I am proud to announce that Freedom Writing has moved to Dreamhost! This site will remain here, and all the posts, giveaways, e-books, etc. have been transferred there.

I have redirected the feedburner RSS feed to freedomwriting.com. However, if you are reading this in RSS, you can change your subscription by clicking here.

I will check back here until January 8th, to ensure all comments are entered into the SOCB E-book Giveaway, and/or into the Blog Showcase.

I want to thank you all for making this blog a great success, and I look forward to getting to know you better at my new home!

~Kimberlee

This week’s featured blog is from close to home, a fellow Iowa dweller! Joe is a Texan living in Iowa [insert witty joke here!] and the author of Iowadawg’s Blawg. Joe is a great guy to chat with, and he and his wife (the Iowa native) have ten grandkids! Wow!

Is it just me, or do all Texans have a love of football that far surpasses mere mortals? Joe gives a smart dose of the latest Iowa Hawkeyes game, at the Outback Bowl! (Go Hawks!)

He doesn’t deny his Texas roots, of course. He gives us all a reminder of the day Texas graciously allowed itself to join the Union. We should all thank Texas for all the unique things it has given us. Oil, wide open spaces, and a few presidents.

Speaking of, Joe has compiled his own State of the Union address, made up of political cartoons. I had a good laugh at all of these, and I think you will too.

Overall, Iowadawg’s Blog has a mixed bag of razor wit, sharpshooting facts, and a smattering of everyday life. (Well, as everyday as it gets for a Texan in Iowa!) Go show Joe some love, and get ready for a good time.

~Kimberlee

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Join in the Freedom Writing Blog Showcase!

Enter for your chance at a free copy of Sincere Online Community Building!

Do you want to learn more about community building? Pick up a copy of Sincere Online Community Building for more information.

First, I want to thank everyone who has purchased the e-book so far! You are on your way to building a genuine and exciting online community!

I also want to thank Michele Tune for writing a rocking interview of me at Writing the Cyber Highway. You are one awesome writer!

The Sincere Online Community Building e-book is now at its regular price of $24.95 after the holiday special.

But wait! What if you wanted to a get a copy of it at the low price, but missed the opportunity in all the holiday hustle and bustle?

I am giving away (for FREE!) 4 copies of this outstanding e-book! Here’s how to enter:

Leave a comment here – 1 Entry Tell us how you plan to strengthen your community in 2009

Tweet about the giveaway – 1 Entry Leave an additional comment with the link to your tweet.

Subscribe to the blog – 1 Entry Leave an additional comment telling that you subscribed!

Blog about the giveaway – 1 Entry Leave an additional comment linking to your blog post.

So you have 4 chances to win!

The contest will run through January 8th, 6 am Central time. I will use random.org to pick the four winners.

Of course, if you just can’t wait another moment, feel free to get your copy now.

Let everyone know that you believe in the power of a growing, sincere online community! Join in the e-book giveaway today.

~Kimberlee

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Join in the Freedom Writing Blog Showcase!

Enter for your chance at a free copy of Sincere Online Community Building!

Do you want to learn more about community building? Pick up a copy of Sincere Online Community Building for more information.

Image by a wolf in sheep’s clothing

Wait, I’m doing two posts in one day? What’s that about?

Well, it is the start of a fantastic year, and I want to share my enthusiasm with everyone.

Unfortunately, there’s a lot of not so great stuff that’s been going on lately. With lots of layoffs in 2008, and more on the way (I heard Microsoft is planning to cut thousands of their workforce) a lot of people are hurt, worried, and scrambling for a new path.

If you are a freelancer right now, you may not have traditional work worries, but your finances may be tight at the moment too. That’s okay. We are all in need of new solutions and new ideas to push past the 2008 slump.

Some people, with the traditional dog-eat-dog scarcity mentality, are becoming bitter and aggressive in their new ventures. It is an understandable reaction, as the uncertainty of our lives can strike fear into the hearts of many people.

Yet I do not think this is necessary. In the online community, there are so many ways to make a living, and a good one at times. It takes a lot of work, even the “smart instead of hard” work. You will invest a lot of sweat and tears in your efforts, and the results may not be immediate.

