Comments on: Applying for that first gig is easy, getting the confidence to do so is hard http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2007/09/applying-for-that-first-gig-is-easy-getting-the-confidence-to-do-so-is-hard/ The Internet's #1 Freelance Writing Community Sun, 08 Nov 2009 03:42:16 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Micah http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2007/09/applying-for-that-first-gig-is-easy-getting-the-confidence-to-do-so-is-hard/comment-page-2/#comment-2462 Micah Sat, 22 Sep 2007 05:29:18 +0000 http://203.109.92.175/sekhar/freelance/?p=151#comment-2462 Getting the first gig is easy, it's the one's that come after that are difficult. This is standing true for me today. I find a positive attitude and professional manner are the keys for me. Can't make money if we don't keep working on our art. Getting the first gig is easy, it’s the one’s that come after that are difficult. This is standing true for me today. I find a positive attitude and professional manner are the keys for me. Can’t make money if we don’t keep working on our art.

]]> By: 2007-09-09 Sunday Links Folder : Freelance Folder http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2007/09/applying-for-that-first-gig-is-easy-getting-the-confidence-to-do-so-is-hard/comment-page-2/#comment-2412 2007-09-09 Sunday Links Folder : Freelance Folder Sun, 09 Sep 2007 18:32:23 +0000 http://203.109.92.175/sekhar/freelance/?p=151#comment-2412 [...] Applying for that first gig is easy, getting the confidence to do so is hard [...] [...] Applying for that first gig is easy, getting the confidence to do so is hard [...]

]]> By: Mariella http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2007/09/applying-for-that-first-gig-is-easy-getting-the-confidence-to-do-so-is-hard/comment-page-2/#comment-2464 Mariella Fri, 07 Sep 2007 15:50:45 +0000 http://203.109.92.175/sekhar/freelance/?p=151#comment-2464 Rob>> it was actually Gmail which flushed my important email down the Spam toilet... :( Rob>> it was actually Gmail which flushed my important email down the Spam toilet… :(

]]> By: Rob Mead http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2007/09/applying-for-that-first-gig-is-easy-getting-the-confidence-to-do-so-is-hard/comment-page-2/#comment-2463 Rob Mead Fri, 07 Sep 2007 15:30:08 +0000 http://203.109.92.175/sekhar/freelance/?p=151#comment-2463 Good for you Beth! I have almost exactly the same story. I was working at Verizon Wireless's main corporate headquarters making fairly good wages as a corporate rep, but then they started making me come in on Saturdays- that was the final straw! I quit immediately, took my 401k money and my bonus money and lived off that while trolling the job boards for writing gigs. I created my website that deals with writing and used this blog to find six publishers that I work with on a weekly basis. Now I'm moving to Hawaii where my mother will help with the bills for at least four months rent free. I really believe my good fortune came about because of taking life by the horns and telling myself "I'm better than Verizon thinks I am!" Now it's just a matter of time before I make a lot more than Verizon would ever pay me. And I am in no hurry, just enjoying the long road to success that every writer goes through. As far as making sure you don't miss any important emails, I would advise everyone to get a Gmail account ASAP. You can actually set up your account by importance, such as putting a star by important publisher's names and putting in a long description of an important contact person in the "Contacts" list. I've never missed any important emails using Gmail. Hope this was helpful for everybody on the writer's road to success, and good luck to everybody. Good for you Beth! I have almost exactly the same story. I was working at Verizon Wireless’s main corporate headquarters making fairly good wages as a corporate rep, but then they started making me come in on Saturdays- that was the final straw! I quit immediately, took my 401k money and my bonus money and lived off that while trolling the job boards for writing gigs.

I created my website that deals with writing and used this blog to find six publishers that I work with on a weekly basis. Now I’m moving to Hawaii where my mother will help with the bills for at least four months rent free.

I really believe my good fortune came about because of taking life by the horns and telling myself “I’m better than Verizon thinks I am!” Now it’s just a matter of time before I make a lot more than Verizon would ever pay me. And I am in no hurry, just enjoying the long road to success that every writer goes through.

As far as making sure you don’t miss any important emails, I would advise everyone to get a Gmail account ASAP. You can actually set up your account by importance, such as putting a star by important publisher’s names and putting in a long description of an important contact person in the “Contacts” list. I’ve never missed any important emails using Gmail.

