January 1 always has me eager to get back to work. At the same time, I’m so damn used to being lazy, I need to ease my way back in. Cautiously dip a toe into the water. In slow motion.

This past couple of weeks, I’ve definitely been working in slow motion. I’ve been sitting with stacks of magazines, flipping through for story idea inspiration. I’ve done up a couple of Freelancedom posts. I sat down with a directory of literary agents and planned my next moves for pitching my book proposal. I sang a funeral.

But the one low-key thing that’s led to tangible progress?

Reconnecting with others.

A casual, how-about-we email to a blogger-buddy led to a collaborative lecture proposal for an upcoming conference.

Another email landed me my next smart cookie for January’s forthcoming edition of Word Nerd News.

A followup email to someone who had been considering career coaching in late November / early December has gotten me that much closer to a new coaching relationship.

Combination holiday/thank you cards led to a well-paying assignment just before Christmas, an update (and promise of forthcoming work) from another client, and the galley for a book I’d been eyeing.

A quick check-in with my fabulous writing partner gave me a strong lead on a possible designer for my e-workbook.

And query followups with two publications had editors asking me for more pitches.

I’m not suddenly rolling around in money, laughing maniacally as my cats look on, slightly alarmed. But it’s still not too shabby for January 4.

How can you easily reconnect with those in your network, leading to the possibility of future collaboration?

• send a “what’s up?” email
• suggest getting together for coffee… or for several glasses of pinot noir
• send along a link to an interesting article or silly video that made you think of them
• brainstorm fun-and-possibly-ridiculous ventures for the new year and ask your contacts to get involved
• shoot an editor or client a thank you e-card (or opt for snail mail to give it an extra punch) to let them know how much you appreciate the opportunity to work with them
• touch base with editors and clients about what they might need in the new year
• send query followups
• have a Skype powwow with your fellow freelancers to discuss plans for the new year

And… you know… whatever. This list is just a starting point.

Of course, reunions like these go smoother if you’ve been good about maintaining these relationships. Emailing someone you haven’t spoken to in 11 years? A little weird. (Though I’ve totally done it, mostly out of nostalgia. I have no shame.)

But you guys already knew that.

So. First action step for 2012? Reach out and touch someone.

But not in a creepy way.

Related: How To Build Your Network Without Having a Panic Attack, Inch by Inch: How Small Steps Can Lead To Big Success, Bring In New Projects Without Lifting a Finger

Sure, I’ve broken into new markets by cold querying and social media marketing. But word-of-mouth marketing is still how I connect with the majority of my coaching clients. It led to my inclusion in the Young Entrepreneur Council’s inaugural group of members. It’s the primary reason I was asked to be a panelist on that ASJA sex writing panel in the spring. And it’s led to numerous writing and editing projects over the years.

You may believe that word-of-mouth marketing is out of your hands (and to some extent, it is). But if you’re looking to build legitimacy for your business, you can still use those satisfied clients to your advantage in a more deliberate way.

I’m talking testimonials, people. And all you have to do is ask for them.

Maybe you feel weird about asking your clients to talk you up. Maybe you figure that — if they really liked you — they’d do it on their own.

And they might.

But if you straight up ask for testimonials (and you ask for them using the types of thought-provoking questions that make for the most effective testimonials), you can then use them on your website, in your e-newsletter, in your email signature, on your blog… wherever you think they’ll be most visible to your target client.

And these solid endorsements from others will show those still hesitating to open their wallets that you have a proven track record of solving problems just like theirs.

So how can you score those eye-catching testimonials? Promotional wordsmith Alexandra Franzen makes it easy with her latest info-product: Five Scripts to Rake in the Praise.

Remember when I offered those freebie email templates you could use for asking your boss the tough questions? (Questions like Can I telecommute? and Will you hate me if I resign?)

Alexandra’s Five Scripts is sort of like that. Except way prettier. And with templates for multiple testimonial-gathering situations. Such as:

• confidently requesting a testimonial from a current client
• prompting your client with the types of questions that make for the most effective love notes
• scoring a belated testimonial from a long-ago client
• requesting advance praise for a soon-to-be-released product
• taking previously written praise and spreading it among your advocates and fans

And like Alexandra herself, the scripts are bold and colorful, including such turns of phrase as “your words of support are like solid gold for my business” and “with wiggly anticipation.” (Seriously. This Alexandra chick is my kinda wordsmith.)

