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Writing Coach ✍🏻 podcaster 🎧 helping writers improve craft, pursue publishing & expand reach for maximum impact. Free & paid writing support!👇🏻
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Kaleigh Moore and Emma Siemasko have long shared a dream: to build the world’s most fulfilling freelance writing businesses. Over the past 8 years, the two friends have become successful freelance writers, finding new clients (hello Salesforce + Vogue Business); refining their service offerings; building six-figure businesses; and ultimately, creating their dream careers. Now, they’re sharing everything they know and discussing what they’ve yet to find out. Why? Because they know you can bui ...
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The Writing Gym podcast is a writer's go-to source for quality information about how to finish, publish, and market writing in all genres. Not only does it give you the implementable steps you need, it's fun. No snorefest here. You'll laugh at the Quirk O' the week and enjoy hard-hitting advice from top agents, best-selling authors, and publishers. Visit iTunes or www.writing-gym.com/podcast to hear these guests and more: --Top NYC literary agent Eric Reuben. He's represented dozens of best- ...
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Are you looking to write and publish your first book? Do you need a seasoned writer to guide you through the book writing process? Would you like a writer coach with real-world experience who understands how to guide you to the right publishing options for your book? Your Writing Coach podcast is where writers and soon-to-be authors listen in on writing knowledge and expertise so you walk down the right path to publishing your book. My writer podcast will guide you on how to start writing a ...
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Are you a talented writer struggling to turn your words into income? You’re not alone—and you’re in the right place. I’m Tiffany Colter, the Writing Career Coach. With over 20 years of experience as a professional writer, national speaker, and coach, I’ve helped authors move from scattered ideas to sustainable income. On The Writing Career Coach Podcast, I give you real strategies, tough love, and practical tools to help you grow your writing career—without burning out or selling out. Whethe ...
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Whether it’s a blog post or a book, you take a risk every time your finger hovers over “publish” to make that blog post go live or “send” to email that query or manuscript to an editor. It seemed like such a great idea when you sat down to write. And you want people to read it. But now you worry… Will anybody read it? Are people going to make fun o…
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Episode Summary: You’ve got a book idea that won’t let go—but it's been pushed to the back burner with client deadlines, work, and real life. This episode is your reset. I’ll walk you through how to finally make progress, without overhauling your life or waiting for the “perfect time.” What You’ll Learn: Start small — Commit to writing just 15 minu…
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Episode Overview If you’ve been quietly writing between client projects, sneaking words into early mornings, or still feeling uncertain about calling yourself a “real writer,” this episode is for you. Tiffany speaks directly to writers in the in-between: those who are showing up, doing the work, and still wondering if they’re allowed to claim the t…
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An idea pops into your head, so you grab whatever paper product lies nearby and scribble down the thought. Or you come across a quote, story, or stat and realize it connects to your project. Convinced it’s all great material, you jot it down, then stuff the paper into your pocket or purse. Now you’re ready to write, but you’re discovering random Po…
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For our final episode of this podcast, we look back at our past 10 years of freelance writing and look forward to what we hope is next for us. This season is brought to you by Collective, and they’re giving you your first month free! Just use code FWCP at checkout. Tax season is stressful—no doubt about it. Are you overpaying? Are you even doing it…
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In this episode, we're diving into the details around the templates we use, tweak, and sell as freelance writers. If you've ever wondered how we boost efficiency in our workdays and cut out the repetitive pieces of day-to-day work, this is a must-listen. This season is brought to you by Collective, and they’re giving you your first month free! Just…
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In this episode, we'll share a look under the hood at what it takes to plan, market, and host your own in-person gatherings (meetups, retreats, etc.) as a freelance writer, sharing our own experiences doing just that! This season is brought to you by Collective, and they’re giving you your first month free! Just use code FWCP at checkout. Tax seaso…
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In this episode of The Writing Career Coach Podcast, I unpack a challenge that trips up even experienced writers: creating stories that read well and resonate deeply with readers. After over two decades as a professional writer, I’ve learned that rejection isn’t the real frustration—it’s disconnection. You can craft technically sound sentences, fol…
