Comments on: Your Turn…How to Get Started as a Freelance Writer http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2007/12/your-turnhow-to-get-started-as-a-freelance-writer/ Mutual Respect Sun, 22 Nov 2009 01:25:14 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Men with Pens Web Content Writers and Freelance Writing Services http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2007/12/your-turnhow-to-get-started-as-a-freelance-writer/comment-page-2/#comment-19531 Men with Pens Web Content Writers and Freelance Writing Services Sun, 16 Mar 2008 14:55:03 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/your-turnhow-to-get-started-as-a-freelance-writer/#comment-19531 [...] go read the review. And if you’re one of the many writers asking, “How do I get started as a freelance writer?” then pick up a copy of Write for the [...] [...] go read the review. And if you’re one of the many writers asking, “How do I get started as a freelance writer?” then pick up a copy of Write for the [...]

]]> By: Katharine Swan http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2007/12/your-turnhow-to-get-started-as-a-freelance-writer/comment-page-2/#comment-11466 Katharine Swan Sat, 22 Dec 2007 00:24:59 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/your-turnhow-to-get-started-as-a-freelance-writer/#comment-11466 Sarah, That sounds crazy, but I understand about not wanting to go without your laptop. I've let things go too (some of the idiot lights on my laptop aren't working, for instance) because I can't stand to go laptop-less for any amount of time. Sarah,

That sounds crazy, but I understand about not wanting to go without your laptop. I’ve let things go too (some of the idiot lights on my laptop aren’t working, for instance) because I can’t stand to go laptop-less for any amount of time.

]]> By: Sarah http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2007/12/your-turnhow-to-get-started-as-a-freelance-writer/comment-page-2/#comment-11460 Sarah Fri, 21 Dec 2007 23:29:18 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/your-turnhow-to-get-started-as-a-freelance-writer/#comment-11460 To Katharine Swan, Well trying to type without an ecks AND a sed key was tough at first. I really need to get them ficsed but I just can't bear to be without a laptop for any length of time so, yeah I haven't got round to it yet. :S What I do is copy-paste in the letters whenever I need them, usually from a Word doc. For instance, if I need a sed, I type wiard and it underlines it in red so I choose the correct word wisard (with a sed obviously) and then just copy and paste it wherever I need it. Much easier and more convenient than having esses and eckses everywhere!!! LOL To Katharine Swan,

Well trying to type without an ecks AND a sed key was tough at first.

I really need to get them ficsed but I just can’t bear to be without a laptop for any length of time so, yeah I haven’t got round to it yet. :S

What I do is copy-paste in the letters whenever I need them, usually from a Word doc.

For instance, if I need a sed, I type wiard and it underlines it in red so I choose the correct word wisard (with a sed obviously) and then just copy and paste it wherever I need it.

Much easier and more convenient than having esses and eckses everywhere!!!

LOL

]]> By: Reggie http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2007/12/your-turnhow-to-get-started-as-a-freelance-writer/comment-page-2/#comment-11430 Reggie Fri, 21 Dec 2007 16:04:48 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/your-turnhow-to-get-started-as-a-freelance-writer/#comment-11430 Thanks to Phil and Lori for your thoughts on writer contracts. This is a good issue for newbies to pay attention to as well. Thanks to Phil and Lori for your thoughts on writer contracts. This is a good issue for newbies to pay attention to as well.

]]> By: Web Content Writer Tips from JCM Enterprises » Blog Archive » How To Get Started As a Freelance Writer on the Web http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2007/12/your-turnhow-to-get-started-as-a-freelance-writer/comment-page-2/#comment-11419 Web Content Writer Tips from JCM Enterprises » Blog Archive » How To Get Started As a Freelance Writer on the Web Fri, 21 Dec 2007 14:12:39 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/your-turnhow-to-get-started-as-a-freelance-writer/#comment-11419 [...] go read the review. And if you’re one of the many writers asking, “How do I get started as a freelance writer?” then pick up a copy of Write for the [...] [...] go read the review. And if you’re one of the many writers asking, “How do I get started as a freelance writer?” then pick up a copy of Write for the [...]

