Customer Reviews

The Wealthy Writer

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I often get emails from people who are hoping to make millions with a first novel, generally, as yet, unwritten. Obviously there is a fairly common misconception that breaking into the world of fiction is easy and profitable. It couldn't be further from the truth. Superstar "names" like John Grisham and Dan Brown may be doing very well from their work (generally due to a powerful marketing team), but most fiction and poetry writers would be receiving a far better hourly rate working on the checkout of a local supermarket or pumping gas. Freelancers looking to make money from magazine articles and other forms of non-fiction fare slightly better, but it`s still a hard slog, with lots of querying, cold submissions and a long trail of rejections and apprenticeship before the relatively low paying acceptances begin coming in. It is rarely enough money to live on, especially with financial commitments like a family and mortgage. However, there is one branch of writing which is both lucrative, and relatively easy to break into: Commercial writing, or writing communications for business - eg sales letters, speeches, newsletters, brochures, advertisements, public relations material of all kinds, technical writing, and so on is a growing field where good writers are in short supply. Michael Meanwell's The Wealthy Writer is a comprehensive guide to creating, from scratch if need be, a lucrative commercial writing practice. While the book focuses almost solely on commercial writing, Meanwell clearly understands that writers will continue to want to produce creative works like novels and poetry for non-lucrative reasons, and stresses throughout the book that commercial writers will not only be honing their skills, but also creating enough free time to allow for other hobbies.

Meanwell is very open about the challenges inherent in becoming a commercial writer, and from the start, gets writers to ask themselves the hard questions about their working style, level of commitment, and even things like family situation and health. The book pulls no punches about the need for a serious business plan (and provides the tools to create one), the need to have a roadmap, putting in place systems and procedures, creating a home office, setting up a professional budget, and how to determine your worth to clients. All of this precedes the writing process and makes it clear how important it is to decide the parameters and capabilities of your business before touting for clients or writing a word of copy.

The rest of the book provides a serious guide to ensuring that your writing skills are honed and targeted specifically for the commercial market, and covers such things as how to write technical manuals well, how to produce good quality public relations (including using PR for your own advertising efforts), how to write "content" for the web (a rapidly growing field where need is beginning to seriously outstrip skill), speech writing, corporate communications, newsletter writing, copywriting and using direct mail. There are also chapters which go into the specifics of marketing your business, pitching for clients, maintaining a successful business where word of mouth is positive, using the flexibility of outsourcing to handle an increasing work load, how to deal with billing, contracts, bad debtors, time management, interviewing as a writing tool, dealing with writer's block, balancing work and life, and giving persuasive power speeches:

"You don't have to be a naturally funny person to identify and deliver humor, but it helps if you know where to look. The best humor, in my view, is that which you experience or perceive. It's personal, so you're more than likely to deliver it better than secondhand humor you have found elsewhere. Start by observing life. Take notes and record your observations
for future use. Another deep wellspring of humor resides in your own life. Think about past experiences-embarrassing situations, mistakes you made, and outdated perceptions you had. You've got enough material right there for several stand-up routines!"

The book is easy to read, and contains lots of point by point ("13 things to remember when drafting a press release"; "5 Steps to Building a Media Database...") summaries to make referencing simple, especially as your business diversifies and you need to come back and re-read some sections. If you take Meanwell's advice, this is very likely. Many examples and anecdotes from Meanwell's own experience are provided, with rich photographs, thought provoking case studies using big companies like Telstra and Kodak, and a slightly Escheresque but detailed analysis of the publication process and learnings from his own book The Enterprising Writer. This book contains a lot more meat than The Enterprising Writer which was already pretty hefty in information, and looks at the latest trends in web writing, communication tools, the use of the Internet as a marketing tool, with lots of links for more information, websites to use to obtain work, and a whole lot of templates, samples and even a phone script. There is enough material here to take a novice and turn him or her into a professional, well paid commercial writer. For more experienced writers, this book contains so much information from Meanwell's years of personal experience, that the small investment will very likely translate into more lucrative work.

