Interview with UrbanMuseWriter.com’s Susan Johnston | Heart Internet Blog – Focusing on all aspects of the web

We chatted to UrbanMuseWriter.com’s Susan Johnston about writing for the web, freelancing, how to find guest authors for your blog and how to get noticed in a competitive market.

Could you provide a bit of information about yourself and urbanmusewriter.com? E.g. Your background in the industry, how long the site has been running, who it’s aimed at…?

I’m a freelance writer, blogger, and copywriter based in Boston, Massachusetts. My blogging odyssey began in the fall of 2006 as a creative escape from my day job.

Since then, The Urban Muse has been twice named a Top 10 Blog for Writers, and I’ve left the land of cubicles and corporate policies to freelance full time. My writing has appeared in The Boston Globe, The Christian Science Monitor, and SELF magazine, as well as numerous websites, blogs, brochures, anthologies, and retail catalogues. For more on that, check out my professional site.

The Urban Muse covers the ups and downs of the freelance life, including tips on writing, working with clients, marketing a freelance biz, and more. It’s aimed at aspiring and experienced writers, bloggers, and other creative types. I’ve also expanded the blog into an eBook called The Urban Muse Guide to Online Writing Markets, which covers 50+ websites that buy freelance articles, as well as tips on landing online writing gigs.

1. Why did you decide to take the leap into full-time freelance writing?

After juggling a full-time job and freelance assignments for three years, I reached a point where I was at capacity and had to either turn away assignments or make more time for freelancing. I loved the idea of being my own boss and having more control over my time and my projects, so I decided to take the plunge.

It helped that at the time I didn’t have a mortgage, car payments, kids, pets, or even house plants (I still don’t), so my overhead was low and I knew I wasn’t in danger of foreclosure or being unable to feed other people. On the flip side, I’ve heard that having a family and a mortgage can be a powerful motivator for freelancers, because you really can’t fail in that situation.

2. Freelance writing and professional blogging are hugely competitive markets – what are the best things you can do to get noticed?

For both writing and blogging, developing a voice with authority and personality can help you get noticed. That comes with practice, so write or blog consistently and read other writers or bloggers with a strong point of view. Having a niche can also help, so you’ll be known as “the girl who blogs about frugal living” or “the guy who posts funny travel photos” instead of just another blogger or writer who does a little of everything. My blog covers all aspects of freelancing and writing, and my professional writing tends to cover topics like personal finance and urban living (hence, “The Urban Muse,” which combines my creative and urban sides).

3. You’ve written for both online and offline publications – which do you find easier and why?

Seeing my byline in magazines and newspapers is exciting, but I (like many writers) find that those markets can be tough for several reasons. First, magazines and newspapers have really suffered because of the recession and fewer advertising dollars, so there’s lots of competition for fewer pages of content. And second, magazine articles in particular require long lead times and often get edited by committee.

I find that online publications are often easier because your articles get published more quickly so you don’t have to think six months ahead, it’s unlikely that you’ll have to do multiple rewrites because the editorial schedule doesn’t allow for that, and it’s easier to share links with your sources rather than sending them a hard copy of the magazine or even a PDF. Plus, there are so many opportunities with online publications and magazines tend to be pretty competitive, especially national consumer publications.

4. Do you have a specific schedule that you stick to for work, or do you just take each day as it comes?

I try to be available to editors and clients during regular business hours in my time zone (Eastern Standard Time), but I also give myself a little leeway, because that’s one of the perks of freelancing. If I’ve had a night where I just can’t sleep and I don’t have a million deadlines that day, I’ll give myself the extra half hour of sleep and make it up in the evening or work a little harder the next day.

5. How do you motivate yourself on days where you’re suffering from writer’s block?

I know that in order to get paid, I have to produce articles and other content, so writer’s block is rarely an issue for me. If I’m truly stuck, I’ll shift to another project or I’ll go for a walk, which generally helps me clear my head and regroup.

6. You have a lot of guest posts on UrbanMuseWriter.com – what advice would you give someone trying to find guest authors for their blog?

Most of these guest bloggers approached me, because I have a “guidelines for guest bloggers” page. Each time I publish a guest post, I link to that page at the end of the post. In terms of advice, I’d say work on establishing your blog and building relationships with other bloggers, and you’ll be well on your way.

7. Where do you see UrbanMuseWriter.com being in five years’ time?

The blog has its own domain, which is great, but I know I need to move it to a different blogging platform and I’ve been dragging my feet. Blogger is good when you’re starting out, but WordPress offers bloggers a lot more flexibility. Plus, I recently had an issue where Blogger mistakenly flagged my blog as spam and deleted it, so I don’t want to deal with that headache again. I’m not sure where the blog will be in terms of content, but it should definitely be on WordPress five years from now.

8. How important is social media for promoting your websites and work?

There’s no one way to self-promote, but I’ve found social media to be an incredibly powerful promotion tool. For instance, I have a Facebook page dedicated to my blog where I post previews of my posts and other useful links from around the blogosphere. I also tweet links that I find interesting or useful, and I’ll sometimes share my favourite writing clips on LinkedIn. The key with social media is to be social and not just focus on self-promotion. Respond to questions, retweet other people’s content if it’s relevant, and engage in conversations instead of treating it like a megaphone or soap box.

9. What’s your take on all the sponsored blog posts appearing on the web (via sites like payperpost.com)?

I’m not a fan of sponsored blog posts. I’ll accept guest posts from (almost) anyone if they want to share information that’s useful to my readers, and I’ll give them links as long as it’s not spam, but I don’t accept sponsored posts.

10. What are your favourite online resources for web writing?

Here are a few of my favourites:

a. Ed2010.com – Includes articles on interning, freelancing, and working in the publishing world, job leads, and more (full disclosure: I spoke about freelancing at an Ed2010 meeting in Boston). Not specifically for web writing but helpful for writers interested in digital publishing.

b. MediaBistro.com – Great for keeping up with industry news, job leads, and more (full disclosure: I’ve written for this website and hosted MediaBistro networking parties here in Boston). Some of the content requires an annual membership, but I’ve found it incredibly useful.

c. WordCount – Veteran writer/editor Michelle Rafter blogs about “freelancing in the digital age,” with tips on search engine optimization, entrepreneurial journalism, and more.

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