It’s Clean Slate Time
February 4, 2008 by Deb Ng
Filed under Freelance Writing
Let’s start at the beginning. Three years ago when Freelance Writing Jobs was just starting out. I didn’t know much about blogging, though I did know something about writing and finding jobs. I could throw out a question and get so many helpful answers. As the readership grew, audience participation grew. FWJ began earning a reputation as a helpful writing community, catering to writers of all levels.
Somewhere in recent months we lost our way. Now we snipe about high pay and low pay and who is driving down rates and whether or not we should offer quotes. While I do throw these issues out to stimulate discussion, we sort of get caught up in the drama, don’t we? That’s not always good. I was thinking it might be because we’ve grown so much and don’t know each other as well as we used to. Let’s start all over again. Introduce yourself in the comments and tell us a few things about yourself and your writing.
I’ll start.
Hi, I’m Deb. I’ve been freelancing since 2000. I’m also a former newspaper columnist and Group Editor for a major online information portal. While I do have some print work under my belt, most of my writing has been for the web. Now all of my work is through blogging jobs. I love what I do and can’t see myself doing anything else. Even more, I love this particular blog and interacting with my community.
So tell me about you. Offer as many or as few details as you like. Let’s be friends again.
I’m from New York and have been writing for the past year. I was living in Chile and working for a grassroots non-profit and needed to supplement my income. I found my first gig here, and because of it was able to live my dream of working with a start-up and giving something back in a foreign country. Now I take on random grant writing and content jobs on the side(since I’m back in NYC and still in the non-profit sector). I think I’m in the minority here as I have no plans to do this full time, and I like going to my 9 to 5 job every day. I also happen to love to write. And buy shoes. And the Giants.
Hey, I’m Evan. I’m a freshman undergrad at the University of Washington in Seattle, trying to snag freelance writing and design jobs on the side.
Aside from school and design, I play the drums and Counter-Strike. With regard to the former, I’ll hopefully be playing some gigs soonish.
Love your blog. Keep up the good work!
Hello, Everyone!
I’m Deborah, and I’ve been a casual lurker for about three months now. For the past two years, I’ve been supplementing my income as a professional blogger. When the Google shakedown happened, I realized that I had put all of my eggs in one basket. So now I’m looking to add new income resources for my writing. My ultimate goal is to kiss the 9 to 5 schedule goodbye and stay home.
I enjoyed reading about your backgrounds. There is such diverse talent and background here.
Wow, what an excellent post. My name is Alicia and I have been visiting this blog the past few weeks as a guide to search for a freelance job. I received my PhD in Medical Research over a year ago and have been trying to find a consistent source of income. I have writing and teaching experience in health and medical topics and am involved in freelance research support helping researchers write grants and students write dissertation/literature reviews. I maintain my own website, blog, and am a contributing writer for a couple different online venues.
Hello my name is Ozzy and I’m an alcoholic…. Oops, wrong meeting.
I have been blogging for about a year now, with small, albeit increasing success. I am primarily an entertainment blogger, specializing in movie and television reviews, as well as celebrity interviews. This site is first on my bookmarks and I’m sure at least half of my accomplishments can be attributed to Deb’s advice.
Thanks Deb!
@ Jodee
20 minutes west of Ottawa eh? I live west of Ottawa in a little village. I just like to say Ottawa because most people know where it is, and a few years back we “officially” became city of Ottawa. Ashton is the little place. Where were you born?
I was born in Ottawa but I lived in Dunrobin (population 50) until I was 18. Then I moved to Toronto – big change!
@ Jodee and Jenny – I’m 20 minutes east of the Ontario border. I’m always amazed at how small the world can be. May I just say that Ottawa drivers are so much more safer than Montreal ones
I have noticed that, but I didn’t want to say anything, LOL!
@ Jodee I know where Dunrobin is and I’ve been there once or twice.
@James I didn’t think that Ottawa drivers were safer when I moved here 19 years ago. I had never before seen anyone turn “left” on a red light or “invent their own driving lanes” but I guess after all this time it’s normal now.
@ Jenny B: That is so neat! My parents still live there – right on the main road – and I still think of it as home. I find that I need to go back there to recharge my batteries every so often. I think you are very lucky to be living in that area. At some point, we would like to move back but it will be awhile yet.
