Beaufort Landing at Hampton Cove

Beaufort Landing by Polygon Homes is a new townhouse development located at Hampton Cove in Delta. This project will offer a special waterfront collection of 124 executive 3 & 4 Bedroom Townhomes in the Charming Town of Ladner. These three and four bedroom homes offer charming seaside-inspired architecture and a variety of floorplan options. Every detail is thoughtfully designed to give you places to gather and share, and spaces for everyone to enjoy peace and quiet.Nestled between a marina and a golf course, walking and biking trails surround the neighbourhood, and a beautiful new riverside linear park will give residents a natural place to explore their own backyard.

The post Beaufort Landing at Hampton Cove appeared first on Vancouver New Condos.

from Projects – Vancouver New Condos http://bit.ly/2Uzb8ol

Article Writing Rejection: This Will Help You Bounce Back…Fast

NOTE: Article writing rejection. It’s a tough pill to swallow for most freelancers. Learning how to deal with it is so important, we decided to revisit an original post on the topic. Enjoy! —Carol

Are you suffering from article writing rejection?

You know..one day you’re optimistically cranking out query letters and letters of introduction to land article writing assignments.

And the next, you’re rolling around on the floor in a puddle of self-loathing after getting a rejection letter from an editor.

Between angry and pathetic sobs, you shake your fist at the sky and sputter, “Whyyyy?!”

Been there, done that?

Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been freelancing a while, getting an article writing rejection is part of the gig. Count on it.

Here’s the thing. Some writers internalize that article writing rejection so deeply, they’re paralyzed to continue.

But it doesn’t have to be that way.

If you understand the five stages of getting an article pitch in front of an editor and how to handle rejection, you can bounce back fast. Here’s how:

5 stages of the article writing pitch

1. You get an article idea.
2. You write the idea up, in a query letter or letter of introduction.
3. You send the pitch letter in, usually via email.
4. You wait, frequently in vain, for a response.
5. You begin the second-guessing game, and start wondering why your article pitch didn’t get you an assignment.

That fifth stage often sends writers into an emotional tailspin. It’s one of two big problems. Instead of sending more pitches, you sit around thinking:

“I suck at this. I’m never going to make it!”

Instead of sending more pitches, you sit in a pool of misery, thinking bad things about yourself.

• The other big problem is that this self-flagellation exercise wastes way too much of your precious time.

There are only two basic things you need to understand about article writing rejections — and once you know them, it can help you move on to writing that next query more quickly.

The reason you fear article writing rejection

We writers like to obsess about why our ideas were rejected, because we have a deep-seated fear that they aren’t good enough.

After all, there’s so much competition out there. Other writers are more experienced.

You can fill in your personal insecurity complex here. I’ve talked to writers who believe they’ve been rejected because they live in a different country, are too old, too young, you name it.

In other words, you think the reason you were rejected is all about you. And that could be the reason.

But often, it’s not.

The other reason

The more common reason your article pitch is rejected has nothing to do with you.

That reason can be summed up as: stuff going on at the magazine. Stuff like:

• The editor you sent it to just got fired.
• The publication is getting ready to fold or change format.
• They already have something similar assigned.
• They don’t have time to look at queries right now.
• There isn’t any room in the upcoming issue.
• They get a million pitches on this topic and they’re bored of it.
• Your query arrived too late to be considered for that special section (allow 6 months for national mags, folks!).
• Longshot possibility: It got stuck in their spam and they never saw it.

You get the idea. There are a ton of factors that go into article writing assignment decisions, and most of them have nothing to do with you or your skills.

How to cope

The worst thing you can do after you send a pitch out is sit around wondering and second-guessing yourself.

That’s not a freelance writer’s job.

Ours is not to wonder why — ours is to keep learning, and keep on pitching. Theorizing about why you were rejected is a total waste of energy, since in most cases, you’ll never really know. But you can learn from your mistakes:

• Maybe you made some rookie mistakes with your pitch — you didn’t research the publication ahead of time to make sure your tone fits, and that the topic is fresh for their audience and not recently covered.
• Maybe you didn’t even pitch a headline for your story, so the editor was left baffled about the main drift of your idea.

Whenever you can, try to get some feedback about why you’re not getting assignments. If you think your ideas really are weak, or you need to work on your storytelling skills, then learn how to write killer articles.

Bounce back and keep going

But the most important thing to do is not waste time wondering. That’s not getting your writing career anywhere. Instead, focus on learning, improving, and sending more pitches out. Bounce back and keep going. Don’t be a waiter, be a writer, OK?

How do you handle article writing rejection? Leave a comment below, and let’s discuss.

 

 

The post Article Writing Rejection: This Will Help You Bounce Back…Fast appeared first on Make A Living Writing.

from Make A Living Writing http://bit.ly/2FYMSIV

W63 Mansion On Vancouver’s Westside

W63 Mansion by Hansen Pacific is a new condo development located one block from Winona Park, on Vancouver’s westside. This project will offer a boutique collection of thoughtfully designed 1, 2 and 3-bedroom homes. W63 Mansion provides a tranquil westside lifestyle on South Cambie’s most beautiful block.

The post W63 Mansion On Vancouver’s Westside appeared first on Vancouver New Condos.

from Projects – Vancouver New Condos http://bit.ly/2sSBjuf

Challenge #326 - Anything Goes

Hi again! Welcome to our weekly blog where we have a new challenge starting for you. This week it is -

Go nuts, go crazy. Create anything you like!

Before we get started, we would like to announce our winners for Challenge #324 - CAS

#38 Lorraine

#50 Melanie

#39 Brigit

#54 Sharon

Congratulations everyone!

