Solution Sandbox

Something Outta Nothing...

2009-09-28T12:25:00.000-07:00

It's often surprising how little you're given to create a letter on which thousands of dollars in revenue rest for a nonprofit organization. There are also clients who practically dictate the letter to you which makes you pause to wonder why they're not just writing it themselves. And, perhaps that's why I love the challenge of this work so much. Trying to create something out of nothing - whether it's material to go on or zippo for wiggle room in the creative process - reminds me of why I became a writer in the first place.

It's just really fun to play with words...and get them just right!

Do you prefer too much or too little direction for a project? Let's hear from you freelancers and see what you have to say!

Is AWAI Bootcamp really worth it?

2009-09-01T12:25:00.000-07:00

If you run in the AWAI circles, you know their yearly Bootcamp is fast approaching. I've received one final email on the early bird discount that ends tonight. And, wasn't surprised to see the conference is likely to fill up for the first time before that deadline expires. I've seen the lineup and it's stellar, a copywriters list of the Who's Who. But, as a two-time bootcamp attendee, (once to participate, once to speak) I can tell you the great presentations are only the beginning of the fun and the benefit of attending.

For many of the copywriters I know and for me, making the leap to attend was the turning point. Perhaps it's the financial investment or the fact that you're truly putting yourself out there as a professional copywriter, but just being there is a confidence boost you can't get elsewhere. The networking is to die for and the AWAI staff are so "at your service" it's ridiculous. They want you to have the experience you're hoping for and do everything they can to make it happen.

So, if you're on the fence, call AWAI at 866-879-2924 before 5 p.m. ET today and tell them I sent you their way because it was one investment that was far more than worth it...bootcamp changed my life. (And, Denise Ford looks really cute in camouflage ;-)

Keeping up...is it worth it?

2009-07-29T06:36:00.000-07:00

Just saw a tweet from my daughter's middle school teacher looking for a Twitter lesson plan. Does that mean it's here to stay? I spoke on copywriting to these kids last year and not one of them had heard of a Kindle. Told them they were pry among the last kids to go through school lugging individual text books. Though it felt good to know I knew something cool the kids didn't, I wondered why they didn't. Teens may be online all the time, but they're not playing in the same parts of the web sandbox the grown-ups are. My youngest learned I had a Twitter account and told me "Twitter is stupid, only adults care about it." Hmmm...

As I scan my inbox full of invites to webinars on the latest information sharing trends I have to wonder are they worth my time? Tell me, are you paying attention to all the latest "stuff" simply because someone (or lots of someones) are telling you to?

What recession?

2009-05-22T13:06:00.000-07:00

So, after shaping up the office on a Friday before a long holiday weekend, I decide to crunch a few numbers and see how things are shaping up in this recession year....

Oh, happy day! The recession seems to have given me a nice raise. Being a freelancer with clients 1,000 miles away, I can't use a particular area of the country as my reason for the good news. I specialize in fundraising and you'd think they'd be hard hit by the country's economic woes.

What I realize is, I work for some pretty smart folks. Organizations that haven't hit the panic button and pulled back on mailing and who are forging ahead with a purpose.

So, if those smart moves put them ahead of the game on the other side of the recession, what do you suppose the outlook will be for my business? ;-)

Enjoy your Memorial Day Holiday and remember to thank the men and women who have made it possible!

Will swine flu affect you?

2009-04-30T10:04:00.000-07:00

A recent news report mentioned that the impending swine flu outbreak may cause many companies to allow more telecommuting by employees. Hmmm...will that policy stick around after things settle back down? With a renewed emphasis on "being green" how many companies, especially smaller ones, might combine the swine flu temporary changes with more permanent ones? I think there will be some who opt for a four-day work week or other flex hours that save the extra expenses and environmental effects of having employees in the office versus at home.

With cell phones capable of so many functions, how many days do people really need to spend at the office anyway? As a freelancer, I learned early on that I could get double the work done at home as I previously did in an office. Take out all the interruptions, hour-long staff meetings that include 10 minutes relevant to your work, water cooler chatter and commute time and you can get the same, and more likely more, work done.

To my fellow creative types who don't already work from a home office, how would telecommuting change your work life? Will swine flu help you get the ball of change rolling in the right direction?

Internet side-effects...

2009-02-12T12:52:00.000-08:00

I'm afraid I'm coming down with some side-effects of internet overkill.

I've been lining up phone calls for a new book project and other client projects and finding it oddly intrusive. With the internet, I control who I talk with and when and I rather enjoy that.

But, email has its limitations. How often have you found yourself sending email clarifications back and forth that one phone call would've take care of? Yup, same here.