There are some, ahem, “creative” drivers up there, that’s for sure.
My name is Mariella. I’ve only been freelancing since May last year. I’ve started with web content but by December of 2007, I’ve become a full-time problogger, thanks to Deb here who’s inspired me greatly. I love what I do, but truth be told, there’s nothing quite like writing fiction for me.
Hi Everyone!
My name is Jenn Hollowell, and I’m in the great state of Maine! My boyfriend and I are raising his seven year old daughter, and my six and eight year old sons. (Yes, it’s busy!) And, yes, it’s freezing here with tons of snow.
I’ve been freelancing since 1999 (ironically, I just blogged the other day about how I’ve been in business for 3,000 days). Most of my work has been for the web, but I do have some print pubs and book contributions under my belt. My first book will be released June of this year by Atlantic Publishing.
I’m also a mixed media artist and write about it over at suite101.com (the site where I landed my first writing gig in 1999, as a matter of fact).
My future goals are to write more books, write for more print publications, and blog more (I really enjoy blogging!). It’s a pleasure to meet all of you!
@ Jen – Putting your work experience into days makes it sound like forever lol… smart move!
Hi,
I’m Brian. I live in Denver and plunged off the cliff of financial security and stability provided by a corporate job and started my own freelance writing and content generation business on January 1. As a former MCSE (computers) and CFP (finance) I’ve spent my entire professional life writing and now hope to make it my career because it has always been my passion. My wife joins me at our business ArcticLlama. She is an attorney. Between the two of us, we hope to carve out a niche doing high end technical, financial, and legal writing.
I’m also doing a blog /website combo at Finance Gourmet which is up and running (but not actively publicized).
Wish us luck, and we hope to learn a lot here and contribute when able.
After 33 1/2 years of teaching, I retired last year and work full time as a freelance writer(having done so for 25 years part time). I work in the educational field doing teaching guides for a number of publications as well as enjoy writing articles for children’s publications. Have a children’s story, which I’d love to one day perhaps find someone who’d like to publish it(I’ve written six books for teachers) and have had a novel(a Mary Higgen’s Clark type thriller rolling around in my head for about 15 years which one day, I hope to finish-90 pages done before I stopped. Love to hear comments on the children’s short story-check it out here:http://www.gailhennessey.com/index.shtml?Woodencookiebox.html Love this site and check it out each day.
Gail
Jumping in here late, but I appreciate this website so I wanted to say hello! I’m Alli and I live in Northeast PA with my boyfriend and cat. Jan 1 marked the first anniversary of me going full-time as a freelancer after graduating college. I worked part-time as a writer to pay my way through college, and was inspired to try it full-time after the head of the English department told me it wasn’t possible. I gave myself one year – if I wasn’t making a decent living, I’d get a “real” job. I’m so happy that this can be my real job and I plan to keep writing and blogging for a long time!
Hi,
Wow! Thanks for this. Look at all these writers!
I’m Laura. I blog for b5Media (Business and Blogging), Know More Media (Work From Home Momma), and myself (WritingThoughts and OpinionMom). I’ve also been a freelance writer since 2002. Prior to freelancing, I was a corporate technical writer (12 years) and a marketing writer (five years). Currently I specialize in business writing, technical writing, and web content.
@ James: Thanks, it really made it feel like a milestone moment when I counted it out.
I should’ve been dedicating 1,000 day anniversaries all along! 
I’m Erin and I’ve been visiting this blog forever, it seems.
I’m a full-time freelance writer and Jill-of-all-trades. In an average week you’ll find me writing food reviews for my local Onion A.V. Club, doing business writing and collateral, writing Web and SEO text, translating from German to English, and a whole lot more.
Hi, I’m relatively a new visitor to this blog but I’m glad I stumbled upon it. I teach biology as my “day job” but I also contribute gardening columns to our local newspaper. And I’ve written about science topics for a few national publications over the last eight years.
Hello, I’m also an Erin and I’m fairly new to visiting this blog. I’m a “professional writer” in the non-profit district who is interested in expanding my skills into freelancing… though I’m stumbling through learning the ropes at this point.
