Useful Books
Many of the books listed below were instrumental in helping me build my freelance writing business.
I recommend these great resources for freelance writers looking to grow their income. (Click here if you’re looking for tools and products I recommend.)
I’m also getting exposed to a lot of interesting new books and book authors through my Freelance Writers Free-for-All podcasts, so as I find interesting new books that help freelance writers earn more, I’ll keep adding those here, too…so these are listed mostly in the order I discovered them.
As on my Products I Love page, these are all books I’ve read and highly recommend…and affiliate sell. Thanks for buying through me — you won’t pay a dime more, and it helps me keep this blog stocked with a constant supply of fresh, free advice on how to grow your writing income.
My experience: This is probably the single book I’ve recommended the most to freelance writers in my life! It’s no joke what they say on the cover: “The most trusted guide to getting published.”
The good news: massive market-listing tome 2012 Writer’s Market Deluxe Edition
Online, you get constant updates about new listings and editor changes and you can sort their database instantly by publication type, key word, pay level, and more. Really the essential resource if you’re interested in breaking in to new publications. Here’s my post on all the ways you can use The Writer’s Market.
The Well-Fed Writer & The Well-Fed Self-Publisher
by Peter Bowerman
My experience: I’ve been benefiting from Peter Bowerman’s advice for years now. Lately, I’m using the sequel, The Well-Fed Self-Publisher, to help me sell my own ebook. So far, I’d say pretty close to 100% of the sales I’ve made have been using techniques I learned from his book! It’s really been my bible for learning how to sell a product, which was brand-new to me.
I recently blogged about how his advice on how to break into copywriting helped me take my family on an Alaska cruise, as I added so much additional income. His new eBook is Profitable — By Design!, all about how to use partnerships with graphic designers to send you a steady stream of juicy gigs.
The Renegade Writer & The Renegade Writer’s Query Letters That Rock
by Linda Formichelli and Diana Burrell
My experience: I’ve been lucky to get to know Linda recently. I think she’s whip-smart. First we did a call together, and then started our Blast-Off! 6-week group coaching course for freelance writers looking to earn more.
Along the way, I’ve learned that many, many writers don’t have strong querying skills, and it’s holding them back from moving up and earning more. Linda offers great advice gleaned from her many years scoring assignments from more than 100 publications. You really get it from the horse’s mouth in Query Letters That Rock and The Renegade Writer.
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Writer on the Side by Bryan Cohen
My experience: How can you get started on your freelance-writing dreams while still keeping that day job? Writer on the Side takes you step-by-step through how to get the most out of each hour of your day and make the time for writing.
The first time I started freelancing, back before my 12 years of staff-writer gigs, I slowly ramped up my freelance writing while I typed movie scripts for a living. So I’ve been there…and found I liked the approach Bryan takes in the book, which even talks about each time of day and how you can get the most from it for your freelancing.
Here, you can listen to me chat with Bryan about the book and hear some of his best time-management tips. We talk ebook publishing, too.
The Urban Muse Guide to Online Writing Markets
by Susan Johnston
My experience: I actually discovered this handy ebook during one of our Blast-Off! classes with Linda, when she recommended it. I was happy to find it. Susan was already a familiar name to me, so when I checked the Guide out, I wasn’t surprised to see she’d put together a great resource.
I’m always being asked by writers if I could rattle off a list of decent-paying online markets…so now I know where to steer you. The Urban Muse Guide to Online Writing Markets takes care of that for me. Susan updates this guide regularly, since things change so fast on our lovely Interwebs.
Create Your WordPress Blog by Brandon Yanofsky
My experience: I already had my WordPress site up when Brandon released his ebook, Create Your WordPress Blog…but I happen to know Brandon is a cool guy, so I wanted to check it out. I also know so many writers who’ve told me they’re stymied on getting into blogging because WordPress baffles them. They can’t figure out how to get their site up and going. Or they’re stuck on Blogger and know they look like amateur hour, but they can’t manage to switch to WordPress.
This book is for all of you.
I got a review copy of this book, and if I were trying to do this myself, this is what I would want to be reading. Brandon takes you step by step through the installation and design process, complete with loads of illustrations with helpful big red arrows and boxes around the important stuff. I felt like even I could do this on my own with this book’s help.
You could spend a small fortune having a designer do this stuff for you, or you can read this, save a bundle and do it yourself.