Best The Writers Co Op Podcasts (2024)

1
Diversify Your Business Fearlessly with Ashley Cisneros Mejia 40:19

11d ago40:19

40:19

As a freelancer, the topic of diversification may be on your mind. The freelance market is what it is, and the pool of freelancers continues to grow - so we need ways of differentiating ourselves from others. You may be wondering how to level up in your business by offering new services, looking to a new client base, or both! But how can you do tha…

1
Why Freelancers Should Adopt a Leadership Mindset with Cynthia Pong 29:47

1M ago29:47

29:47

What if we told you that all freelancers are leaders? The idea might seem counterintuitive at first: After all, freelancers provide services or products to our clients. We’re not leading or managing a team in a conventional sense. But leadership isn’t just about managing a team. It’s how you position yourself, how you talk about yourself, and how y…

1
Confronting Fear with Nicole Tsong 36:00

3M ago36:00

36:00

Career transitions often come with an element of fear. For freelancers, this might be a fear of rejection or of losing stable income. It might show up as a little voice in our head that says: “But what if I fail?” Fear is meant to protect us, yet it can also hold us back from trying new things and thinking expansively about our businesses. In this …

1
Q&A with Wudan Yan 32:15

4M ago32:15

32:15

Welcome to Season 8! We’re calling this year the “Year of Expansive Thinking.” This season will focus on how to think big about our businesses, ourselves, and what we think is possible. In the first episode, host and executive producer Wudan Yan answers questions from guest co-host Pam Moore about her businesses. Pam is an occupational therapist-tu…

1
Crosspost! Conversations, Not Confrontations: Learning the Art of Negotiation with Wudan Yan 45:46

4M ago45:46

45:46

This episode is a cross-post between The Writers' Co-op and Freelance Cake, a podcast for ambitious freelancers who want to get more results with less effort, hosted by Austin L. Church. Austin had Wudan on his show to talk about how she cultivated a mindset of 'always be negotiating,' and how she got to a place where negotiations felt comfortable …

1
A sneak peak into Season 8! 5:10

5M ago5:10

5:10

A preview into what this upcoming season holds! For updates, subscribe to thewriterscoop.substack.com Join our inclusive and psychologically safe Slack community as an All-Access Patreon at www.patreon.com/twcpod

1
Fast and Slow Freelancing with Amy Romer 43:22

6M ago43:22

43:22

If you’ve been listening to The Writers’ Co-op since the first few seasons, you’ve heard us say: The magic is in the mix of work you get. Slower work – work that is recurring, or on a longer contract or time period – can make us feel both steady and fulfilled. But sometimes, we just need money now. That’s where fast freelancing comes in. Ideally, y…

1
Approaching Clueless Clients with Sara Gates 34:38

7M ago34:38

34:38

As freelancers, we’ve probably all worked with clients who couldn’t pin down exactly what they wanted. Maybe they never had a clear vision for the project, or maybe they constantly changed their mind—and your scope of work. The experience can be incredibly frustrating. Yet, even these clueless clients need (and deserve) help from freelancers. In th…

1
Corporate to Freelance with Melody Burdette 34:43

8M ago34:43

34:43

A very overdone and true statement about freelancing is: “You’re running a business!” Businesses of all sizes have things like income targets, goals, creative direction—and even business plans! While some of those terms can sound a bit like “corporate speak,” these ways of doing things and problem solving in the corporate world can also be applied …

1
Market Yourself Authentically with Rux Guidi 47:00

9M ago47:00

47:00

Most of us who work for ourselves probably don’t love marketing but know that it’s a necessary task to attract more clients. Some take a more traditional approach—constantly sharing work and services on social media or socializing at conferences. But that might not work for everyone. In this episode, Wudan talks with Ruxandra (Rux) Guidi. Rux is a …

1
Create Your Own Publication with Leah Sottile 37:40

10M ago37:40

37:40

Most of the time, freelancers who work with clients do not own the rights to the creative work that's produced. Even retaining a modicum of your rights is frequently a prolonged legal battle that results in very little. But some freelancers who want ownership over their work are turning to another source of income: newsletters. Creating a newslette…

1
Rate Increases and Price Ceilings with Kat Boogaard 43:52

12M ago43:52

43:52

Determining rates can be really tricky for freelancers. We need our clients to agree to a price for a project, but we can’t sell ourselves short and leave money on the table. Naturally, freelancers might wonder: How much can I charge before I price myself out of work? In this episode, Wudan talks to freelancer Kat Boogaard. Kat is a Wisconsin-based…