]]> By: NancyP http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2007/12/your-turnhow-to-get-started-as-a-freelance-writer/comment-page-2/#comment-11406 NancyP Fri, 21 Dec 2007 12:14:27 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/your-turnhow-to-get-started-as-a-freelance-writer/#comment-11406 Hone your skills. Don't think of your editor as an adversary (as long as he/she is treating you in a professional manner); you both have the same goal, which is to publish a good article in his/her publication under your name, for pay (or for a good cause that you believe in, if you're doing pro bono work). This means that the editor's suggestions are worth looking at and that rewriting is part of the job. I know that many freelancers specify how many rewrites they will do in their contracts, which is great if you can get the editor to agree to that language. My first editor really helped me become a better travel writer. She took a chance on a brand-new freelancer, and that first gig gave me a lot of confidence that I badly needed. One more tip: Get smart about business licenses and taxes. If you don't have time, find a good CPA who works with freelancers on a regular basis. Hone your skills. Don’t think of your editor as an adversary (as long as he/she is treating you in a professional manner); you both have the same goal, which is to publish a good article in his/her publication under your name, for pay (or for a good cause that you believe in, if you’re doing pro bono work).

This means that the editor’s suggestions are worth looking at and that rewriting is part of the job. I know that many freelancers specify how many rewrites they will do in their contracts, which is great if you can get the editor to agree to that language.

My first editor really helped me become a better travel writer. She took a chance on a brand-new freelancer, and that first gig gave me a lot of confidence that I badly needed.

One more tip: Get smart about business licenses and taxes. If you don’t have time, find a good CPA who works with freelancers on a regular basis.

]]> By: Jeremy http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2007/12/your-turnhow-to-get-started-as-a-freelance-writer/comment-page-2/#comment-11398 Jeremy Fri, 21 Dec 2007 10:41:19 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/your-turnhow-to-get-started-as-a-freelance-writer/#comment-11398 Be persistent, and don't be afraid of rejection. It's going to happen. A lot. A good freelancer needs to be aware of his shortcomings, and not afraid to face them, and sometimes that means hearing things about your own work that you'd rather not. -Jeremy Be persistent, and don’t be afraid of rejection. It’s going to happen. A lot. A good freelancer needs to be aware of his shortcomings, and not afraid to face them, and sometimes that means hearing things about your own work that you’d rather not.

-Jeremy

]]> By: Saad http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2007/12/your-turnhow-to-get-started-as-a-freelance-writer/comment-page-2/#comment-11352 Saad Fri, 21 Dec 2007 02:48:44 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/your-turnhow-to-get-started-as-a-freelance-writer/#comment-11352 Katharine, Sarah, James, Phil - Thanks for the great advice! Katharine, Sarah, James, Phil – Thanks for the great advice!

]]> By: Katharine Swan http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2007/12/your-turnhow-to-get-started-as-a-freelance-writer/comment-page-1/#comment-11324 Katharine Swan Thu, 20 Dec 2007 23:01:14 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/your-turnhow-to-get-started-as-a-freelance-writer/#comment-11324 Sarah and Lori are right about marketing. I have a question for Sarah, though: How on earth do you get by without an X key????? Sarah and Lori are right about marketing.

I have a question for Sarah, though: How on earth do you get by without an X key?????

]]> By: Sarah http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2007/12/your-turnhow-to-get-started-as-a-freelance-writer/comment-page-1/#comment-11323 Sarah Thu, 20 Dec 2007 22:55:51 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/your-turnhow-to-get-started-as-a-freelance-writer/#comment-11323 I would echo what Lori said about the importance of marketing yourself. Let everyone you know know that you're a writer. Note: not trying to become a writer, but that you ARE a writer. Gigs will not fall into your lap. Networking as a very important part of getting clients. In fact, I mentioned what I do tonight to someone I was writing a mere article for and it turns out this person needs me for some copywriting work for her charity! I only mentioned my copywriting business on the off-chance that she'd have a tiny interest in what I do! When you least ecspect it (sorry ecks key broken!) telling random people will have a major effect on accruing clients! I would echo what Lori said about the importance of marketing yourself.

Let everyone you know know that you’re a writer.

Note: not trying to become a writer, but that you ARE a writer.

Gigs will not fall into your lap.

Networking as a very important part of getting clients.

In fact, I mentioned what I do tonight to someone I was writing a mere article for and it turns out this person needs me for some copywriting work for her charity!

I only mentioned my copywriting business on the off-chance that she’d have a tiny interest in what I do!

When you least ecspect it (sorry ecks key broken!) telling random people will have a major effect on accruing clients!

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