Those dark, bleak days are behind you, gentle reader, but I would not doubt that the mere mention of these words create a sense of deep anxiety, even now.

Well, pull yourself together, you are all grown up  and in order to make it out there you need to learn to LOVE those dreaded “parts of speech”. They are, after all, the spanner set in your writer’s toolbox.

And so, without any further blathering, I present with pride the most important parts of speech you will ever use:

THE NOUN

These are naming words and you get a variety of nouns: common nouns, proper nouns and collective nouns.

Common Nouns:

Common nouns are naming words such as albatross, pen, grape or car. Common nouns can be singular or plural.

Proper Nouns:

Proper nouns are names and usually start with capital letters e.g. Mark, Heidelberg and North Vietnam.

Collective Nouns:

Nouns which refer to groups or collections of things are known as collective nouns e.g. a murder of crows, a flock of seagulls or a gaggle of school girls.

THE VERB

Verbs are the action words – they express a state of being or a particular activity

e.g. Jesus wept, Barry stubbed his toe, Michelle ate hurriedly

THE PRONOUN

A pronoun substitutes for a noun. The phrase that the pronoun replaces is called the antecedent.

e.g. he, she, it, they, we, our

An interrogative pronoun replaces an item used in a question e.g. who

There are many types of pronouns.

THE ADJECTIVE

It’s time to get descriptive! Adjectives are describing words and go hand in hand with NOUNS.

e.g. red apple, happy baby, boring class and juvenile delinquent.

THE ADVERB

If you want to describe a particular action you would use an adverb. Adverb’s tell us more about how an action was performed.

e.g. danced gracefully, ate messily, jumped high, cried aloud

THE PREPOSITION

Prepositions are those little words that keep things flowing and hold it all together. Prepositions often describe direction or location.

e.g. onto, beside, near, above, below, against, beyond

These are the basics in terms of the parts of speech you should know as an English speaker. You can of course delve deeper into the fascinating world of parts of speech by reading great grammar books or websites.

Your headline needs to sell the rest of your article – and you have mere milliseconds to grab attention.

Copywriters have always known that a good headlines is the key to getting their work read. Like the subject line of an email, it is the headline that does most of the work yet so few time is usually spent on the headline.

Clients and managers put great pressure on writers to get copy written quickly and this results in the headline being written very quickly without much thought.

Tips to make sure you write the best possible headline in the quickest time:

• Use direct headlines: straight to the point, plain language and e.g. 30% off Winter socks
• Indirect headlines will initiate inquiry in the reader’s mind e.g. Google goes fishing
• “How to…”, “What is…” – these types of headlines are very effective
• Ask a question in the headline to get the reader involved e.g. Do you want to make a pile of cash?
• Action headlines ask the reader to take action e.g. Take control of your personal finance today!
• Using the name of a celebrity in the headline adds a testimonial-like element e.g. Steve Jobs agrees that  Hot Copy is a fantastic read
• Numbered lists are also effective e.g. 12 reasons why you have to read Hot Copy every day

Everything you need to know about becoming a freelance writer is here. You only need to find the will to become a freelance writer and pursue your dream of working at your own pace, on your own terms, from anywhere in the world. If writing is what you love, then freelance writing is the career for you.

In these uncertain economic times it’s good to know that, with a bit of entrepreneurship on your part, if the unthinkable ever happens and you get retrenched or made redundant, you will have a sustainable career to pursue as a freelance writer.

A SOUTH AFRICAN PERSPECTIVE

South Africa is a developing nation. There are opportunities everywhere, if you find them using non-conventional methods. In developed countries where a telecommunication monopoly hasn’t hampered the adoption of the Internet, the market is mature enough for a pure Internet business. There are many bidding sites where writers can bid for freelance work – but in South Africa the market is still growing and the Internet is not a reality for many businesses.

This is where South Africa becomes interesting – you will need to embrace the old and the new, the Internet and the brick and mortar business. Search for business by meeting people, talking to shop owners, posting flyers, getting your name out there. At the same time however, you should use the developed world tactics of registering on job sites and directories, and emailing prospects. South Africa is a hybrid economy with the wealthy, middle class and poor living and working side by side.

As a result, opportunities abound where you least expect them.

QUESTIONS YOU MUST ANSWER BEFORE YOU BEGIN

Read these questions and answer them in your mind. Take as long as you need until you are 100% satisfied with the answers to these questions. After that, read on.