Hope this was helpful for everybody on the writer’s road to success, and good luck to everybody.

]]> By: Beth http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2007/09/applying-for-that-first-gig-is-easy-getting-the-confidence-to-do-so-is-hard/comment-page-2/#comment-2461 Beth Thu, 06 Sep 2007 20:51:24 +0000 http://203.109.92.175/sekhar/freelance/?p=151#comment-2461 The way I got up the nerve to take the plunge and apply for that first gig was: I was laid off from my job as marketing and programming director for a TV station, penniless (had just paid off a boatload of debt but had not a penny to my name), and decided there was no way in he-- I was going back to the corporate world! The potential for financial ruin was far preferable to working for someone else ever again. I had loathed the corporate world for years and wanted to be a writer but just never had the nerve to go for it as a profession. I would write a screenplay or a short story and dream of writing for a living. Like everything in life, your reality exists only by how you choose to view it. So instead of being angry or down that I'd been let go, I figured being laid off was the greatest opportunity I could possibly have. I went for it. I had business cards made. I declared myself a successful writer, and away I went. This blog was key to one of my first steady gigs, in fact! It took a couple of months to really get going but I've worked every day since on projects of my choice. I've even started coaching other people to help them find the courage to live their dreams. I love it! Not having a safety net nor a plan B was definitely one of the greatest reasons for my success. Yes, I am so grateful that I was so broke! You can read more about it a t http://www.squidoo.com/freelancewriting1. It contains info for those thinking of going freelance. The way I got up the nerve to take the plunge and apply for that first gig was: I was laid off from my job as marketing and programming director for a TV station, penniless (had just paid off a boatload of debt but had not a penny to my name), and decided there was no way in he– I was going back to the corporate world! The potential for financial ruin was far preferable to working for someone else ever again. I had loathed the corporate world for years and wanted to be a writer but just never had the nerve to go for it as a profession. I would write a screenplay or a short story and dream of writing for a living.

Like everything in life, your reality exists only by how you choose to view it. So instead of being angry or down that I’d been let go, I figured being laid off was the greatest opportunity I could possibly have. I went for it. I had business cards made. I declared myself a successful writer, and away I went. This blog was key to one of my first steady gigs, in fact!

It took a couple of months to really get going but I’ve worked every day since on projects of my choice. I’ve even started coaching other people to help them find the courage to live their dreams. I love it!

Not having a safety net nor a plan B was definitely one of the greatest reasons for my success. Yes, I am so grateful that I was so broke!

You can read more about it a t http://www.squidoo.com/freelancewriting1. It contains info for those thinking of going freelance.

]]> By: Mariella http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2007/09/applying-for-that-first-gig-is-easy-getting-the-confidence-to-do-so-is-hard/comment-page-2/#comment-2460 Mariella Thu, 06 Sep 2007 19:36:47 +0000 http://203.109.92.175/sekhar/freelance/?p=151#comment-2460 Katharine>> yes, it was really awful. I even had to talk my mother about it (which is what I do when I get upset LOL). It would have been better had I really not been accepted. But to be sent the email containing the details, saying they're only waiting for my confirmation, and then finding it a month later in my spam folder -- it was the worst day of my (professional freelance writing) life. :( Katharine>> yes, it was really awful. I even had to talk my mother about it (which is what I do when I get upset LOL). It would have been better had I really not been accepted. But to be sent the email containing the details, saying they’re only waiting for my confirmation, and then finding it a month later in my spam folder — it was the worst day of my (professional freelance writing) life. :(

]]> By: Katharine Swan http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2007/09/applying-for-that-first-gig-is-easy-getting-the-confidence-to-do-so-is-hard/comment-page-2/#comment-2459 Katharine Swan Thu, 06 Sep 2007 17:38:09 +0000 http://203.109.92.175/sekhar/freelance/?p=151#comment-2459 That's awful, Mariella! I am so sorry. I actually don't use a spam filter, partly for that reason. I also don't like to ask who they are when I get an email like that. I usually do a bit of sleuthing, just like you. If I really can't find anything about it, I'll ask them to "refresh my memory" about the specifics of the project. It makes it sound like I don't remember the details, rather than them. :) That’s awful, Mariella! I am so sorry. I actually don’t use a spam filter, partly for that reason.

