The Content Byte

Fans of TV show Offspring will be no stranger to the name of its creator, Debra Oswald - who is a celebrated and highly prolific stage, television and fiction writer. In this episode, we chat to Debra about the start of her career (her first play was broadcast on the ABC when she was just 17) and the varied type of work she does. How does she switch between writing a crime novel to a TV script, to a one-woman stage show? She also shares the behind-the-scenes Offspring story - and reveals what it's really like inside those secretive TV writers' rooms. Find out: Debra's writing process and the 'mud hut' she escapes to for a change of scenery How she juggles multiple projects How TV and stage writers find clients (and how things have changed) Her recommendations for aspiring writers And much more! Find out more about Debra Her latest novel, The Family Doctor Her stage show, Is there something wrong with that lady? Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/debraoswaldoz/ Twitter https://twitter.com/debraoswald1

Imagine if you could ask your client to record 7 minutes of audio for you on a specific topic - which you could then transcribe and turn into all kinds of written content for them? That's the system copywriter Rananda Rich from The Ink Rat devised, and it's a genius way to save time and get the information you need for client projects, be that a blog post, email funnel, series of social posts or another form of content they're after. In this episode, we chat to Rananda about: How her 'Sparticles' service started - and how it's evolved What clients think of it and how it helps her own workflow The kinds of content she creates with client-supplied audio Repurposing audio from podcasts, webinars, Zoom meetings Creating a system for storing / managing the audio Other services you can offer like SEO and metadata Rananda's favourite tools and services Resources Rananda's website and more info about Sparticles: https://www.theinkrat.com/sparticles/ Find Rananda on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ranandarich/ Read our blog post on repurposing audio content https://www.rachelslist.com.au/blog/3-smart-ways-to-repurpose-audio-content/ Check out Lynne's website: https://www.lynnetestoni.com/ Check out Rachel's website: https://rachelsmith.com.au/ Visit Rachel's List: https://rachelslist.com.au/ Visit our sponsors, Rounded, for easy invoicing and accounting software (and if you're an RL Gold member, talk to us about how to get 20% off an annual subscription): https://rounded.com.au/

What happens when you're freelance... and you keep getting distracted by cool permanent jobs passing you by? When you're a bit over the hustle, and want to go back to the 9-5 - even for just a year or two? It happens, as we talked to Joh Leggatt about in this recent episode. So, for a bit of a follow-up from that, we're talking to career and interview coach Leah Lambart about what happens next: + how to get into the 9-5 mindset when you're used to being your own boss + how to show employers you're serious about a perm role and why you'd be an asset + tweaking your CV and cover letter to better your chances of making the short list + how recruiters and career coaches can maximise your chances of success + when to talk salary and what else you can leverage Resources Find Leah at her website: https://www.relaunchme.com.au/ Or follow her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leahlambartcareercoach/ Track your job applications with our free job tracker: https://www.rachelslist.com.au/toolkit/product/job-tracker/ Connect with us: Lynne Testoni's website: www.lynnetestoni.com Rachel Smith's website: www.rachelsmith.com.au Thanks, as always, to our sponsors www.rounded.com.au. Easy accounting and invoicing software, made just for Australian freelancers and sole traders. Don't forget, if you're a Rachel's List Gold member, you'll enjoy 20 percent off an annual subscription plan!

This week Rachel and Lynne chat with copywriter and ghost writer Annie Reid about her career writing copy for the architectural, design and property industries. She shares how she finds clients, how she started in her niche and what she loves about writing the words in beautiful coffee table books. Find Annie at https://atrium.media/ Connect with us: Rachel's List for job-seekers: www.rachelslist.com.au/jobseekers Lynne Testoni's website: www.lynnetestoni.com Rachel Smith's website: www.rachelsmith.com.au Thanks, as always, to our sponsors www.rounded.com.au. Easy accounting and invoicing software, made just for Australian freelancers and sole traders. Don't forget, if you're a Rachel's List Gold member, you'll enjoy 20 percent off an annual subscription plan!

This week Rachel and Lynne chat with launch copywriter and psychotherapist Kirsty Fanton about 'social proof' - what it is, why it's an important (and powerful) part of your marketing efforts and how to get it. An inspiring and informative discussion. Find Kirsty at https://www.kirstyfanton.com/ Connect with us Rachel's List for job-seekers: www.rachelslist.com.au/jobseekers Lynne Testoni's website: www.lynnetestoni.com Rachel Smith's website: www.rachelsmith.com.au Thanks, as always, to our sponsors www.rounded.com.au. Easy accounting and invoicing software, made just for Australian freelancers and sole traders. Don't forget, if you're a Rachel's List Gold member, you'll enjoy 20 percent off an annual subscription plan!

