Recent Posts from The Freelance Writing Jobs Network HQ

Query Letter Writing: Querying Out of the Box

Last time I walked us through a successful query letter writing, pointing out a few tips for you to review your own query letters.  Now I want to talk to you about something that requires a little bit more confidence a few extra ninja skills; I just call querying out of the box. You might hear these called letters of interest, because it is when you are querying a potential client when there isn’t any writers guidelines or job posting.  For example, you might be an avid gardener and and want to send a letter introducing you and your services to the local garden shop, who you know has... [Read More...]

Why I Don’t Want to Be Number One Anymore

Being the top blog for freelance writers used to mean a lot to me and I worked very hard to achieve that goal. I wasn’t necessarily working to become number one, being a success was more important than being the top blogger in this very crowded niche. So I worked hard to be a success and the number one thing happened. You know what? I don’t want it anymore. I want to enjoy blogging without the pressure of being the top blogger. If that means I lose some traffic, so be it. Being part of a wonderful community of writers is more important than being a “famous” or “top”... [Read More...]

Fired! Do’s and Don’ts for the Recently Laid Off or Let Go

No one likes to be fired. If you were recently laid off or let go, you’re probably very angry or upset about losing a client. You may even think your client was unfair in his dismissal. Your first reaction might be to fire off an angry missive or trash your former client on a public forum, but this isn’t the best recourse. Before you act in a matter you might possibly regret Consider these do’s and don’t. Don’t Send off an angry email: Always let your first, angry reaction pass. If you have to fire off a nasty missive, do so and then delete, but certainly don’t... [Read More...]

Freelance Writing Opportunities in SEO Content

Many freelance writers are reluctant to explore the world of writing SEO content and many others dismiss the idea completely, believing that it’s a nickel-and-dime pursuit best left to low-pay grinders and other hacks.  For whatever reason, the term “SEO content” conjures up a lot of negative imagery with some writers. They’re missing out on great opportunities. There is a part of the SEO content world that is gruesome.  You will find the clients looking for keyword-rich articles at  a buck a pop on the bid boards.  They aren’t particularly concerned about quality, accuracy, style... [Read More...]

Your Freelance Writing Clients Know You’re Lying

Freelance writing clients are smart cookies. Most of them know when they’re being conned or lied to. In today’s public and open world of freelancing, you can’t call in sick and head to the beach. You can’t claim an aunt died when you really just want a few days off. If you’re going to lie to your clients, keep in mind that in most cases they’ll find out. Don’t Invite Clients to View Your Personal Details if You’re Going to Be Dishonest As freelance writers we work hard, but we still maintain flexible schedules. There’s no reason why we shouldn’t... [Read More...]

Your Turn: Where Do YOU Find Freelance Writing Jobs?

I often talk about how I find freelance writing jobs, but one thing we don’t really discuss is where YOU find freelance writing jobs. I know most members of this community come to the job lists here and at other blogs and websites. However, I was wndering… do you do anything else to find work? Do you: Attend networking events? Attend conferences? Cold call? Wait for clients to call you? Work primarily via word of mouth recommendations? Find clients via the social networks? My assumption has always been that the Freelance Writing Jobs network community uses mostly online tools to... [Read More...]

Yet Another Post About Why Face to Face Networking is So Important

I went to South by Southwest and all I got was a stinking t-shirt and a bunch of Zone bars….oh yeah and a kick ass part time job offer and publisher interest in my book. Yes, this is another post about why you need to step away from your laptop and meet people face to face. My extended weekend in Austin for SXSW is proof of this. It’s so easy to spend all our time behind our laptops without ever having to meet anyone. You might even be able to earn a very good living doing so. I did this for several years and was perfectly content to never have human contact. Until the day I decided... [Read More...]

Postcards from SXSW

I’ve been trying to write a SXSW post for several days now. This has honestly been the first chance I’ve had to sit down at my laptop and write, read emails, post a few leads and handle other obligations. It’s been a busy, but extremely rewarding weekend. Warning: Long Post Ahead In the early 90’s I worked for a music and tattoo publication that sent photographers and journalists to the South by Southwest Music Conference in Austin, Texas each year. It looked like a fun time and I was rather envious. The conference has grown to include film and interactive portions, but... [Read More...]

Freelance Writing Communities: 10 Questions to Ask Before You Join

Many of us belong to at least one freelance writing community. We enjoy the camaraderie and look forward to sharing tips and asking questions. I credit much of my success to social networks and freelance writing communities. Thanks to the generosity of other freelancers I received tips on leads, referrals and there were even times when clients directly approached me after reading my contributions on writing forums and blog posts. 10 Tips for Choosing a Freelance Writing Community Not all freelance writing communities are alike, however. Today, I’d like to offer some tips for choosing a community... [Read More...]

Contracting for Writers 101

A guest post by John Hewitt What is contracting? Everyone knows what a regular job is. You show up every day (or telecommute if you are lucky) and you earn a regular paycheck. You work for the same company for years, or at least you expect to, and you get benefits such as paid holidays, vacations, retirement plans and even stock options if the company is particularly generous. Most writers also know what freelancing is. Freelancing is when you work independently for a number of clients. Most freelancing gigs are small or medium projects. You write an article, a blog post, a press release, a brochure,... [Read More...]

Corporate Freelance Writing Jobs–Five Places to Find Them

Many writers are interested in finding a corporate freelance writing job. The advantages of a corporate freelance writing job are many: Corporate freelance writing jobs tend to be long term. Also, if you have a contract with a corporation, you can usually count on being paid. Plus, let’s face it, it looks good to have a well-known corporation in your portfolio and on your writing resume. Finding a corporate freelance writing job can seem daunting if you don’t know where to look. In this post, I share five places where you should focus your marketing efforts if your goal is to land... [Read More...]

oDesk: One Writer’s Experience and His Plea to Clients

A guest post by Greg Minton I was on the phone with a new client, and I couldn’t believe my luck.  This software entrepreneur was clearly excited about working with me.  He loved my style and indicated that our working relationship would be a long-term one.  He was happy with my rate and excited about the suggestions I was making for his landing page. But there was a problem. He wanted to work through oDesk. oDesk is an online bidding site similar to Elance.  What sets oDesk apart is its time tracking software.  This software doesn’t just track time.  It also takes periodic screenshots... [Read More...]