I also don’t like to ask who they are when I get an email like that. I usually do a bit of sleuthing, just like you. If I really can’t find anything about it, I’ll ask them to “refresh my memory” about the specifics of the project. It makes it sound like I don’t remember the details, rather than them. :)

]]> By: Mariella http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2007/09/applying-for-that-first-gig-is-easy-getting-the-confidence-to-do-so-is-hard/comment-page-1/#comment-2458 Mariella Thu, 06 Sep 2007 17:30:07 +0000 http://203.109.92.175/sekhar/freelance/?p=151#comment-2458 Oops, the above post is for Katharine. And if you don't mind me answering one of your questions, Miss Jill, I think About.com pays their new guides a $725 flat fee per month (which will increase in time, or so I've heard). Oops, the above post is for Katharine. And if you don’t mind me answering one of your questions, Miss Jill, I think About.com pays their new guides a $725 flat fee per month (which will increase in time, or so I’ve heard).

]]> By: Mariella http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2007/09/applying-for-that-first-gig-is-easy-getting-the-confidence-to-do-so-is-hard/comment-page-1/#comment-2457 Mariella Thu, 06 Sep 2007 17:27:11 +0000 http://203.109.92.175/sekhar/freelance/?p=151#comment-2457 ^Yep. Haha~ happened to me several times. I've had clients suddenly email asking me if I'm still interested in such and such, but the problem is, I don't even know who they are! And I don't want to offend them by asking, so usually I search for their names and/or email address to see if I can get a lead on what the job was. I've also been down in the dumps lately because I've found out that several job offers ended up in my spam folder so I never got to read them. It would have been all right since I already have quite the client base recently, but one of those is the blogging job I've always wanted! I worked really hard to be eligible for that but the email got buried in my spam folder for a month and I only saw it last week.... :( ^Yep. Haha~ happened to me several times. I’ve had clients suddenly email asking me if I’m still interested in such and such, but the problem is, I don’t even know who they are! And I don’t want to offend them by asking, so usually I search for their names and/or email address to see if I can get a lead on what the job was.

I’ve also been down in the dumps lately because I’ve found out that several job offers ended up in my spam folder so I never got to read them. It would have been all right since I already have quite the client base recently, but one of those is the blogging job I’ve always wanted! I worked really hard to be eligible for that but the email got buried in my spam folder for a month and I only saw it last week…. :(

]]> By: Jill http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2007/09/applying-for-that-first-gig-is-easy-getting-the-confidence-to-do-so-is-hard/comment-page-1/#comment-2411 Jill Thu, 06 Sep 2007 17:23:47 +0000 http://203.109.92.175/sekhar/freelance/?p=151#comment-2411 DEB: I'm not sure this is the right venue for my question ... I have been visiting your site regularly for the last 4-6 weeks, since my husband and I (both former newspaper reporters/freelance writers) are considering getting back into the biz. You've got a great site that I wish had been around when I started freelancing 10 years ago. We have owned our own business, a B&B for nearly 5 years and have not been writing, but my husband is getting back into and I likely will, too. Anyway, my husband is in the "prep" process for a guide position at About.com. I read that you used to be the freelance writing guide. He is not "prepping" for that spot. I'm wondering if you can tell me a little about the prep process (i.e. he's a week in and he's getting positive feedback but not a lot of it) and, if he gets the gig, I'm wondering if you would mind sharing how the pay works, since About.com seems to play that close to the vest. I'd sure appreciate your thoughts. Thanks much. JILL DEB:
I’m not sure this is the right venue for my question … I have been visiting your site regularly for the last 4-6 weeks, since my husband and I (both former newspaper reporters/freelance writers) are considering getting back into the biz. You’ve got a great site that I wish had been around when I started freelancing 10 years ago.

We have owned our own business, a B&B for nearly 5 years and have not been writing, but my husband is getting back into and I likely will, too.

Anyway, my husband is in the “prep” process for a guide position at About.com. I read that you used to be the freelance writing guide. He is not “prepping” for that spot. I’m wondering if you can tell me a little about the prep process (i.e. he’s a week in and he’s getting positive feedback but not a lot of it) and, if he gets the gig, I’m wondering if you would mind sharing how the pay works, since About.com seems to play that close to the vest.

I’d sure appreciate your thoughts. Thanks much.

JILL

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