The Writing Coach Podcast with Rebecca L. Weber

What's one thing you'd like help with in your writing life today? I'd like to coach you about it—and share the recording with other listeners of the Writing Coach Podcast. To apply for a free coaching session with me, visit www.rebeccalweber.com/coachme 🔗 You might also like to listen to … WCP 1: What's your problem? WCP20 Setting freelance writer goals Writing Coach Podcast Greatest Hits Playlis...

Sometimes you AND your pitch need to get out of your head and out into the world.   On the first Tuesday of the month, I'm hosting co-pitching calls where freelancers work on their pitches together.   This month I offered a few short prompts for those who needed it. Here I elaborate on ways to approach these prompts, your story idea, your editor, your readers, and your mindset. 🔗 You might also l...

On Monday mornings I used to be cranky and anxious. It's not a great combo any time, and not a great foundation for the week ahead.   Then I created a ritual to help me transition … and I actually look forward to that time when I get to look at my writing projects from a totally different perspective.   Creating a ritual or two in your writing life can provide structure, meaning, and momentum. Thi...

In one week, you might have a pub that you've written for for years fold, receive an email from an editor who said she loved your pitch now asking for a ton of edits, sign a contract for a new book, and have a source ask to reschedule an interview. It seems there's nothing as constant in change in the freelance writing world … and yet so many freelancers seem continually surprised by the meta patt...

They say it's the thought that counts when it comes to gifts. But if you've ever had the experience of receiving a gift that was clearly intended for somebody else (but the tags got swapped or similar), or if you received a generic Secret Santa present, you know that the thoughts leading to those gifts were fundamentally different than when somebody offers you a gift that surprises and delights yo...

On a road trip, you might see a dozen reminders about an upcoming exit. The frequency doesn't mean that you should get off the highway for an unwanted detour. Following the trail of habitual thoughts can derail your writing life. Learn to stay the course. Also: The last session for the year of my small group coaching program, Freelance Writer Bootcamp, starts in mid September. Details and applicat...

Some writers always honor their deadlines for clients, yet aren't accountable to themselves when it comes to marketing or creative work. Maybe you want to  pitch more stories , finish your book proposal, or write in your journal every single day. You get started, then quit, and never build enough momentum to create the writing life you really want for yourself. In reality, signing a contract isn't...

Perception of time varies from person to person, and from task to task. Before, during, or after a particular writing task your estimate of how long it takes will likely vary. This lack of clarity about time in the moment can be seen or described in very different ways depending on the context (eg "flow" vs "time blindness").   If you don't know how long something will take you, how can you quote...

Freelance writers often have a hard time setting rates, or feeling great about them after we've signed a contract. It can feel challenging when: You have a sense that there's a correct rate to charge, but you don't know what it is You don't know how much you need to earn this year, so can't break down this project accordingly You believe that the client sets the rates Spoiler alert: It is *always*...

Do you (almost) always honor your agreements to others (e.g. you routinely make your deadlines), but have a hard time doing things that nobody else is completing (e.g. pitch a story to a new-to-you editor)? External accountability can help interrupt narratives that are neither fact-based nor helpful.   Today I share with you a number of external accountability practices that are helpful for writer...

No electricity. No internet. They're not one in the same, but when they overlap they make for a powerful Venn diagram. The extreme weather and increased pressures on infrastructure means we're going to continue to see large areas lose power and connectivity. Here in South Africa, we've had plenty of chances to learn how to freelance efficiently both with some tech strategies and managing our own e...

As a species, we're pretty judgey. As working writers, we're constantly having our work judged.   Sometimes it can feel like how someone feels about our writing is how they feel about us. When we add our own judgement of somebody else's judgement, things get sticky. Fear of judgement (by an editor, a friend, an anonymous reader who leaves a comment, or even ourselves) can be a major blocker.   Thi...

