We Get Letters…

This weekend’s theme is positivity, so no hate mail. Sorry, I know you love it so.

I love your freelancewritinggigs.com site. It’s a source of constant encouragement. Here’s the question — I know you recently wrote that up until recently, you spent two hours a day looking for jobs. How much time do you dedicate to pitching websites and such? Or is that necessary?

thank you!

Andrea

Hi Andrea,

Thank you so much. I’m flattered you’re encouraged here. I hope we can continue to be a good resource. At the moment I’m not pitching at all as I have enough on my plate to keep me busy. Every now and then if I see something fun that won’t take much time, I might apply. When I was actively seeking work I’d spend at least an hour, sometimes too, sending cover letters and resumes. It usually depends on how many suitable leads I found on a given day.

Good luck with your job hunt!

Deb

Hey Deb

Really enjoy your website, I think you’re doing a great thing here.

But here’s my problem, and I need a little advice.

I have a decent resume, I wrote for our local weekly here in (town withheld) for 7 years (including some fairly high profile interviews and feature stories). I wrote DVD reviews for Amazon.com during the dotcom boom, and for Reel.com for 4 1/2 years until they pulled the plug on the freelancers there. I have some other decent stuff under my belt, good samples and good references.

But for the last couple of years, it’s been like pulling teeth to get anything going again (I bailed out of the Chronicle in ’04). At this date, I don’t even want to write that much; I’d rather be doing some editing or copy editing work. I know I have a good enough command of English to make that work for me, but I don’t even know where to start. I don’t feel like paying Mediabistro for a copy editing class; I know they’re good, but I don’t have that sort of $$ lying around right now.

Any mentoring-type advice you could pass on to me would really be appreciated. I’ve got to get back up on the horse again.

Best,

Jerry

Hi Jerry,

If you’re looking to get in to copy editing but don’t have the experience, you’ll definitely want to take a course or two. Media Bistro isn’t the only place online offering copy editing courses, perhaps one of the more inexpensive writing sites is more up your alley, financially.

As to where to begin? I’m not a copy editor and don’t travel in those circles, if there are circles in which copy editors travel, but I would imagine the job process is similar. Research places hiring copy editors, learn where to find the best jobs, and start applying. If there are forums, websites and blogs for freelance editors, I recommend your giving them a visit for tips and inspiration.

I hope that helps. Perhaps some of my regulars who are copy editors have better advice?

Good luck!

Deb

Dear Deb,

I love your cats. What are their names?

Denise

Hi Denise,

Logan is the boy, he’s the one with a white tip on his tail. Gnocchi is his sister, she has a little brown on her face. They’re about 8 or 9 months old now and have become a major part of our family.

Anyone with kids know who we named Gnocchi after?

Thanks for asking.

Deb

Dear Deborah,

Can you please give me information on freelance writing jobs?

Thank you,

Charlotte

Hi Charlotte,

I hope I do that every day. Are you looking to learn something specific?

Best,

Deb

Dear Deb,

Congratulations on your new gig. When can I jump on the About Weblogs gig.

Name withheld by request

Dear Name Withheld,

I don’t know when the About Weblogs gig will become available. Hopefully sometime in the next month? In the meantime the very talented Sandy Mitchell will be blogging there to keep the chair warm.

Best,

Deb

Comments

Janet says:

December 2, 2007 at 11:10 pm

The person who wants to do copy editing — I recommend taking a class. A lot of adult ed groups offer classes for less than media bistro. No one will care where you learned how to copy edit from, so don’t worry about that. Once you get the hang of it, you might want to check out the Editorial Freelancers Association, which is a national org based in NYC. They have an active listserv and local chapters, as well as job listings (membership’s on the pricey side, though). To actually get work once you take the class, just apply to some of the jobs I’ve seen listed here. Many companies will want you to take an editing test, just to make sure your skills are up to par. And then you’re all set! For pay you should expect $15-20/hour.

I started freelance editing more than 10 years ago and have gotten almost all my clients through word of mouth. If you do good work, work will come.