We need to build each other up during these times. We need to push each other on to greatness, even if we don’t see ourselves in a stable position yet. When we promote each other, we will all succeed.

Many people find this difficult. They still believe that life is a stiff competition, with clear winners and losers. Yet with all the options available to us, we can all win. We may not be the first runner across the finish line, yet as long as we cross it, we will have succeeded.

Here’s an example: two freelance writers (who are also friends) apply for a job. One gets the job, one doesn’t. The first writer has crossed the finish line first. Many times, this is the end of the story.

However, if there is a spirit of community, the first writer might recommend the second to additional clients in search of new writers (since he is busy with his new job.) Then, the second writer gets a writing job, and has also crossed the finish line of success.

In a scarcity mindset, this doesn’t happen.

The first writer would keep all his new client contacts to himself, and not share his potential for success with his friends. He may take on additional jobs, hoarding the potential income for himself. He might even take the new jobs, and become overloaded and burnt out.

In that scenario, nobody wins.

I want to remind you all, that the online community is a powerful and beautiful thing. It gives us the needed support, even in the roughest times. It can bring us cheer and motivation, when we aren’t at our best.

In short, you can’t go wrong with community.

Spread the love to all your online friends and acquaintences. Do what you can to help them, and we will all get through this year. Together.

~Kimberlee

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Join in the Freedom Writing Blog Showcase!

Do you want to learn more about community building? Pick up a copy of Sincere Online Community Building for more information.

Image by Jeff Kubina

Writers benefit the most from a sense of community. We spend many days and nights at home, without the camaraderie of our co-workers. There are many times when it is just you and the blank page, and you never quite feel so alone until that moment.

We don’t have the benefit of working with fellow writers and going out for for a few drinks after our 9 to 5 shift. Although online forums and Twitter help to bridge the gap, it is hard to shake the feeling that we are alone.

In honor of the new year and the spirit of community building, I am giving you the opportunity to be showcased on a new regular feature here at Freedom Writing.

The Freedom Writing Blog Showcase will be a weekly service, where anyone can learn more about you and your blog. I will take a handful of blogs each Saturday, and write a bit about the awesome content available there.

How can you have your blog on the Blog Showcase? It’s so easy! Just leave a comment linking to your blog and telling us all a little bit about it.

That’s it! Each week I will pick a few blogs and tell all my readers about you!

I look forward to reading all your outstanding blogs! Be sure to tell us a little about yourselves too. Thanks for participating!

~Kimberlee

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Do you want to learn more about community building? Pick up a copy of Sincere Online Community Building for more information.

With the new year upon us, I thought I’d share the latest happenings here at Freedom Writing.

The Sincere Online Community Building E-book will still be at the low price of $12.95 through January 1st. I will also be opening the e-book to affiliates! So grab your copy today while it is still available at such a great bargain.

I have had a great time at Michael Martine’s Remarkablogger blog. My guest post, Are You Commenting for Traffic or Relationships?, has received wonderful comments! Stop by to enjoy the conversation.

In my social media quest, I will be visiting Facebook for the month of January. (Don’t tell anyone, but I have an old profile filled with game apps that my friends made me add!) I have some clean up to do, but I will let you know when my profile is ready!

I will still be spending a good amount of time on Twitter (follow me: kimferrell) so if you want continuous Freedom Writing updates, visit my twitter stream!

I am also in the contemplation stages of my new e-book for January. What would you like to read about? What questions do you have about the online writing community? Are you ready to become a freelance writer, and don’t know where to begin? Leave you questions or topic ideas in the comments, and I will address them as soon as possible!

I also have one more service I’m adding to the Freedom Writing showcase, but it is not quite ready yet! Would you like personalized answers to your writing questions, not just generalizations that may or may not pertain to your situation? If that sounds good to you, then stay tuned!

I think that’s all! As news arises, I will keep you all informed. What are your plans for the upcoming months? Let us know!

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Do you want to learn more about community building? Pick up a copy of Sincere Online Community Building for more information.