You can send out these scripts word for word… or you can use them as jumping-off points, allowing them to inspire you to new heights of writerly radiance that smack of your own huggable personality.

If nothing else, these scripts will stand as shining examples of what can be accomplished with top-notch copywriting.

Alexandra’s Five Scripts to Rake in the Praise is available for only $15 [not an affiliate link; I just think this product is quality and cool], but one lucky Freelancedom reader will receive it for free. Just leave a comment below with the five adjectives you wish your clients would use to describe you. (Example: Relatable. Honest. Funny. Empathetic. Looks like Zooey Deschanel.)

OR.

If you’re more interested in Alexandra’s Five Scripts to Fill Your Client Docket, leave a comment below describing your dream project/client, because I have one of those to give out as well.

Dream big, word nerds! Dream big.*

* I will be excepting entries through midnight on Thursday, December 22. I will email the winners on Friday, December 23.

Related: Want to Work Remotely? How to Ask the Tough Questions

Not my pretty face, but the cleavage is similar...

About a year ago, I accepted an on-site, part-time position at YourTango, despite misgivings about resuming the dreaded NJ-NYC commute I had left behind several years before.

I was desperate, though. I needed some regular income to supplement the other work I was doing, and I was also badly in need of some quasi-regular human contact. Happily, I ended up enjoying my work at YourTango so much that the commute didn’t seem so bad. Plus, I loved the people I was working with.

Still, it eventually began to wear me out. It ate up my time. It was expensive. And, after almost a year of doing it, I began to resent it.

So at the tail end of September, I requested a new, remote working arrangement and, several weeks later, they approved it. Now, I work with my three cats laying in a semicircle around me. I sleep in a little bit more. I dabble in yoga and take daily walks. I have extra time to work on my other projects and extra time to make plans with… well… other human beings. Once again, I feel like I’ve achieved a healthy balance.

Maybe some of you are a little bit like me. Maybe you have full-time jobs, and squeeze in your freelance work in the evenings and on weekends. Or perhaps, like me, you have a part-time gig, and have to commute in to an office. Maybe you often think to yourself, man, I could totally do this job from home, and it would totally free up some extra time for my personal projects! But you’re afraid to ask permission.

How do you go about proposing such a fan-flippin’-tastic work arrangement to your big-time scary boss?*

Well, I used e-mail. Because, as we all know, I’m better in writing.

Still, I’m sure this would work just as well if you opted to go the verbal route.

But basically… don’t beat around the bush. Admit to your superiors that you’d like to make a request to work remotely. Then, follow it up with a pitch they can’t refuse. And don’t make it about you. Talk about how your working remotely would benefit them. Use words like “efficiency” and “resources.” Companies love that. Give examples of how similar work arrangements have worked in the past, if you can. Convince your superiors that having you work remotely would be better for… everyone!

In the event they react with hesitance, suggest a trial period (one month?), a compromise (once-a-week face time?) or both.

And above all, make it clear that you’re not trying to pull back from the company. Some employers might take a request to work remotely as a sign that you’re operating with one foot out the door. Convince them otherwise. Be frank about how much you love working for them, and about how appreciative you are of the opportunities and experience you’ve been given.

If you make your case well enough, they should have no (sane) reason to turn you down.

Need some help putting together your own request e-mail (or fantastic speech)? No problemo! I’ve actually put together a freebie e-mail template for you that you can download here. It contains the bare bones of the ideal request letter, in addition to suggestions for the extra details that can really make a letter sing.

And as a bonus, I’ve also put together a resignation letter template. Because maybe you want to take that plunge. Maybe you want to say sayonara to your full-time job, yet still leave on such good terms that your former employer continues paying you on a freelance basis, or recommending you to others. It could happen. It happened to me!

I hope you find these templates helpful or — at the very least — entertaining. (Maybe both?)

Feel free to share your own request success stories in the comments!

*Disclaimer: My superiors at YourTango are not at all scary. Rather, they are as sweet as apple pie. And they have pretty hair. And cute shoes, too. But they do mean business.

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I don’t typically write about writing here. Or at least I try not to. Not directly.

