Monthly Archive: September 2011

Sep 30

From Unemployed to Self-Employed Pt. II

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September 30, 2011

Keith Owens became a full-time member of the Writing It Right For You writing team on August 1, 2011. An award-winning writer and journalist, Keith also is a regular contributor to the Jack and Jill Politics blog. He is writing a series for Jack and Jill Politics about starting a career as a freelancer as a Black Liberal Boomer. You can read the 1st installment of “The Self-Employment Chronicles” here at the Jack and Jill Politics Blog.

The Self-Employment Chronicles Part II

Like I said in the last post, I gave myself no more than 24 hours to suffer from the shock of losing my “good government job” with Wayne County. Then it was time to get busy. Although I had some reasons to suspect that something may have been coming down the pike, that my job was not exactly as stable as I would have liked, I still simply did not expect to walk in on a Monday morning and then, within 45 minutes, be walking back out the door with what little personal belongings I had bothered to bring with me to the office over the previous five years.

And now? Looking back? I have to say that my small amount of personal belongings is a bit of a revelatory peek into the somewhat subconscious state of mind I was in throughout the entire time I was working my day job. The fact that after five years as a department executive with considerable responsibilities I could nevertheless easily leave the office carrying all my personal belongings in a medium-sized box? I mean, if you peeked inside the office of just about anyone else at the job, any executive or manager, you would likely see pictures of family, stuffed animals, plaques, plants, you name it. Stuff to make the environment seem more homey.

The only thing I had on my wall was a calendar provided by the office. I didn’t even have a photo of my wife in there. Nothing. Just office stuff. Looking back it’s like I went in there with the feeling that I did not plan on being there long. Maybe I always knew what I really needed to be doing was working for myself because that was likely to be the only time I was truly willing to commit myself all the way. Committing yourself 100 percent to somebody else’s company or vision is great for them, but what does it do for you in the long run? For me, I will easily concede it was a fine learning experience where I picked up some valuable skills that will serve me well as I move forward in pursuit of my own life’s fulfillment, but in no way was it ever where I was destined to spend any length of time. Not to say that getting laid off was a great experience – it wasn’t – but I am definitely saying I have yet to miss anything about the place. It’s amazing how fast some things can disappear into your rearview mirror.

That’s the good part. The more, oh, let’s say ‘challenging’ part, is what lies ahead. I know exactly where I want to go and what I want to do. That’s not the problem at all. I also feel for the first time in a very long time that I am headed in the right direction and that what I am doing is right for me. I have quite honestly never felt this right about anything except marrying my wife. But how to get there?

Time to sketch out the plan. The clock is ticking, and it’s getting loud…

You can contact Keith for your writing, blogging, social media, and journalism projects here.

Have you faced an employment uncertainty or challenge? Let us know in the comments section!

Permanent link to this article: http://writingitrightforyou.com/home/2011/09/30/from-unemployed-to-self-employed-2/

Sep 29

What We Do: Grants and RFPs

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Business Writing, Client Projects, News and Views, Opinion, Projects

September 29, 2011

Applying for grants and responding to requests for proposals (RFPs) are very arduous and time-consuming undertakings. Some organizations have staff people dedicated to just those tasks, but most do not. Special expertise and experience are called for; and if your organization would like to apply for grant funding or respond to private or public requests for proposals, the writing team at Writing It Right For You can help.

Pamela Hilliard Owens, M.Ed., has years of experience in both the public and private sector in sales and sales management, and has helped companies apply for dozens of grants and respond to scores of RFPs. Her eye for detail and excellence in English grammar and usage is perfectly suited for such detail-oriented work.

Allan Brauer has spent years working in the private sector in human resources and procurement and presently specializes in working with non-profits, arts organizations, and progressive political groups.

If your organization needs funding, you need to contact us! When filling out the contact form, be sure to request our special document detailing our grant writing and RFP application process and services. We look forward to working with you and your organization.

Permanent link to this article: http://writingitrightforyou.com/home/2011/09/29/what-we-do-grants-and-rfps/

Sep 27

Ask Questions, Get Answers

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Contracting, News and Views, Policies, Projects

September 27, 2011

Are you thinking about hiring a freelance writer or editor to help you to complete a project? Are you a freelance writer or editor negotiating with a potential client? Over the years, I have found that the best way to develop a successful relationship with my clients is to ensure that everyone is “on the same page” from the beginning. When you ask a lot of questions, you’ll receive a lot of answers; eventually, each of you will have a strong foundation for managing your project.