As writers, we write to an audience. We have at least some idea of the people our words will reach. Not just the client who will read our words, but the people in the world who are searching for information.

We provide a unique service to our community. We reach out and communicate via ink on paper (or type on a computer screen.) We inform, enlighten, and entertain our readers. After they have read our words, they are changed. They have benefited from our knowledge and experience. They have become a part of our community.

No matter what kind of writing you do, you are forming a bridge to your readers. Your novel, your poem, or your article will draw your reader in to your world, from your perspective. You guide the reader through the thoughts that you have, and show them all that there is to see.

Your readers are no longer strangers to you. Although you may not have met them in person, you are becoming a trusted source in their mind. They relate to you, and trust that you will not lead them astray. In time, they may come to see you as a valued friend, someone who they would not want to lose contact with.

With online writing, you can have immediate feedback for your writing. You can speak with your readers instantly, via email, comments, forums, or social networks. You can form an even stronger bond with your readers, and find out what spoke to them and what did not.

How have you fostered community with your readers? Do you take time to visualize your potential audience before you write? Have online methods provided you with better communication with your readers?

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Do you want to learn more about community building? Pick up a copy of Sincere Online Community Building for more information.

It’s that time of year, where people reflect over the past 12 months and set goals for the future. As freelancers, this is always a revealing and empowering experience.

What? You haven’t set your goals yet? Go ahead, do that. I’ll wait.

Okay. Since Freedom Writing and my freelance writing career haven’t even been in existence for a full twelve months, I’ll do an overall “Year in Review” for you.

January 2008 – I was waitressing full-time, in a job environment I could not cope with. While most of the people I encountered on a daily basis were friendly enough, there were enough naysayers to make me question what on earth I was doing there.

April 2008 – I had the blessing of celebrating my 3 year old and 1 year old daughters’ birthdays! I was also planning a move that I wasn’t even sure about.

June 2008 – We arrive in Iowa, where I’m still waitressing with the same company, commuting 45 minutes, and struggling to make ends meet.

August 2008 – I quit my serving job due to high amounts of stress, car trouble, and high gas prices. I decide to find a different job nearby. I also start investigating Helium.com, a great community for writers to get their start.

September 2008 – After learning about blogging, and a few false starts, I begin Freedom Writing with this post: Writing Without A Niche.

October 2008 – I’m laid off from my new waitressing job. I decide to give full-time freelance writing a try. I also participate in Blog Action Day, with the post that has attracted the most attention here, Poverty in America.

November 2008 – I spent a lot more time working for newfound writing clients, and sadly neglected the blog. I did write The Power of Words – Election 2008, to remind people to be kind before they speak.

December 2008 – I revived the blog, and made lots of new connections at Twitter (@kimferrell.) I also announced the release of the Sincere Online Community Building e-book.

In short, I have made great strides over the past twelve months, and ended up on an entirely new path. I am grateful that I am not stuck in a minimum wage job for the rest of my life, and that I can share my thoughts with my community.

What’s in store for 2009? Here are my goals:

• Write 1 new e-book per month
• Try 1 new social media tool per month
• Redesign Freedom Writing and switch to my own domain
• Start a blog newsletter
• Write 1 new Squidoo page per month

Will I achieve them all? I believe so! If not, then life has better plans for me.

What direction would you like to see Freedom Writing take? What would make your blog experience here better? Let me know in the comments!

Here it is! Sincere Online Community Building is now available. Read all about it, and enjoy the ride!

• Are you new to the online community?
• Do you want to be noticed without resorting to spammy marketing tactics?
• Want to join in the virtual conversation, but don’t know where to begin?
• Have you been exploring the internet for a while, but feel lost in the crowd?
• Are you already building an online community, but want to refine and target your efforts?

Sincere Online Community Building was designed for people like you who want to learn how to become a respected member of the online community, but aren’t sure where to begin.