This site has been a big help and inspiration to me. I’ve started my first real blog and am working up a collection of writing online to secure a foundation for my works. I’m not 100% sure I’m going about it the right way, but hey, you live and learn?
I’ve learned so much just in the process of working on my own blog… so thank you for sticking the idea and dream of freelancing out where I can see it and giving me the thought that maybe it can be done. I’m hoping my opportunity might come sometime soon!
Hi, I’m Julie Fletcher and I am a full time freelancer/blogger. I write for several blogs and have been in a few parenting magazines that are locals. I am also a new columnist for http://www.thewahmmagazine.com and that is my real thrill as of late!
I have 4 children, one dog, a nutty cat, a loving husband who supports me in my freelancing dream, AND some other family members living with me. I’m lucky if I can remember who I am most days, but I do remember to come by this blog nearly everyday.
I’m Andrea and I’ve been reading this blog almost every day for several months. I love reading Deb’s posts and all the great discussions.
I’ve been freelancing for four years now, but most of my work is proofreading. I’ve got a great client list, and I get to work on projects/products I love. I’ve done some freelance writing for print, mostly marketing materials, and I found that while I love writing, I don’t typically enjoy writing copy for dentist offices and warehouse supplies. So for now, I pay the bills with proofreading and work on the writing I enjoy. I’m slowly working on a book about my late father. Visiting this site has helped me realize that I’m happier proofreading (for now) materials that I enjoy than I am “trying” to be a writer by taking assignments I don’t enjoy. I do like being able to say I’m a professional writer, though, so getting paid to write about warehouses does have some perks!
This is amazing, Deb — a simple topic like this and look at all the responses! While I think many of the discussions we have on this board are important, so is being positive and getting to know one another. Great idea!
I am Katharine Swan and I have been a professional writer for about 3 years, with a little over 2 years of that being freelance. I write mainly for the web, doing everything from content to copywriting, but I do write for the occasional print publication. I love my work and debates over low pay and quotes will never spoil that.
Guys, reading your comments have made my day. I do have a great community – I always knew that. Sometimes we get a little too passionate, but I know there’s good in all of you. Thank you for your kind words and thank you for being so welcoming of each other!
Hi Deb
I’m Sharon Hurley Hall. I’ve been writing for about 20 years and have been freelancing (mostly ghostwriting) for about three. Most of my writing is web content, including ebooks, but I also blog a lot (it’s nice to see my name on something I write.)
I’ve been reading your blog since I started freelancing, and one of my first freelance gigs was through a lead from this site. I love the community here and really enjoy the discussion type posts that you now include.
Erin,
How did you get into German translation? I’m going to school for German and would like to be a translator one day
Do you have any tips?
Hello everyone,
I’m Kristy and I am fairly new to this site. I’ve posted a few times to various topics but I haven’t been as involved as I’d like to be.
I work a full-time job in banking, full-time (or as close to it as it comes) as a ghost writer for The Brighter Writer, and I’m finishing up a Bachelor’s degree and will soon be starting on a second one. I like to keep pretty busy!
Ultimately, I’d like to be writing and selling screenplays on a full-time basis. Currently, I just write them
In the meantime, I’ve been looking for freelance writing jobs to expand my portfolio. I love working with The Brighter Writer, but unfortunately I’m fairly new to this game and have no work that I can show as samples. I read through these leads daily and hopefully something will come around that pays off for me.
Best of luck to everyone here and I look forward to getting to know you!
Andrea,
I would be interested in talking to you about your proofreading jobs – I am trying to get my foot in the door there after several years of proofing and copy editing for a small publisher.
Any suggestions for me?
Thanks,
Leonora
Deb, one day you’re going to have to just open up a forum!
Another latecomer: my name is Damaria Senne and I’m a journalist, author and blogger based in Johannesburg, South Africa.
I worked as a writer straight out of varsity in the 1990s, developing educational and marketing material for non-profits, news articles and features for newspapers and magazines, as well as web content.
I’ve also published a couple of children’s books.
Currently I work as a senior journalist for an IT media house, specialising in telecommunications (law and regulations, technologies, trends, social impact). I write mostly for their online news daily, sometimes contribute to their 2 print magazines (weekly and monthly.)