Here are our Designers with their Anything Goes inspiration -

It is with a heavy heart that we will be bidding a fond farewell to our Designer, Ina. Thank you for all your hard work at ATSM and good luck with all your future endeavours! 

Angie

Carol

Monika

Valentyna

Julie

Ina

Gwendolyn

Izzy

Nandini

Ceal 

Over to you now and have fun!

from Addicted to Stamps and More! http://bit.ly/2WpRo8i

Best Editor Tips: How to Get in Magazines Over and Over

Here’s a little secret: The best editor in your niche frequently gives the same freelance writers story assignments.

Sounds pretty good if you’re one of those writers, right?

But what if you’re not? Is there a best editor Book of Commandments you can follow to move up and earn more?

That’s kind of the million-dollar question.

You spend a lot of energy and time sending out pitch letters and letters of introduction. How do you catch the attention of the best editors to expand your freelance writing business.

If you’re feeling like trying stay fully booked is an exhausting effort, you’re not alone.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. There’s a more energy-efficient way to get repeat freelance work from the best editors.

Want to learn how to get more assignments with less effort? Here’s how it’s done:

Make connections to make more money

If you want to make more money as a freelance writer, and reduce the amount of hustle you have to invest to land work, get to know the best editors and their publications. Taking the time to build a relationship with an editor will help you:

• Hone your pitches
• Develop strong, interesting story ideas
• Improve your writing skills
• Get more yeses, and
• Be the first writer an editor calls for the next assignment

If you’re trying land an assignment, think about it from the perspective of former Toronto Star travel editor Jennifer Bain:

“It’s 40 percent about the story, 40 percent about taking or sourcing photos, and 20 percent about being a dream to work with.”

So, what can you do to be a “dream” to work with? Here are seven ways to connect with the best editors to land repeat assignments.

1. Communicate

Editors like to know what’s going on. If you need clarification about the assignment, or are having difficulties with your story, let the editor know.

For example: If you can’t get a hold of a source or discover new information that could change the angle of the story, check in with your editor.

You’ll build trust, reduce his/her stress level, and raise the chances you’ll be the first to contact for new assignments.

2. Be on time

Never miss a deadline. Make that a mantra when an editor gives you an assignment. Sure, unexpected events might mean you’ll have to ask for a deadline extension someday. But make the norm turning in your assignment on time or ahead of deadline.

Do this: As soon as you get a pitch accepted, or are given an assignment, ask for the due date, and take it very seriously.

Why? The production schedule for the magazine, newspaper, blog, or other publication is usually tight, and depends on everyone taking care of their portion.

3. Keep it clean

One of the easiest ways to win over an editor…turn in clean copy. Every assignment you complete should be:

• Well-researched copy that meets word-count guidelines
• Written in a voice and style appropriate to the publication
• Formatted as requested based on the publication’s guidelines

Note: Although most publications have copyeditors, your editor will appreciate it if your piece doesn’t need cleaning up. Use spell check, triple-check name spellings, polish the piece, and write a great headline.

4. Play well with others

Unless you’re writing a personal essay, most assignments will require you to interact with other people: sources, photographers, graphic designers, and the people in accounting who get you paid. If you want to wow an editor:

• Act professionally with everyone you meet in the course of researching and writing your story
• Be gracious and thank people for their assistance
• Represent the publication in a way they would appreciate, even though you’re a freelancer.
• Use good manners on the phone and professional language in all emails and written correspondence
• Be easy to work with, cheerful and enthusiastic, and leave a good impression

5. Listen to feedback

You submit your assignment on time or ahead of deadline, and then the editor asks you for updates, corrections or changes.

• How do you respond? Curl up in the corner rocking back and forth in the fetal position obsessing about the request, or jump in and make the updates?

If your editor tells you something that needs to be fixed with your piece, or suggests that you should do something differently, listen and respond gratefully.

Do this: Rather than seeing it as criticism, consider it as an opportunity to learn something and improve your skills. Take mistakes seriously, and make requested corrections in a timely manner. Try to not be defensive. Accept any edits gracefully. If you think they’re inaccurate, take it up with the editor and discuss the matter.

6. Be available

When an editor contacts you, write back as soon as possible. You don’t have to be available 24/7, but don’t leave your editor hanging.

When you respond, be enthusiastic and ready to write the article, on their schedule. Realize the article isn’t done when you turn it in, because you may be asked to complete edits and revisions.

Be the writer an editor can count on in a pinch. For example, sometimes pieces need a quick turnaround. Tackle the assignment, do your best work, and turn it in on time. When you step up for an editor like this, you’ll be the first person they think of when they need a writer to fill another assignment.

7. Go the extra mile

Consider what else your story needs, and help provide it. Most stories will be accompanied by photos, so if you have ideas for great shots, communicate this to the editor. Or maybe you have ideas for sidebars, an infographic or pull-quotes for your story. Share this with your editor.

When you go the extra mile, most editors notice. It’s a great way to become one those writers the editor keeps giving assignments to.

Wow editors to win more assignments

If you want to win more freelance assignments for your favorite magazines, invest in building relationships with those editors. Even if your pitch is rejected, stay in touch, follow-up with a better pitch. And when you do land an assignment, do your best work. And you’ll quickly become the go-to writer editors want to work with.

How do you get repeat freelance assignments? Leave a comment below, and let’s discuss.

Catherine McBride is a freelance writer based in Louisville Kentucky who writes about food and health.

