Book Review: Six-Figure Freelancing

Are you thinking about starting a freelance writing business? Do you write and submit regularly but barely make enough money to buy toothpaste for your family? You need Kelly James-Enger’s book Six Figure Freelancing: The Writer’s Guide to Making More Money. In the book, James-Enger offers solid advice to help writers move from writing for fun to writing for money.

Get a Business Mindset. For most beginning freelance writers, writing is a hobby. We do it on evenings and weekends, but we do not treat it like a job. In Six-Figure Freelancing, James-Enger stresses that the only way writers can earn more money is by changing this mindset. Writers who want to earn more money need to treat writing like a business. Instead of taking assignments based solely on one’s interests, writers must consider how much money they want and need to make. James-Enger offers several tools to help writers determine their money mindset and then figure out how much money they need to make each day to survive. In addition, she packs the first section of the book with information on all of the things the freelance writer needs to know to launch a writing business, including tips on negotiating contracts, boosting your bottom line, and keeping track of deductibles.

Develop Good Habits. In the second section of Six-Figure Freelancing, James-Enger teaches writers how to work more efficiently. Many freelance writers are surprised when they discover all the tasks they must do in addition to the writing that earns them the big money! Writers need to prepare query letters, market their work, keep records, network with editors and writers, and more. In addition, most professional writers are working on projects that won’t immediately earn them income—like book proposals or novels. James-Enger offers plenty of tips to help writers become more efficient. I love her 24-hour rule. After receiving a rejection—James-Enger calls the rejection letter a “bong”—she does two things within 24 hours: resubmits the rejection to another market and queries the author of the rejection letter with a new idea. In the section on efficiency, James-Enger provides examples of query letters, information on how to pursue reprints, ideas on how writers can slant ideas for multiple articles, sample writing schedules, and tips for using time more effectively.

Connecting Well. In the final section of Six-Figure Freelancing, James-Enger offers tips on how to work with editors, clients, agents, and other writers. This crucial section provides valuable advice to writers who want to build a robust business. Though novels and movies are filled with temperamental writers who drink too much and miss their deadlines in honor of their muse, few editors want to work with that kind of a writer. Instead, editors appreciate writers who turn in good work on time. Good relationships with editors often lead to regular writing gigs—a good thing for a writer trying to make a living!

Need More Information? If you want to learn more about how to earn a six-figure income as a freelance writer, attend today’s Write Now! Mastermind class with Kelly James-Enger. Participants on today’s call and commenters on this blog post will be entered into a drawing to win a 30-minute coaching session with me, The Write Now! Coach. Kelly James-Enger also writes a helpful blog for professional freelance writers called Dollars and Deadlines.

What do you think? Writers, I am curious to hear what you have done to make more money as a freelance writer. Leave your tips in the comment section below!

Hope to see you on the call!