True crime podcasts are hugely popular - but who's behind the scenes creating the episodes we can't help but go back for again and again? Meet Gemma Harris, a podcast scriptwriter who specialises in true crime. In this fascinating episode, we talk to Gemma about: + her criminology degree and psychology and how helpful it is to her in her work + how she finds work as a true crime podcast scriptwriter + the polarising question of whether true crime podcasts are exploitative + her podcast script-writing process + the cases she's researched and written about that she'll never forget + her advice to others thinking about a similar niche. More about Gemma Her website: https://gemmaharrisfreelance.com/ Q&A with Rachel's List: https://www.rachelslist.com.au/blog/meet-gemma-i-write-scripts-for-true-crime-podcasts/ Links to mentions in this episode Renae Marsden - https://obscuracrimepodcast.com/podcast/2020/11/28/renae-marsden-with-friends-like-these-part-01-amp-02 Bogle/Chandler case - https://www.tapesfromthedarkside.com/category/season-4/ Petition: https://www.change.org/p/dominic-perrottet-driven-to-suicide-but-renae-s-abuser-in-the-clear-criminalising-catfishing Bourke Street Massacre - https://obscuracrimepodcast.com/podcast/2021/9/1/s3e1-the-bourke-street-massacre-part-01 https://obscuracrimepodcast.com/podcast/2021/9/22/s3e2-the-bourke-street-massacre-part-02 https://obscuracrimepodcast.com/podcast/2022/2/8/s3e3-the-bourke-street-massacre-part-03 Rachel Barber - https://casefilepodcast.com/case-112-rachel-barber/ Leigh Leigh (the case I used as the basis for my masters thesis) - https://obscuracrimepodcast.com/podcast/2020/3/11/s2e18-leigh-leigh-property-of-the-clan

The usual lead magnet writers and marketers are familiar with is some kind of deal or download customers receive in exchange for opting in to your email list. But could a quiz funnel do a much better job? Quiz and email strategist Melissa Payne knows so, and in this fascinating episode she talks to us about: her career journey and how she moved from agency work to starting her own business using quizzes for lead generation how quizzes work and what they can be used for the research and planning that goes into writing a quiz the types of clients who use quizzes the skills and training you need to become a quiz and email strategist and much more! Where to find Melissa Her website: https://storyscoutdigital.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/storyscoutdigital/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-payne/ Resources + courses mentioned Kirsty Fanton's Brain Camp: https://kirstyfanton.com Codex Persona (Abbey Woodcock and Justin Blackman's course on brand voice): https://www.codexpersona.com Chanti Zak's quiz funnels course: http://chantizak.com Charlotte Isaac, operations consultant: https://charlotteisaac.com

If there's something freelancers know all about, it's the humble side hustle - which could be a passion project separate to your work, or something connected to your work that enables you to use your skills to make money in a new way. In this episode, we talk about: what a side hustle is small side hustles vs scalable ones when a side hustle becomes a business the different kinds of side hustles specific to writers and other creatives freelancers and small business owners who've successfully turned side hustles into their main focus And lots more! Who we mention in this episode John Burfitt - writer + university lecturer Kirsty Fanton - launch copywriter and Brain Camp extraordinaire Lindy Alexander - writer + course legend Emma McMillan - copywriter + small business copy coach Jay Crisp - copywriter, coach + creator of resources Belinda Weaver - Copywrite Matters - copywriter + copy mentor + resources Kate Toon - courses on SEO, digital marketing and a copywriting community and jobs board Sarah Townsend - copywriter and author of Survival Skills for Freelancers Anna Featherstone - writer and author of Look! It's Your Book

Have you ever found yourself just not engaged with your freelance business anymore, sick of the hustle and the invoice-chasing - and dreaming about taking a permanent 9-5 job? Joh Leggatt did - and in our latest episode, she talks to us about why she left her successful freelance business behind to take a full-time role with Forbes Australia. It's a fascinating chat in which we discuss: When Joh knew it was time to return to the 9-5 The challenges of dismantling a 6-figure freelance business The advantages and benefits of going in-house The bargaining power job-seekers have right now How going in-house could benefit your freelance business later Why it's a knowledge intensive, taking a full-time job How it can help you get a new niche and upskill in tools + tech Joh's advice for other freelancers considering going perm And much more! Resources Want to get in touch with Joh or pitch her a personal finance story? Pitch Joh Leggatt via LinkedIn Blog A simple strategy successful freelancers use to get work

In this episode, we delve into the successful freelance journey of creative director Hieu Nguyen, who moved from a busy print publishing career in Australia to working in New York and starting his own design agency. Find out about: + Hieu's early years, including coming to Australia on a boat from Vietnam + How he got into graphic design and some of the amazing brands he's worked with, including Gourmet Traveller, The Australian Women's Weekly, Amazon Publishing, AT&T and many others + His tips for creatives keen to move to New York - from visas and sponsorship to how to pick up clients + And much more! Connect with Hieu Contact Hieu and check out his work at: www.hieunguyendesign.com Connect with us Rachel's List for job-seekers: rachelslist.com.au/jobseekers Lynne Testoni's website: www.lynnetestoni.com Rachel Smith's website: rachelsmith.com.au Thanks, as always, to our sponsors Rounded.com.au. Easy accounting and invoicing software, made just for Australian freelancers and sole traders. Don't forget, if you're a Rachel's List Gold member, you'll enjoy 20 percent off an annual subscription plan!