Who could benefit from this book? Just about anyone (in my opinion) but especially:

• Entrepreneurs beginning their own business online
• Freelancers who want to build up their online connections
• Old school marketers who wonder why direct advertising isn’t working in the digital age
• SEO specialists who want to increase the quality of the visitors to their website
• Bloggers who want to turn their blog into a fun, enjoyable community

Sincere Online Community Building is filled with tips, advice, and suggestions for creating a sincere, likable presence online. People will want to spend time with you on social networks and on your blog!

Here’s a sneak peek at what’s inside:

Table of Contents

• Introduction: Welcome to my Community!
• How do you build a sincere online reputation?
• Chapter 1: Say Hello
• Blog Comments
• How do you gain followers with blog comments?
• Social Networks
• How do you find followers and join in the conversation?
• Your Blog
• How do you gain followers with a blog?
• Chapter 2: Create Value
• What’s Value?
• Why should I create value?
• How do I create value online?
• What methods can I use to create value?
• Chapter 3: Link Building
• How do I gain quality links pointing at my site?
• You are becoming a trusted, notable person within the online community.
• Chapter 4: Selling Your Products and Services
• You cannot sell your goods, until you sell yourself.
• How do I sell my goods to my online community?
• Conclusion: Enjoy Your Online Community
  

Ready to learn more? Here’s what others are saying about Sincere Online Community Building:

I’ve seen Kimberlee Ferrell around the Web for a while now, and have bumped into her and conversed with her on various online social networking sites, such as Plurk and Twitter. Her professionalism and genuine, kind ways impressed me from the beginning. When she contacted me with a guest post for my blog, I knew right away she was a star.

Now I’ve read her e-book, Sincere Online Community Building, and realize her writing talent far surpasses my original expectations. I know Kimberlee will go far, and I highly recommend her e-book to anyone who is looking to create a successful online presence and build a lasting community. (I’ve learned so much from her already, and I’ve been freelancing since 2005!) Here’s to a fabulous 2009, Kim. You deserve every ounce of success that comes your way!

-Michele L. Tune, Writing the Cyber Highway

If you are prepared to take the time to build your online community, and find people who enjoy listening to what you have to say, then Sincere Online Community Building is for you!

Originally, Sincere Online Community Building was going to be offered at the incredibly low price of $24.95 USD, which is already far below the price of most e-books.

However, as a special holiday bonus, you can purchase Sincere Online Community Building for only $12.95 USD! This price is only good until 12:00am CST January 2nd, so act now if you want to be one of the first to own a copy of Sincere Online Community Building.

Money Back Guarantee: If you are not satisfied with your copy of Sincere Online Community Building for any reason, just contact me at onenewhope@gmail.com, and I’ll refund your money, no questions asked.

Sincere Online Community Building will only be available at this price for a short time. Pick up your copy today, and begin building a fun (and possibly profitable) online community of loyal followers!

Sincere Online Community Building – $12.95 USD

P.S. Remember, this special price of $12.95 is only available through the holiday season. Starting on January 2nd, the price will return to $24.95 USD.

P.S.S. You can purchase Sincere Online Community Building with no risk to you. If you do not find this e-book to help you build a better community, you are guaranteed a full refund.

P.S.S.S. Why do people read these P.S.’s at the bottom of these pages? I’m not sure, but I know I do it too! Let’s make the internet a great community today! Learn how through Sincere Online Community Building.

Happy Holidays everyone! It’s been a busy few days here at home. We went to my man’s aunt’s house last night, where Santa made an appearance! Then we came home and opened gifts. (Yes, I caved. But my little ones are so young, only 3 and 1, that they don’t know that yesterday wasn’t Christmas.)

So today has been spent playing and relaxing. It’s been a lot of fun, but exhausting! Kids are quite a workout. If a freelancer needs an exercise routine, I’ll be happy to let you babysit my kids for a few hours! *wink*

As my special gift to you, Sincere Online Community Building is going to be at a special price for the rest of the holiday season. It will be released tonight at midnight Central Time, at nearly 50% off! This special price of $12.95 USD will be good through January 1st at midnight, so you will have a chance to be one of the first readers of this unique e-book.

This is my gift to you, as loyal readers of Freedom Writing. You are the treasured members of my online community. Thank you for making this year special!

~Kimberlee