Hi, it’s me. Better late than never..
So I was thinking…every now and then I like to throw out a few questions to find out if I’m on the right track. Freelance Writing Jobs is a blog for you – to discuss topics of interest to the freelance writer, particular in the area of finding freelance writing jobs.
Since we’re about to celebrate our anniversary, looking ahead another year – what would you like to see? Am I covering the things you want covered? Are there any topics I’m not hitting? What areas do you want us to talk more (or less) about?
Don’t hold back. What would you like to see from Freelance Writing Jobs in the next year?
Thanks for indulging me and have a wonderful night.
Sweet dreams,
Deb
Don’t we already cover it all?
Seriously, I can’t think of anything…since between this and your Network Blogging Tips, I am enlightened on a daily basis.
Hello there! I’m new to your site. I’ve been visiting for just a couple of weeks. I wonder if a lot of your freelance writers are also educators (like me), and they might benefit from some more writing jobs that have to do with education. You had a couple of them listed already, and I wonder if there’s more to tap there.
Thanks for asking for our thoughts. I look forward to visiting the site more often.
You’re doing a great job. I can’t think of anything that’s missing.
I am thrilled with your blog and I have been writing for 25 years. Your desire to keep things relevant and fresh is what makes it so very good.
Keep up the good work.
@ Deb – Heheh, brace yourself for a whole bunch of people saying they’re happy with what you do, which is completely not helpful to you.
Trust me to pick:
I’d like to see more on the nuts and bolts stuff. How to do this. How to do that. You probably don’t write this because you don’t want to make YOUR way become the right way, but I’m interested in your version of what you think is the right way.
And I’ll also get to come and tell you what I think is the right way every time it’s about web content
At the risk of incurring James’ derision, I’m going to say I’m happy with what you’re doing.
However, adding more of the business side of freelancing isn’t a bad idea. Posts by guest bloggers about marketing, building and maintaining a web site, taxes, etc. would be appreciated by both the newbie and the seasoned professional.
The other thing that could be added is guest blogs by niche profesionals like grant writers, busines plan writers, copywriters, etc This would help people discover possible new revenue streams.
James has a point about not writing about those things because you don’t want to make it seem as though it’s your way or the highway. But I do think that opeing it up to other experts with a background in these things will prevent that. Of course, there’s no harm in saying here’s what I do for what it’s worth.
As others have said I think the site is amazing!
I would like to hear motivational stories of how people have gained success with their writing – maybe by chasing a lead you had provided?
Its always nice to know where people got lucky (without the risk of giving too many secrets away of course!)
I think you’re doing a great job, Deb!
You really do touch down on a wide variety of topics.
Looking back, I think so much has been covered already. We’ve done the Cover Letter clinics. You’ve also mentioned work frustrations, that we all feel at some time or another.
we’ve even had lighthearted discussions which are welcome too. Plus, the wonderful pics of your work companions… your sweet little cats.
I think it is a well balanced blog. So well done to you!
I don’t see a need to change. I think you cover quite a bit here. I do enjoy your posts when you relay some experience you’ve had or offer advice. Those are always nice!
I’d like to hear if there is any legitimacy at all to academic writing jobs. Are any of them truly for providing “research paper examples” as some say, or are they all just paper farms?
If you have these skills, are there any more reliably legit ways to use them in the freelance market? Not like I need a lot more to do right now, but I have a master’s degree. I also write trainings within my area of professional training. It wouldn’t be a far stretch to consider well-paying legitimate academic writing for a change of pace.
But I won’t do a paper farm thing. Is there anything redeamable to consider here?
I also agree with the “nuts and bolts” idea and also more on the business side. Those kinds of things would be really helpful. I’m sure it would not only give your point of view (or a guest blogger), but the regulars will be piping up with their own suggestions.
Thanks for asking!
Motorsports.
That’s. What I want.
In answer to Erika’s query, as well as web and published content I also provide academic research papers for 3 UK companies. The pay is good and the topics are varied.
Off the back of this I also advertize an independant service like it on Ebay (ghostwriting and tutorial help) and I have had a great response from what initially seemed like a weird place to put an ad! I am a nurse and assist students and ongoing learners, it gives me a real buzz to help people and generate an income too.
I agree that this site is fantastic! There has been a lot that I’ve learned here, but I admit, I’d very much like to see more on the nuts and bolts, and doing that through the use of guest bloggers and niche writers can give us more of a variety than just what Deb thinks. Although, I don’t mind reading what Deb thinks. But as it stands, I’m having to fish out a lot of this information from other places and I’m never sure if I’m doing the right thing when it comes to the business side.
Do I really need a website when the majority of the work I do is ghostwritten? I have a handful of clips and that’s it, what’s the best way to expand my portfolio. And how should the website look? What is the best way to market myself as a freelance writer when a lot of my work is ghostwritten? There are so many questions I have, personally, on this side of the business.
