It’s one thing to read a laundry list of actions that freelance writers could take to keep their writing business afloat during the current weak economy, which has hit the publishing industry especially hard. It’s another thing to read what people are actually doing. Here’s first-person advice from a handful of freelancers who answered a […]
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Happy anniversary to me
This month marks the first anniversary of re-launching my freelance writing career – and what a difference a year makes. In the past 12 months, I’ve written for close to a dozen magazines and Websites, reconnected with former colleagues I hadn’t talked to in years, discovered LinkedIn and Facebook, started this blog, joined a writer’s […]
Portland is for word lovers
Portland has a lot of nicknames. Stumptown. The Rose City. Rip City. Bike Town. Tree City. But come Nov. 8, the best name will be Portland is Wordsville. That’s the day the annual Wordstock literary festival begins and Portlanders renew their passion for words. Now in it’s fourth year, Wordstock is a two-day celebration of […]
Make it easy for readers to understand the hard stuff
The current financial crisis has been tricky for even veteran business writers. How do you explain difficult concepts like collateralized debt obligations or the London interbank lending rate in language that the now-famous Joe the Plumber will understand? It’s not easy. But it is possible, as a handful of writers have shown, including some with […]
National Press Club hosts forums on future of news
A year-long series of forums on the future of the news business rolls into Portland next week, courtesy of the National Press Club. The Washington D.C. professional journalist organization will host a forum on Tuesday, Oct. 21, at the University of Oregon’s newly opened Turnbull Center in downtown Portland. The stop comes in the middle […]
Like our new look?
Change is in the wind. It’s a new season, we’re about to get a new president, and it’s time for WordCount to get a face lift. Starting this week, I’ve switched to a cleaner, more traditional design with black type on a white background. It’s got a newspaper feel to it that should make it […]