And, now with the on slaught of social networking information filling my inbox I wonder if in a few years I'll even have reason to ever meet someone in person! Facebook is redefining "friend" and I wonder how the next generation will feel about phone meetings...or (yikes!) in person meetings.

Do you find yourself hiding behind the internet veil? Is the virtual sandbox the only place we'll meet in the future?

Not the economic change I expected...

2009-01-26T10:41:00.000-08:00

First, welcome to all of the new subscribers to the Solution Sandbox! Now that the holiday season is behind us, there will be more regular posts and I sincerely hope you enjoy them and will chime in with your thoughts!

Now, for today's topic...

With all the grim predictions, I'd braced myself for an unusually slow start to 2009. Instead, business is up and clients seem prepared to take on whatever challenges lie ahead. They're not necessarily cutting back on mailings, either.

But with each conversation, I'm noticing there seems to be more detail and thought to the planning process for each mailing. Not that there weren't specific plans before, but perhaps a more determined mindset to make every letter do REALLY well. I'm finding it all quite refreshing and from a skill standpoint a great opportunity to step up to the plate and deliver some seriously good copy.

So, Freelancers and Fundraisers, how has your year started out?

Freelancers: When Does Push Become Shove?

2008-11-12T07:39:00.000-08:00

One of the biggest complaints from freelancers is the unsteady flow of work and income. It's a gold mine one month and famine the next, but how you cope with it will eventually determine your longterm success.

After what's been the busiest fall yet for me, I actually have a few hours of breathing room this week and I admit, it's been really tempting to take a much-needed break. In past years I might have done that, but with the economy in such an unsteady state, it seems far wiser to push myself a little harder.

So instead of taking a couple of days off this week, I'll be finishing up a new ebook with a fellow writing friend that we're hoping to have out before year's end. It's on goal setting and success strategies for women, so we're doubly motivated to release it in time for all those New Year's resolution setters.

The economy and a deadline committed project partner have given me a good shove to keep up a busy and productive pace, what helps you?

When everyone screams "economy" will anyone end up hearing?

2008-11-04T14:26:00.000-08:00

It's election day and we're all marking our ballots for the leadership we think can fix the struggling economy...among other things. But, long before the newly elected team could get to work, many organizations were adding references to the tough economic times to fundraising appeals landing in donor mailboxes in the coming months. Some included a one line reference, others wanted to lean harder on the grim outlook in hopes of donors understanding that if they're feeling the economic pain, the poorest of the poor were really feeling it.

As a copywriter, it's seemed easier as of late to make a case for an organization's need, because quite frankly, we're all feeling the pinch. Let's face it, even a simple trip to the grocery store means coming home with less, but paying more!

The other trend in recent appeals has been wanting to share something positive with donors. While it's pretty typical this time of year to remind donors of all the good stuff done throughout the year, it's seemed more important to deliver good news because people are weary of dire headlines.

As you open your end of the year appeals, which will be inspiring you to give - the good..the bad...or are your deep donation pockets simply not as deep this year?

How often do freelancers really play hooky?

2008-10-10T14:11:00.000-07:00

I'll never tell how often I play hooky. But then again, is it really playing hooky if you're self-employed? Ditching out of the office for "a long lunch" when someone is expecting you to come back is definitely hooky. I mean, it's not likely you're going to show back up at 5 when everyone else is leaving so you can finish the missed afternoon of work.

For freelancers, it's not hooky if you choose to leave the office on a Friday afternoon, with the intention of working on Saturday morning, is it? I've done that plenty, but at some point the work has to get done. If I'm only going to be spinning my wheels creatively on a Friday afternoon, I'll go play instead. But, only if I really am able to reserve Saturday morning for work. And, I've done some great writing over java in my pjs on weekend mornings. When I'm not fighting to be doing something else, the creative juices flow freely. But, like other seasoned freelancers, I've learned there are days when sucking it up and staying in the office can pay great dividends - like a whole day actually away from the office!

So how do you handle hooky time? Are you disciplined enough to stay at the desk regardless or do you go with the creative flow and work only when the mood is right?

What do lapsed donors & lapsed bloggers have in common?

2008-10-08T11:11:00.000-07:00

Fall is one of the busiest times in the fundraising arena and one of my many (mostly lame) excuses for not posting as of late. And, like a lapsed donor, it's not that I've lost interest completely, it's just that other things on my plate seemed more pressing .

So, what's brought me back to a commitment to blog more regularly might also be what will bring donors back to your organization...it's that time of year!

As the year winds down, we look (sometimes frantically) to see how we can make up ground on meeting our goals for 2008. And, we're taking a peek at what we'll try to accomplish in 2009. Many of the appeals that have kept me busy the last two months will be landing in mailboxes right when donors are of a similar mindset. Who did they commit to helping this year? What are their priorities? How will their end of the year gifts make a difference?

