What's In Store
Books that Help You Make More Money
by Kelly James-Enger

As a freelancer, chances are that you want to make money -- and, especially these days, probably more of it. From the time I started freelancing full-time more than twelve years ago, I was focused on making a living, and hopefully a good one, as a self-employed scribe. In fact, my first and fifth books addressed that very topic -- producing more income as a self-employed writer, whether through specializing, working more efficiently, or developing long-term relationships with editors and clients (or a combination of all three).

While the "how-to-write" bookshelf is a crowded one, there aren't nearly as many titles that address the business aspects of writing or the unromantic topic of how to do it fulltime and not starve -- or suffer. In researching the competition for both books, however, I found a number of titles that can help both new and experienced writers make more money. Some of my favorites include:

Book Proposals that Sell: 21 Secrets to Speed your Success, by W. Terry Whalin (Write Now Books, 2005).
Yes, Terry's an ASJA member, and also a friend. His experience as a book editor gives him a unique perspective about what agents and editors look for -- and how to make your book proposal stand out from the pack.

Damn! Why Didn't I Write That? How Ordinary People are Raking in $100,000.00 . . . or more Writing Nonfiction Books & How You Can Too!, by Mark McCutcheon (Quill Driver, 2001).
First off, you gotta give McCutcheon props for the title alone. His book is more about finding an "underserved audience" and writing a book that will sell to the masses than a simple rundown on how to write an outstanding book proposal. Will you make $100,000? Not necessarily, but you will garner some good tips.

The Forest for the Trees, by Betsy Lerner (Riverhead, 2001).
Fascinating, funny, and full of entertaining anecdotes about the real world of book publishing. Lerner, a former editor who's now a literary agent, also includes advice about writing, submitting, selling, and working with agents and editors. My favorite part? When she describes the writer's ever-present mantra: "I am great. I am shit. I am great. I am shit…." Ad infinitum.

How to Write a Book Proposal, by Michael Larsen (Writer's Digest Books, 2004).
Terry's book wasn't out yet when I wrote my first book proposal in 2001. But the first edition of Larsen's book was. This is an excellent how-to guide with plenty of practical advice, and it underscores the importance of platform, platform, platform when it comes to selling a title.

The Everything Guide to Writing Copy: From Ads and Press Releases to On-Air and Online Promos -- All You Need to Create Copy That Sells, by Steve Slaunwhite (Adams Media, 2007).
Even if you write primarily magazine articles and/or books, copywriting offers a host of freelance opportunities. Steve's an ASJA member as well as an award-winning copywriter, and his book is an excellent guide for writers new to this specialty.

The Well-Fed Writer: Financial Self-Sufficiency as a Freelance Writer in Six Months or Less and The Well-Fed Writer: Back for Seconds, by Peter Bowerman (Fanove Publishing, 2000 and 2004).
The money for many freelancers is in writing for companies, and Bowerman has turned his business-writing expertise into a lucrative business of his own. If you can already write but know little about writing for businesses big and small, both of these books provide lots of practical suggestions and templates you can adapt for your own use.

How to Write Irresistible Query Letters, by Lisa Collier Cool (F & W, 2002).
You can't sell to magazines without stellar query-writing skills. Fellow ASJA member, Lisa, has been writing and selling queries for decades, and her book explains how to improve your own queries, along with plenty of examples. Stronger queries=more sales=more money.

The Renegade Writer: A Totally Unconventional Guide to Freelance Success, by Linda Formichelli and Diana Burrell (Marion Street Press, 2003).
Linda and Diana are known as the "renegades" in the freelance biz, and their attitude is you should bend the rules -- or even break them -- to succeed as a freelancer. Try some of their techniques, and you should stand to net more assignments and garner more cash.

The ASJA Guide to Freelance Writing, Timothy Harper, editor (St. Martin's Griffin, 2003).
ASJA member and all-around good guy Tim Harper edited this book, which was written by 26 ASJA members. It provides an excellent overview of issues facing fulltime and part-time freelancers including -- of course -- how to boost your income.