Want To Know The Simplest Way To Improve Your Writing?
It’s the easiest skill booster, that so few do.
It’s the easiest skill booster, that so few do.
It’s funny how often people overlook this.
They get wrapped up in the day-to-day, the never-ending list of to-dos and deadlines, all of which seem more important.
And yet to boost your writing skills bit-by-bit, all you need to do is read.
That’s right, READ.
When was the last time you poured over a magazine?
When did you last lose yourself in a book?
To be clear, I don’t necessarily mean Woman’s Weekly or the latest <INSERT FLUFFY CHIC LIT TITLE HERE> - unless that’s the kind of writing zone you want to be in (no judgement from me, they’re both valid).
My tip is to challenge yourself to read more sophisticated/characterful/personality-driven writing than you might normally.
If you aspire to write in Australian Traveller, start reading it. If you dream about seeing your deadline in Travel and Luxury, hit that every weekend. Read the sorts of publications you’d love to see your writing in. You get the drift.
Google any words you don’t know the meaning of and learn them. Even better, start an ‘interesting words’ list in a doc or notebook – you can call on them next time you’re writing (and feel all fancy doo-dah).
Read with an eye on the styles used. You’ll learn a lot and like fairy dust, it will naturally filter through to your writing.
There are a number of writers I follow on Instagram who inspire me, so I also regularly check in on them.
Most of all, carve out time in your workday for this reading – it’s a work practice, not something to be slotted into your already limited leisure time.
What has this inspired you to do? Hit reply and let me know – I’d love to hear.
3 ways to fast track your writing skills
Say out aloud which publications you most want to see your name in
Get brave and make it real.
Analyse the sh*t out of them
What better way to get there than to know what they like to publish?
Book a free call with Fleur
I’ve been where you’re going and can help you get there in half the time it would take you on your own.
You can still get there alone, but you’ll be doing it the hard way, without expert guidance, advice, support or accountability.
My free calls are to help you get clear on the path ahead, not to sell stuff. If you decide you want more of my help, great, but it’s not a prerequisite.
Why Now Is The Best Time Of Year To Pitch
It’s true: timing is everything.
It’s true: timing is everything
It’s fair to say that 99 per cent of the writers I’ve worked with are terrified of pitching.
They tell themselves they’re not good enough to be shooting ideas at that publication, worry their angle isn’t original enough, and second guess the way they’ve written their pitch.
It’s hard: there’s very little info out there guiding writers on how to pitch well.
There’s also nothing about WHEN to pitch. Often, this can be the difference between whether or not you get a green light from an editor, or client.
If you nail the timing, there’s a good chance they’ll not only open your email, they’ll also be receptive to it. Hit send during their busy period, and they won’t even notice your carefully crafted pitch that you’ve spent way too long on and plunged your heart and hopes into.
So, how to get it right? Here’s a huge tip: mid-January is the BEST time of year to send out pitches.
Why?
It’s when editors are crawling back to their desks, revived from the festive holiday but with nothing in their ‘next issue’ files. They’re scouring around for ideas with a blank mind that’s still sitting beside the pool with a cocktail. From their perspective, half the population is still on leave, and no one is answering their phone or checking their email, making generating fresh stories hard work.
It’s a time when editors are HUNGRY for anything that resembles a decent story.
So, if you’ve been procrastinating on an idea you think might work as a piece of writing, send the pitch NOW.
Want more evidence?
In the past week, I’ve been asked by both ABC radio and 6PR to talk about hot travel trends and destinations for 2023. Why have they booked me to talk about something that comes around every. single. year. at this time? Because the ideas tank is empty, listeners are constantly interested in trends and new stuff, and the radio producers know they can rely on me to return their calls and deliver the goods.
That’s what editors want in January.
If you need any support around how to write an excellent pitch and approach the publication of your dreams, feel free to get in touch.
I’ll be accepting new 1:1 mentoring clients (only a couple spots left!), and I’ll be launching a new group writing course from mid-Feb onwards (it’s filling up already). I’m offering a special price on each of these, but only until Jan 24.
Hit the button below if you want to know more and we can have a chat to see if it’s what you’re looking for.
Here’s to a rip roaring 2023.
3 things my mentorship clients are asking about (and you might find handy)
Q. How can I write what I want, rather than just accept jobs that come to me?
A. This is where pitching comes in. If you’re burning to write in a particular way, and/or about a particular topic, research your idea thoroughly then craft a targeted pitch and send it to the publication it fits best in. If you’re struggling, this is something I can help you with.