It’s not the kind of writing I thought I would do when I started out as a writer, but once I found it, I knew I’d found the right niche for me.
I find the subject fascinating, and the industry is so vibrant I never run out of things to say.
I also maintain two blogs – one is a niche cellphone blog; another a place where I chat about my creative writing and put up some children’s stories I write.
Medium to long-term, I want most of my income to be generated from books, rather than journalism.
In reading through the many wonderful introductions here, I am awed by the intelligence, diversity, and energy of the individuals. If anyone needs a reminder or a boost on those days when freelancing is more “bear” than “bull,” this is the place to come to to re-center.
I’ve been freelancing for six years and still working to find my way, but having a great time on the journey. I’ve met some awesome people and learned a great many things along the way.
My background was varied prior to settling into the freelance life, including stints in health care, social services, and travel.
It’s my pleasure to work in an arena with so many talented and diverse individuals. I wish the best for each and every one of us.
I recently discovered your site and now feel the need to check it EVERYDAY. I am very new to the freelance writing world, but thanks to your site, I have already found a freelance blogging job.
I currently work in the admin. asst. world and find refuge in my part time writing work. I find the advice and tips your site provides to be very helpful.
Thank you!
Hey Debbie,
Congrats on your new freelance blogging gig and welcome to the world of freelance writing. Once you dip your toes in, you’ll have to stay for the swim.
Wow, what a long list! I”m Jennifer, and I’m into my second year as a full-time freelancer (I’ve been doing it part-time for clients for about four years now, and have been writing business copy for employers since I graduated college). I started my own blog this August and it’s doing great so far–and I’m contemplating relocating it to my own URL.
Anyway, my background in writing is pretty diverse–I was a Creative Writing major in college, have had short stories and poems published in literary journals, and am endlessly working on novels in addition to running my writing business. At the moment, I do mostly web copy and articles for online journals. I quit my last steady job rather impulsively and didn’t know if my savings would last six months–and so far I haven’t had to use them at all!
Wow, what a long list! I”m Jennifer, and I’m into my second year as a full-time freelancer (I’ve been doing it part-time for clients for about four years now, and have been writing business copy for employers since I graduated college). I started my own blog this August and it’s doing great so far–and I’m contemplating relocating it to my own URL.
Anyway, my background in writing is pretty diverse–I was a Creative Writing major in college, have had short stories and poems published in literary journals, and am endlessly working on novels in addition to running my writing business. At the moment, I do mostly web copy and articles for online journals. I quit my last steady job rather impulsively and didn’t know if my savings would last six months. Now I have a thriving business and couldn’t be happier.
Hi Deb and Hi fellow subscribers,
Where do I begin? It was late 1997 and I was really pumped about getting my diploma in interior decorating and design and snagging a cushy job in the same field. So much so that on a whim and out of character I asked a sales rep. if the editor of the woman’s magazine she was marketing would be interested in a monthly decorating column. My first published clip appeared in print in February 1998. It took a few years before I realized that I was smack in the middle of my childhood dream of being a writer that’s when I signed up for a diploma course in freelance writing. The monthly gig ran for eight years while I wrote features and columns for other print and online magazines.
In August 2006 I left my 9 – 5 job behind to write fulltime when I was commissioned to write a weekly column for one of the oldest and largest newspaper in my country. I’m working on two books and managing two blogs. And, just today I created another. I was afraid to commit to a blog but once bitten, well, there was no turning back.
Deb, FWJ is one of the best writing blogs around and I stop by everyday no matter what. I salute your initiative to get back to basics, as it were. Let’s go.
RLD,
I was an exchange student in high school and speak fluent German. I saw a craigslist ad for a children’s book translation and have been doing it off and on ever since…I landed an awesome gig when a friend who is an editor at a manga publisher got me a job doing localization editing for a German comic book. I had some suggestions on translation and they gave me the rest of the translation work for the series! Warning, though: the translation work I have found online pays QUITE poorly in general. I’d have to say it makes up a quite minimal part of my income.