1. Why do you want to be a freelance writer? What is your objective? Be very honest with yourself
2. Look carefully at your finances and work out exactly what income you will be able to live with: not just scraping by but really live with. Do you have money saved up you can fall back onto during the quiet months when business is scarce? Remember, this is a BUSINESS – treat it with all due financial care as any other business owner would
3. Have you got a clear business plan in place? Imagine you had to take your freelance business plan to the bank to ask for a loan – put down your strategy in a formal business plan. Doing this will not only highlight your strengths and weaknesses, but will also clarify your objectives and goals for the future

The Marketing Department

It goes without saying that unless you are engaged in a joint venture with someone, you are pretty much on your own and therefore YOU NEED TO SELL YOURSELF.

People are not going to throw themselves at your door begging for you to write for them, unless of course you have marketed yourself as a writer. Think about how you can let people know that you are in the writing business. Start off small with friends and family – email or phone them to let you know that you are available and ask if they know of anyone who needs writing done.

How to promote yourself:

• Have a website that showcases your work, gives people information about you and how you work and that  gives your contact details
• Prepare a good resume and link to it from your website, or email it to people, post it on job sites or directories
• Your website should be dynamic (regular content updates for repeat visitors) and interesting (keep visitors on your site for longer)
• Get some business cards made that you can give to interested people
• List yourself in business directories both online and offline (depending on your budget of course, but many directories are free to list in)
• Meet with people in the real world: fellow writers, friends, colleagues and BECOME VISIBLE
• Attend writing conferences or gatherings of people in your industry or field of interest so you can mingle with your peers and talk about what you do and how you can help others

The infamous Ps of Marketing

Anyone who has casually opened a first year marketing text book will have read about the 4 (or 5, 6, 7 or 8 ) Ps of marketing, as follows:

1. Product
2. Price
3. Place
4. Promotion
5. People
6. etc

In the case of the freelance writing business:

Product = your services as a freelance writer
Price = what you charge for your services
Place = the Internet – typically your content gets emailed to your client
Promotion = the steps you take to market yourself as a freelance business, to ensure your customers keep coming back for more, and to attract new business
People = the people you interact with as a freelance writer: family, friends, colleagues, clients, other writers (The Competition) and so on

Most of the Ps are rather straight forward, but the one that keeps most people guessing is PRICE – what should I as a freelance writer charge for my services?

What rate to charge as a freelance writer

Some people charge per word, but I find that charging by the hour works best. Be sure to make a good, realistic prediction assessment of how long it will take to perform a specific writing job and then quote on this. Your rate per hour will be determined by a number of factors:

• Your qualifications and experience
• Your business requirements – you need to make sure that your business expenses are met and that you make enough profit to sustain your lifestyle
• What competitors are charging – do not fall into the trap of trying to undercut your competitors on price, in truth you will be cheating yourself. Do not price yourself out of the market but have a good understanding of industry averages
• What type of work are you doing? You may have a different rate for article writing, editing someone else’s work or advertising copy – be sure your clients know what your rates are by category
• Your flexibility: you may be willing to negotiate for more work at a lower rate, or you may even accept a monthly retainer (which amounts to a monthly salary that you get paid for any amount of work you do for that client throughout the month)
• Type of client: corporates in banking or technical industries generally pay better

Do some research and find out what other writers are charging – you will be amazed that some writers are getting paid upwards of R700 per hour (2009 rates).

The Business Management Department

You need to run a tight ship when you’re running your own business – be as professional as possible and maintain the highest of standards, even in the little things.

Create a corporate identity

You are a business – now look like one! This includes:

• Business logo
• Business stationary (for invoices and correspondence via email)
• Business card
• Go all out and promote yourself with stickers on your car or promotional t-shirts
• Be inventive and get your name out there: think outside the box (as a writer, you should be doing this in any case)
• Be CONSISTENT: keep your corporate identity consistent wherever you promote yourself – you are building a BRAND

Professionalism

It’s the little things that add up to being very important:

• Your personal appearance when you meet clients is important
• Be punctual – not too early, not too late
• Deliver the goods: your work builds your reputation, so if it is shoddy or delivered late, your reputation will crumble, and so will your business
• Fight home distractions: it’s easy to procrastinate and go for a swim, a coffee, or let your mouse start wandering around the Internet – so be diligent. Reward your hard work with some time off having fun (your time is your own, which means you have to manage it)
• Find a balance: you can easily fall into the trap of working too long hours. This will hurt in many ways: your family life, your physical health and eventually your ability to produce good writing. Don’t become a workaholic – rather do what you can and don’t overextend yourself
• Be prompt with returning a call or an email – your speedy response shows you care
• Remember: under promise and over deliver

Your working hours

The fantastic thing about freelancing if that you work when you want to – there’s no clock-watching manager giving you the evil eye when you clock in 5 minutes late in the morning.

