Bad Writing Skills: A Businesses Nightmare, A Freelancers Dream

The poor writing skills of Americas workers chronicled of late in the national media bodes well for freelance writers, says the author of two award winning titles on penetrating the lucrative field of commercial freelancing: writing for businesses and for hourly rates of $50-125+.

Atlanta, GA (PRWEB) July 12, 2005 --- As reported recently in the New York Times*, American business is wrestling with the costs of poor writing skills of many of their workers. The May 15, 2005 Times article (The Fine Art of Getting It Down on Paper" by Brent Staples) pointed out how a competitive business climate is demanding more high-quality writing from more categories of employees than ever before."

But, thats good news for freelance writers, says Peter Bowerman, author of The Well-Fed Writer, and its companion volume, TWFW: Back For Seconds, two titles on the subject of commercial" freelancing -- writing for businesses, large and small, and for hourly rates ranging from $50-125+.

The Times article cited the 2004 report by the National Commission on Writing, which reported that roughly a third of the companies surveyed reported that only one-third or fewer of their employees knew how to write clearly and concisely.

Bowerman concurs, observing: Good writing is the engine that drives commerce, yet writing skills amongst many American workers, frankly, are atrocious. As companies see the bottom-line costs of this shortfall, it opens up tremendous opportunities for capable freelancers to step in and pick up the slack."

Sweetening the pot even more, says Bowerman, is the prolific downsizing of the past decade. He explains: Many companies, of all sizes, are operating leaner than ever, yet good writing is still something that has to get done. Many have steady writing needs and the healthy budgets to outsource those projects -- at handsome rates."

Veteran commercial freelance writer Bob Bly, author of 50+ writing titles, says of the field: I know of no other arena of writing so lucrative yet so easy to get started in."

With no writing background, paid professional writing experience or industry contacts, Bowerman was paying all his bills through commercial writing in four months. He says, If youre a decent writer and you dream of getting out of the rat race, working from home and having time for a life, this is a great option."

Media: Contact author for interviews or review copies. Visit www.wellfedwriter.com (Attn: Media" link) for cover art, author pix, news pegs", sample radio/TV interview footage, sample chapters, book reviews, Attn: Moms" section for at-home Moms, and more. The book retails for $19.95 and can be purchased in bookstores, on Amazon, through www.wellfedwriter.com and at 800-247-6553.

Author Bio:
Peter Bowerman has been a freelance commercial writer and columnist in Atlanta, Georgia since 1993, with a corporate client list that includes The Coca-Cola Company, Cingular Wireless, BellSouth, IBM, UPS, American Express, Mercedes-Benz, and many others. He has published over 250 columns and articles and leads seminars on writing. Sign up for his free monthly ezine, THE WELL-FED-E-PUB, at www.wellfedwriter.com.

Book Milestones:
The Well-Fed Writer
Book-of-the-Month Club: Winter/Spring 2001
Quality Paperback Book Club: Spring 2001
Writer's Digest Book Club: July 2000 - Second best-selling Featured Alternate in more than two years)

Second-place: ForeWord Magazine 2000 Book of the Year Awards (Career category)
Finalist: Publishers Marketing Association 2000 Ben Franklin Awards (Best First Book)
Honorable Mention: 2000 Writers Digest National Self-Published Book Awards

The Well-Fed Writer: Back For Seconds
Writer's Digest Book Club: September 2004
Finalist: Foreword Magazine Book of the Year Awards (Career)
Finalist: Ben Franklin Awards: Publishers Marketing Association (Career)
Finalist: Georgia Writers Author of the Year Awards (Self-Published, Self-Help)