Erin,
I love manga! I didn’t know that a non-Japanese speaker could get into that field. I’m glad to hear of your experiences, because it gives me ideas for using my education. It also gives me something to tell the parents when they become skeptical of my education choices
Thanks for the warning on the online work! I may have to use it to get my feet wet, though >.
Hallo! Dei~ here. I’m from the Florida panhandle region, but am currently based in Virginia.
I’m one of those “lost souls” in the freelance writing world: I have NO clue where to go or how to get started, but at least I feel more optimistic since finding this site a few months ago!
I’ve been writing since I was three–no joking. Started with pencils and crayons, then typewriters, then electric typewriters, and now computers. Most of it being fantasy/sci-fi-based fiction with some slice-of-life writing, and I even won local awards for my writing while in grade school and university. I majored in English and psychology, which means I have FAR more experience in writing research papers than I like to admit. XD I ramble-blog (ramblog?) on a daily basis about Life, the Universe, and Everything, via LiveJournal.
Unfortunately, my lifetime hobby of writing doesn’t seem to be too helpful when I look for jobs just yet. Seems like everyone wants someone who’s specifically edited THIS kind of writing or written about THAT topic, and I have so many interests to expand my knowledge on, but I wouldn’t call myself an expert in any one thing!
I HAVE to do this, though. I’ve always known writing is the only thing I can make a career of and still keep my sanity. Right now I’m working for the US Postal Service, and the physical damage to my body over the past three years has made it imperative I get outta there and start making money from my desk at home ASAP. So while I may be lost and confused about how to do this thing, I’m not giving up!
Man, everything I write gets a lot longer than I mean for it be. I guess that’s how you know I’m a writer.
P.S. My Writer’s Woe #1: I check my posts for errors more than once before sending them…but I only find all the errors AFTER it’s been posted.
Yet I can knock the heck out of errors when proofreading anything someone else has written!
Hi Deianæra!
Very interesting post and I am very sorry to hear about the difficulties in your present job.
My advice to you would be to select a topic or a couple of topics that you would be interested in writing about.
Then – get experience/writing clips in these areas by working for lower paying gigs or by volunteering.
Then start applying to higher paying gigs or querying to publications – once you have this experience.
Many publications and businesses want to see applicable experience soooo this may help you out a bit!
I believe other sites such as about.com and aboutfreelancewriting.com may have helpful info as well for you.
I’m Becky and I’m a freelance writer and editor in San Diego. I’ve been blogging since 2003 and currently blog for a women’s automotive advice site. Soon, I hope to add a wedding site and photography site to the list. But I also do traditional editing and copywriting, too. I think a combination of online and offline work is the best balance for me. Eggs, basket… you know.
@Andrea -
I’m interested in proofreading and editing as well. Hard to get jobs, mostly you have to have 3+ years of experience. Where do you get the 3 years to start with??
Thanks, and I really like this thread.
@ Erika – By stopping wondering and starting to build up that experience. Everyone starts somewhere, and plenty of clients understand that. Many are willing to work with you as you grow, so take heart.
All you have to do now is get out there and start pitching why you’re the best choice – even if you don’t have experience
Hi. I’m Jessica. I have been a freelance writer since November 2005. My background is in communication. I worked at a non-profit (PR, Grant writing, etc) until my son was born in 2004. After taking some time off, I got a little restless of “just” staying at home. I started to pick up little things like writing business features and covering township meetings for a local newspaper. When it became too much to travel to the sites, I looked at opportunities to write from home. I love it! I enjoy being the one to decide whether to add another project to my list of things to do. Plus it is nice to bring in a little extra income while keeping my brain fresh. I currently have three ongoing writing and editing clients, which keeps me busy for about 10 hours a week. I’m also expecting our second child in May, so we will see how or if I decide to take more time off. Thanks for your blog. I follow it every day, and it has helped me navigate some issues I come up against with my projects.
Hi, Deb, I’m Anthony. I actually am a web editor for a large sales company, but have been looking diversity what I do with freelance work. Haven’t made “the leap” yet, but found your site a couple of months ago (through Copyblogger, if I remember correctly), and have found it very useful for listings as well as just building up my confidence to start trying to freelance more.
My fiancee and I live in Eugene, Oregon, where we do a lot of cooking, brew beer, and ride our sidecar motorcycle.