The Blog

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact:          Melanie Padgett Powers                        202-494-9194                        melanie@meledits.com Silver Spring, Maryland (March 26, 2019)—Melanie Padgett Powers, a freelance writer and editor in the Washington, D.C., area, launched the Deliberate Freelancer podcast this week. The new podcast is aimed at helping freelancers build a successful freelance business. Powers leans on her own extensive experience and of having built a …

I started my career as a newspaper reporter, but I’ve spent the past 15 years creating membership association publications, custom media and content marketing. And the skills I learned in journalism school and as a reporter have been invaluable. Here are seven reasons you should hire a journalist for your content marketing. We are storytellers. Let’s face it, the vast …

I’ve been there, association friends: a staff of one, just you as the editor and writer for your association publication, relying on freelancers to do the rest of the work. So how do you edit your own work and continue to improve your writing? Here are four tips on how to self-edit. (By the way, this works for freelance writers …

After my first year in business as MelEdits, I held a two-day company retreat. I was the only participant. And I didn’t leave my home office. It was my very own solo business retreat. I now carve out at least one day every 6-12 months to reevaluate my business. Solo business owners and freelance writers are often so busy marketing …

When I was a managing editor of a magazine a few years ago, one of our regular writers submitted articles every issue without typing his byline at the top. That meant I had to do it myself, remembering how he spelled his name each time. I reminded him more than once to include his name, but he rarely did. I …

Copy editors were more than a little stunned and outraged a few years ago when the Associated Press casually mentioned at the American Copy Editors Society conference that using “over” instead of “more than” in front of a number was now acceptable. It’s a well-established AP rule that you change “There were over 200 participants” to “There were more than …

My Summer of Serendipity I am a questioner and a lifelong learner. This may not be surprising, as I started my career as a newspaper reporter. But I’ve come to realize that these aspects of my personality are beneficial to my new life as a small business owner and entrepreneur. I believe to be a successful freelancer or solopreneur, you need …

In the summer of 2016, I had the pleasure of talking to fellow writer Daniel Ford of Writer’s Bone for my very-first podcast. It took awhile to gather my nerves to make this event actually happen. As I try to convince Daniel in the podcast, I truly am an introvert. Plus, being on “radio,” so to speak, and being the …

I’m obsessed with productivity. That doesn’t mean I’m as productive as I can be every day. But I do know what tends to work for me so I thought I’d share a couple of tips on how to boost your productivity and focus. Time Tracking When I worked at a content marketing agency for two years, I had to track …

You’re making me nervous. You clicked on this link expecting to learn something or to perhaps be entertained. I could boldly hope that you may even retweet or bookmark this article. But a lot of that depends on my lede. Here’s hoping it worked. An article lede can stop a person in his tracks—both the writer who is terrified to …

The interesting part about writing is that much of the “writing” process involves staring at a blank document on the computer screen. I rock back in my chair, I play with my hair, I stretch out my back. But all the while, the ideas are churning in my head. But whether the ideas are flowing or I have writer’s block, I just …

A Dutch news site provides lessons on how membership associations can involve readers in content creation. De Correspondent was built on the idea that readers are “contributing experts.” “Everyone knows something about a specific topic … and we feel it’s the responsibility of journalists to get people to share that knowledge because it leads to more sources and better-informed journalism,” publisher …

I confess: I was once one of those people who thought the evil word “networking” meant standing awkwardly at cocktail parties, making boring, polite conversation. It seemed so stilted and fake. But if that’s what networking means to you, you’re doing it wrong. Networking is not a dirty word. It can be fun, social and provide you opportunities in your …

Columbia Journalism Review staff shared their disappointment with the Washington Post’s effort to reach millennial women through its new publication The Lily. The Lily takes existing Washington Post content, shortens it, rewrites it and posts it on Medium.com and social media, not on the Post site. (The Lily also sends an e-newsletter twice a week, which I have subscribed to.) …

What comes to mind when you hear the name Jon Stewart? Richard Branson? Malcolm Gladwell? Grammar Girl? All of these people have a specific personal brand, a way others think of them, a way to market themselves to the world. Those of us who want to be leaders in our career or industry — whether you’re an employee or a …

I believe independent and freelance writers can build a successful career—and that includes financial success. But, there are several things you have to do and believe first. First and foremost, you are a business, not “just” a freelancer. I had the amazing opportunity to provide other writers tips on building a successful freelance business for the ebook, “The Ultimate Guide …

When I was a newspaper reporter, ideas for articles were always popping into my head. Stories were all around me. An acquaintance mentioned her niece was joining the Peace Corps. I was told about a long-standing small business shuttering its doors. Someone mentioned two high school valedictorians lived in the same house — 30 years apart. “Oooh, that’s a story idea! …

Forgive me for beginning with a cliché: Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. That should be the mantra of every freelancer. I’m fortunate that my business plan focuses on three services: editing, writing and social media content strategy. This helps ensure that no single client of mine provides the majority of my paycheck. So if a magazine is …