That being said, get into a regular pattern of work – whatever works for you. This will allow your friends, family and clients to plan their activities with you, and will allow you to give good estimates on when a particular job will be done by. It all comes down to proper time management, so keep a log of your working hours and plan your working days.

At the end of each day, take fifteen minutes of your time to write down the 5 most important things you will do tomorrow. This will prepare you for the next day so you can start early and get through your work with a fixed plan in mind.

Remember, your working hours are sacred, so make sure that you have made agreements with all your friends and family members about your time. Just because you are at home or in your outside office does not mean that you are available. Respect your time with your family and friends and ask them to respect your working time.

Build time into each day for some physical exercise – take regular breaks and get your blood flowing. This will help your business grow and will also give you opportunities to spend time with other people.

Taking leave to go on holiday is important too – remember that you need to give yourself a good solid break every now and then so you can return refreshed. Make sure you plan your projects around your holidays and let your clients know well in advance of your plans.

The Office Management Department

Your working environment will be dictated by your own personal preferences – another great advantage to working as a freelance writer. No cube farms for you!

Ergonomics are VITALLY IMPORTANT for a number of reasons. You will be sitting down for extended periods of time working behind a computer – this puts severe strain on your lower back and other parts of your body. Follow these tips for healthy computer work:

• Adjust the height of your monitor so that the top of the screen is in line with your eyebrows
• Sit comfortably in an upright position with your shoulders back, stomach tucked in, head upright and arms parallel to the floor. Your wrists should not be bent to far up or down, and your feet should be flat on the floor
• Take a 10 minute break for every hour of work, and do not work for more than the regular 8 hours a day if possible
• Have a solid breakfast and lunch, with time for regular breaks in between
• Make your environment pleasant to work in – paint your room, get some pictures up, play music – whatever you like that will make your working life an absolute pleasure

What you will need:

• Computer, mouse, keyboard, printer, scanner, fax machine – lap tops are great for coffee shops
• Microsoft Word, Excel or the full Office suite (or you can use Google Docs for FREE, or download Open Office for FREE)
• Reliable Internet connectivity
• Comfortable chair and desk
• Stationary – notepads, receipts, invoices, envelopes, pens, pencils
• A space to work in (your own office, shared office, room in your house, outside cottage, coffee shop, beach – whatever works for you)

The Finance Department

Your business health depends on your cash flow – financial matters really matter!

You need to be extremely diligent with keeping track of your income and expenses.

Consider the fact that you need to pay tax on your income and figure out the best form your business should take – find out about small business taxation policies and tax rates. If you are in South Africa you can find out about running a small business by reading through the Small Enterprise Development Agency website – managed by the Department of Trade and Industry. The South African Revenue Service website will give you plenty of information about taxation.

Don’t evade the tax man – it’s illegal and can mean the end of your business, reputation and livelihood. Rather, set aside a percentage of all your income for when you need to do your tax return – you will then have the cash on hand to pay what you owe in taxes.  Make sure you know what tax bracket you fall into so that you set aside enough and don’t get a rude shock when your income tax return comes back.

It helps to get a professional on your side to help you with your taxes and if you earn enough you can even hire a book keeper to manage your books for you. Hire someone reputable though.

Getting paid

Most people work as follows: they do the work for a client and then send an invoice, which hopefully gets paid soon. Never sell yourself short – you are writing to GET PAID and as a professional offering a professional service this is exactly what you should expect. Doing favours from time to time is very rarely acceptable – you are a business and your time literally means money.

Set up an agreement with each client that defines the terms, rate and expectations that you will be employed under.

Invoicing

Part of your professional image includes proper, formal invoicing. Your invoices should include the following elements:

• A title e.g. Invoice from Hot Copy
• Your contact details: name, address, email address and phone number
• A unique invoice number for reference purposes.
• The name and contact details of your client being invoiced
• The date of the invoice
• On a single line describe the nature, duration and cost of work you have done
• Split out the VAT amount if applicable and display the total amount payable
• Include your payment terms if you have any (by when) as well as how (cash, cheque, EFT etc)
• Make it clear that non-payment by the due date will have interest and legal implications
• Send your invoices in NON EDITABLE format e.g. PDF – this reduces fraud and minimizes disputes
• Make your invoices extremely clear and legible, whether transmitted by email or fax or snail mail

Department of Administration

You really do need to run a tight ship – and this includes filing away all important documents and keeping good track of invoices, receipts, expenses requests for quotations, your quotations, agreements and any other form of communication with clients or financial documents.

Keep soft and hard copies, and back up regularly to prevent the unforeseeable from ruining your business.

Keep good accounting records: an income statement, balance sheet and cash flow statements are the basics you should maintain.