I try to keep my content inclusive to all freelancers, despite how obvious it is that I’m a total booktard, and a slave to producing content.

But this past Monday marked the beginning of the FLX Query Challenge, a friendly, biannual competition in which teams rack up points depending upon how many queries they send out each week, and how many assignments they land. I’ve been on a pitching hiatus for awhile now — due to my new job at YourTango, my career coaching certification program, and an ongoing copywriting project — but I’m excited to start putting out feelers again … especially since I’m a team leader this time around.

So for all those writers out there — writers who are trying to get back into the pitching rhythm, writers who have been pitching all along (show-offs), and writers who are just starting out — I thought I’d put up a refresher on the pitch process.

Idea Generation.

A number of posts already exist on how writers can find both inspiration and new ideas, so there’s no use in me repeating them. Here’s one. Here’s another one. And this one‘s great, too. Where do I find my ideas? Life experience (when I can manage to tear myself away from my computer), new interests (that’s how I ended up with my wine tour assignment), and unanswered questions (if I have a question, it stand to reason that others have the same one).

If you keep your mind open to it, you’ll find that you have no shortage of ideas. The trick is remembering them before they fly away on the wings of your faulty memory. I keep mine in an Excel spreadsheet, in which I also record possible publications to pitch to, actual pitch dates, and followup dates. I also carry a small notebook around in my purse. There’s no one, right way to keep track.

Market Research.

There are several websites out there containing contact information for various publications…publications searchable by title, topic, region, etc. One I’ve used a lot is Mediabistro’s How To Pitch series, though you can only access it if you’re an Avant Guild member. You can also subscribe to the Writers Market online. Keep in mind, however, that there’s a lot of turnover in the publishing industry (especially these days), and that much of the information you find online could be out of date. Nowadays, I take field trips to local book shops and browse the magazine racks there, picking up copies I’m interested in so that I can double check the mastheads of the most recent issues, and study both the tone of the publication and the content sections. I also look through magazines’ websites to see if they’ve made an editorial calendar available. That way, I can focus my pitch for a specific issue.

Query Letter.

I already have a post on cover letters that you should most definitely review but, when you’re pitching a story, there are a few extra points to remember:

First of all, never send your query letter to the general editorial@awesomemag.com e-mail account. Rather, try to figure out which editor is in charge of the section you’re interested in pitching to, and address your letter accordingly. Pore through mastheads. Or search a publication’s website. Some make their writing guidelines available online, complete with section editor details and e-mail addresses. If all else fails, you can always pick up the phone and call their office. Ask who edits a specific section. Or, at the very least, ask what the publication’s e-mail format is. Once you have that basic format (ex. firstinitiallastname@mag.com), you can e-mail anyone on the masthead. Don’t get lazy on me here. You should target your query to an actual person. It shows that you’ve done your research, and also allows you to target your query letter even further.

Now you can get down to the business of writing your letter. First order of business: Make the recipient of your e-mail do a double take with an intriguing and/or clever lede. Bonus points if you can tie in some sort of news hook. If a story is somehow tied in to current events, you’ll be more likely to receive a quick response. Also, be sure to sprinkle your introductory paragraph with a bit of shameless flattery. And make it specific, or else you risk coming off an disingenuous. Making this extra effort shows an editor that you’ve done your homework.

You can concentrate on your awesomeness in the second paragraph. This is the meat of your letter, and should include your story idea, a snappy headline, sidebar suggestions, etc. Editors love it when you make things easy for them. They love it even more when you show them why you’re the best writer for the job, whether because of your expertise or exclusive contacts, so feel free to ham it up here.

Finally, tie it all up nice and neat and read through it again — perhaps even out loud — in order to ensure that there are no typos or grammatical errors, and that the tone matches that of the publication you’re pitching to. This last shows the editor that you’re capable of writing in the voice of the publication, and may not require heavy editing later on.

Okay. Now stop obsessing and send it off!

Following Up.

The moments (and hours. and days.) after one sends out a query letter they’ve just slaved over for hours can be absolutely excruciating.

Which is why I suggest pushing it to the back of your mind, and working on something else.

How dare I suggest such a thing?