 

 

The post Best Editor Tips: How to Get in Magazines Over and Over appeared first on Make A Living Writing.

from Make A Living Writing http://bit.ly/2FU0l4N

Writing in a Clutter Hole? How to Clear Space for Your Home Office

Want to know a dirty little secret about Carol Tice? She doesn’t even have a home office.

Depending on the day and the level of clutter (perpetrators responsible for the mess = hubby and kids), she floats from the living room to the TV room.

How’s your home office space for writing? Frustrating, distracting, the bane of your existence?

If you’re trying to crank out copy at the dining room table next to a syrup spill that keeps sticking to your arm, or every room in the house is littered with toys, clothes, and never-ending piles of crap that seem to regenerate like the legs on a cockroach, you may have a problem.

When you work from a home office, you have to figure out a way to declutter and minimize distractions so you can actually…you know, work.

Wondering where to start?

If you’re writing in a clutter hole, follow these writer recommendations to clear space for your home office:

When clutter crowds your home office space for writing

It all started when freelance writer Amy Hardison White got fed up with being surrounded by clutter while trying to work. A typical work-day with kids home looked like this for her:

• Set up shop at the kitchen table/home office for writing
• Help her eight-year-old get started on homework or reading a book
• Give her four-year-old some cars and trucks to play with on the kitchen floor

Think your kids will play quietly for hours while you work? Probably not.

And if you’re surrounded by clutter, moving to another room in the house isn’t going to make your home office experience much better.

That’s exactly what Hardison was dealing with. So she asked members of the Freelance Writers Den 2x for help. And they served up some useful advice to help you declutter, so you can focus on writing, marketing, moving up, and earning more.

Ready to declutter, carve out your home office space, and be more productive. Here’s how:

Initiate Operation Stash-Then-Donate

Freelance writer Cynthia Kenworthy got tired of the drama of trying to convince her kids to part with toys they hadn’t played with in a while. So she came up with a covert game plan to declutter and clear space for her home office. Here’s how it works:

• Take stuff your kids haven’t played with with in a long time. and put it in a black trash bag.
• Stash it in the garage or somewhere out of sight.
• Wait about a month. If said owner identifies missing toy, dig it out of the bag.
• If a month passes without any missing-toy inquiries, take the bag of toys to the nearest donation drop-off.

“My kids were totally indifferent to it all,” says Cynthia. “And this eased the pain of drastic purging.”

Use the ‘take it out, put it back’ training program

If your home office space for writing and the rest of the house is a complete disaster area, you’ll need to enlist your entire army for a massive clean-up session first, says freelance writer Melinda Rizzo.

Once that’s done, you can retrain everyone in your house to help keep your home office organized and prevent declutter distractions, with this: If you take it out, put it back. Period.

“It’s super important to handle clutter on a daily basis, and make those responsible, after all it’s their stuff, for keeping it picked up,” says Melinda. “Take no prisoners here.”

Your freelance writing business depends on it, and so does your sanity. Lay down some rules about clutter, and enforce them.

Establish a play-area perimeter

Ever thought about building a border wall in your own home?

It’s not such a bad idea to keep the clutter out of your home office space where you work, connect with clients, and make money writing, says freelance writer Kimberlee Morrison.

“My rule was usually that the toys stayed in the kids room,” says Morrison. That’s where they played. I hated seeing toys all over every room in the house.”

Need help figuring out how to keep the clutter out of your home office space? Here’s what Kimberlee recommends when you start to see creep:

• Sort toys and clothes into three categories: keep, donate, discard.
• Schedule a regular declutter time
• Establish a designated play area (that’s not in your home office space)
• Set expectations so others know to clean up after themselves

Maybe you don’t need a border wall. But keeping your home office space clear of clutter, will help you.

“Carve out time in your schedule to get clutter under control, and you’ll be more productive with your work,” says Kimberlee.

Implement the do-it-now rule

When freelance writer Tana Schiewer was working on her PhD, juggling priorities was a struggle for most students.

And then she got a piece of advice from a professor that changed everything:  If you can do it in two minutes or less, do it now.

Put it into practice: She put the do-it-now rule into practice to train her husband and son to load the dishwasher, throw wrappers away, and clean up after themselves.

And that cleared a lot of mental space and clutter to focus on growing her freelance writing business.

“The way I convinced them was logic,” says Tawna. “It takes less time to do stuff on the go than it will to do a big cleaning sesh all at once.”

• Want more advice on how to declutter your home office space and your life? Tawna also recommends The Secrets of Happy Families, by Bruce Feiler, for tips about how to make chores and clean-up fun for kids.

The perfect home office for freelance writers

If you don’t have a designated home office space, that’s OK. What really matters is that you create the kind of home office space that works for you…the kind of place where you can:

• Focus on writing and marketing
• Be creative
• Take client calls without interruptions, and
• Crush every client deadline without distraction

Take a little time to declutter and organize your home office space, and you’ll be a happier and more productive freelance writer.

How do you declutter to maintain a home office space? Leave a comment below, and let’s discuss.

Evan Jensen is the blog editor for Make a Living Writing. When he’s not on a writing deadline, or catching up on emails, he’s training to run another 100-mile ultramarathon.

 

The post Writing in a Clutter Hole? How to Clear Space for Your Home Office appeared first on Make A Living Writing.

from Make A Living Writing http://bit.ly/2FQBT4b

Tribute at Parc Central in Langley

Tribute at Parc Central by Essence Properties is a new townhouse development located in Central Gordon in Willoughby, Langley. This project will offer a stunning collection of 80 luxury four bedroom townhomes. An elegant balance of thoughtfully designed details and luxurious finishings, Tribute townhomes will delight families wanting to live in style.