1
Navigating Freelance Career Transitions with Simone Stolzoff 46:02

1y ago46:02

46:02

Navigating crossroads in our careers isn’t easy — not when we’re traditionally employed, and certainly not as freelancers, where we pick the rules. The possibilities can seem endless. One assignment, one client, or maybe even one email can completely change what we decide to do next. While considering making a big career shift, we can sometimes fee…

1
Set Yourself Up Well for Freelancing When You’re Full-Time with Karen Given 36:26

1y ago36:26

36:26

If you consume media, are a media worker, or just happen to pay attention to what’s happening to the media landscape, you might have heard that the industry is having… a bad time, to say the least. Hundreds of reporters and media employees have been laid off this year as newsrooms are shutting down or downsizing. Some who are affected by these cuts…

1
Reclaim Hours – Even Days! – From Your Workweek with Anna Burgess Yang 35:16

1y ago35:16

35:16

A big reason why many of us feel drawn to freelancing is because we love the freedom and flexibility that it offers: we can work when, where, and how we want. Still, even as freelancers, we might feel pressure to adhere to working a “full-time job” – a 40-hour, or even longer, week, despite not needing or wanting to. But we have the power to opt ou…

1
Redefine Freelance Success with Joanne Machin 38:32

1y ago38:32

38:32

Welcome to Season 7 of the Writers’ Co-op! To kick off the season, we wanted to dedicate our first episode to a word that often shapes how we view both work and ourselves: success. We usually believe success is measured by hitting societally-defined milestones or accumulating fame or wealth. But what happens when our personal goals differ from what…

1
Season 7 of The Writers' Co-op: Coming Soon! 1:58

1+ y ago1:58

1:58

Season 7 (!!) will launch shortly, after a month-long break. Wudan will be hosting and executive producing the show moving forward, after Jenni resigned at the end of last year to focus on her family. The next season will feature conversations between Wudan and co-hosts, who will help us all to navigate ways to reduce our workweek, building our own…

1
Embrace Authentic Marketing (July 2021) 43:08

1+ y ago43:08

43:08

Today we’re playing an episode from July 2021 with freelancer Emma Diehl. This was from our third season, where we coached other freelancers. In this episode, Jenni and Emma talk about some of the trickiest parts of freelancing, including marketing. If you’ve asked “How do I sell my services in a way that feels authentic?” or “ how can I make mysel…

1
Another Ask Us Anything 17:20

1+ y ago17:20

17:20

Today we’re running our last live episode of the season! Jenni will be stepping away from TWC to focus on her family and health, and Wudan will carry on with managing the community and future iterations of the show. If you haven’t joined our Patreon program yet, please do – the Slack channel is always growing and a great place to find work, get adv…

1
To Bail or Not to Bail 25:45

1+ y ago25:45

25:45

It’s rare to have a perfect relationship with a client. They might do small things that bug us, like scrub all of our oxford commas and em-dashes. But there might be other things they do that bother us more: Maybe they don’t listen to your feedback. Or they micromanage or do something that seriously hinders your ability to work. Or their expectatio…

1
The Subtle Art of Saying No (May 2020) 36:45

1+ y ago36:45

36:45

Saying no is just as critical to running a freelance business as saying yes. You can't say yes to the right opportunities if you're filling up your time with assignments that don't pay well, or where clients mistreat you. In this re-run from May 2020, Wudan and Jenni address reasons why you might say no to a freelance assignments (including if the …

1
Pace Yourself 28:38

1+ y ago28:38

28:38

Today we have a new episode for you, which is about pacing your workdays. This episode was inspired by a tweet Jenni sent out about a month ago, asking about how people shape their days. In this episode, we dig into why pacing can change throughout seasons of your career, and we talk about ways to investigate if your pacing is working for you right…

1
Building Relationships (May 2020) 33:22

1+ y ago33:22

33:22

This episode is a re-run from May 2020. Making connections with other writers, editors and creatives is essential to building a freelance business that lasts throughout the years. When a gig ends or a client runs out of budget, having a strong network can give you a starting point for finding new work. But we know that networking can be challenging…

1
Chasing Corporate Clients with Matt Villano (October 2020) 40:33

1+ y ago40:33

40:33

This episode is a re-run from October 2020. If you want to talk about running a 6-figure freelance writing business, Matt Villano is the person to call. He has been a full-time freelancer for 25 years and during that time he’s written for publications such as The New York Times, CNN, The Wall Street Journal, and many others. He also specializes in …

1
Mistakes Were Made 36:44

1+ y ago36:44

36:44

Let’s be honest: No one is perfect at running a business. We’ve all screwed up. We’ve all been too pushy or not pushy enough. We’ve all reacted too quickly when a situation doesn’t go the way we want it to. In both Wudan and Jenni’s coaching practices (and in our own businesses), we’ve helped our clients navigate and reflect on their relationships …

