What’s on the iPod: Salvation Song by The Avett Brothers
What a weekend. I feel like I’ve been gone for months when it was just 14 days ago I was in LA. But you couple a trip to Phoenix and a stay in the hospital with that and it feels like months of activity. Nope. Just 14 days.
I spent Saturday in the garden, but not before I headed over to Barnes & Noble to meet Kristen Fischer. What a treat! I’ve been connected with Kristen via Facebook, Twitter, and possibly linked in for a while, so when she mentioned she was in town for a book signing, I knew I had to see her. She’s as sweet in person as I imagined. And she has a great book, When Talent Isn’t Enough. If you freelance, you need it.
Back home, garden work began. Because I’d put a bunch of perennials in over the last five years, weeding was more like uncovering hidden gems. Coneflower, poppies, marjoram, rudbeckia, dianthus…there they were, hiding under the jungle. My goal was to find dirt, not get too involved in upending soil. I’m hoping to have a little time this week for that.
Sunday was glorious. We went for a walk at the arboretum, which was in full glory. We caught the tail-end of the bluebells, but the azaleas and rhododendrons were just splendid. I slowed things down by looking at every ID tag on every plant. My grandfather (the nurseryman) had hybridized his own version of azalea at one point in the 70s. I’ve been looking for it ever since.
We rode through the park to home, where we saw Chubby Checker riding his horse. He’s there a good deal. Nice to see horses in the park, especially on beautiful, sunny days when everyone in the area races to the park instead of the mall. There were RC airplanes and runners and babies in strollers all taking in the meadows and the woods peppered with dogwoods and redbuds in full bloom.
Today is a visit with the surgeon and a client phone call later. But for now, let’s get to what happened in April. I missed the monthly assessment this past week due to all the stuff going on. Better late than never, right?
Here’s the rundown:
Queries:
I picked up on these this past month. I sent out just four, but they were highly targeted. So far, nothing from it, but I’m trying to open up an new area of concentration, so it may be a challenge to convince consumer pubs that a trade writer can write with relevancy to consumers. That seems like odd thinking to me because I’m also a consumer, and skill is skill, but it’s a real roadblock sometimes. I got one conversation from my favorite editor, so I should see something (I hope) this month.
LOIs:
Eighty-seven. I sent 87 LOIs in April. They were to conference exhibitors, and believe it or not, that wasn’t much given the conference being last month, too. It did result in not one, but three separate conversations, one happening today, coming from people I didn’t meet at the show. In all, the LOIs I’ve sent over the last three months have netted three on-site visits and six separate conversations before and after the conference.
Existing clients:
Happy to have existing clients right now. I worked with three, which helped get me close to my targeted earnings goal. However, a monthly retainer just fell victim to budget cuts, so I’m glad to have the new clients about to come on board.
New clients:
Work I did for one client just went into phase two, so I was able to bill for the first half and start the meter on the second. Also, once I get myself sorted, I’ll be signing on with another client, whom I’d met at the conference, and getting a larger project going.
Earnings:
Not super. I did bill a bit over half what my target is, but given the major disruptions, I’m happy for what I have. Now staring at an impending surgery, I’m thankful for a healthy savings. It will allow me to take the week or so to recuperate without causing financial disruption. Alas, the bills from the surgery will come in, so I’m lining up stuff now.
The bottom line:
Despite not having a full two days at the conference, my marketing efforts prior to the show worked. I’m looking at a number of potential clients for the coming year, which should make this year’s earnings close to what 2012 were, which were terrific. This month’s goal is to line things up so that the moment I feel well enough, I can start projects and hopefully get some earnings in for May. I’m not expecting much because of surgery and recovery, but I’m going to jump back on the horse the minute I feel able.
How did you do in April? Any surprises? Anything that worked better than expected?
Yeah, April was definitely a better month. I'm trying to get more local clients.
Got a few insulting queries — people who want 20 articles/week for $1.50 an article type of thing, but that's a flat out "no", so I shrug them off.
Finished the novel on deadline, and am moving on the next one in the queue before starting revisions.
I have to start setting my BEA appointments — only 3 weeks until I go to NY!
Devon, I've not had a ton of luck with locals. A few of them want to work with me, but it's clear their budgets aren't conducive to my rate, and that's fine. So I keep aiming toward the larger, global peeps.
I love those last few weeks before a show. The work is lining up and you're polishing the presentation — love it!
Finally a decent month for me, despite slacking on the queries & LOIs.
Queries: One. Pathetic, I know.
LOIs: None. Well, sort of none. I did sent LOI-like replies to four job listings that sounded tailor made. Of course, the ones that asked for my rates were probably looking for people willing to work for peanuts.
Existing clients: Edited several executive bios; turned seven pieces in to Favorite Editor; wrote three columns; finished three other articles for two different publications. Currently wrapping three pieces for a local client (totally agree with you on that front, Lori, but I'm trying to fill the gap left by Ex-LatePayer – the new place doesn't pay well but they pay fast, and I'm making good local connections), and now I'm starting two longer pieces for a regular client.
New clients: Did one quick thing for a new client who might have occasional résumé work for me. It took 10 minutes and paid $35.
Earnings: Woo-hoo! They're nearly double my modest monthly goal. That's only counting what I've actually been paid. It's early May and my outstanding invoices and projects I'm currently working on are already less than $200 shy of my modest monthly goal.
Bottom line: I need to up the LOIs and queries if I expect to maintain or increase my workload.
Must be the month for improvement – finally. I finally received the large deposit on a project where the contracting process started in January.
I also nailed down a proposal for a new client and another large project. So, one returning client + a new client.
Existing clients continue to funnel ongoing projects that have kept me afloat.
I continue to do heavy marketing and have a possibility for another new project.
Earnings were just shy of target (although I have a pretty aggressive one), but were the best for the year – so far.
Bottom line: Finally (there's that word again) ;-)appear to be picking up steam.
Wishing you good health, Lori.
You should feel proud of all you did get done, Lori!
I made almost 15 pitches last month. Not great but I'm not upset because I was also in the middle of launching my website.
Now with the launch over (phew!), I'll be launching my blog this month and sending out more pitches.
I hope the surgery goes well and you recover quickly. : )
87??! Amazing! I am not as organized as you, nor do I make the time to write it all down and I think that is important to stay on track. Keep truckin' at it–you are a star freelancer:) I loved meeting you!!!