The Writing Coach Podcast with Rebecca L. Weber

Today's episode addresses two questions I get asked all the time, but never together: +How can I write faster? +What brought you to South Africa? These are somewhat surprisingly interconnected for me, and today i'm going to share with you one of the lessons Mandela taught me--how to write faster. Want more details on writing faster? Join me for a free, live class on writing faster: https://www.reb...

Shaheen Pasha is an educator and journalist. Today we're talking about her work training both university students and inmates as journalists at the University of Massachusetts. This isn't jail porn. It's an exploration of gaining access to stories that are challenging to report physically and psychologically; what it means when prisoners tell their own stories to people on the outside; and how soc...

Establishing company policies might sound like it would create distance from freelance clients, but it does the opposite, especially with your ideal clients. Clear boundaries set a framework for clear expectations and positive work relationships and self care. If you know what you will and won't do, it leads to better communication. On the other hand, a lack of boundaries breeds feelings and behav...

This bonus episode looks at the most effective strategies to raise your bottom line as a freelance writer. You'll walk away with specifics you can implement right away to increase your cash flow. Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/freelancewriterbootcamp Schedule your free Mini Writer Coaching Session: https://www.rebeccalweber.com/coach Get full show notes: https://www.rebeccalweber....

Freelancers often ask: How do I get a client to pay an invoice that's past due? Today we're asking a better question: How do you get clients to pay you on time in the first place? If you've had more than one late-paying client in the past few years, this episode is going to shake up the way you approach billing. I'm going to share some very practical things you can do straight away to break a cycl...

Often our thoughts about money and negotiations are so old, we don't question them as optional belief systems. We think we're observing reality. And then we make important choices based on that perceived reality. Most freelancers I've coached say they're underearning and want to make more money. Yet when it comes time to actually ask your clients for more money, there's a lot of resistance. You do...

Do you feel writing is your true creative, personal, or professional calling, one that brings meaning and depth to your life, and that lets you bring real value to the lives of readers … or at least has the potential to? If the answer is yes (or you'd like it to be), yet you struggle with confidence, blocks, overwhelm, or underearning, this talk about confidence and self-confidence (nope, not the...

Christopher Clark is a freelance journalist and filmmaker. He recently co-directed two documentaries about people living on the fringes of South African society for Al Jazeera and the BBC. Today we talk about: - Transitioning from writing articles to making videos - Covering underreported stories - Returning to a single story repeatedly - Pitching short documentaries Download my free guide on how...

Sarah Khan is a freelance travel writer for the Wall Street Journal, Condé Nast Traveler, and Travel + Leisure. Today Sarah shares the backstory of her award-winning feature for the New York Times, "A Muslim American's Homecoming: Cowboys, Country Music, Chapatis." We discuss the origins of the idea, as well as pitching, reporting, and writing the article, and responses after publication. She brea...

What does a wild animal have to do with procrastination? Your brain wants to protect you from danger--be it a baboon in the bedroom or the anxiety of writing your first draft. Oh, wait, writing that draft isn't really a threat to your safety? In this episode you'll learn what your mind is really up to when you procrastinate your freelance writing and how to make changes. Sign up for a free mini se...

Wondering what it's really like to go through Freelance Writer Bootcamp? Join me for a discussion with several Bootcamp alums about their experiences. Registration for Freelance Writer Bootcamp is open until Tuesday, October 2: https://www. FreelanceWriterBootcamp.com More info and show notes:  https://www.rebeccalweber.com/podcastalum

"Should" is in quotes here because it's the voice in your mind telling you. If you've already gotten clear on the reasons why pitching would benefit your writing life, but you're not doing it (or not doing it as much as necessary to get the results you want), this episode will help you get clarity on what's really going on. Freelance Writer Bootcamp is open for registration: http://www.freelancewr...

The first thing most freelance writers need to do to improve their pitching isn't some editorial magic trick. It's not tips on including a news hook, or how to write a great subject line, or having the right clips in your portfolio. For most of us, the first thing to do to improve your pitching is to change how you're thinking about the pitching process itself. Maybe you didn't even know you had a...

Tailoring your pitch to an individual publication will be a game changer if you're used to a spray-and-pray approach. Simultaneous submissions may seem efficient in the short-term, but there's a reason why most editors don't respond to the same pitch you sent to their competition. Freelance Writer Breakthrough: Free mini course on how to pitch >  http://www.rebeccalweber.com/2018breakthrough Freel...

This episode addresses two of the most requested topics my readers told me they wanted to hear about: travel writing and pitching. Should you pitch your travel story ideas before or after you have a notebook full of notes? In theory, you can do it successfully either way. You could do a little research and prereporting, pitch, get an assignment, schedule your interviews and be confident out in the...

In today's episode, we'll look more deeply at recognizing your thoughts and feelings, and the impact these have on your freelance writing results. If you have a habit of getting in your own way, understanding the thought model will help you work through difficult emotions to reach your  goals. I'll share an example of how I recently used this tool to work through a freelance situation where I felt...

Welcome to the first episode of The Writing Coach Podcast! :D In the weeks ahead, I'll be sharing my coach approach with you to help you get out of your own way and move toward your freelance writing goals. Whatever problem you're facing in your writing or freelancing, today I'll introduce you to a coaching power tool to give you clarity about what's really going on. Need some help with how to use...