1
Stephanie Rogers and Story Jam 1:09:21

2y ago1:09:21

1:09:21

The Storyteller Co-Op is back! After a long and unexpected hiatus, Jacob G Ward returns with an interview with the creator, director, producer of Story Jam, Stephanie Rogers. Based in Chicago, Story Jam is a live storytelling experience featuring true stories performed on stage, followed by a live performance of an original song based on the story.…

1
Managing Service Transitions 24:01

2y ago24:01

24:01

Happy July! We hope you’re hanging in there. We are both officially OOO right now – Jenni with her new baby, and Wudan hiking the PCT. This episode was recorded about a month ago, and it’s our last new season five episode. We’ll be back in the fall with some new content! Today we’re diving into service transitions. Basically, most of us start runni…

1
Grow Your Career (June 2020) 38:37

2y ago38:37

38:37

We're re-running old TWC episodes over the course of the spring and summer, as we both slow down. This re-run is all about career planning and growth! An oldie and a goodie. How do you plan a career trajectory when there are infinite options and no set paths? Freelancers can struggle with career building because there are no managers to give you ra…

1
The Discovery Call 27:21

2y ago27:21

27:21

Wudan's love for discovery calls probably surprises very few of you: She loves connecting with others and enjoy learning about how she can bring her skills to help a new client. She gets really excited about these calls because they smell like possibilities. Lately, we've been getting a ton of questions about LOIs, discovery calls, and landing new …

1
Money Mindset (March 2020) 29:22

2y ago29:22

29:22

We're running some older episodes while we take this spring and summer season more slowly! This week's re-run is our very first money-related episode ever published! Your money mindset determines every aspect of your freelance writing and editing business. It's also a key to long-lasting success: Making good money allows you to live a life based on…

1
Embracing Slow Seasons 28:57

2y ago28:57

28:57

Today we’re bringing you a new episode about approaching slow seasons. You know what we’re talking about: Those lulls in freelance work after all your projects are filed. You’re busy and then… very little happens. It can be stressful! Jenni and I get a ton of questions about this, so we decided to dedicate an entire episode to it. As you listen, yo…

1
Inflection Points (July 2021) 31:46

2y ago31:46

31:46

As we take this spring and summer more slowly, we're currently replaying some old hits! This one is from July 2021. Building a freelance career can feel directionless; there are no set rules about where to go. But Jenni and Wudan have both built their own careers (and helped other people craft theirs) by pivoting when they hit moments of confusion …

1
Freelancing + Buying a House 26:11

2y ago26:11

26:11

Is it possible to buy property while working for yourself? Recently, Jenni and Wudan both bought houses -- so the answer is yes, but with a lot of caveats! In this episode, we'll talk about what kinds of things to do if you're thinking about buying property, how to make sure your team is working for you and supportive of your business, and barriers…

1
Storyteller Chats with Nick Vos of Atropos 1:04:52

2y ago1:04:52

1:04:52

We continue our Storyteller Chats series with Nick Vos of Atropos, an outdoor lifestyle brand. Storytelling comes in more forms than just writing fiction, and on this episode we discuss it in terms of video blogging, social media, and even songwriting. Check out Atropos on TikTok and Instagram @teamatropos, or visit their website atroposstore.com…

1
Storyteller Chats with Crystal D Mayo 1:01:18

2y ago1:01:18

1:01:18

We sit down and talk with the author of "Bronx Tales" from Episode 5, Crystal D Mayo. She tells Jacob about how her life fuels her art, her art fuels her life, and what she tries to accomplish by putting it all out there.By Jacob G Ward, Crystal D Mayo

1
Werk It (March 2020) 36:09

2y ago36:09

36:09

It's an oldie but a goodie! We're currently releasing episodes at a slower cadence and re-sharing some old favorites. In this 2020 episode, Jenni and Wudan address the question they get asked most frequently by aspiring and full-time freelance writers alike: How and where do you find good freelance writing assignments? They share their favorite met…

1
Welcome to Season 5 of The Writers' Co-op! 3:54

2y ago3:54

3:54

Welcome to season 5 of The Writers' Co-op! This season, we're slowing things down a bit because Jenni will be stepping away for maternity leave come June through the end of September, and Wudan will be on the Pacific Crest Trail for a month this summer. For now ‘til then, we’ll drop new episodes, at least one each month, mixed in with re-runs of ou…