Well, the thing is, once I send out a pitch, it’s — for the most part — out of my hands, at least for the moment. Of course, I’ll eventually send a follow-up e-mail. I typically follow up with daily and weekly publications after one week, and with monthly publications after about three to four weeks. After that, I wait again. It’s a pain in the ass, but what can I do? Editors are just as —  if not more busy than — me. And have you ever stopped to consider how many unsolicited pitches they receive per day? Daunting! And so I wait. And when the same amount of time has passed, I send another follow-up e-mail, this time stating that if I don’t hear back by a certain date, I’ll assume that they’re passing on my idea, and will re-pitch elsewhere. Voila!

Rinse and Repeat.

Hopefully, at this point, you’ve been given the go-ahead on an assignment, and are doing your happy dance and (mentally) rolling in money.

If you’ve received a rejection, don’t fret. It’s nothing personal. It’s more likely that the timing was bad, or the topic was already being covered in-house, or the story just wasn’t the right fit. None of this means that you’re a terrible writer, or that you should give up now and spend the rest of your days sobbing in a corner with a six-pack of beer.

That’s just silly.

Just pitch it elsewhere, and remember to re-tailor your letter to your new publication target.

And no wallowing!

In fact, if there was the slightest hint of kindness in that rejection e-mail you just received, perhaps you should consider sending them a new story idea, before they have the chance to forget your name. Persistence sometimes does pay off.

Social Media.

Lest you think I’m an old fogy at the age of 29, I should probably also mention one’s ability to connect with editors online, through sites like LinkedIn and Twitter. I myself have made valuable contacts through this blog, through Twitter, and also through Brazen Careerist (sort of a LinkedIn for the Gen Y set). I also belong to a number of online professional writing groups, such as FLX and UPOD. God bless the Internets!

But there’s one thing that some people seem to forget when they’re shrouded in the warm glow of their computer screen: common courtesy.

The ability to send a major mag editor a DM does not preclude the need for a well-written query letter. So don’t use social media to query an editor you don’t have a previous working relationship with. But do RT them, @reply them, etc. The best online contacts are cultivated, and the best online relationships bring value to both parties. So approach new contacts with an eye toward what you can do for them, rather than how they can make your writing dreams come true.

Any questions?

Related: How To Write Your Way Into the Best Darn Jobs Ever

[Photo via]

We already know that I’m a raging commitment-phobe. As such, I’ve had a lot of practice saying goodbye.

Somehow, however, I still end up singing at exes’ weddings (yes, I’m a church choir geek), and getting job leads and projects from former colleagues. How do I do it? By writing a killer resignation letter (and, um, being awesome).

While a post on resignation letters might be better suited for those embroiled in full-time office work, being able to master one of these babies is key for those who are a) making the leap into full-time freelancing, but who still want to continue doing work for their former employer on a freelance basis (or who, heck, want to avoid burning bridges), b) resigning from a regular freelance gig, or c) trying to shake a problem client without sullying their professional reputation. So please, read on for my resignation letter formula:

Statement of Intention:

Dear Awesome Employer:

I’m e-mailing to announce my resignation from Awesome Job, effective November 1.

First off, get straight to the point, being sure to mention an end date. It’s generally considered polite and decent to give at least two weeks’ notice. Some even say that you should remain to tie up loose ends for an amount of time equal to the amount of vacation days you have.

Expression of Gratitude:

This wasn’t an easy decision to make. I’ve loved Awesome Company for as long as its existed, and it’s been a dream to Do Awesome Stuff for you these past two years. Awesome Person: You’ve been such an excellent manager and colleague, and I appreciate your hard work keeping the lines of communication open between staffers and freelancers. Other Awesome Person: You’re Awesome Too.

As bitter and jaded as you may feel about things right now, chances are that there was once a time when you loved your job…loved the people you were working with…loved the work you were doing. It was a dream job, and you were sooo excited that you had landed it. Not only that, but you’ve gained a heckuva lot of good experience from it, not to mention good contacts and good additions to your portfolio. So show some gratitude. And, for the love of god, be genuine about it. They deserve it.

Reason for Leaving:

Still, I’ve felt that Awesome Employer has Made a Change That Makes This Job Less of a Perfect Fit for Me, and it’s been frustrating for me to Deal With This. And I’m also not so sure I’m the hip, young, happenin’ chick you need for the job (excitement for me equals a new episode of House on the TV).