The post Tribute at Parc Central in Langley appeared first on Vancouver New Condos.

from Projects – Vancouver New Condos http://bit.ly/2B3WRZf

Gala at Parc Central in Langley

Gala at Parc Central by Essence Properties is a new condo development located in the neighborhood of Central Gordon in Willoughby, steps away from Langley Event Centre. This project will offer 75 units consisting of one & two-bedroom spacious homes. With no compromise to functionality and design, homes at Gala create a new standard of living in Langley.

The post Gala at Parc Central in Langley appeared first on Vancouver New Condos.

from Projects – Vancouver New Condos http://bit.ly/2S9yoLZ

Freelance Marketing: Shape Up Your Pitch to Get More Writing Clients

It’s that time of year when people go nuts about getting into shape. So how are your freelance marketing muscles?

Scrawny? A little weak? Barely strong enough to lift the bar?

If you’ve lost hours to composing emails for target clients, but still find yourself with no paying work, there’s a better way.

Your freelance marketing efforts may need to be put through a workout to help you learn basic skills to pitch clients and land assignments.

I know I needed some training to strengthen my freelance marketing muscles.

As a newbie writer in the health and fitness niche, it would take me a week to churn out two letters of introduction to pitch potential clients.

To survive, I developed a way to streamline the pitching process, increase productivity, and start filling up the calendar with paying clients.

Ready to whip your pitch skills into shape?

How can you make your freelance marketing pitch better?

If you haven’t been getting the results you want from your freelance marketing efforts, it doesn’t make sense to keep doing the same thing.

Think of it like using some gimmicky piece of exercise equipment to get into shape. If it’s not doing anything, for you, find a better way.

Here are six ways to strengthen your freelance marketing pitch skills to land more clients:

1. Find the right person to pitch

After you’ve identified a company you want to pitch, find the right person to target.

For example: If I want to work with Fabletics, I wouldn’t start drafting an email to celebrity founder Kate Hudson (do you even think she checks her email?), nor would I target a staff writer.

Find your target: For most industries, the Marketing Manager, Marketing Director, or Director of Content are good targets.

2. Connect with your prospect

Once you find a potential client, start looking for info to help you make a connection. Here’s how I go about it:

• Take a few minutes to review your client’s LinkedIn profile, the company webpage, or social channels.
• When you hit on something that resonates with you…make that the first sentence of your pitch email or letter of introduction.

For example: Restate a quote your prospect posts on Instagram. When I followed a gym franchise I wanted to write for, one of their Instagram posts was exactly the motivation I needed to hear that day. When I shared that in my pitch letter with the marketing director…BAM!…we connected.

3. Ask for the business

This is obvious, but if you skip this step, your efforts may be a total waste (kind of like working out with that gimmicky piece of exercise equipment).

Want to steal my wording? Permission granted.

Here’s a paragraph I use in almost every pitch letter:

It’s clear that your founders have had amazing success in taking their passion for XYZ and turning it into a business. And that no doubt involved a ton of ABC, XYZ, and content marketing. Do you hire freelance writers?

4. Position yourself as the writer in your niche

A custom intro is the most important part of any pitch letter. But you can hold your prospect’s attention longer if you can point to other niche client’s you’ve written for.

For example: Briefly list relevant companies and or articles you have written in you niche. Do NOT send links to your portfolio. Internet viruses are nasty. Think about it, would you click on a link from someone you don’t know.

If you don’t have niche experience, don’t sweat it. A well-written intro can help you break the ice with your prospect and build rapport. Be genuine and likeable, and you’ll be more likely to land assignments, even though you may not have a lot of experience.

5. Identify a need

Want to demonstrate your value to a potential client? Identify a hole in their current website or marketing. This could be things like:

• Weak blog post headlines
• A missing or incomplete About page
• Lack of case studies
• Staff or employee bios
• SEO juice
• Social channel suggestions to increase engagement
• A better approach to email marketing
• A missing blog or company news page

One you find something to improve on that could help your prospect, explain the benefits this could make for their bottom line. Here’s an example:

I noticed that the headlines for your blog could be tweaked to get more traffic to your site. Could you use some help with that? Here are a few headline ideas I have:

6. Finish it out with a strong call to action

Close your email with a call to action to get a conversation started. For example:

• Can I send you some clips?
• What upcoming projects do you need help with?
• Would it make sense to set up a call?
• Also, don’t forget to include the magic words: “If you aren’t the right person who handles content marketing, please forward to someone who is.”

So what does an effective pitch or letter of introduction look like? Here’s an example that earned me a response the same day:

Hi Dawn,

I admit when I’m short on time I have left my workout class before the final stretch.  Although this is often my favorite part, it’s the first to go when I’m short on time, and I always end up regretting it.  I hope your concept of assisted stretching spreads quickly to Northern California.

It’s clear that you’ve had amazing success in taking your passion for wellness and turning it into a business.  And that no doubt involved a ton of sweat, hard work, and content marketing.  Do you hire freelance writers?

I write click-worthy content to fuel the health and fitness industry.   My clients range from boutique gyms to leading activewear companies.

I noticed that Racked doesn’t have a press page.  Have you thought about creating one?  It’s one way to get you more free media coverage, by making it easy for reporters to learn about your business and contact you.

I would be happy to send you some examples of my work.  Let me know what you think. If you’re not the right person, appreciate your forwarding to the person who is.

Make it a great day,

Jen

Follow-ups: Are they worth your time?

