The Writers’ Co-op

72
How To #235

The Writers’ Co-op is an audio business handbook for freelance creatives. Host and executive producer Wudan Yan leverages her and co-hosts' experiences to provide a transparent look at what it takes to run a resilient freelance business. From negotiating higher rates, to protecting your business and intellectual property, to taking time off and organizing your workflow, to doing the mindset work needed to achieve your goals, you'll walk away from this podcast with actionable tips to implement right away.Our website & store is now located at: wudanyan.com/the-writers-coop

Recent Episodes
  • Your questions and TWC’s answers
    Nov 12, 2024 – 00:26:50
  • 10 Lessons in 10 Years of Freelancing with Wudan Yan
    Oct 21, 2024 – 00:42:14
  • Turn Your Solo Freelance Business into an Agency with Caity Cronkhite
    Sep 23, 2024 – 00:39:07
  • Creating Your Own Podcast Production Network with Amy Westervelt
    Aug 26, 2024 – 00:50:48
  • Fractional C-level Roles with Matthew Fenton
    Jul 29, 2024 – 00:37:19
  • From Journalism to Money with Maya Lau
    Jun 24, 2024 – 00:40:07
  • Diversify Your Business Fearlessly with Ashley Cisneros Mejia
    May 27, 2024 – 00:40:19
  • Why Freelancers Should Adopt a Leadership Mindset with Cynthia Pong
    Apr 29, 2024 – 00:29:47
  • Confronting Fear with Nicole Tsong
    Mar 25, 2024 – 00:36:00
  • Q&A with Wudan Yan
    Feb 26, 2024 – 00:32:15
  • Crosspost! Conversations, Not Confrontations: Learning the Art of Negotiation with Wudan Yan
    Feb 6, 2024 – 00:45:46
  • A sneak peak into Season 8!
    Jan 16, 2024 – 00:05:10
  • Fast and Slow Freelancing with Amy Romer
    Dec 18, 2023 – 00:43:22
  • Approaching Clueless Clients with Sara Gates
    Nov 20, 2023 – 00:34:38
  • Corporate to Freelance with Melody Burdette
    Oct 23, 2023 – 00:34:43
  • Market Yourself Authentically with Rux Guidi
    Sep 25, 2023 – 00:47:00
  • Create Your Own Publication with Leah Sottile
    Aug 28, 2023 – 00:37:40
  • Rate Increases and Price Ceilings with Kat Boogaard
    Jun 26, 2023 – 00:43:52
  • Navigating Freelance Career Transitions with Simone Stolzoff
    May 22, 2023 – 00:46:02
  • Set Yourself Up Well for Freelancing When You’re Full-Time with Karen Given
    May 22, 2023 – 00:36:26
  • Reclaim Hours – Even Days! – From Your Workweek with Anna Burgess Yang
    Apr 24, 2023 – 00:35:16
  • Redefine Freelance Success with Joanne Machin
    Mar 27, 2023 – 00:38:32
  • Season 7 of The Writers' Co-op: Coming Soon!
    Feb 1, 2023 – 00:01:58
  • Embrace Authentic Marketing (July 2021)
    Jan 23, 2023 – 00:43:08
  • Another Ask Us Anything
    Jan 16, 2023 – 00:17:20
  • To Bail or Not to Bail
    Dec 19, 2022 – 00:25:45
  • The Subtle Art of Saying No (May 2020)
    Dec 5, 2022 – 00:36:45
  • Pace Yourself
    Nov 21, 2022 – 00:28:38
  • Building Relationships (May 2020)
    Oct 31, 2022 – 00:33:22
  • Chasing Corporate Clients with Matt Villano (October 2020)
    Oct 17, 2022 – 00:40:33
  • Mistakes Were Made
    Oct 3, 2022 – 00:36:44
  • Managing Service Transitions
    Jul 25, 2022 – 00:24:01
  • Grow Your Career (June 2020)
    Jul 11, 2022 – 00:38:37
  • The Discovery Call
    Jun 27, 2022 – 00:27:21
  • Money Mindset (March 2020)
    Jun 13, 2022 – 00:29:22
  • Embracing Slow Seasons
    May 30, 2022 – 00:28:57
  • Inflection Points (July 2021)
    May 16, 2022 – 00:31:46
  • Freelancing + Buying a House
    May 2, 2022 – 00:26:11
  • Werk It (March 2020)
    Apr 18, 2022 – 00:36:09
  • Welcome to Season 5 of The Writers' Co-op!
    Apr 17, 2022 – 00:03:54
  • Surviving a Layoff
    Mar 7, 2022 – 00:39:16
  • Why We People Please
    Feb 21, 2022 – 00:33:58
  • Taking Caregiving Leave as a Freelancer
    Feb 7, 2022 – 00:42:32
  • The Roots of Overbooking
    Jan 24, 2022 – 00:51:33
  • Q&A: Ask Us Anything
    Jan 10, 2022 – 00:30:20
  • Creating a Sustainable Business Structure
    Dec 20, 2021 – 00:35:24
  • The Six-Figure Freelance Obsession
    Dec 6, 2021 – 00:28:28
  • Leveling Up in Your Freelance Business
    Nov 22, 2021 – 00:28:35
  • Limiting Beliefs: Removing Mindset Barriers
    Nov 8, 2021 – 00:25:27
  • Value: A New Pricing Consideration for Freelancers
    Oct 25, 2021 – 00:29:59
Recent Reviews
  • Kyles ipad12345678901
    Abandon it
    Wudan is an antinatalist who wants to see humanity become extinct. She supports “Les Knight” and his voluntary human extinction hateful racist repugnant nonsense. So. Abandon the show. Stop listening to people full of so much hate.
  • Mar Fran
    They’ll teach you to value yourself as an entrepreneur
    Want to be an entrepreneur but also have a life and value yourself? I love this podcast for all of this. It’s really taught me to be in an air of abundance while building my buisness. It’s for freelance journalists but it applies to entrepreneurs in general.
  • Vianna805
    I love this podcast so much!
    TWC has taught me so many freelancing basics. Even the “boring” material/advice ends up being incredibly inspiring. Wudan and Jenny are skilled hosts, and I love that they’re sharing all this info!
  • Emily Shinde
    HIGHLY recommend this content for anyone going freelance, regardless of your industry