Throughout the book, Meanwell is conscious of the writer's need to be creative, and includes tips on keeping your work fresh, and on how to save time for your passions:

"We can all develop this ability by using what's been termed
"possibility thinking." Daydream about what you'd like to achieve. See it in your mind's eye. Feel it, taste it, know that it is already part of your life and that it's within your power to tap into your talent and draw that success to
you. If you do this at the beginning of each day, you'll move closer to having the end result you want in your life. Again, this may be getting a little off base for some people. My point is simply that, in order to get the most out of your creative process, you need to cultivate it by thinking differently. If you want positive action in your life, you need to nourish your
mind with positive thought..."

Fiction is a wonderful medium to work in, but the chances of making real money from it are relatively slim, especially if you write, as you should, based on your own passions rather than the whims of the marketplace. If you want to earn a regular, reliable income from writing work, commercial writing has got to be your best bet. Meanwell's latest bumper guide is as thorough a one as you'll find for breaking into, and succeeding as a commercial writer, and his witty, down to earth style will ensure that you enjoy the book as much as you find yourself referencing it on a regular basis.

Of all the guides out there that try to offer advice on freelance writing as a business you could really make a living from, you're most likely to keep this one on your shelf and consult it regularly. You could use Meanwell's encyclopedic advice as a reference for years to come. In the real world, it would be a complete miracle if you wrote the great American novel then had it picked up by an agent. You can reach for those dreams in your free time while following Meanwell's methods of making regular money now, in the freelance commercial writing market. This guide runs the gamut from making your career decision to setting up your business to finding available work in the corporate sector, all with practical knowledge from Meanwell's own successful experience. At times this book delves into too much detail, such as when Meanwell starts describing how to write company newsletters or direct mail submissions. But on the other hand, it's amazing how many different topics he covers about freelance writing as a viable career. There are plenty of other books out there that try to teach you how to write, but this one is among the best for at least getting started on making a living by doing what you love, especially when it comes to running a legitimate business. [~doomsdayer520~]

This is without doubt the most practical freelance writing book that I have ever read. Mr. Meanwell doesn't try to hook the reader with generic tips that have no "real-world" applications; instead, his book is full of specific ideas about how to branch out from the usual freelance jobs into the more unusual, but yet very needed, markets of today that are not as obvious. One thing that I particularly like about "The Wealthy Writer" is that each chapter not only explains the process for getting the deal, but it also elaborates on how to truly satisfy the customer by going beyond the ordinary. Mr. Meanwell provides unambiguous case studies with actual examples of his own work and explanations of how he succeeded in each example. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in starting (or maintaining) a freelance business. Mr. Meanwell has inspired me with this wonderful book, and I plan to refer to it often.

I was actually surprised at some of the things the author explained about starting a writing business. Since I'm a copywriter myself, I didn't expect him to write a chapter (the first one) about getting corporate clients for copywriting and technical writing assignments as a financial base to your business, which makes sense. Yet many writers or wannabes won't want to do this because it takes the romance out of being a writer. He gives a lot of sound, money making ideas for becoming a money-making freelance writer which are excellent if you want to know the reality of what it takes to be able to be successful as a work-at-home writer. Definitely recommended!

I bought this book based on the great reviews posted but was disappointed with just about the entire book. Meanwell does have a point or two that one can use but overall this was a waste of money. There was not a lot of "how to" in the book and most of what he did provide was useless. For example, he gave these tips for smarter layouts:

1. add white space between headings, photos, and body copy.
2. use subheads, pull quotes, and raised caps as attention grabbers.
3. place select stories in colored boxes.
4. design in consideration of two matching pages.
5. make template layouts for future issues.

It seems this should be common sense for those about to launch their own business in copywriting. I would suggest reading SECRETS OF A FREELANCE WRITER by Robert Bly (excellent), START AND RUN A COPYWRITING BUSINESS by Steve Slaunwhite (also very good), and THE WELL FED WRITER by Peter Bowerman (also good). If you have to chose one, I would go with Robert Bly's book.