You may want to succumb to your bitterness at this point. Don’t. But that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t in some way be truthful when explaining why you’re heading for the high hills. Be diplomatic when listing your reasons for leaving, and perhaps even err on the side of it’s-not-you-it’s-me.

Reiterate Your Gratitude and Lay the Groundwork for Future Collaboration:

I’d like to thank you for all the opportunities you’ve given me. I heart — and will always heart — Awesome Employer.

Leave things on a positive note. And, if you’re interested, express the possibility of working together in the future in a somewhat different capacity. Chances are, your employer will be so pleased with your grace in leaving that they’ll be eager to retain your services in some way. Especially if you’ve proven your awesomeness time and time again during your time with them. And you have, of course. Right?

Related: Wanted: The Career Equivalent of an Open Marriage, How To Write Your Way Into the Best Darn Jobs Ever

I left publishing because I needed a creative outlet. I missed writing and, due to my full-time job — plus my long commute — I never seemed to have the energy at the end of the day to brainstorm and send out pitches, or even string together words coherently.

But that’s not the only reason I left.

I was also worn down by verbally abusive authors: those who thought they were my only responsibility, and who consistently treated me both rudely and unprofessionally.

Being unappreciated and verbally manhandled hurt, so I left.

But there are plenty of problem clients in the freelance world.

My question is this:

When you’ve delivered on all your promises, and a client responds rudely lor unprofessionally, do you stand up for yourself (in a calm or rational manner, of course), or do you politely bid them adieu, secure in the knowledge that you’ll never have to deal with them again?

I’m curious to hear your nightmare client stories, and details of how you handled yourselves.

A week ago, I posted here about an invoicing error I had made, mentioning that I was lucky to have covered my ass in the service agreement I had drawn up.

Because I hate to bring up a problem without providing a concrete solution (and because my contract advice probably leaves much to be desired), here is a roundup of sites that offer sample contracts and contract-related advice:

• The Editorial Freelancers Association has a sample letter of agreement, and another sample of a contract dealing with on-site work.
• The Graphic Artists Guild has a sample artist/client agreement.
• Creative Business has a ton of downloadable forms for the creative worker’s use.
• Keep Your Copyrights is like the mother lode of sample contracts. Check out their sample contracts here.
• And Nolo is an online legal resource; their contract advice can be found here.

Any fabulous resources I’m missing out on? Please share!

Related: My Invoicing Error

Earlier today, my first guest post ever went live at Darren Rowse’s Twitip, on taking Twitter-based networking from online to in-the-flesh. (Welcome tweeple!)

I’ve already mentioned in the past why guest posting is a good idea, so we won’t go into that again. What I would like to touch upon is how guest posting at someone else’s blog should be treated as seriously as if you were writing an article for New York (or, um, Marie Claire). More specifically, I’d like to focus on how to approach pitching a blog editor.

You already know that I worry about the deterioration of professional decorum due to Web 2.0 practices. I find that bad business practices run especially rampant when it comes to online correspondence.

Show that blog editor your pitching the same respect you would any major magazine or newspaper editor. After the jump, how to go about pitching your guest post:

Familiarize Yourself with the Publication:

I don’t tend to pitch publications I don’t already read regularly, but a review of a publication’s regular sections and features, article formats, and tone is always a good idea.

The same holds true for that blog you’re pitching. Do they regularly post bulleted, service pieces or do they tend toward extended narratives? Are the posts conversational, or more dry and matter-of-fact. Your eventual post should try to match this but, before you get that far, you should also attempt to make your pitch e-mail match at least the tone.

Offer Something New:

It drives editors crazy when the receive pitches of ideas that just ran in last month’s mag. Before you draw up your pitch letter, search the archives in order to ensure that your idea hasn’t been done before. Or if it has been done, consider ways in which you can give it a new, only-you twist.

Establish a Personal Connection:

Dispense with the boring, impersonal form letters. Pinpoint the blog editor and address them by name. Explain why their work or their blog inspired you to e-mail them. If you can, bring up previous posts on their blog that were especially helpful to you.

Sell Your Idea:

Just as you would in any other pitch letter, fully explain your idea, spelling out what the topic is, what it would cover…throw in some specifics so that the editor knows you’re not making empty promises! Sometimes, an idea can sound like pure genius in your head…but then, once you sit down to write, you realize that there’s not enough depth to carry an entire post. Include a snappy blog post title as well. This will help to sell it to the editor.

