by Deborah Ng

Each year freelance writing grows more competitive. More content sites are opening up, more blog networks are hiring and more writers are looking to break into print. It’s not enough to be a good writer, if you wish to be a successful writer you’ll have to present yourself in the best light possible and cultivate good habits.

Here are a few of the bad habits freelance writers need to break if they want to succeed:

1. Biting Off More Than You Can Chew

Many freelancers won’t turn down work. In this feast or famine business, one never knows when one will lose a client and it’s always good to have backup. As a result, I’m seeing many freelancers suffering from burnout or not being able to complete projects on time. By all means, have a diverse list of clients, but also be realistic. You’re no good to your clients - or yourself - after working 15 hours a day 7 days a week.

2. Procrastination

The Internet. The fridge. The television. A good book - What do these things all have in common? They’re all conspiring to keep you from getting your work done. As a freelancer you don’t work in an office. You don’t have a boss looking over your shoulder or a team to provide backup. Getting your work in on deadline is fine, putting in the time to do the job right and get the work done ahead of time is better.

3. Flaking Out

Something I find disappointing is the amount of writers who accept a project and end up flaking. I see this more and more over the past couple of years. I think the anonymity of the Internet allows some writers to do this without feeling too guilty. When you don’t meet a client face to face, you don’t really establish a relationship. However, this gives so many of us a bad name, and doesn’t encourage an employer to want to invest a lot of money in us. If you want to build a successful business and if you want clients to trust you and recommend you for other, higher paying gigs, you have to complete the task to the best of your ability, no matter how unattractive or boring. (more…)

Good morning FWJ Friends! Things are a bit quiet again this morning, but that probably to be expected as we head into a long weekend. I do have opps for resume writers, technical writers, and bloggers this morning. There are internships on the list, and a few jobs for copywriters as well.

Enjoy the last weekend of the summer, everyone!

Leads…

• Freelance Web Editor Needed @ PayScale.com - Off Site
• Resume Writers Needed - Freelance
• Technical Writer - Telecommute
• Men’s Fashion Freelance Writers/Bloggers Wanted
  
• Part Time RFP, RFO Experienced Person - Telecommute
• Part Time Student Internships in Technical Writing - Boston ($10 per hour)
• Press Release Needed ($200)
• Looking for Sports Writers (SMU) - Dallas - Students/Interns Welcome
• Editors Required: Physical Sciences and Engineering - Telecommute
• Freelance Writer Needed ($30 per article) (more…)

By Kelly Clarkson

Two blogging days, two niche subjects, more at the banquet for you.

While on the journey of freelance writing, the majority of writers will find themselves either parading down Article Avenue or hanging out on Corporate Corner.

On Article Avenue, writers both newbie and experienced, will find boutique shops offering tips, haute writing challenges, the latest trends, industry news and insider expert interviews, all geared toward making each article you write the best you’ve written so far. While on Article Avenue the FWJ community will be able to stop under shady “evergreen” topics such as:
o Interviewing 101
o Bullets Make the Point
o Beyond Google – Research Tips
o Anatomy of a Newspaper Article
o Break into Small Town Journalism
o Busting Into Glossies
o P.U. – Why That Web Article Stinks (more…)

by Carrie Underwood

Have you ever faced a moment where you just don’t know the answer? I have. I’m wondering what the right answer is right now, in fact, because I’m supposed to pitch my niche and get specific about what I’ll write here at FWJ.

The problem is that I don’t want to make promises I’m not going to keep.

You see, I could tell you that I’d like to write on fiction and the process of finding an agent or being publishing. I could say that I want to focus on writing website content or blogging. Maybe I’d write on the business side of freelancing, such as building a client base or marketing. Or maybe I’ll just rant, or make you think.
I could choose any of those niche areas or something completely different – and I’d be stuck. I’d be caught in a rut trying to make sure that I fulfill the obligations I set for myself right here in writing.

Would that be a smart thing to do? I don’t think so. It certainly does fulfill the requirements of the job and the assignment at hand. I’m sure that knowing who the “go to” person for this niche or that helps create a smoother process for Deb.
But labeling myself as a niche writer so specifically doesn’t help you, the readers, nor does it help me, the writer. (more…)

My friend Mike Stelzner at Writing White Papers is one of the people I owe thanks to for this blog’s success. After FWJ was voted second in his first annual Top 10 Blogs for Writers in 2006, my traffic went way up as did community participation. FWJ was also number 2 in last year’s vote. Won’t you help make three times a charm by voting for FWJ for one of the Top 10 blogs for writers for 2008? If not voting for us, do drop by and offer your support for your favorite writing blog.

Mike and some very cool friends including Bob Bly, Peter Bowerman and Brian Clark are putting on a copywriting summit this fall. Stayed tuned as I’ll talk about this more in depth in a future post, but in the meantime, have yourself a look around.

I look forward to seeing this year’s top 10 list, don’t you?

Good morning FWJ Friends! I’ve got opps for bloggers, technical writers, translators, and copy writers this morning. Gigs for healthcare reporters, comedy writers, and sports writers also made the list. There are a few internships as well.

As always, I hope you find something that you are interested in on today’s list. Have a great day!

Leads…

• Freelance Health and Medical Writer @ About.com
• Auto Insurance Bloggers Wanted
• Biggest Loser Fan Diet Blogger ($12 per post)
• Blogger Needed for Bodybuilding Site
• (more…)

We have numerous articles available on companies of the world. All research can be carried out online. With a writing template to follow.

Please email david@purecontent.com for details.

Varying rates of pay depending on blog.  Varying subjects from women’s sport to car mechanics.

Please email jobs@freelancewriters.info for a writers pack and further information.

Good morning FWJ Friends! I’ve got leads for freelance fact checkers, television writers, and music bio writers. Are you familiar with iPhones, sports, or the stock market? I’ve got opps for you this morning. There are jobs for copywriters, healthcare reporters, and a few internships as well.

Here are some words of wisdom from Winston Churchill to get you motivated this morning:

“Continuous effort, not strength or intelligence, is the key to unlocking our potential.”

Make the effort and apply for all the jobs that interest you, even if they seem to be on the low-paying side (you don’t know what that first assignment may lead to) or that seem like a bit of a stretch for you (you will be able to add something new to your resume if you get one of them).

Leads…

• Television Writer @ Satellite TV Guru
• Correspondents in South Africa and Western Africa @ Bureau of National Affairs, Inc. -
  Cape Town or Johannesburg
• Freelance Fact Checkers @ ESPN - The Magazine - New York
  

• (more…)