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If you're looking for ways to increase your income as a freelance writer, you should consider opportunities for upselling. In this episode, we look at a few options for additional services and add-ons you can offer clients to earn more money and become even more valuable to your clients. This season is brought to you by Collective, and they’re givi…
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In this episode of The Writing Career Coach Podcast, I talk about a question that every writer has faced at some point: Is my writing actually good enough? If you’ve ever second-guessed your work, avoided submitting pieces, or let perfectionism stall your progress, you’re not alone. I’ve been there too—and I want to help you move past that self-dou…
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In this episode, we get into the career path of journalism, the education/types of training available for those wanting to get a secondary degree for it (with costs!), and some hard truths from firsthand experience doing this work. This is a great episode for anyone wanting to pursue this path! This season is brought to you by Collective, and they’…
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In this first episode of The Writing Career Coach Podcast, I’m breaking down some of the most common struggles writers face when trying to make money with their work—and more importantly, how to overcome them. After more than 20 years in the industry, I’ve seen what holds writers back: great writing that no one sees, projects that never get finishe…
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Today we're talking about freelance writers who are launching courses, templates, digital products, and more + the promotion it entails to be successful. To do this well, does a freelance writer need to think of themselves as a full-time Creator or Influencer? We discuss our different stances and experiences doing this work. This season is brought …
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Today, we want to talk about social media in an age of complicated social media. This is more about how we focus our efforts on social media when there is a lot of tumult in the space, whether it's due to political concerns or their own mental health concerns. This season is brought to you by Collective, and they’re giving you your first month free…
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Maybe you're at a stage in your career where you're looking to pivot away from freelancing and into something new. Emma and I are considering this ourselves! In this episode, we get into how to think about what's next for you post-freelancing, get out of your own way when it comes to limited beliefs, and take real, incremental steps toward somethin…
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Catch up with your hosts Kaleigh and Emma and hear about what's changed for them since the last season (spoiler alert: a LOT) as well as how we're feeling about the freelance writing landscape in 2025. This season is brought to you by Collective, and they’re giving you your first month free! Just use code FWCP at checkout. Tax season is stressful—n…
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On a chilly December afternoon in 2014, I closed the door to my bedroom, swallowed back nerves—even trembled a little as I held a tiny earpiece as a microphone. Then I cleared my throat and recorded my first podcast episode that lasted all of two minutes. At that point a seasoned author, I forgot what it felt like to send something into the world f…
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A few years ago, a client came to me with an idea for a nonfiction book. She was ready to write a draft and send it to a publishing house. What she didn’t realize was that she was working a few steps ahead. Thankfully, we met early enough in the process that I was able to fill her in on the steps she’d need to take to pursue traditional publishing—…
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Somewhere along the way, you stopped writing. Life got in the way. You lost your confidence. You ran out of time. You ran out of ideas. You hit a huge block you can’t get past. Maybe you thought writing belonged to younger-you, when the stakes were lower and you took more risks. For one reason or another, the words stopped flowing. You set aside yo…
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Is Substack the best platform for writers? Is it right for you? In this interview, publishing expert Jane Friedman explores Substack’s social media-like features, blogging-like functionality, podcast-host possibilities…and its implications for writers. From using Substack “Notes” to community cross-promotion, it’s an ecosystem worth understanding. …
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“A writer — and, I believe, generally all persons — must think that whatever happens to him or her is a resource,” writer Jorge Luis Borges said in an interview, when asked about his blindness. “All things have been given to us for a purpose,” he continued, “and an artist must feel this more intensely. All that happens to us, including our humiliat…
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“The best advice I can give you to help you grow as a writer is to experience life.” We came to hear about queries and proposals. We wanted to learn how this speaker organized submissions and kept track of contact information. But at this breakout session at this writers’ conference, she insisted: “I know you think your writing career is all about …