It’s all well and good to post leads, but giving insight on how to get the gigs would be helpful – particularly for newbies like myself.
Even still, if you changed absolutely nothing about this blog, I’d be here everyday looking to learn anything and everything I could!
Thanks!
@ Lynsey,
Hi – How do you know what kind of company is legitimate? What would companies even do with these research papers in the first place? I can tell that “custom papers for students” is not what I’m willing to do.
I just can’t find enough information about how to really know some good reputation companies, something that won’t rattle my ethics about doing work other people should be doing for themselves.
Thanks a lot for your insight, Lynsey. I look forward to your response.
Hi Deb:
I think you do a great job. One thing I personally would like to see if a clinic on query letters like you did on cover letters. I find my query skills are pretty weak, especially as I try to move up to better markets.
Thanks Deb, keep up the good work!
Thanks! Just keep doing what you are doing. The huge variety of topics hit on all the things a writer and/or blogger should know.
I have learned so much through reading the information here.
I’ve only been in freelance for about 4 months now, but I feel I owe most of my new knowledge to this site. It has also helped me land a gig I love.
I’m not sure who mentioned it, but I would also like to see information on niche writing. It would be helpful to those of us just starting out and need a little direction (like me!).
@Lynsey – Oddly enough, I was considering the benefits of ebay recently. It’s good to hear that it works for you!
Hi Deb!
Since you asked, I’m going to agree with Kim about more education writing. That’s mainly what I do, and it’s very different from blogs or the web. Freelancers who write for education usually never see their names attached to their work. Clips are often rare because of confidentiality agreements. I can tell Company X that I worked for Company Y and give a general overview of what I did, but Company X can’t see what I actually did for Company Y. That’s why most companies have their own writing tests. It’d be interesting to read about the experiences of other education writers.
Along those same lines, I like reading about different types of writing that I don’t do, like when Phil talks about newspaper writing or someone else talks about technical writing.
I also like the motivational stories idea.
I agree with some of the previous commentors about seeing more on the nuts and bolts side of freelancing, as well as niche markets and how beneficial having a Web site is for a freelancer. Also, I would like to learn more about product reviews.
Hi Erika,
The comaonies I work for have very strict work ethics and make it clear to their clients that the service beign provided is that only of a ghostwriting one. Yes, I must say I do get a pang of guilt occasionally that I may be making life easy for some college bum who just is too lazy to do any work, but equally these people need money (and in some cases lots of it!) to pay for the service which your average lazy student would not have I guess?
In the service I advertise on Ebay most of the clients use me to run ideas past, get help with referencing, or searching for informations sources, but THEY do the work at the end of the day. I actually find this really gratifying as they really appreciate my help.
This also pays well and I don’t get that guilty feeling so much!
Email me at lynsey.keep@hotmail.co.uk if you want to know any more.
Lynsey
Hi,
I’m not sure that this fits your category here but I can’t seem to find anywhere else to ask this. I’m a freelance writer in South Florida and I’ve been doing this for about a year and a half. I write about dating, realtionships and basically the odd people and situations that come my way. I currently write for 2 local magazines but am dying to break into the national market. How do I go about this? I have no idea what the best options are. I’ve tried mediabistro, craigslist, websites for each magazine, etc with no luck. I know it’s all about timing and getting your work into the right hands so any advice you have I would love. Is an agent needed and if so, how do you go about choosing one?
Thank you!
Lisa
Hi,
I’m not sure that this fits your category here but I can’t seem to find anywhere else to ask this. I’m a freelance writer in South Florida and I’ve been doing this for about a year and a half. I write about dating, realtionships and basically the odd people and situations that come my way. I currently write for 2 local magazines but am dying to break into the national market. How do I go about this? I have no idea what the best options are. I’ve tried mediabistro, craigslist, websites for each magazine, etc with no luck.I know it’s all about timing and getting your work into the right hands so any advice you have I would love. Is an agent needed and if so, how do you go about choosing one?
Thank you!
Lisa
Hi Lisa,
A year ago I was a nurse just about to go on to maternity leave. Having had my baby I set about making my passion and hobby of writing as my hopeful new career to allow me to stay at home with my baby who has serious health problems.
I broke into writing for magazines by being down right upfront and emailing editors asking them to give me a chance, in fact my first 2 writing breaks were for magazines and I continue to contribute to them. I never thought it would happen in that order and considering I had no qualification, training or portfolio to show I guess I was just lucky?!!
Email every single editor of every magazine you wanna write for and despite what some people say about editors some are very accommodating!
Good luck!
Lynsey
Thank you very much for your encouragement Lynsey!!!
Lisa
Hey ya’ll well I’ve been doing this for almost 2yrs or longer any I just wanna bring my style and my twist to this wonderful website also making money what I like to do.
Kenn