Periodically I try to update you on the goings-on around All Freelance Writing. And with so much going on, now is a perfect time for an update! Here's what you can expect during the rest of this month, in March, and through the next couple of months.
February
- I'll be recruiting the last of our new writers for now (we already announced that Dan Smith and Catherine L. Tully are joining the team -- please don't contact me to apply though; it's a specialized niche and I'll be recruiting this one independently).
- Our marketplace is launching this week. I'm working out a few final bugs in the ad submission process, and then we'll be live!
- Our next free online tool for writers will be launched this month. It goes to the coder tomorrow. We have three more planned (and I'll come up with other ideas after that). It's possible we'll have two new tools releasing before the end of this month, but I'm only promising one for now.
March
- Catherine, Dan, and hopefully our third new writer will be starting.
- The writer's market directory will re-launch (this is still a part of the merger of AFW with the writer's market directory I've owned for a couple of years on another domain as a part of my previous writing site network).
- You will most likely see the launch of a new series on Freelance Theater.
- We'll be releasing one or two new online tools (depending on how many release yet in February).
- I'm planning a virtual book club for freelance writers who want to improve their business skills. There will be more information about this later. There's a slight chance the launch will happen a little after March, but that's the plan right now.
- I'm talking to an illustrator about a possible cartoon series here. Nothing's final, and I haven't decided if I'd prefer static comic-style or something animated. If the illustrator I want isn't available, it might get put off until either he's available or I find someone else that I feel is a good match.
Other
- The big industry survey I've mentioned previously will likely come out anywhere from mid-spring to the end of the second quarter. This isn't a quickly slapped-together survey with leading questions to get results we want to hear. This is a serious, long-term research project that will continue for several months. Right now I'm still in the development stage. Then partners will have a chance to review and critique the survey to ensure there are no biases, important options missing, or leading or misleading questions involved. Only then will the survey be published and be ready for you to share your valuable insight.
- The podcast series on All Freelance Writing is also currently scheduled for a spring release -- I would guess May, but I'd like to have it launched by April.
- We'll certainly continue to bring you more free online tools throughout the year. I'm very open to you suggestions, so feel free to mention them and I'll see if it's something one of my coders can put together for us.
- We'll have plenty of WordPress themes released for free as well throughout the year. We're about giving you the tools to make career changes happen, and professional designs (without spammy-looking required designer links in the footer) are a very important tool for writers looking to build their visibility.
- I'll be releasing my e-books whenever I get around to them (they're never really a top priority these days, so I won't make promises about when they're coming).
- I'll release a white paper here probably in June; possibly earlier.
- My series of e-courses will probably launch in the second half of the year (too many other large projects to worry about until then).
- I'll be expanding the collection of free forms and templates for freelance writers in our freebies section (in the black bar at the top of the blog) periodically over the next several months.
I feel like I'm forgetting some things, but that should give you a general roadmap of where All Freelance Writing is heading this year -- bigger and better resources with serious freelancers in mind. I hope you'll find something resulting from our growth that helps in your own business growth this year. If you want to suggest or request anything else, feel free to comment here and I'll consider it. 🙂