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When I was a child just beginning to speak, my parents drove late into the evening to the rural property they bought. As they drove up the gravel driveway, the sky spread out above us with stars glittering like a million diamonds spread out on a jeweler’s vast black velvet display. Across the fields, a million lightning bugs hovered in the tall gra…
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I made a last-minute decision heading to the most recent writer’s conference I attended. I’d planned to take my classy, professional, sleek gray backpack that I’d purchased to replace the original purple one I mentioned in an earlier episode. As I loaded it, I realized that to stay fortified, I needed to carry snacks and lunch each day—maybe even d…
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Are you getting ready to attend a writers’ conference? Guess what? So am I! And I want to make the most of my time there, so let’s think through what will help with that. You’re likely going for at least two reasons: to learn and to connect. You might also be going to pitch your project. Let’s prep, plan, and pack to get the most out of this upcomi…
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Most of us believe that we can build better businesses if we niche down to become a go-to writer for a particular type of asset in a specific space. Once we do this, however, it can feel hard to expand and grow. What if we want to work in another industry? What if we want to write web copy instead of longform content? In this episode, we offer advi…
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Attending my first writers’ conference proved to be life-changing—or at least career-changing. In the years since, I’ve attended a wide range of writing events, and each one has in some way substantially contributed to my career. Some deepened my knowledge, others expanded my professional network—most did both. I can’t imagine where I’d be without …
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Finding a freelance writing mentor is no easy task: They need to fit in with how you work and take instruction best. In this episode, we share our most impactful mentor experiences and the editors/mentors we learned from the most, plus tips on how to find one for yourself.Kaleigh Moore and Emma Siemasko
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An email newsletter is a great way to stay in touch with your audience and build your personal brand. But wait…is an email newsletter necessary? Will it actually help you market and sell your freelance services? In this episode, we share how we think about email newsletters and what we’ve seen from our freelance friends: the successes, downfalls, a…
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What do you say to people when they ask what you do? Does your professional identity as a freelance writer affect how you show up in the world? In this episode, we talk about how to explain what you do when you’re off the clock, surrounded by people who don’t “get it.” We’re also covering what we’re doing outside of work in 2024, what we’re thinkin…
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You see a post on LinkedIn calling for freelance writers with 750 comments. Is it just you… or does the market seem super saturated? What can you do when it feels harder than ever to differentiate? In this episode, we explore what we’ve been seeing lately and how it’s affected us mentally. We offer advice on how to work around this saturation to co…
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The writing process consists of three steps: (1) researching and outline, (2) productive writing, and (3) editing. But are the tools we use designed for this process? Are we as efficient as we think we are? Is there room to save time and increase our creative output? We sat down with Rob Carpenter, content strategist and Head of Marketing at Butter…
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Companies sometimes hire writers for short-term contract roles to help with specific projects. They might hire a writer to work with them for 30-40 hours per week for a set period, such as three months. What are the pros and cons of taking on these roles? In this episode, we share our own experiences taking on contract work and offer some things to…
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Some freelancers suggest clients “book their day” if they want to work with them. Clients reserve a day… and work gets done. What does this look like in practice? How do freelancers successfully structure it? Are “book my day” offerings a good idea for your business? In this episode, we dig into the benefits and pitfalls of clients paying for a day…
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I stared at a blank screen. Why did I ever think I could pull this off? Until that moment, I’d only written short projects. Articles, essays, poems. As I sat staring at the screen, questioning myself in about every way possible, I was supposed to be writing my first book—a manuscript of over 50,000 words. Overwhelmed, I sat at the keyboard, frozen.…
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“Never go to bed until you have a story to tell,” says Kevin Lynch, Creative Director at Oatly. I heard him interviewed on a podcast and stopped jogging to write down what he said about that daily story: It could be a deep thing that you learned, it could be a movie that you saw, it could be a way you took home, it could be a conversation that you …
