Freelancewritingtips.com

Welcome back: Book, blog and events news

Hello there, thanks for dropping by. I'm now back here in the run-up to my new book, Freelance Writing, coming out in April.

I'm also due to speak at the Chipping Norton literary festival in April and at the Cybher conference on May 12. 

Upcoming posts requested so far are:

• Can you make a living (enough to support a family) from freelance writing?
• Focus on pitching a literary agent or publisher
• How to invoice and keep track of income/expenditure

Authors for Japan update

THE total raised in the Authors for Japan auction launched by Keris Stainton topped £13,000 (including Gift Aid.)

Out of that, I'm delighted to say that donations sent for training sessions or mentoring I was offering, added to money I pledged for two lots came to around £650.

Thank you to the kind people who paid money to the Red Cross for some of my services. I snapped up coffee and cake with literary agent turned author Alison Bond and all four Skate School books signed by Kay Woodward.

What a fantastic achievement by Keris. It was an honour to be part of it.  

Discounted places: Kick start your freelance writing career workshop, July 2, Birmingham

WITH the date of this workshop fast approaching, we have reduced the price to fill the last few places. Places are limited to ensure individual feedback and value for money.

Usual price was £154 inc VAT All remaining places are now discounted to £118.80 inc VAT .

We have some brilliant testimonials from journalists who have attended our training and can answer any questions you may have.

Please also note payments can be split into two parts, with 50 per cent paid on booking and 50 per cent two weeks before the workshop. We don't currently have any other dates planned.

Kick start your freelance writing career workshop Saturday, July 2, 2011

Friends House, Bull Street, Birmingham B4 6AF

Non-fiction book proposal critique in Authors for Japan auction

FOR more details, please see the link below:

Non-fiction book proposal critique and feedback, plus signed books from Linda Jones.

Place on Kick start your freelance writing career workshop in Authors for Japan auction

I'M offering a place on an upcoming workshop for new and aspiring freelance writers in the Authors for Japan auction.

It's being held in Birmingham city centre and is on Saturday, July 2. I hope this information is useful for anyone considering bidding. 


This workshop is for you if:

* You are considering launching a freelance journalism career

Freelance journalism mentoring included in Authors for Japan auction

THIS is a cross-post from Authors for Japan. The sessions mentioned below also include exercises set between phone calls and tailored feedback. These are included in an auction and the hope is that people will bid and raise money to help relief efforts in Japan.

Please see the Authors for Japan website for more information, plus some amazing offers from high profile authors.

ITEM: One place on four-week telephone mentoring sessions for aspiring freelance journalists (usual price £250 plus VAT) plus signed copies of The Greatest Guide to Freelance Writing, publication late 2011; Love to Write: A School Run guide to helping your child in literacy (provisional title), publication due 2011.

Authors for Japan

AUTHORS are being asked to donate lots to be auctioned in aid of relief efforts in Japan.

You can find out more at Keris Stainton's blog, below:

Authors for Japan, can you help?

Please let Keris know in the comments or by email what you may be able to do to help.

My book news: They're a bit like buses...

I'VE always considered myself lucky when it comes to my working life as I can honestly say I enjoy what I do. Writing for a living allows you to meet loads of different, sometimes interesting and inspirational people, gain a sense of satisfaction from published work and ocassionally make a difference to others' lives.

Of course there are dreadful days too, days when you have to deal with someone who has people skills akin to those of Cruella de Vil with no sleep or when things (especially financial ones) just don't go according to plan. But still, compared with people who come where I come from, who do stuff I'd hate to do for a living, I appreciate how privileged I am to be doing something I love.

JEEcamp - an 'unconference' for the future of journalism

BIRMINGHAM City University online journalism lecturer Paul Bradshaw has organised a second JEE Camp after the success of a first event last year - and tickets are selling fast.

Paul describes the event, at The Gatehouse, The Bond, Fazeley Street, Digbeth, from 10am on May 8, as being for anyone interested in news, from entrepreneurs to bloggers, developers and those involved in social media.

Blogger takes on Writers Bureau over advertising claims - and wins

THANKS to Gary Marshall for flagging this up.

Blogger Rob Spence has played a blinder with the Advertising Standards Authority after complaining that claims by The Writers Bureau were misleading.

Rob's post about this is pure gold.  The full adjudication is here.

File under: A victory for common sense.