Good luck.

Shell says:

December 3, 2007 at 12:14 am

Jerry – If any of your other gigs involved editing of some kind then add it to your resume. Did you write work that didn’t need much editing? May be you wrote some descriptive copy that was used without editing.

In any case, may be you should also research some internship positions. I know some are low or none paying, but occasionally you get some gem of a gig that will pay well. Don’t forget you will also learn as you go too.

You could also look out for some decent books on editing which hopefully won’t cost too much.

James Chartrand - JCM Enterprises says:

December 3, 2007 at 1:21 am

I’m interested in Deb’s list of courses and resources for learning. I think it would be valuable to put up some of the better online offerings or distance education resources available for learning writing skills and brushing up on grammar.

Saying, “Go to a local college” doesn’t always fly. For example, if I told that to anyone who lives in my area, they’d look at me with big eyes. Our local colleges are French and they’re also a three-hour round trip away. Not everyone lives in cities where education is easily available.

But still, it is good advice, for those who do have adult ed or local colleges nearby

Mary says:

December 3, 2007 at 1:39 am

Gnocchi–

From Curious George, I believe? The Italian Restaurant Owner’s cat. Not that we EVER watch Curious George here–at least not less than twice a day!!

Cute name.

Ann G. says:

December 3, 2007 at 10:33 pm

Local colleges here charge at least $280 per credit hour plus other fees, and writing courses are three credit hours, so this is not an option for many. Call local high schools and see if they allow area adults to sit in on classes. Back in high school, we used to have adults join us in some of our business writing courses.

One thing I’ve been hearing from some of my writing clients is that they are dealing with the skyrocking bills that many of us are facing, so they simply don’t have the work or are having to watch their budgets and have to cut back on the amount of work they are handing out. I’ve been lucky this month, but I have to say that the thought of winter scares me. We are in the midst of that snowstorm and are expecting wind gusts of 40mph. I know my furnace will be running non-stop once these winds hit. I just refilled my propane tank to the tidy sum of $750. My neighbor’s tank fill cost $900 two weeks later. If something doesn’t give, I can see more of my clients having to make drastic cut backs. I’m lucky enough so far (knocking on wood) that while my clients have cut back, they haven’t dropped writing projects completely.

Cory says:

December 4, 2007 at 2:13 am

Jerry, there’s a great Listserv for copy editors, CE-L (see http://www.copyediting-l.info); after you join, check the archives for posts on getting started as a freelance copy editor. There’s also general info on the EFA Web site (www.the-efa.org) about rates to charge, etc. ($15-$20/hour is way below the average rate for an experienced copy editor). Like in any profession, you need experience and training in order to be proficient and employable; don’t assume that your writing skills will translate into copy-editing skills. Unless you’ve mastered an industry style guide such as Chicago or AMA and can spot all of the errors and style inconsistencies in copy, you may want to start with substantive editing. Either way, good luck!

Deb says:

December 4, 2007 at 2:48 am

I also like the Writer’s Digest courses. As I said though, I haven’t taken any copyediting courses, so I’m not sure I’m the best person to recommend.

Sandy says:

December 4, 2007 at 3:58 am

For those awaiting the About.com Web logs Guide position to be posted, it’s there now. Apply at will and good luck.

Jaymi says:

December 4, 2007 at 5:40 am

Hi Deb. I’m hoping you can help me, or at least lead me in the right direction. I have a client who just asked me to write a white paper, and I have no idea what to charge. I could go with my normal hourly rate (which he is willing to pay), but I don’t have a clue how mnay hours to set aside and therefore don’t know how to quote the job. I don’t want to shortchange myself. Any ideas?

Thanks!

Build Your Writing Career & Boost Your Income

We Get Letters…

Jobs Board

Telecommuting Jobs Available

Comments

Speak Your Mind Cancel reply

Subscribe & Follow

Telecommuting

Supported by

Advertise Here

Browse Freelance Writing Jobs

Resources