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When I was in college, practicing in public meant sitting under an oak tree on campus, flipping open my spiral-bound notebook, and scratching out a poem as students walked the path beside me. Creative writing classes gave me another way to practice in public, when my poems were workshopped by my peers. As a young adult building a freelance writing …
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Dear Writer, It’s easy to freeze up when we’re writing for the faceless masses or the random reader who happens upon our words. What do we say to all those people? How can we speak with heart to a total stranger? Next thing you know, we second-guess our ideas, our prose, our very selves. We fade to beige without saying what we really think, without…
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Let’s look at the pros and cons of using writing prompts to decide if we’re fostering creativity or frittering away time. I remember the pleasure of writing about ladybugs for my high school freshman English class based on the prompt written on the board.1 And then there was the book I found a year or so at the library: Write to Discover Yourself. …
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Children gaze at a vast blank wall and see opportunity—inspired, they grab a permanent marker and scrawl across the surface in loopy circles and jaggedy lines without hesitation. Why, then, do we adults stare at the blank page—not unlike a blank wall—and freeze up? Instead of scribbling out ideas that fill the white screen, we writers often come up…
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When I was visiting my grandmother one summer afternoon, she pulled out a letter I sent her. “This is good,” she said. “Really?” She pointed at the paragraphs and said the ideas were well organized, my writing flowed well, and I included lots of details. “It was interesting to read,” she said. Then she looked up at me and smiled. “Maybe we have ano…
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Just as musicians credit their musical influences, writers, too, have literary inspirations who help them discover and shape their unique voice. At a White House event for poets in 2011, Billy Collins said to students about finding your voice: You’re searching for the poets who make you jealous…you’re looking to get influenced by people who make yo…
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Did you know we are really good friends? HA. We enjoy each other’s company, love chatting about WHATEVER, and are catching up and giving you a picture of our holistic selves beyond the world of freelance work. We talk about Kaleigh’s history as a dancer, Emma’s weird modern house, and get into what’s happening outside of work. For anyone who wants …
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On a sunny spring day, I sat with seven homeschoolers on a stretch of grass for a creative writing session. The older kids started to fidget before we even started. “What are we doing out here?” “We’re going to see what’s around us.” A fifth grader pointed with his pen. “I see sky, clouds, cars, building. Done.” The others laughed. “We’re going to …
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Freelance writing is really weird right now. Layoffs, the rise of generative AI, and internal chaos at a lot of companies have made many of us feel super insecure about the field. Our friends and colleagues are kinda freaked out… and maybe we are too? In this episode, we talk about what we’re seeing in the world of freelance writing and what we’re …
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We both work in B2B SaaS. So do A LOT of writers. But what even is B2B SaaS? Why does it seem like so many writers are working in this area? In this episode, we talk about how we got into B2B SaaS, explain why it’s so popular, and offer some guidance on how to figure out whether it’s the right niche for you. This season of Freelance Writing Coach w…
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Jennifer Dukes Lee invites you to transform into a better writer through “beautifully ruthless self-discovery.” It starts in the pages of your journal. In a recent interview, she delves into the therapeutic benefits of daily gratitude journaling and its potential to rewire our brains. By writing down things we’re grateful for, our minds seek out …
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If you’re creating original content, you’ll likely find yourself conducting interviews. You might interview subject matter experts, customers, or your client’s customers! Emma does it all the time when she writes case studies. Kaleigh does it for more journalistic assignments. In this episode, we offer advice on how to conduct a gosh darn good inte…
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Working with an intense editor can be, well, intense. It has the potential to elevate your writing, poke helpful holes in your sentences, and take you to the next level. But it can also be really annoying. In this episode, we’re discussing our experiences working with editors who’ve got high high high standards. This season of Freelance Writing Coa…
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What does it mean to be a REALLY GOOD writer? In this episode, we’re exploring what content managers, thought leaders, and others look for when they’re hiring writers. In particular, we discuss writing abilities and editorial chops.Kaleigh Moore and Emma Siemasko
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