Comments on: 5 Signs You’ve Made It As a Freelance Writer

By: Phil

Phil — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 17:38:22 +0000

That’s not all that I do, but those clients make up a significant portion of my income

By: Jess

Jess — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 14:16:20 +0000

Do tell me who your clients are that you are able to make six figures writing about credit cards and debt- I’d be happy to take on those assignments over the low-paying local magazine assignments I’m doing!

By: Why I Hate Writing Reason #5 « Why I Hate Writing

Why I Hate Writing Reason #5 « Why I Hate Writing — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 01:37:01 +0000

[...] these types of jobs when I need some filler. I read an article a while back that claimed one of the 5 Signs You’ve Made It as a Freelance Writer is that “you no longer write about credit cards, mortgages, and [...]

By: John

John — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 04:59:07 +0000

This is one of the best entries I have seen regarding freelance writings. Your five bullet-points would help many clueless freelancers about how to manage their time!

By: Susan J.

Susan J. — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 15:09:52 +0000

How about this one… you don’t have to pitch much anymore because editors come to you with assignments.

By: sue

sue — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 17:26:31 +0000

Interesting discussion. I’m primarily a technical writer, although I also mommy blog for fun. I feel that I’ve “made” it because I have a solid client base and am never worried about my next mortgage payment. I have steady work from a wide variety of clients and all of it pays very well. I never “have” to take a job. That, in my book, is making it.

By: Celine

Celine — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 18:07:39 +0000

It’s true Ryan, writing for you is fun. Not like that time I was writing about loans and insurance.

(Although I wasn’t writing about them for around a year and a half before I worked for you.)

By: Shell

Shell — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 14:36:08 +0000

This is a cautionary note about when applying for freelance gigs. I applied for a gig the other day where the company showed great interest in all I had to offer. Pricing was good too.

After sending off a few emails containing detailed advice with regard to the project, I also provided key information that would have taken a while to research.

The end result: I saw the position re-advertised as an internship. It also provided details of ideas I originally suggested.

Basically, it seems this company just wanted cut price labor. The moral of the story is, don’t give away too much helpful information without being offered the role first!

By: Sharon Hurley Hall

Sharon Hurley Hall — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 12:49:50 +0000

Great list, Ryan. I guess by those standards I am becoming successful. I am now able to turn down work and I even have a few non-finance jobs. I’m not knocking those, though. Sometimes it’s good to have something to fall back on that you can write in your sleep.

It’s funny. I was talking the other day about how my aim was a four hour workday, with the rest of the time spent writing for myself (or just relaxing). I’m not quite there yet, but I’m working on it.

By: James Chartrand - JCM Enterprises

James Chartrand - JCM Enterprises — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 11:44:56 +0000

That’s sad, Katherine – I feel bad you had that experience. Many people feel writers aren’t worthy of respect or manners; I’m not sure why that is. Hopefully that attitude will change.

Right now, if writers got a nickel each time someone broke their heart, we’d all be rich.

On the other hand, these hard experiences make us a richer, fuller, better person with a tale to tell and wisdom to share.

By: Katherine

Katherine — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 05:49:16 +0000

I recently realized my writing was worth so much more than having to just build my portfoliio when a magazine I freelanced for treated me like a piece of garbage for doing my job, my way – Hey, they were paying me nada, and just giving me copies – She made reference to the fact that she had plenty of people to provide content (and they are not getting paid) I had landed an excellent assignment with an extremely popular PAYING magazine and had mentioned that – perhaps I see the green eyes of jealousy but I am no ones chump. I deserve to get paid and not just peanuts. Writers work extremely hard and we never give up, but what we need to do is not accept being treated second rate – we are the reason that so many online and published magazines are making money – they are just not sharing any of the profits with the ones who provide the meat and potatoes that keep them afloat.

By: Phil

Phil — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 02:17:13 +0000

Sue,

I write for trade publications, but not for trade pubs of the trades. I’m in financial services, real estate and technology

By: allena

allena — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 01:02:23 +0000

Once again, full time pay for part time work, to me, equals success. I’m very protective of my time.

By: Ryan Caldwell

Ryan Caldwell — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 22:52:55 +0000

“Your list of what makes a successful freelancer didn’t really apply to my career.”

Notice, I never claimed that the list was exhaustive, nor that you weren’t successful if the list didn’t apply to you.

I was just sharing my experience of climbing the freelance ladder.

By: Sue

Sue — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 22:40:33 +0000

Phil, I write for trades. Lots of construction, engineering, environmental, etc. I’m looking to branch out a little more, but those topics are my platform builders right now.

By: Phil

Phil — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 21:56:58 +0000

Sue,

What areas do you cover?

By: Sue

Sue — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 21:07:21 +0000

Phil, I am always looking for new work. What’s a great client today could dry up tomorrow.

By: Phil

Phil — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 20:59:51 +0000

Sue,

I’d say that when editors come to you with work, it’s another sign. I get that, too, though not enough that I don’t have to prospect.

By: Julia Temlyn

Julia Temlyn — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 20:50:02 +0000

MelissaO & Sonya: Re: “fewer hours,” not “less hours” — So true, and kinda funny that it jumped out at us!

By: Shell

Shell — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 20:12:31 +0000

How to manage credit debt:

Bootstrap, don’t spend money you don’t have.

Sorry, I just had to laugh at this comment So simple, yet so true!

By: Wendy

Wendy — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 19:28:41 +0000

Writing about all matter of insurance topics is how I got started in freelancing! It didn’t pay well, but it gave me the confidence to keep going and aim higher (plus I figured if I could write about insurance, I could write about anything!). I’m not there yet, but success to me is earning an income equal to or exceeding what I had at my desk job. I have finally reached the point of being able to pick and choose my projects (saying no feels good!) and not having to cling to every mediocre paying gig just to keep the income flowing. I can finally choose writing assignments that I enjoy and have adopted the “work smarter” mentality.

Cute dog, by the way

By: Sonya

Sonya — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 19:24:09 +0000

Thank you MelissaO! I cringed when I saw that, too, but I didn’t want my first comment here (even if it is on a guest post) to be whining about somebody’s grammar. So now my first comment can be agreeing with someone else whining about grammar.

By: latoya

latoya — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 19:22:18 +0000

Well…I can’t say that I agree with #2 or #5.

If you love to write, spending more than four hours a day writing will hardly seem like work or a sign that you’ve made it. Do you think J.K. Rowling or Stephen King or Ernest Hemingway quit after spending only four hours on their novels? I don’t know for sure, of course, but I seriously doubt it.

As for #5, I love writing on personal finance topics. I prowled About.com’s available topics for months waiting on something finance-related to open up. I wouldn’t trade my topic for any other on the entire site. It’s anything BUT mind-numbingly boring for me and has never felt like a chore.

By: Micah

Micah — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 19:08:01 +0000

Oops. Querying.

By: Micah

Micah — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 19:07:22 +0000

I can say that since August, I have accomplished to contracts. Yes it’s not much but it’s mine.

Asking for more money from clients is just not in my future right now.

Building a blog, quering, and now starting a book is where I’m at.