Sell Yourself:

Why are you the best person to write this post? Fill your e-mail with past experiences, both topic-specific and blog-related. If you’re lacking in relevant clips, let your amazing writing chops convince the editor that you’ve got what it takes.

Include “Clips”:

The ultimate proof in the pudding? I like to include links to my most recent or relevant published pieces, or to my online portfolio, when pitching story ideas. Similarly, include to a link to your blog(s) at the end of your pitch e-mail and, to seal the deal, also include links to relevant posts. It helps to give an editor an idea of what you’ve been able to deliver in the past.

Make It Easy For Your Editor:

Once you’ve been given the go-ahead, be the model freelancer by delivering something that’s seriously good to go. Attach all image files to your e-mail so the editor doesn’t have to scramble to find one on his own. Include both embedded links, and typed-out HTML, in your piece, instead of making the editor seek them out himself. And, most importantly, proofread your post. Too few writers do this before sending their pieces out, and it makes the in-house copy editors wonder where you learned how to write. (Incidentally, your initial e-mail pitch should be just as perfect and polished.)

Post-Post:

Post-guest post, send the editor of the blog a thank you e-mail. After all, you’re reaping the benefits of his or her already-established audience, and you should consider it an honor that you were allowed to contribute.

I know. It’s nothing new. Work attire has been devolving for years now, in addition to office environments and professional communications.

In fact, I’m part of the problem. From the very moment I entered the corporate world 5 and 1/2 years ago, I was completely unable to keep up a sense of professional decorum. My business attire became business casual, before eventually becoming an odd mix of too much cleavage + too much frump. My work e-mails were breezy and flip. I couldn’t bring myself to wear dress pumps (I figured black sneakers were close enough…).

Still, those who have work to offer are still appreciators of traditional practices, and an adherence to these practices nowadays can make eager professionals stand out from the rumpled crowd.

After all, aren’t we supposed to be dressing for the job we want, and not just the one we already have? (she says, as her toes dig into the fleece lining of the boot slippers her brother bought her for Christmas…)

After the jump, how to retain your spunky sense of self (we’re freelancers for a reason, after all…) while still maintaining an air of professionalism:

Communication Practices:

This is one that occurred to me as I was reviewing apps for an open blogger position.

Let me know if you find this old-fashioned, but I believe that a cover letter is an important representation of self, whether you’re applying to a job, pitching a magazine, or sending out a more general letter of interest. As such, these letters should be well-crafted, thorough, professional, and written in a tone that you feel reflects your understanding of the recipient.

These days, letters are looking lazier — more flippant, riddled with typos, hastily put together. Whether you personally know the recipient of your letter, know somebody who knows somebody, or consider the job to have less value, or be less than ideal, your letter should show the same care as a letter specially crafted to impress.

The same applies to e-mails, phone calls etc. They should be taken seriously. Otherwise, why should anyone take you seriously?

Attire:

I don’t know if it was the frumpy cardigan sweaters and zip-up hoodies, the “dress” sneakers, or the v-neck tops, but every evaluation I received from this one publisher of mine back in the day contained a gentle suggestion for a snappier dress code. He told me it would make me look more mature, and help my authors respect me more.

Similarly, Kate from Stylista (yes, I totally watched it) was excorciated for her low-cut, form-fitting tops. Throughout the season, she was painted as an immature, brainless bimbo, whose every original idea was automatically devalued because of her appearance.

It’s difficult to tell what’s appropriate nowadays, judging from the countless articles from the New York Times alone (see here and here). In my opinion, though, it’s all about common sense. When you’re participating in a business meeting or other face-to-face consultation, you should look neat, clean, and tailored. The rest of the time (assuming you’re working from home), I see no problem with slippers!

Tone:

I find that maintaining a good, friendly rapport with clients is a great way to create positive business relations. There is such a thing, however, as being too friendly:

• Remember that certain topics are off-limits when it comes to the office environment — politics, religion, sex, etc. — due to the possibility of offending others.
• Blurring the line between the personal and the professional also introduces the risk of unrealistic expectations when it comes to your business transactions. After all, why should a client who considers himself your friend have to wait in line — or pay full price — like everyone else?
• The use of a brisk, businesslike tone also engenders trust and respect.