You slave away on a batch of pitch letters, and then get nothing but crickets. Should you abandon those potential clients or follow up?

Here’s my theory on follow-ups: If a client takes the time to email me back, even if it’s to say, “Thanks, but no thanks,”  I will follow up.

Their response means I found the right person inside the company, and I can further the relationship.  And guess who they are going to think of next time they need a writer?

Strengthen your freelance marketing muscles to pitch clients

Consider this your six-step workout to strengthen your freelance marketing muscles to pitch clients.

Practice. Set a process goal to write X pitch letters a week. The more you master the process, the stronger your pitching skills will get. Then wash, rinse, and repeat until you’re fully booked.

Need help with freelance marketing to get clients? Let’s discuss in the comments below.

Jen Theuriet is a health and fitness copywriter based in California.

The post Freelance Marketing: Shape Up Your Pitch to Get More Writing Clients appeared first on Make A Living Writing.

from Make A Living Writing http://bit.ly/2RKeZlf

Pofile Oak Street by Bold

Pofile by Bold Properties is a new 6-storey condo development located at at Oak Street & 67th Avenue in Vancouver. This project will offer 47 boutique one, two and three bedroom homes in one of Vancouver’s most iconic neighbourhoods. The modern residences blend thoughtful details and intuitive design with intelligent floorplans, for balanced, cohesive living.

The post Pofile Oak Street by Bold appeared first on Vancouver New Condos.

from Projects – Vancouver New Condos http://bit.ly/2HDkOfE

Winston Terraces in the heart of Langley

Winston Terraces by Quadstar Development is a new townhouse development located in the heart of Langley. This project will offer a stunning collection of 26 carefully crafted townhomes. Winston Terraces just minutes to Downtown, shops and a myriad of local amenities. These spacious and bright homes feature private rooftop terraces, quality finishings, and innovative interior design.

The post Winston Terraces in the heart of Langley appeared first on Vancouver New Condos.

from Projects – Vancouver New Condos http://bit.ly/2RZvObv

582 West King Edward

582 West King Edward by Argon Properties is a new condo and townhouse development located at Ash Street and West King Edward Avenue, Vancouver. This project will offer 31 condominiums and 5 townhomes, sizes range from 540 sqft to 1,505 sqft. You’ll enjoy quick connections to downtown Vancouver, Richmond, and the airport without the hassle of traffic or parking. At 582 West King Edward, you’ll free yourself from the car and embrace a human-centred lifestyle.

The post 582 West King Edward appeared first on Vancouver New Condos.

from Projects – Vancouver New Condos http://bit.ly/2UiEEi7

Promontory in Uptown Kelowna

Promontory by eVest Funds is a new collection of townhomes located in the hills of Clifton Heights, Kelowna. This project will offer 120 units sizes ranging from 540 sqft to 1,300 sqft. Nestled in one of Kelowna’s most desirable neighbourhoods overlooking Kelowna Golf and Country Club, Dilworth Bluff and the City Center, Promontory is a prime development site.

The post Promontory in Uptown Kelowna appeared first on Vancouver New Condos.

from Projects – Vancouver New Condos http://bit.ly/2RK9Ny6

The Pearl Residences in Victoria

The Pearl Residences by Farmer Group is a new 8-storey mixed-use condominium residence development located in downtown Victoria‘s Chinatown district. This project will offer a collection of 133 distinctive residences with contemporary interiors and a variety of floor plans to suit diverse lifestyles. Set in a prime downtown location overlooking the working harbour, The Pearl’s concrete and steel architecture adds lustre to the red brick patina of Victoria’s historic Old Town.

The post The Pearl Residences in Victoria appeared first on Vancouver New Condos.

from Projects – Vancouver New Condos http://bit.ly/2AXjtuy

Challenge #325 - Photo Inspiration

Hi everyone and welcome back to Wednesday. We start a new challenge here every week and our new challenge is a photo to inspire you -

You may be inspired by the theme, colours, textures, shapes, images. Whatever takes your fancy!

Let's announce our winners for Challenge #323 Holiday!

#19 Diane Ahlers

#7 Marja

#3 Janet Swanlady

#31 Ma-Mi

Congratulations everyone!

Okay, it's now time to show off the Designers inspiration for you. Check it out!

Meena Herale

Priyadarshini

Sue (foleysfriend)

Amy

Asha

Judy

Cindy B

Kim Heggins

Željka

Susan

Monica

Wow, aren't they amazing? It's your turn now. How will our photo inspire you?

from Addicted to Stamps and More! http://bit.ly/2FHdoq3

The Haro in Cordova Bay

The Haro in Cordova Bay is a new 4-storey mixed-used development located along the 5100-block of Cordova Bay Road in Victoria. This project will offer 86 market condominiums, ranging from one-bedroom to three-bedroom, penthouse homes. The Haro is designed for those determined to fully embrace Island life; living by the shore in this most precious part of the Pacific. Choose your new Island home within one of three unique buildings. Enjoy luxurious living in a community like no other.

The post The Haro in Cordova Bay appeared first on Vancouver New Condos.

from Projects – Vancouver New Condos http://bit.ly/2FH5A7U

The Ambrose on Hawthorne

The Ambrose on Hawthorne by Quorus Properties is a new condo development located in Port Coquitlam. This project will offer 28 units, sizes range from 478 sqft to 989 sqft. Open concept living and over-height ceilings complement modern finishes including stunning quartz countertops, brand name stainless steel appliances, high-quality laminate floors, and even crown mouldings. The development is scheduled for completion in 2020.

