Dear Uncle Matthew,

I’m sorry to use your time for my selfish quandaries, however I am a young writer who is plotting an escape from agency life for the unknown territory of freelance writing.

I have lots of experience but these connections were made via an agency and I am wondering how best to approach these (and other) companies when I embark on my own.

Thank you!

Flying solo

Dear Flying Solo,

Good for you! First, can I suggest Pamela Slim’s excellent blog, Escape from Cubicle Nation. It’s full of useful advice for people starting out in business on their own for the first time.

On this site, there are some articles that might help:

• 27 proven freelance marketing tips
• 10 free ways to get more business
• Big fish, little fish: selling to multinationals
• How to close a billion-dollar deal

My main recommendation, though, is to do some marketing. You’d be surprised how many would-be entrepreneurs sit on their hands waiting for the phone to ring.

You haven’t given me much information about your relationship with your existing agency. I would be a little cautious about trying to end run around any legal or ethical obligations you have. Your existing contacts may be a good place to start but you may have to restrict yourself to asking for their advice or referrals rather than hitting them up directly for business. If in doubt, get legal advice.

Good luck!

Matthew

I’m starting a new feature on Bad Language - an agony column. This is inspired by guilty pleasure Dear Prudence on Slate. If you have any pressing problems, please send them to me and I’ll do my best to answer them. Feel free to add your own advice and comments to this post.  (And Digg it too please!)

 

Dear Uncle Matthew,

I have an ongoing debate with one of my suppliers regarding quotes.  Of course, I win since he’s a supplier, but I don’t want that to be the only reason.  He always insists that the quote should begin with the name of the person being quoted.  Smith said, etc. 

Says it helps the reporter or editor see at a glance who is saying it. My position is that it’s more important to start a line with something interesting being said and the reporter or editor can find who is being quoted without any problem (unless we’ve written a shamefully long quote). 

Also, I like quotes to be two short and interesting phrases or lines, with “said Smith” as the breather in between, not a solid block of copy.  Do you have an opinion on this or does it seem silly to you?  Thanks.

- Unquotable

 

Dear Unquotable,

“I agree with you,” said Matthew Stibbe, Writer in Chief at Articulate Marketing. “Sometimes a run-on quote can be useful too.”

Your supplier says that putting the name before the quote makes life easier for a report or editor. But who are you writing for? Never forget the readers! Your job is to make their life as easy as possible.

- Uncle Matthew