1
Bronx Tales by Crystal D. Mayo 48:41

2y ago48:41

48:41

Crystal D. Mayo is a published author, performer, and educator. Bronx Tales is a collection of short works inspired by her life growing up in South Bronx in the 1970s. Her beautiful visions and poetized memories show this neighborhood was truly a place strength, community, and art that would spread across the entire country like wildfire.…

1
Short Shorts: Mini-Stories and Poetry 46:12

2+ y ago46:12

46:12

Five different authors. Five different works. Today's episode features very short stories and poetry, all under 10 minutes each. The Center of My Universe by Crystal D. Mayo Not Yet by Kate Maruyama A collection of poetry from little words. by a.hashman (Amber Young) The New Neighbor by Michael Buchta Pools of Blue & Butterfly Wings by Ashley R. Jo…

1
Surviving a Layoff 39:16

2+ y ago39:16

39:16

Today we’re talking about a subject that’s near and dear to Jenni's heart: getting laid off. At this point, being laid off feels like a rite of passage, particularly in the media space. Jenni herself was laid off in 2018 as part of a restructuring at her job, and she knows from personal experience how grief-filled the experience can be as you grapp…

1
Why We People Please 33:58

2+ y ago33:58

33:58

This week on the show, we’re talking about yet another issue we may all run into: being people pleasers. In some ways, people-pleasing feels inherent to being a freelancer. After all, we get hired by our clients, and then we help clients with their projects. Or even if we’re pitching journalism stories, we’re still creating a story for someone else…

1
Spoken Word with Landon Hudson 1:02:38

2+ y ago1:02:38

1:02:38

Landon Hudson is writer, actor, poet and spoken word performer. He's had hundreds, if not thousands of hours on stage, and has won awards for his works that challenge the cultures of unacceptance. And he hasn't even finished High School. This episode features four pieces, "Tap Tap Poetry," "My Pleasure," "The Farm To Table Medical Procedure," and "…

1
Taking Caregiving Leave as a Freelancer 42:32

2+ y ago42:32

42:32

Today we're talking all about how to take an extended leave from your business when you’re preparing for a baby, surgery, illness, or any other kind of caretaking. We're purposefully keeping the lens of this episode wide because we want this to be helpful to anyone who needs to step away from their freelance business for an extended period of time,…

1
The Roots of Overbooking 51:33

2+ y ago51:33

51:33

Today we're talking about how to stop yourself from overbooking your freelance assignment roster. And we know, that description may raise a doubtful eyebrow or two – but we promise you, it’s possible! In this episode, we dig into the myriad reasons why freelancers tend to overbook, like: We’re in a scarcity mindset and think that more work will nev…

1
Black Earth by Austin Miles 1:01:23

2+ y ago1:01:23

1:01:23

Austin Miles is a writer and musician and the author and reader of today's story, Black Earth. He also creates the music for this podcast! Afterwards, Jacob asks Austin about the relationship between writing and music, and also the responsibilites of authors writing about cultures and backgrounds of which they are not apart of.…

1
Q&A: Ask Us Anything 30:20

2+ y ago30:20

30:20

Welcome to the new year! We’re back from our holiday break and getting ready to dive into all that 2022 has to offer. Today we are focusing on answering audience questions! We do a Q&A episode each season, and the questions get better each time. This episode, we’re digging into: Why agencies can be helpful for jumpstarting your career as a new free…

1
The A-List Treatment 55:57

2+ y ago55:57

55:57

The very first episode of The Storyteller Co-Op! Today's story is by our host, Jacob G Ward. And he lets you know how you can get involved and turn your own story into an audio production.By Jacob G Ward

1
Creating a Sustainable Business Structure 35:24

2+ y ago35:24

35:24

In this episode, we address a topic that freelancers don’t talk about enough: getting to a place of neutrality and sustainability in your business. Many of you who follow the podcast may remember Wudan talking (a lot!) about burnout earlier this year. Suddenly, she felt like there wasn’t much more space for her to grow as a freelancer. She was alre…

1
The Six-Figure Freelance Obsession 28:28

2+ y ago28:28

28:28

You asked and we're giving it to you: Today, we're finally digging into the obsession with being a six-figure freelancer. The bottom line for us is that the only people who truly care about our finances are the families we’re supporting... and our accountants! But when someone talks about 5-figure months or 6-figure years on Twitter, everything see…

1
Leveling Up in Your Freelance Business 28:35

2+ y ago28:35

28:35

As the holiday season approaches, you might be anticipating a bit of a lull in your freelance business. Perhaps you're planning to take time off, or perhaps you're excited to work on your own stuff while your inbox quiets down. Whatever your approach, we're using the next few episodes of season 4 to talk about ways to shift and grow your business i…

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