There is a small but growing nonfiction book category of "how to make six figures as a freelance writer," of which this book is the newest entry. All of these books are worth reading, this one especially so. The author has decades of writing experience and earns a handsome living, and his book is packed with a wealth of practical tips to help others do the same. Highly recommended.

Add another book to the list of "must reads" for aspiring copywriters. THE WEALTHY WRITER by Michael Meanwell. I thought this one might be a little different from books by American authors, but found largely, what sells in America sells in Australia.

I found Meanwell's book to be less engaging at times than Bowerman, Bly or Slaunwhite's books, but also found that he went into much greater (and more appreciated) depth in certain areas. For instance, others simply glazed over speechwriting. Meanwell devotes a very indepth chapter to it.

I didn't make nearly as many notes in this book as I did in some of the other similar books, but I can see referring back to this volume on a regular basis. There is a ton of good information here.

Where this book falls slightly behind the previously mentioned authors is mostly in the formatting. In places, Meanwell's work seems crammed and some of the samples he uses have been reduced to a size too small for old geezers to read. These things notwithstanding, I still have to put this book in the "must read" category for the target audience.

If you're looking for a whirlwind course to help you break into the market, here it is. Eminently practical, "The Wealthy Writer" covers every aspect of the craft. You'll get an overview of freelance business writing, a breakdown of the various project types and plenty of how-to information on getting things off the ground (and staying aloft once you're there).

This was probably the BEST book I have bought in the last 12 months! I call it my Bible for Freelance Writing because it is truly EVERYTHING you need to know to start and run your own freelance writing business. I recommend this book to ANYONE thinking of writing for a living. Filled with excellent details and resources, this is the only book of its kind that you will need. Within 1 week of finishing this book, I got my own website set up (www.davidwrites.com) and have already started going after writing assignments!!

There are plenty of things one would expect from a book intended to make writers money. First, someone wants you to send them money. Second, they have a book to sell you. Third, it is easy to do. Michael Meanwell doesn't tell you to send him money, buy his book, or explains how easy it is. Instead, he offers writers of all crafts--and specifically business writers--a true way to make it as writers. You may dream of screenplays and novels, but "The Wealthy Writer" explains the ins-and-outs of setting up a career as a copywriter, technical writer, and internet writer.
"We need to profit from our craft," Meanwell writes in the opening paragraph of "The Wealthy Writer." He also states writers should diversify, invest in themselves, and invest in themselves.
"I have found it is best to follow the KISS principle--keep it simple, stupid." Meanwell writes, then adds, "There will always be plenty of work for good writers."
Making it as a writer means making it with companies. For example, often getting that one sale will lead to future sales from the same company.
"It is not enough to be a good writer," Meanwell states. "You need experience in sales, business management, and interpersonal relations."
Next, Meanwell tells the aspiring writers to get serious about their business plan. Will you focus on one trade, or multiple? He also offers the thought you should study advertising magazines like "Advertising Age."
You study the magazines, decide to market yourself, but you still need a basic business plan. Meanwell writes that the next step is to write out some examples of copy, decide how much to charge per hour, and find resources to find out how much to charge.
Another prime example found in the text is the big clients all writers dream of getting. He lets readers know the bigger the client, the harder they will be to sell to, especially for a beginning writer. But, these big clients are worth the effort, and once experience is gained they might be easier sells.
Meanwell continues the book with explanations on technical writing and provides the eight examples to achieve technical writing riches. Then he approaches online writing, epublishing, and provides strategies to achieve even more success. For example, he says the best selling e-books are often how-to.
All in all, Meanwell covers much more than just these examples. Every writer may not have to buy the book, may not have to send Meanwell big checks, but they should not only learn but profit from his advice. This can open the eyes of those writers waiting for the big-fat paychecks. Public relations and advertising will always be huge markets, and crafting multitudes of documents for these and other fields are not easy. The same can be said of publishing an e-book. However, the practical advice given here by Michael Meanwell proves all talented writers can get those fat paychecks if they apply good business sense.