As my friend and fellow writer, Sharon Hurley Hall (@shurleyhall) writes on her blog, a client questionnaire will help to clarify for both the freelance writer/editor and the client the terms, conditions, and “fine print” of each project. So, whether you are the freelance writer/editor or the client, what should you look for in a client questionnaire? There are many different formats that you as a freelance writer/editor can customize; as a potential client, there are informational sections to look for:

1) Complete contact information. With today’s global business environment, many people work non-standard hours and are location-independent. It is important to for the contractor and the client to be able to communicate across time zones and during non-business hours.

2) Complete background information. As the potential client, what is it exactly you are looking for? The more information you can give about you, your company, your goals and objectives, and your competitors, the more your writer can successfully meet your needs.

3) Project details. This is the place to be very, very specific. This section should include the deadline, the milestones, the update schedule, the number of revisions, the contact person, and the exact details of the project.

4) The budget and payment details. This is the section where the freelancer and the client discuss the project budget and finalize the payment arrangements. Each project has a budget, and each freelancer should be paid for his or her services. This section outlines the specifics.

A well-written client questionnaire will benefit the freelance writer/editor and the client. The writers at Writing It Right For You have a questionnaire and a project plan template ready to work with you. You can contact us here.

If you are a freelance writer or editor, do you use a client questionnaire? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section.

Are you a client who has worked with a freelance writer or editor? Did you complete a client questionnaire? What other information would you like to see included in a client questionnaire? Let us know in the comments section.

Permanent link to this article: http://writingitrightforyou.com/home/2011/09/27/ask-questions-get-answers/

Sep 26

You’ve Got E-mail! No, You Don’t

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Academic Writing, Business Writing, English Language Usage, Grammar, Journalism, News and Views

September 26, 2011

If you are like me, your computer inbox is always full. No matter how hard I try to achieve “Zero Inbox”, I send and receive hundreds of messages per day. But help is on the way! I will no longer be inundated with “e-mail”, because the proper spelling for electronic mail is now “email”: no hyphen! According to the AP Stylebook, which is one of the standards for writers, “e-mail” is now to be correctly spelled “email”.

The “e” in email of course stands for “electronic”, and when sending electronic messages first became popular a few decades ago, it seemed natural to hyphenate the term. But AP now says that “email” qualifies as a term in itself and has standardized the new spelling. Of course, AP adds to the confusion by stating that other forms of “e” communication, such as e-books, e-commerce, and e-business will retain their hyphens, for now.

If you need assistance with e-spelling, contact the writers at Writing It Right For You! We’ll get right back to you; via email, of course!

Permanent link to this article: http://writingitrightforyou.com/home/2011/09/26/youve-got-e-mail-no-you-dont/

Sep 23

Top Ten Reasons to Work with Keith

Categories:

Business Writing, Journalism, News and Views, Opinion, Projects, Social Media Marketing, Websites, Writing Types

September 23, 2011

1) Keith has more than 25 years of experience as a professional journalist. Keith knows what makes a compelling news article, as well as a compelling piece of commentary that is likely to get the attention of editors.

2) Keith has also published works of fiction and is an avid reader of all sorts of fiction, with a special attraction to sci-fi, horror, and character-driven literary fiction. If you need someone to read over your novel, or short story, and make helpful suggestions about how to make it better, Keith is your guy.

3) Keith has experience writing/creating his own blog site as well as writing for others. He is currently a regular contributor to the widely-read political blog site Jack and Jill Politics. If you would like to know how to write tight, compelling blog posts that will attract readers, Keith can help with that. Keith is NOT the guy to see for improving blog design, however. Words are what Keith does best, and he prefers to stick to that.

4) Keith has a lot of patience, and does not believe in beating up aspiring writers to make them better writers. Keith believes this method only results in adding to the already overflowing pool of beat up aspiring writers. If you’re serious about getting better, Keith will do everything in Keith’s powers to make you better. And if you happen to be a better writer than Keith, Keith will quickly recognize that and bow down.

5) Keith has a great sense of humor, which helps Keith survive those who don’t.

6) Keith prefers not to handle numerous clients at a time so that he can devote more quality time to the relative handful he may be working with at any given time. The top number of clients Keith will work with at once will range from 3 to 5. Apologies in advance to those who may not be included at first, but this really is done to maximize devotion of time and resources toward the needs of my clients.

7) Did I mention that Keith has a great sense of humor?

8) Keith also has experience writing press releases, and will gladly provide assistance to anyone wishing to write a concise, strong press release likely to get the attention of readers and editors. Keith would prefer not to get involved in the distribution and marketing aspect of press releases. In other words, Keith will help you write it, but it will be up to you to know where you plan to send it.

9) Keith asks that each client have a clear set of goals to work toward, which makes everything easier. If this area is still somewhat murky, Keith is willing to work with clients to help them better define what those goals are and/or should be.

10) Keith is good to work with because Keith actually loves good writing as much as he hates bad writing. The army of good writers needs reinforcements, and this is where you come in.