Podcast Summary: The Copywriter Club Podcast #460: The Feisty Freelancer with Sue Bowness
Release Date: August 12, 2025
Introduction
In episode #460 of The Copywriter Club Podcast, host Rob Marsh welcomes back Sue Bowness, a seasoned content writer, content strategist, and author of the newly released book, The Feisty Freelancer. This episode delves into Sue's insights on freelancing, her experiences as a published author, and valuable strategies for building a successful freelance business.
About Sue Bowness and Her Journey
Sue Bowness shares her transition from working for a magazine to embracing the freelance lifestyle after being laid off. She highlights the flexibility freelancing offers, such as adjusting schedules for vacations and managing workloads based on client needs. Sue emphasizes her focus on long-form content, including blog posts, articles, and journalism, targeting organizations that value storytelling.
Notable Quote:
"I really appreciate all the things that everyone appreciates about freelancing. The flexibility in particular, especially when it's the summertime, not having to schedule vacations if it's a nice Friday afternoon."
— Sue Bowness [03:47]
The Feisty Freelancer: Motivation and Creation
Sue explains that The Feisty Freelancer originated from her class on freelancing at Humber College in Toronto. Observing the lack of suitable resources, she initially created an ebook to address her students' questions. Over five years, she expanded the content based on student feedback, eventually transforming it into a published book. The book serves as a comprehensive guide for freelancers across various creative disciplines, offering strategies on pitching, marketing, and business productivity.
Notable Quote:
"I think my next edition will be the Feisty Freelancer for Other Media and for just a broader picture because I feel like there's a lot more in common to what we do as freelancers as self-employed people than there is different between the different creative arts that we're pursuing."
— Sue Bowness [08:08]
Who Should Consider Freelancing
Sue discusses the suitability of freelancing, emphasizing the importance of self-awareness and the ability to handle the lifestyle's demands. She advises potential freelancers to assess their readiness for variable workloads, financial instability during quiet periods, and the necessity of proactive business management.
Notable Quote:
"It’s more of a taste, a sense of like preference and what you feel you can handle in your own life or what your family and loved ones can handle."
— Sue Bowness [08:08]
Key Traits of Successful Freelancers
Defining the "feisty freelancer," Sue underscores resilience and persistence as crucial traits. She elaborates on the importance of being proactive in seeking opportunities and maintaining a positive mindset despite frequent rejections.
Notable Quote:
"I use the word feisty and people have said, 'Sue, you're not particularly a feisty person in person.' But I'm like, I actually look it up in the dictionary and [it means] somebody who's really resilient and persistent."
— Sue Bowness [11:53]
Mastering the Art of Pitching
Sue provides actionable strategies for pitching to potential clients. She emphasizes the significance of identifying the right contacts within organizations, personalizing communications, and maintaining a professional online presence. She also highlights the long-term benefits of consistent pitching efforts.
Notable Quote:
"Making sure that you're identifying that right person and tailoring... referring specifically to their marketing can be useful ways of showing you're familiar with the organization."
— Sue Bowness [17:25]
Effective Marketing for Freelancers
The conversation shifts to marketing strategies essential for freelancers. Sue advocates for maintaining a robust online presence through websites and selective social media platforms. She discusses the challenges of balancing marketing efforts with client work and suggests scheduling dedicated time for marketing activities to ensure consistency.
Notable Quote:
"When you're putting stuff out there, I try to think, okay, how can I make a minimum viable schedule and get things out there."
— Sue Bowness [32:44]
Enhancing Productivity as a Freelancer
Sue shares her productivity techniques, such as structuring her workday from 9 to 5 to align with client availability, batching tasks to minimize multitasking, and using project management tools to track progress. She also emphasizes the importance of prioritizing tasks that significantly impact business growth.
Notable Quote:
"I try to do a nine to five day, be at my desk by nine, quit by five if I can, and then come back to work... I could just be here at my desk and that would be leading to burnout."
— Sue Bowness [37:12]
The Process of Writing "The Feisty Freelancer"
Sue details her approach to authoring her book, which began as a class ebook and evolved through iterative feedback and expansion. She discusses the benefits of traditional publishing, such as professional editing and distribution networks, while acknowledging the merits of self-publishing.
Notable Quote:
"I really wanted to develop a relationship with a publisher. I'd be interested in publishing more books, both nonfiction and fiction."
— Sue Bowness [48:14]
Insights from Fellow Freelancers
In the book, Sue includes interviews with diverse freelancers, each bringing unique perspectives based on their niches and experiences. These interviews serve to validate her advice and offer varied strategies for managing freelance careers.
Notable Quote:
"Both for the difference from my experience and then for the sameness in the freelance experience, I thought the Q and A was a really fun and valuable addition to the book."
— Sue Bowness [43:41]
Conclusion and Resources
Rob Marsh praises Sue's book as a valuable resource for freelancers and encourages listeners to purchase it for its comprehensive advice and insightful interviews. He also highlights the importance of platforms like the Copywriter Underground for ongoing support and skill development.
Notable Quote:
"I think it's a great addition along with the handful of other books on building your own copywriting business or consulting that most freelancers grab a hold of."
— Rob Marsh [48:00]
For more information about Sue Bowness and her book, visit FeistyFreelancer.com and follow the book’s journey on Instagram at @feistyfreelancerbook.
Additional Resources Mentioned
- The Copywriter Underground: Offers monthly coaching, expert workshops, and over 70 workshops to help freelancers build their businesses. Visit TheCopyWriterClub.com TCU2 for more information.
End of Summary