The post The Ambrose on Hawthorne appeared first on Vancouver New Condos.

from Projects – Vancouver New Condos http://bit.ly/2sE9vcW

Solutions For the Top 5 Worries that Terrify New Freelance Writers

New freelance writers have a lot of worries. So I want to check in about that.

Are you frozen in fear, and not taking any steps to get your freelance-writing career off the ground?

Usually, that means fear has you stuck.

The good news is, a lot of worries newbies have are completely unfounded.

Today, let’s bust those fears. What you’re worried about probably isn’t an issue at all.

Wonder what I mean? Let me list the top five irrational fears new freelance writers tell me they’re plagued by — and I’ll show you that you don’t have to worry about any of them. You’re good to go!

Ready?

1. I’m not an expert

This has to be the biggest myth out there, that you have to be an expert in something to write about it. Let me tell you about some of the things I’ve written about — and my lack of innate knowledge about them:

• I’ve written cover features for the Los Angeles Times‘ real estate section, but am not a real estate broker or mortgage lender.
• I’ve been Entrepreneur magazine’s tax columnist. And am not a former CPA.
• I just wrote a 100-page e-book all about crowdfunding, but have never done a crowdfunding campaign myself.
• Have written hundreds of pieces about franchising over the years, but have never owned a franchise business.

I could go on…but does that help?

The skill we bring to the table is writing. The ability to spin a good yarn. (Or in copywriting, to push customer buttons and help them understand why they can’t live without our thing.) Also, the ability to find out facts, call people up, conduct interviews, research, get information.

You can do that, right?

My slogan is: “Give me 24 hours, and I’ll be your expert.”

I mean, we have the Internet now! Not hard to learn stuff. In general, well-paid freelance writing work doesn’t involve being the expert. Those folks write for free, to promote their expensive coaching/consulting/widget they sell.

Professional writers get paid to write, and to think, and to learn stuff. You got this!

2. I don’t have connections

This is a pernicious myth. That getting to write for good companies or fun publications is all about who you know.

I started with absolutely zero connections. Knew no editors or marketing managers.

And yet, my clients have included Costco, American Express, Delta Sky and Forbes.

Yes, it would be great if you already knew people at the places you want to write. But it’s totally not necessary.

Why? Because you’re a writer. And that means you can write your way to where you want to go. Your strong writing is your ticket in the door.

3. I don’t know what the rules are

New freelance writers seem to think there are a lot of hard-and-fast rules to freelance writing. Maybe there are even secret rules you don’t know or understand — so you’re quaking in your boots that you might make a mistake.

A deadly mistake that will spell the end of your freelance writing career!

Cue the suspense music: <duh dun duuuuuuun!>

I get questions galore about this. Questions like:

What is the correct way to submit my article?

How do I accept payment from clients?

Do I need to include photos?

Must I set regular business hours?

Will I need to create a contract, or will they send me one?

Let me answer these and all your other questions like them: It depends.

Know who it depends on? Your client.

When you get a nibble, you’ll ask your client questions. They’ll tell you how they want stuff done. Then, you’ll do it that way, if you want the gig.

Simple!

There actually are no ‘common practice’ rules. There’s no secret handshake that’s been kept from you.

It’s your business to run. You will actually make your own rules for your business. You’ll decide what you can and can’t do, what you’re willing to put up with. Your client will say how they want it, and you’ll decide if you’re in.

You’re the boss.

4. I don’t have a degree

Whaddaya know — me neither! I did two years of medium-rank state university, and then dropped out to be a starving songwriter.

It’s a weird thing, but traditional ‘credentials’ just don’t matter in freelance writing.

What matters is that you write well.

Nobody’s reviewing your college transcript to see if they want to hire you for a freelance assignment. They’re reading your portfolio. That’s it.

And if you’re about to ask if going back for your MFA or master’s in journalism will change everything for you…it won’t. I’ve coached so many writers with advanced degrees, it’s crazy.

It actually appears that the longer you hang around academia, the harder it is to get into the groove of being a freelance writer. All those stiff, academic papers you write…it’s just a style you’ll have to unlearn later.

Degrees don’t teach you how to freelance. Writing for clients does.

5. I worry I’m not good enough

This might be the top insecurity that prevents writers from going out and launching their freelance careers.

Got good news for you: Only good writers worry about this!

Bad writers don’t know there’s a problem. o_O

Good writers are always trying to improve. I’m still doing it. Looking through my draft going, “Could this be shorter? Punchier? Have a snappier tone?”

If that’s you, congrats — you have an ethic of constant self-improvement. That’s a good trait, in this line of work. Not something to worry about.

The other good news: No matter where you’re at in developing your writing craft, there’s probably a business owner out there who could use your help — and you write 1,000% better than that guy.

There are still clients you could start helping. And the more you write, and get feedback from clients, the better you’ll get.

Freelance writers need not fear

Are you feeling better? I hope so!

The thing is, freelance writing is not for fear-based people. Think of this all as a madcap adventure! A science experiment!

No lives are at risk. So strap on your boots and go.

If you find yourself drawn to this career, it’s probably because you know, deep down, you were put on earth to spend your time writing.

Try it out. See if you can find someone you could write a bit for. See how it makes you feel.

If you’re like me, you’ll never look back.

What’s holding you back from launching your freelance career? Let’s discuss in the comments below.

The post Solutions For the Top 5 Worries that Terrify New Freelance Writers appeared first on Make A Living Writing.

from Make A Living Writing http://bit.ly/2FJSWF4

Upselling Techniques: 6 Cash-Cow Tips for Freelancers to Earn More

Are you struggling to meet your income goals? Many writers face this challenge. But you might be sitting on a cash cow and not even know it.

