team environments that are unfamiliar, confusing and chaotic. Assignments often lack clear definition, details are scarce, feedback is vague, and deadlines are moving targets. Stephen Colwell will share the foundational methods and processes today’s top-performing teams are using to empower each other, eliminate waste, and accelerate progress…without all the overwhelm, chaos, and fatigue.

You can join in this conversation on January 26, at 2 pm eastern, when NAIWE will host a discussion on working with a team and more! The cost for NAIWE members is $10 and $30 for non-members. Register today!

Days to Celebrate in January

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January 2: National Science Fiction Day. American author and Boston University professor of biochemistry Isaac Asimov was born on January 2, 1920. He was best known for his works of science fiction and his popular science books.

January 5: National Screenwriters Day. Inside the industry, these screenwriters are well known for their ability to crack the story, create great roles for actors, and write memorable dialogue.

January 6: National Technology Day. From the wheel to smartphones, technology has been changing the world. Recognize those achievements and look to the future for more advancements in technology.

January 11: National Clean off Your Desk Day. This day is an opportunity to begin your new year with a clean and organized work space. Whether your desk is in a private or shared office, cubicle, home, or a make-shift desk on the counter, having your work space uncluttered, organized, refreshed, and clean will help you work more efficiently and give you a sense of serenity.

January 18: National Thesaurus Day. Whether you are looking for a new word or trying to complete a sentence, the thesaurus can be your best friend. Expanding your vocabulary improves both written and spoken communication skills and creative writing abilities and can be helpful in advancing your career.

January 21: Get to Know Your Customers Day. When businesses get to know your customers, you also get to know more about what you need to grow.

January 23: National Handwriting Day. Reintroduce yourself to a pen or pencil and a piece of paper. According to the Writing Instrument Manufacturers Association, it is a chance for all to re-explore the purity and power of handwriting.

January 24: National Compliment Day. What a wonderful way to brighten someone’s day or to give credit for a job well done!

January 28: National Fun at Work Day. Many people spend a good portion of their lives at work, so why should they not try to enjoy it?

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