Self-Discipline:

Part of it was the fact that we had no one but ourselves to answer to. Another part was the fact that we were doing nothing but socializing. There’s no question about it…the lax rules at a previous job of mine made it impossible to get anything done, despite (or because of) the fun I was having.

This is the same reason that working from home is difficult for so many.

It’s imperative that you run your at-home business like any other business (except for the one described above…). Your schedule is now flexible, and can be arranged depending upon your own personal needs, but it’s still a schedule, and should be generally adhered to. Others should respect the sanctity of your office hours, and of your home office. And for the love of god, you have to cut back on the gchatting and the tweeting, at least when you’re embroiled in a big project!

…

Is there anything I’m missing here? Are there any other business traditions you’re still clinging on to, as those around you become more and more blase? I’d love to hear about which side of the fence you’re currently sitting on.

Back during my TCNJ days, I took this brilliant Advanced Writing class with the brilliant Burton Klein. The most important thing he taught me was that a unique and well-written cover letter could be my biggest asset. Since then, I’ve found myself called into interviews by people who were more intrigued by my cover letter than my credentials, and have had pitches given a second glance by mag editors who were intrigued by the tone of my pitch letter. Since then, I’ve tweaked my technique with the help of subsequent professors, but the lesson has remained the same: All resumes look alike. It’s the accompanying letter that will get you in the door.

Whether you’re applying to a staff job, pitching newspaper and magazine stories, or attempting to net new clients, the ability to write good letter is key. After the jump, all the building blocks of the perfect letter, plus all the eensy weensy details you should always double check:

Introductory Paragraph:

The cover letter is all about you, right? Heck, there’s plenty of time for that! Use these first moments wisely, and catch your audience’s eye with some shameless flattery. If you’re targeting an actual person, do a bit of research on them, and look for something admirable they’ve done that you can mention here. If you know nothing about the person reading your letter, express your admiration for the company they represent. If you can get specific, all the better. Be sincere, but also be brief.

Main Body/Meat of the Letter:

This is where you should be spending the bulk of your time. If you are writing a pitch or proposal letter, this is where the details of your idea should go. For example, writers should include a brief summary of their idea, in addition to title, sidebar, and section suggestions.  For both pitch and general cover letters, this is also the section where you tell the reader exactly why you’re the best (wo)man for the job. Mention contacts, prior experience, anything at all that makes it clear that you are the absolute best candidate for…whatever. Lay it on thick. No one else can sell you as well as you can, and this may be your only shot.

If you are able, keep it to one paragraph. Most of the people you’re trying to reach are overworked, not to mention overwhelmed. They’ll be more likely to keep reading if your letter avoids the novel-esque.

Concluding Paragraph:

Keep this short and sweet. Thank Dear Jane for their time. Include your contact information within your signature, making it easy for them to pick up the phone and call you immediately if they happen to feel so inclined.

Other Things To Watch Out For:

• If you’re writing a letter to some subversive publication, you can obviously be a bit less formal. If your target is super-corporate, you may want to play it safe. Read the contents of your recipient’s publication or corporate website, and try your darndest to match their tone.
• Oh lordy, now that I’ve included this, you’re all going to find a trillion typos up above. I just know it. When you’re sending out a letter re-read it a couple trillion times to make sure there are no silly typos. Sometimes it helps to have someone else glance over it. Sometimes it helps to print it out and take a second look away from the computer screen. I like to read things aloud. That way, I catch typos, and am also able to tweak phrases that don’t exactly roll off the tongue. It may seem silly to be dismissed because of a silly apostrophe misplacement, but with the amount of letters some people receive, they could be looking for any reason at all to toss yours.
• This refers to both company and individual names. Always double check before sending! Nothing is more insulting to the recipient of your letter than such a blatant sign that you couldn’t take the time to properly learn their name. Is your letter addressed to “Ladies and Gentlemen”? Taking the time to pinpoint the exact person you should be addressing your letter to is also a great sign of initiative.

Related: What Can You Do For Me?, Guest Posting: Pitch Like It’s the Glossiest Glossy Mag Out There, Work 2.0: The Deterioration of Professional Decorum