Q. What’s the easiest way to polish my writing skills?
A. One word: read. Read as often as possible, and read the sorts of publications you’d love to see your writing in. Challenge yourself to read more sophisticated/characterful/personality-driven writing than you might normally. Google words you don’t know the meaning of and learn them. Read with an eye on the styles used. You’ll learn a lot and it will naturally filter through to your writing.
Q. How do I shift writer’s block?
A. There are loads of techniques I share in my mentoring programs, but probably the simplest is to just change your location. If you’ve been writing from your home office all day, skip out to a cafe and notice how the change of scene revitalises both your writing and your mental outlook.
How to up-level your writing for 2023
Gosh the past few years have been rough.
Covid-19 hasn’t just been a terrible virus, for a lot of people I’m talking to, it’s also put a cloud above our heads, dragged down our energy and hampered our motivation.
Gosh the past few years have been rough.
Covid-19 hasn’t just been a terrible virus, for a lot of people I’m talking to, it’s also put a cloud above our heads, dragged down our energy and hampered our motivation.
So many people are waiting for this year to be over, and to start afresh in 2023 - many of them with 1:1 pro writing mentoring with me (I’m nearly full for February already!).
There’s a lot of merit in that - I am really looking forward to having a thorough Christmas break, including not opening my laptop for two weeks. There’s also value in putting structures in place now so that you are ready to fire in 2023.
I know a number of you have been umming and ahhhing over joining my small group pro writing course, which kicks off this Thursday.
The things I often hear are, “I really want to do this, I know it’s where my deepest passion lies, but I have so much else on that I’m not sure I can find the time just yet.”
Or, “I have a bunch of balls in the air and I just need to sort through them before I can focus on my writing.”
What this usually points to is a lack of confidence.
There’s a good chance you may be using all these ‘busy things’ as a subconscious barrier to stop yourself from turning what you actually want into a reality.
It’s scary to take steps towards the flexible, creative, freeing future of your dreams, because it feels like there are a lot of unknowns, and staying in your comfort zone may seem like the easier option.
What’s the quickest way to remove that uncertain, excited-but-scared feeling? To stay busy with other things that you tell yourself are just as important. And definitely ignore how long you’ve been thinking about your writing plans.
I get it. I did a tonne of emails yesterday instead of prioritising myself and doing the yoga track I got dressed for at 615am. I told myself the emails were more important and I didn’t have time to spend 20mins stretching. And yet I know I want to be someone who looks after their body and creates space to slow down and be present, and that I’m more efficient when my muscles aren’t balls of knots.
So if you’re telling yourself now is not the right time to dive into an 8wk writing course, get curious about why that really is. Do you have too much on, or does it feel uncomfortable to put yourself first? Is the fear of failure shouting louder than the potential joy of success? What do you truly want?
Jump in now and you’ll get all the tools you need to make 2023 your best writing year. Hit reply if you’re ready to take the plunge. We start 1030am Thursday.
ps. today I did my yoga.
3 things my mentorship clients are asking about (and you might find handy)
Here’s what we’ve been diving into lately.
Q. Does getting a no on a pitch mean my idea sucks?
A. No! In fact if you got any kind of response from an editor, you’re on the right track. Editors mainly ignore and delete, but if the pitch is valid, they will usually respond. If it’s still a no, it means they see potential in your story but it just isn’t the right fit, or the right time to run such a piece in their publication. If you get a reply, you’ve started building an important relationship with that editor - make the most of it by reviewing what that publication has covered recently and send another pitch.
Q. What should I do with a pitch that doesn’t land?
A. Repurpose it! If you’re confident you’ve got a strong, well-researched story angle, find another publication it would suit and craft a fresh pitch - using the original as a base - to suit the new outlet.
Q. How do I increase my rates?
A. Start by figuring out what you’re worth (I can help, or you can research it), be realistic about how long you spend on the work (avoid putting down what time you’d like to be spending and put the time you’re actually spending, plus buffer time) and then make a list of what value you bring to that job. Then you’re set to start a conversation.
The one thing most writers struggle with is quite surprising
Turns out, it’s not knowing how to turn a beautiful phrase.
It’s not coming up with ripper story ideas.
It’s not getting connected to editors and copywriting clients.
Turns out, it’s not knowing how to turn a beautiful phrase.
It’s not coming up with ripper story ideas.
It’s not getting connected to editors and copywriting clients.