    I’ve never taken the time to sit down and write a review for a podcast, I definitely should do this more! But I note this because TWC is SO good it has compelled a non-reviewer to finally post something :) There’s a lot of inspirational jargon out there for freelancers or women trying to start their own businesses and it’s easy to get wrapped up in those. When I first started my freelance career, I would spend a lot of time listening to “soft” “motivational” content that never really drove home the details. I’ll even go so far to say there’s probably an industry that takes advantage of women trying to break out of the corporate world and establish their own work. But Wudan and Jenni give out so much thoughtful, vulnerable information out of the belief that they want everyone to succeed. I’m SO grateful I stumbled upon this podcast when I did, it has helped shape my beliefs about money, time, and the type of freelance work I do. I have yet to find another podcast that is so frank, direct, and encouraging. Thank you both!
  • writehike
    Clear, frank, ambitious
    It’s really wonderful to have a podcast about the business of freelancing, especially one run by two women. They not only make it work, but make a fair living through freelancing. S2 they talk to freelancers of many backgrounds and experience levels about how they do it. Plus: real talk about money!
  • MattLucas81
    Rising Tides lifts all boats
    Freelance experts Wudan Yan and Jennie Gritters give excellent advice about writing, business and understanding finances. Yan has a great twitter account which is how I found the podcast. The podcast has some great interviews in the second season and some indepth resources in the first. Highly recommended for budding and experienced writers.
  • Jenn of Moss
    Love this show
    Thanks so much for demystifying the freelance life. This podcast is invaluable. I’ve been following Wudan since I heard her speak at an NASW conference and I’m so glad I kept up with her work.
  • JennyRunningWithHeels
    A Veritable Goldmine for Freelancers
    This podcast is a veritable goldmine for freelancers thanks to its actionable tips, savvy advice and sage guidance from its two personable hosts who share relatable stories and experiences.
  • Cindy.Kuzma
    So incredibly practical and helpful
    I’ve been a freelancer for nine and a half years and this show is one of the most useful resources I’ve come across; I truly appreciate the specific, actionable, and confident advice Jenni and Wudan dispense. I like that they come from slightly different perspectives and offer real-world examples of making this sometimes-challenging but ultimately incredibly rewarding path work.
  • hangryhangryhangryhippo7
    Unbelievably helpful
    These episodes are packed with actionable knowledge to make freelancing sustainable. Thank you Wudan and Jenni!
  • Brdrgrrrl
    Finally! A non coy nuts and bolts podcast for freelance writers
    Super actionable, step by step advice told through storytelling (after all, the hosts are writers and sharing their success tactics, who better to listen to?). Love this podcast. I was sold in episode number 2 where they address the elephant in the room, having a safety net of a partner with a stable job (or starting out debt free) in order to be able to freelance full time. So many writer podcasts are hosted by people talking about craft and riffing on stories they wrote for money with no information on how much it paid or how they even got the job. The hosts also share how much they make, when do you ever get this kind of honesty? And a response to the one star rating ahead of mine: sour grapes! Of course the hosts are talking about themselves! That is why we are listening to them, because they've made it and we listeners want to know how. Sour Grapes, be grateful that Jenni and Wudan are so generous as to share their knowledge with the rest of us. My only concern is that the hosts may retire this show when their writing lives grow exponentially. Until then, im a subscriber!
  • getted-a-biscotti
    No actual tips, nothing actionable
    If you’re interested in hearing two people talk about themselves for the duration of each episode, this is for you. The issue is that both hosts are utterly amazing at their crafts, but never provide concrete advice or actionable service for aspiring writers to follow. I am leaving this podcast with no idea how to land my first byline, how to get started, or what tools to use. I only know that I should charge what I’m worth. Useless. Small potatoes, but one of the hosts also claims that ethics are “individual” in the Q&A episode, which should automatically raise red flags to any journalist with a semblance of integrity. Ethics are ethics, no matter who you are or what your rates are.
  • Marni25
    Terrific resource
    Jenni and Wudan’s podcast is one of the most effective, accessible and friendly resources I’ve found in my two+ years of freelancing. It’s a must-listen for any freelancer just starting out and at the same time provides a deep well of knowledge for those who have years of experience under their belts. Looking forward to more episodes!
  • thebenefitswriter
    Very informative!
    You have no idea how much I needed a podcast like this in my life. There’s so much hokey information out there about freelancing, so having something so informative and actionable is great! Thank you, thank you. Look forward to more episodes.
  • MustardJoe
    Like a weighted blanket for freelance anxiety
    Great advice and nice to listen to on the bus to work.
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