FINALLY

There are plenty of good sites out there that can teach you a thing or two about freelancing. Read Freelance Switch for great advice to freelancers, links to freelance jobs and resources for freelancers.

The most important thing to do right now is to START – get up off your butt, leave your safety zone behind you and be adventurous! Be practical, be rational and plan everything and you will be successful, if you stick to your plan.

Good luck and enjoy your freelance writing journey!

You may also want to read the following

How to write good copy

The writing process

Preparation

“I can kill catering with a thought”. Funny!

A tale of childhood, set in a graveyard, the book tells the tale of Nobody “Bod” Owens an orphaned boy growing up in the most unlikely of environments, similar to the story of jungle-dwelling Mowgli from The Jungle Book. Bod learns how to survive by learning from both the living and the dead.

“It takes a graveyard to raise a child” – Audrey Niffenegger, author of The Time Traveler’s Wife.

Take the common phrase “Hip Hip Hooray”, for example. ’tis been said that the phrase comes from Roman times, 70 AD to be exact, as the hordes of Rome were busy sacking Jerusalem. Legend has it that the first word – HIP – means “Hiersolyms est perdita” or “Jerusalem is destroyed”. Germanic Knights then somehow, by a LONG stretch of the imagination, turned it into the celebratory phrase during the Middle Ages. Quite a long shot, if you ask me. And not very fun.

HUZZAH is a fun word, not only to say but also to interject at an appropriate moment in a lengthy conversation at a cocktail party to express joy of some sort. The word HURRAY is not very dissimilar to the word HUZZAH, so there is a slight connection to Shakespearean times when HUZZAH was said A LOT at parties.

Another source indicates that Mongol troops used to go around saying HURREE HURREE quite a bit while conquering most of the known earth in the 1200s. HURREE is a form of reverent praise, which casts a new light on using Hip Hip Hooray at jovial birthday parties, far from reverent affairs mostly.

The old faithful Oxford English Dictionary mentions that the phrase was used as a form of salty salute, as seen in the Hollywood Failure Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World and also in the ridiculously successful Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. Yay for Depp and Co for being so historically accurate.

Whatever the origins, the phrase is best served slightly chilled in a glass of something cold, wet and bubbly.

Cheers!

A couple of the more decent agencies to hire or work for are compiled below in:

The ultimate directory of good advertising agencies on the Planet Earth

Anomaly

BBDO

BBH

Crispin Porter + Bogusky

DDB

EuroRSCG

Fallon

FCB

FoxP2

Grey

Joe Public

JWT

KingJames

Leo Burnett

Lowe Worldwide

McCann Worldgroup

MetropolitanRepublic

Modernista!

Mother

Ogilvy

Saatchi & Saatchi

StrawberryFrog

TBWA

The Jupiter Drawing Room

Wieden + Kennedy

Worldwide Partners, Inc

Y & R

I’ll start working on the next killer series of novel that will put Stephenie Meyer in her vampire-romancing place.

Just need a good working title and a middle initial for my name.

The Half Light Prince of Twilight
By Anthony P. Lopes

Yessssssss…….that ought to do it……

• Search Engine Optimization and Search Engine Marketing
• Email marketing
• Website creation and analysis
• Customer conversion
• Social networks like Facebook, MySpace and so on

Something central to all of this is pure, unadulterated GOOD CONTENT. Without it none of the above is effective, entertaining, interesting, profitable or even moderately fun.

2009: THE YEAR OF THE COPYWRITER!

If you write copy for the web or employ people to do it for you, you will find the following invaluable online copywriting resources a jolly interesting read, filled with life-changing practical tips to make you more effective online (or offline for that matter).

Copywriting tips for online marketing success from Copyblogger

Online Copywriting 101 – the Ultimate Cheat Sheet

SEO copywriting

Why Typography is important to making your copy look good

A couple of TYPOGRAPHY links:
http://www.typechart.com/
http://www.webtypography.net/
http://ilovetypography.com/

Something I came across on YouTube is Hot For Words – if you want to find out the meaning of words with leggy blonde eye candy thrown in, this is for you.

I also recommend reading the ENTIRE Quirk Emarketing Book – the Essential Guide to Online Marketing (FREE DOWNLOAD!). There’s a good chapter in there dedicated to writing copy for the web.

Freelancing resources:

The Monster List of Freelancing Job Sites
101 Essential Freelancing Resources
A beginner’s guide to freelancing

There you have it – a good collection of stuff to read. Go and create good copy! Go now, THE WEB NEEDS YOU.

Here’s a link to the Brands & Branding Community Portal newsletter I put together for the Festive Season of 2007/2008.

http://hotcopy.co.za/newsletter/Issue3/Issue_3_2007_HTML_web.html