For donors who have "forgotten" to give as of late, end of the year appeals are the perfect opportunity to remind them of how they "fit" with your organization.

How will you be reminding donors of their belief in your mission and work and how important they are? What will make your well-timed ask a meaningful one?

Being Nice to the New "Kids" in the Sandbox

2008-07-31T09:01:00.000-07:00

At some point, every one of us was a newbie to the fundraising sandbox...and hopefully someone helped you through your first wobbly steps. But, it's pretty likely that, even with help, you made a few mistakes along the way. C'mon, who hasn't missed the boat completely on the copy or underbid a job and worked for peanuts? And, how many times did you lose your courage to make a big career move only to find opportunity had moved on to knock on someone else's door?

I'm working on a project called, "Copywriter Confessions" to help new copywriters realize the mistakes they fear making are far from fun, but rarely fatal. Professional copywriters who have jumped those early hurdles and gone on to success are sending in their own "I can't believe I did that" stories to share with newbies in hopes that their stories will assure those just starting out that things do get easier and the mistakes fewer and further between.

If you'd like to be part of the project, share your story here or email it to me at mary@twacopywriting.com with the subject line, "Copywriter Confessions."

2008-07-25T15:10:00.000-07:00

With many fundraising folks attending the Bridge Conference http://www.bridgeconf.org/2008/ in Washington, DC the latter part of this week, there was time to get caught up on a few things at the home office. I'm waiting to hear back from a few people on the best parts of the conference and whether it would be a good choice for freelancers to attend. It can be hard to know where you fit in when you spend so much of your time working solo from a site far removed from others in the niche.

As Bob Bly noted in an article not long ago, many of us are hiding behind our emails and missing out on the interaction time, like conferences, that used to solidify working relationships. While, I'm not a huge fan of conferences (you'll find me at the food table avoiding having to network and make small talk), they do have value as a learning and relationship building resource.

So which conferences have you found useful to attend to keep up-to-date on your skills? Are smaller events better for bulding relationships or do large gatherings provide more opportunity and "bang for your buck" when it comes to meeting the right people? What can you tell me about events you've attended that would motivate me to come out from behind the keyboard?

Fridays are the best day of the week...but why?

2008-07-18T09:55:00.000-07:00

Happy Friday! 'Tis my favorite day of the week - a little bit of work, a little pleasure.

As a freelancer I've gotten into a groove of certain days being good for certain types of activities. And, Fridays seem to be best for beginnings and endings. I'm wrapping up getting my website updated, a task I'd put off far too long. And, a FedEx with information on a new client should arrive soon, I'm hoping to get the full scoop this afternoon on a new project for an existing client with a quick turnaround and another article to promote my new ebook is next on the to-do list. Always nice to give the creative juices plenty to work with over java on a Saturday morning.

I've tried to relegate Mondays, my least favorite day and least productive creatively, to handling paperwork and other mundane activities that are appropriate to my attitude and brain power after a full weekend. It's also been helpful to try to protect large chunks of time mid-week to avoid feeling a time crunch at the same time I'm trying to relax and be creative. Is all this making me sound...moody?

Please, tell me I'm not alone in shaping my days this way! Freelancers, how do you arrange your work days to optimize your time? And, client friends in offices, do you face the same dilemmas? I know you have to work around staff meetings, trainings and client meetings...what's the best way for freelancers to keep in touch and make things easier for you?

2008-07-15T09:40:00.000-07:00

Since starting as a freelance copywriter in 2002, the one thing I’ve noticed is how nice folks in the fundraising arena are to be around. I investigated a few other niches early on in copywriting, and while I never met a true class bully, I’m sure I crossed paths with a few people who wouldn’t hesitate to run with scissors...in front of the teacher!

There seems to be a prevailing attitude in this sandbox that there’s far too much important work to be done to waste time bickering or bad mouthing and that getting along is far easier and more pleasant than the alternative.

The reason for the Solution Sandbox blog is to perpetuate that mind-set and to create an on-going “play date” where fundraisers, freelancers and others can get to know each other just a little better..I like to think of it as cyber-recess with a purpose.

I was fortunate enough to have one of my earliest encounters be with one of the fundraising arena’s most respected members, Kay Partney Lautman. She was the first to hire me as a freelancer fundraising copywriter and quite gracious about answering my many awkward questions. I'd hoped to meet her in person on a trip to Washington, D.C. this summer, but wasn't able to. It would've been so nice to thank her in person for being so kind to a fundraising newbie!

Is there someone who helped you get started or served as a mentor and helped you learn more about life in fundraising? Post your kudos here and let everyone know about those who provide the leadership that makes fundraising such a nice sandbox to play in!