You’ve seen negative reviews before.

Maybe you’ve even written some.

People lamenting about poor quality in goods and services. They’re written on just about everything from hotels and restaurants to products and customer service. 

Gone are the days when complaints remained quietly inside a small jurisdiction. Today if a business provides poor service or merchandise the whole world finds out along with the customer.

Likewise, good reviews are also helpful. They save time, money, and energy, which is why you consult them in advance of a purchase.

Hence today’s post.

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A few months back I decided to explore freelance writing as an income. Needing information and guidance, I started searching. What I found was a vast amount of groups and websites all offering similar things.

But, the Freelance Writers Den stood out from the rest. Maybe it was the overstuffed sofa that graces the header (it reminded me of The Big Comfy Couch, a TV show my daughter used to watch.) The invitation to the right says, “Hang out, find help, earn more…” 

I continued reading and learned about the site’s owner Carol Tice. As a college dropout and songwriter wannabe, Carol could be any of us. She began freelancing in 2005 and three years later started her blog Make A Living Writing. With only a few followers the goal was to help other writers by sharing her knowledge.

In a short time, Carol recognized the need for more comprehensive resources for her quickly growing community of freelancers. In 2011 she started The Freelance Writers Den. 

Today, Carol earns six-figures and her blog has 15,000 followers. It was named one of the “Top 10 Blogs For Writers” for three years and won the Writer’s Digest “101 Best Websites for Writers in 2014.” The Writers Den has 1,200+ members and offers an expansive list of assets.

Carol has a no-nonsense approach and doesn’t sugar-coat the facts. Some people might not appreciate this method. But, I feel it illustrates her belief that you can find success as a freelancer if you’re willing to do the work.

Her enthusiasm and commitment are evident and she even refers to herself as the “Den Mother.” 

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I’ve been a member for three months and feel that the monetary investment is well worth the return. The following five reasons explain why:

Reason #1 – Good Things Are Contagious

Starting your own business is quite overwhelming because there’s so much to learn. It really helps when your mentor/teacher exhibits enthusiasm and a can-do attitude.

Her faith in the Den members is very inspiring to the unsure beginner. She reminds them that they don’t need a specialized degree or a background in writing, just the willingness to work hard and a desire to succeed.

Reason #2 – Feeling Comfortable = Feeling Safe

Some websites go overboard with photos, vibrant colors, and too much stuff. They are visually daunting. Other sites have a more formal style and you immediately feel like you’re out of your league.

But, the Den has a homespun vibe. The uncluttered design with simple graphics and fonts has a casual, welcoming impression. A  new writer feels less intimidated and more comfortable (I think it’s the couch…) 🙂

Reason #3 – A Robust Menu

Carol’s mission is to “help as many freelance writers as possible to grow their writing income.” This is readily apparent when you scan the wealth of resources available:

• 100+ Hours of training (webinars & podcasts) including transcripts
• 3 New live training sessions every month
• Quarterly Bootcamps (each worth $300)
• 24/7 Forums
• Job board

These are only a few of the benefits you receive with a Den membership. The advantage here is that all of this high-quality information is conveniently organized in one spot, which saves the freelancer a lot of time!

Because various writers are at different stages in their careers, Carol offers assorted levels of instruction: beginner, intermediate and advanced. No matter where you’re at, you can benefit from the value offered in the Den.

Reason #4 – “Junk-Free” Job Board

While Carol strongly encourages members to market themselves she also offers help with job placement.

She knows through experience the low wages paid by content mills and only accepts clients who offer good wages to freelance writers. Carol encourages her students to set a higher standard for themselves. 

Reason #5 – The Price is Right

The membership is moderately priced considering all the resources available. A 7 day trial with a money back guarantee is available. If you decide after a week that the Den isn’t for you, your money is refunded.

The subscription is month to month with no long-term commitment; you can quit anytime. Thankfully, these were the terms I was searching for.

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Even if you’re not interested in freelancing you can benefit from a writers community:

• You’ll learn many ways to sharpen your blogging skills and improve your website
• You’ll discover how to market your blog and utilize SEO to increase followers
• You’ll gain the support of mentors and other writers

Regardless of whether you want to monetize your blog or not, enhancing its quality is a goal we all share. And a writer’s group is one option that may help you achieve it. 

For further information on Carol Tice’s Freelance Writers Den please click the affiliate banner in the sidebar. If you do, two things will happen:

1. I’ll receive a small compensation for sending you over there
2. You’ll feel confident because it comes recommended from someone who has already used/reviewed the products. 

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