Curious?

Maybe you’ve just had a contract end, and need to replace that income. Maybe you just want to make more money to save for a special trip. Or maybe you’re ready to move up and earn more, but you’re not sure how to make it happen.

Whatever the case may be, your gut instinct might be to fire up your computer and start looking for new prospects.

There’s nothing wrong with that. If you have zero clients, that’s what you should be doing.

But if you’ve been in the game long enough to have even one regular client, it may be time to take a step back. There’s a way to work smarter, not harder.

When I figured out how this cash-cow technique works, I turned a $200 a month gig into a $1,500 per month contract with the same client.

Want to learn how to get more business from your current writing clients? Here’s how:

1. Jump on opportunities to expand

Don’t simply turn in assignments when they’re due. Pay attention to what’s happening with your client and where things are changing.

When you see a need or when your client comes to you for help, make yourself available. This is a great chance for you to pick up more work and show off a larger skill set. Opportunities to upsell your client and book more work may include:

• A new product launch or redesign
• Changes in management
• Company merger or acquisition
• Annual awards or recognition
• New marketing channels (podcast, social media, blog)
• Investor funding to expand facilities or R&D

2. Be a problem solver

Is your client being bogged down by managing a new project or a launch? Be a resource for them.

If you see an opportunity for your role to grow, explain how you can be part of the solution and give them a few ideas. If you can open their eyes to different opportunities, they’ll be more likely to trust you.

Exercise a little bit of moxie: If you fit the profile of an introvert freelancer, you might be reluctant to call out a problem your client is having. Get over yourself. Giving your client useful suggestions to resolve a problem will boost your credibility as a trusted partner. And they’ll be more likely to send additional work your way.)

3. Get a raise

Request a raise for your work. After 6 months of working with your clients, get in the habit of asking them for a raise.

An important thing to note here is that if you request a raise, be prepared to walk away if they say no. If a client gives the OK to your raise and continues to work with you, it’s a good sign that they’re a client you can expand with.

Note: January is a great time of year to raise your rates. And it’s not to late to do it. Figure out a rate increase that seems reasonable to you, and let all your clients know.

Send an email like this:

“As of Jan. 31, I’ll be raising my rates by X percent. Projects booked before Jan. 31 will be based on 2018 pricing.”

Then wait for your inbox and voice mail to blow up.

4. Show your value

Work hard to meet your clients’ goals and show them that you care about results. Ask them about the results their getting and keep track of what’s going on in their space.

For example, I knew that longer content would drive more traffic for my client, so I suggested that they made longer posts part of their strategy.

Ask your clients about results related to your work to measure things like:

• Social media engagement
• Page views
• Email subscribers
• Average page view times
• Lead magnet downloads
• Blog post comments

5. Keep growing

Meet your deadlines, present new ideas, and be the type of person who you would want to work with to keep growing with your client.

If you can expand your role once, there will likely be another opportunity for you to do so.

This is also a great time to ask your clients for referrals or get a testimonial. If you’ve done good work and followed the under-promise-over-deliver rule with your clients, they’ll be happy to help you and tell their niche contacts about you.

6. Stay where you are to earn more

Getting new clients is exciting and can open doors, but you shouldn’t ignore your current clients. Take a closer look, and you could be sitting on a cash-cow of additional work.

Sometimes, all it takes to level up your income is paying attention. Don’t fear asking for a raise or sharing your ideas. Those actions can quickly put money in your pocket.

Upsell to put more money in your pocket

When I spoke to my client about a rate increase, I was terrified. But they were a lot more receptive to it than I thought.

I didn’t simply ask for more money. Instead, I stuck to this process and let this client know how I would provide more value to them. Once I did that, they were on board.

We negotiated a few terms, including the deliverables that were expected, and I had a new contract signed a few hours later. I went from earning $200 a month from this client to $1,5o0 a month by using these upselling techniques.

Bottom line? If you want to make it as a freelance writer, you have to advocate for yourself. Upselling techniques can put you on the fast track to move up and earn more. Try it. The results may surprise you…they certainly surprised me.

Need help upselling your freelance clients? Lets discuss in the comments below.

Alyssa Goulet is a freelance technology copywriter. Her past clients include Functionize, Focus@Will, and MemberSuite.

The post Upselling Techniques: 6 Cash-Cow Tips for Freelancers to Earn More appeared first on Make A Living Writing.

from Make A Living Writing http://bit.ly/2FDswVy

Success Habits: Crush Your Freelance Writing Goals in 2019

What success habits should you adopt to level up your freelance writing game in 2019?

If you’re thinking about that, you’re already on your way.

But if you’re not sure where to focus your efforts, it’s easy to get distracted by Shiny Object Syndrome.

You second-guess yourself about targeting a new niche. You avoid going after bigger clients. You keep getting sucked into searching job boards hoping to find a dream client. Or maybe you’re paralyzed with fear, feel stuck, and don’t know what to do to make this year better than last.

Sound familiar? It happens. Almost every freelance writer knows what it’s like to flounder at some point in time.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. One freelance writer went from a literal unknown to a New York Times best-selling author by adopting a specific set of habits to move up and earn more. A little bit of moxie, old-fashioned hard work and the right success habits can go a long ways.

Ready to crush your freelance writing goals in 2019?

Meet James Clear

James Clear

Jump in the wayback machine to 2012. That’s when James Clear launched his blog to write about habits and human potential. And it was the start of something amazing.

He committed to publishing twice a week, adopted a series of success habits to improve, and stayed the course.