Freelancing while traveling disrupts the home routine. Get clear about your process and expectations when traveling, and you'll be better able to reduce frustration and optimize your next trip. Some unconscious and/or unrealistic expectations include: + Stamina, sleep, and food choices + Only reporting vs. starting to do some writing before reporting is complete + An overscheduled itinerary vs. in...

One great guiding question is at the heart of a pitch that lands an assignment, or in an article that resonates with readers. Answering this question is usually going to be more compelling for a reader, and often essential for an assigning editor. This episode unpacks the power of answers, plus the exception you want to watch out for (ie, when you want to make sure that the question is explicit)....

As a writing coach, I've heard countless writers complain about their numbers. Or, more accurately, I've lost count. Often somebody will hook into a goal number (daily word count, annual income, how many likes on a post) that disappoints–whether they hit that number or not. And many others don't identify a goal number from the outset, but then lament that whatever number they're looking at is "not...

Steph Fuccio invited me to her podcast, Content to Connect, to discuss the value and impact of podcasting and newsletters. This BTS conversation is relevant to anyone involved with a podcast, newsletter, or other (semi) regular form of opt-in communication. I share my own transition from a newsletter to podcast and how these both help my ideal clients decide they want me to be their writing coach....

In some important ways, it doesn't matter what your job is when somebody you care about dies.   In today's episode, we look at ways you can use writing to process your emotions and communicate love and loss, or to support somebody else who is in mourning.   We also discuss the practical challenges of freelancing while grieving. In the four years since this episode was first published, it's quite l...

Some thoughts on writing and pitching together, trying new things, and how timing your work sessions gives you useful data. 🔗 You might also like: WCP 175 Writing in community WCP 111 Intentions and transitions WCP 1: What's your problem? 🎁 Download my free guide on how to pitch freelance article ideas , "5 Proven Steps to Writing Queries that Sell."   www.rebeccalweber.com/howtopitch ⭐ Support...

One great idea element can be developed into so many different kinds of stories for noncompeting audiences. Listen to my interview on the Do Good Work Podcast, where Raul and I talk about pitching, freelancing, flexibility, generating original ideas, exploring creativity, inspiration, and more in a slightly different context than we've ever done before. -Importance of recognizing personal biases a...

Black lives matter, today and every day. This is not always reflected in the media. Today we look at how an anti-racist approach to reporting helps us get closer to the real truth of what is happening in the stories you cover. An anti-racist approach works both in stories that explicitly cover racism, as well as so-called softer stories where you may not have initially identified a racial angle. T...

What is your freelance writer business model? What are the skills you need to get you to the next point? Do you prefer to improve your weaknesses or your strengths? What skills are you actively developing right now? I've chosen not to pay too much attention to some skills (like spelling) that seem like a no-brainer to some writers (but that actually have had very little impact on my career). I hav...

It's common for the lede to get buried in the draft (and sometimes final) article.   In pitches, it can happen twofold: first there's a tendency to take up a half a screen of nonessential small talk ("Hope you're well"), and then even in what is supposedly the main pitch, there's often excessive background and context. All of this may make you, the freelance writer, feel more comfortable. But it a...

Every three months marks a turn of seasons, and a refresh of the financial quarter. It's the perfect time for an evaluation.   Pausing to review and reflect on what's actually happened allows you to plan from a more grounded place. 🔗 You might also like … WCP 50: Self evaluations When done properly, self evaluation will give you precise insights into exactly what you need to change, providing mom...

Freelancers often think of the editors who don't want to assign them stories, and of readers who don't want to read their stories and angles, when writing pitches. I don't mean the editors don't want to assign the stories because the pitches need to be zhushed up.   I mean the editors don't want to work with the writer because it's a bad match. If the freelancer had done a frank assessment, they'd...

We all know we're supposed to read a publication and tailor a pitch to their needs … but so many freelancers just cut and paste the same one-size-fits-none pitch and send it out to editor after editor.  In general, the spray-and-pray approach maintains a low pitch acceptance rate. But this approach actually does work in a few select cases. Listen to hear what the three situations are when it might...