Copy Chatter for Freelance Writers with Ashley Gainer

How to get your first writing samples

Whether you're just getting started or you're ready to start offering a new writing service, you're gonna need a portfolio. But how do you get writing samples when you don't have any gigs yet? That's what my wailing toddler and I are talking about today. 

Managing client expectations

Managing expectations isn't the most glamorous discussion to have, but when client expectations go wrong, they go REALLY wrong and I want to help you avoid that! I have 7 tips to share with you about managing client expectations and staying happy as a freelancer. 

How to improve your writing

If you wanna be a professional writer, you gotta be improving your writing skills along the way. I'm sharing 9 tips to help you out. Get cracking!

Do you have to get on the phone?

Good news and bad news: You don't have to get on the phone for every client... BUT, there will be times when you'll need to get on the phone if you want to get the gig. Client calls have a lot of benefits, but they're really intimidating for new writers. In today's podcast, we'll talk about why calls are a good idea, go over some pointers for conducting your calls, and then talk about setting boundaries around the whole "availability" thing. 

When should you write for free?

There's a dirty lie out there telling new and would-be freelance writers that they should write for free for a little while to "get established." I offer loads of juicy (and sometimes counter-guru) advice in this week's episode.

 

Writing gigs that are recurring

Landing a recurring writing gig is GREAT for your business. In this episode, we talk about what recurring work looks like and why I'm such a fan. 

Tips for writing faster

As a writer, I can get a little neurotic about my writing. Perhaps you can relate? What I've had to learn over the years is that there's a difference between doing a great job... and just being neurotic.

Being neurotic is fine, if it's not the thing keeping you from getting paid (or paid enough). But for many of us, it's a big block. And one of the neuroses I see out there in freelance writer land? They come down to various "reasons" why we can't write faster. Today I address those issues head-on.

Self-care when you're working from home

If there's one thing I've learned this year, it's that if I go down... everything goes down. I've been focusing on ramping up my self-care routines, and in this episode we'll go over my top recommendations for self-care specifically for the work-at-home warriors among us. 

3 ways to niche down

There are three different ways you can niche down, and you can combine any of these three to niche down even further. We're exploring what they are and how that looks in this episode.

5 massive mistakes I've made as a freelance writer

I've been around a long time, and I did a whole lot of making it up as I went along. These are some of the huge mistakes I've made in my decade-long career... and how you can do better