In just a few short years, he garnered a massive following of readers and earned a spot on the New York Times best-seller list for his book Atomic Habits.

We talked with James on a recent podcast for the Freelance Writers Den.

 

Q: What did your process look like when you got started?

A: Each part of the process I tried to do the best I could with that chunk of work. Then leverage that chunk into the next step. You can’t just jump from your first couple blog posts to a book deal.

Instead, I had to do a couple good blog posts, try to get one of those featured on Lifehacker, or Business Insider, or something. I knew that would be a good strategy to get subscribers and build up an email list.

Q: How do you know if you’re making progress?

Sometimes it’s hard to tell from day to day. But if you’re consistently showing up, you’ll turn around one day and be kind of surprised by how much progress you’ve made.

If you just sit there and think about where you want to be and how far that is away, then it can feel overwhelming and intimidating.

So, it’s really that commitment to continuous improvement that allows you to go from one to the other.

Q: What’s the 1% approach to success?

A: It’s this idea that self-improvement habits have compound interest in self-improvement. If you can just manage to get 1% better each day, you end up in a pretty remarkable place in a year or two.

The challenge is remembering that on any given day a choice that’s 1% better or 1% worse is fairly easy to dismiss. It doesn’t really feel like a whole lot.

It’s the difference between eating a burger and fries for lunch today or eating a salad. Not a whole lot on any given day. Your body looks the same in the mirror at the end of the night. The scale doesn’t really change that much.

It’s easy to feel like, “Oh, just this time. It’s not that big of a deal.” But it’s only when you turn around two, or five, or ten years later, that you realize your daily choices really do add up.

Q: What’s the two-minute rule you follow for writing?

A: I wake up. I grab a glass of water. I sit down in my chair at the desk, and I open up Evernote. That sequence, that can be pretty much an automatic habit. As long as I do that, then I’m in the space where I can actually type the first sentence.

Q: Why do people overlook baby steps like the two-minute rule?

A: It sounds kind of silly to people at first. It’s easy to think getting ready to write isn’t really a useful habit. But what you have to realize is that a habit must be established before it can be improved. Right? You have to make it a standard in your life before you can optimize it.

Q: What’s your morning routine look like?

A: It’s not perfect. Every morning around 9 a.m., I sit down and either I open up Evernote and start working on the next article, or I go to ESPN and I check the latest sports news. Really what happens in the next 45 minutes is heavily determined by what happens in the first 45 seconds.

So, if you can master those little, decisive moments, those points of leverage, (Evernote or ESPN) then you often find that that’s the key area to focus on. It’s kind of like a form of personal Judo. You know? You apply the pressure at just the right point, and the rest of the dominoes kind of fall in order for you

Q: What’s one productivity habit you’ve developed to be a better writer?

A: Here’s one example. I refined my Twitter following so it’s this curated source of information. I’ve turned it into a place where I can come across ideas and find people who are sharing interesting things that can spark a thought for something I could write about.

Q: What habits would you recommend to learn how to write effective headlines?

A: Want to write better headlines? That’s a huge, huge piece of any article, or book, or chapter title. Try this. Spend an afternoon trying to get 1% better at it.

This could be looking at the top headlines in the New York Times, or on Forbes, or so on. It could be looking at famous sales headlines, or the 100 best copywriting headlines of all time. Then ask yourself questions like:

• What templates and formats do they use?
• Can I adapt that a little bit to whatever piece that I’m working on?

You could do the same kind of thing to learn how to write better opening lines or better transitions from one idea to the next.

Q: How do you overcome perfectionism and procrastination?

A: Establish a scope or schedule. And set a time limit for writing. This can be really important if you find yourself getting into research spirals or whatever. I helps you think like: “Okay. I have two hours to research great opening lines.” You give yourself that, and then you can move on.

Q: What’s the one success habit that’s helped you the most?

A: I just keep asking: What is the next step? What is just one little level above? Can I reach up to that this time?

It’s like climbing a ladder. It’s very methodical and slow, and there are some times you go down a rung, and sometimes you go up two, but you need to stay committed to that idea of how can I just move the needle a little bit today?

Success habits for freelance writers

How do you go from just getting by as a freelance writer to making a great living? Consistent marketing. Looking for ways to improve by just 1% at a time. Taking action. And creating habits, no matter how small, to help you move up and earn more.

What habits do you recommend for freelance success? Lets discuss in the comments below.

Evan Jensen is the blog editor for Make a Living Writing. When he’s not on a writing deadline, or catching up on emails, he’s training to run another 100-mile ultramarathon.

The post Success Habits: Crush Your Freelance Writing Goals in 2019 appeared first on Make A Living Writing.

from Make A Living Writing http://bit.ly/2VZLr1G

Challenge #324 - Clean and Simple

Welcome again to Wednesday and a brand new challenge. This week we would like you to create -

Due to the Christmas break, we have extra winners to announce - for Challenge #321 - Anything Goes, and Challenge #322 - Make Your Mark

Challenge #321 - Anything Goes

#79 Jen W

#90 Swissie

#87 Linda Pleckan

#61 Caroline-KISS

Challenge #322 - Make Your Mark

#42 Claire

#18 Stempelfrida

#26 Milla

#45 Cindy C

Congratulations everyone!!!

Let's start our challenge! - Clean and Simple (CAS). 

Monika

Angie

Carol

Valentyna

Ina

Julie

Izzy

Gwendolyn

Nandini

Ceal 

Such amazing inspiration from these amazing Designers! Over to you now :)

from Addicted to Stamps and More! http://bit.ly/2MjotON