It’s confidence.
For nearly every writer I know and work with, confidence is the kryptonite, and the clincher.
Writers - even the super successful ones - get crippled with self doubt, they second guess themselves, they struggle with decision making.
Do any of these issues sound familiar?
The astonishing thing is despite how widespread this roadblock is, writers tend to keep these challenges to themselves.
What it’s led me to realise - including from my own experience - is that mindset is the key to enjoying a successful and rewarding career as a writer.
Working on mindset gives you tools to break free from perfectionism, indecision, imposter syndrome, procrastination and ultimately, a lack of confidence.
For the past 12 months I’ve been on my own journey with all of the above, with my business mentors. I’ve had some freeing breakthroughs and, through that and a whole bunch of other learnings, I’ve been able to deliver breakthroughs for my own mentorship clients.
If that sounds like something you’d get a lot out of, book in a call with me to chat it over.
There’s no obligation to sign up to anything, it’s just a chance for me to help you, and for you to see what I do (plus, school holidays are over and I finally have some time - yaaaay!).
Note: I’ll be offering this to my Instagram followers soon, and I only have a limited number of available slots, so book in asap if you want to chat. It’s free. What have you got to lose?
The link below will take you to a short jotform with three simple questions that will help focus our call. Fill them out and you’ll get a link to my calendar so you can book in direct. Easy!
3 things my mentorship clients are asking about (and you might find handy)
Q. Do I need to write for lots of publications to make money?
A. No. If you build strong relationships with editors over time, you only need a handful of outlets in your stable.
Q. Should I only write for online publications?
A. Typically, printed publications pay more per word. It’s smart to have a mix of online and printed, along with some copywriting and commercial work that will help boost your earnings. Tip: just because it’s commercial doesn’t mean it has to be boring.
Q. What’s wrong with using superlatives?
A. There’s a place for words like ‘amazing, incredible, awesome’ but if you can use a more accurate descriptive word, why wouldn’t you? Saying the view is amazing tells me nothing about what you’re actually in awe of seeing.
Here’s the secret to nailing pitch emails!
It’s simpler than what you realise, and yet so few people get it right.
It’s simpler than what you realise, and yet so few people get it right.
It’s the subject line.
The subject line determines whether or not an editor, client or other recipient actually opens your email.
It might (subliminally) say to them, ‘I’m selling you something,’ or ‘This is a PR release’ but, what you really want it to say is, ‘This is so incredibly interesting that you need to know more.’
Get it wrong, and your carefully crafted pitch goes to waste, sight unseen. It might be the best story in the world, but if no one ever sees it, it’s a huge opportunity lost.
Get it right, and the editor will be intrigued enough to open the email body, excited about your story idea, commission you on the spot and you’ll be writing a soon-to-be-published piece in no time (and feeling pretty elated while you’re at it).
I teach writers how to do the latter. The subject line, along with a few other insider tips, gets them the positive outcomes they’ve been trying for, but not really knowing how to get. It’s incredibly rewarding.
Is this knowledge useful to you?
3 things my mentorship clients are asking about (and you might find handy)
As you know, I offer personalised, 1:1 mentoring for mid-career professionals who want to sharpen their skills, turbo charge their freelance business and gain confidence in a field where insider tips are rarely shared.
Here’s what we’ve been diving into lately.
Q. Is it ok to delete PR emails?
A. Yes! Journalists and content creators receive tons of emails each day, and if you spend all your time responding to them, you’ll get nothing done (hello, popular procrastination technique). It’s not rude to hit delete, even when it’s addressed to you (automations make that happen). If it’s of use, you’ll get in touch with the PR/marketing person, and they know that. And hey, if they use a ripper subject line and get you curious, then you can appreciate their good work.
Q. If I’m worried about flowery language, cliche or ‘PR speak’, should I cut it out?
A. If in doubt, cut it out - this is a regular writer’s mantra I often use if I’m second guessing the inclusion of something in a sentence. If you sense that something sounds a bit naff, salesy or cliched, listen to your intuition and challenge yourself to come up with something more engaging.
Q. Can you help me write a podcast script?
A. Certainly can. My background is in radio - I launched ABC Radio WA’s first ever podcast about 16 years ago - and I’ve been podcasting ever since, including for Lonely Planet. The tools I teach apply to all forms of writing, and podcast scripts are essentially a more succinct, punchy style designed for the spoken word. I can go granular on this in one of my 1:1 zoom sessions.