Comments on: Freelance Writing Jobs for Thursday, June 12, 2008

By: Caron

Caron — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 17:45:59 +0000

Hi Michel

I’ve been on Ifreelance as a ghostwriter since they started, and I feel it has taken them a year to get up and rolling. I’ve been interviewed for several jobs, and did receive one substantial contract for a book. I felt it was worth their fee for another year now that they are getting posts. I can say that as a freelancer, I spent a year doing books ebooks articles and curriculum and had to find my niche – books and curriculum. So I say go for it!

By: michel

michel — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 17:24:58 +0000

Anyone have experience with ifreelance.com? I tried them for a year with no results. I’m thinking of giving it another shot but I’m wary as there is a fee. Thanks!!

By: Victoria

Victoria — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 13:37:27 +0000

I’ve just started with b5media and although the pay isn’t great in the beginning, there’s incentives and the community is terrific – thanks to FWJ, as they were the ones posting the links to get my first “real” freelance job!!
Most importantly, I just wanted to add to Christy’s response regarding Instablogs — I applied and heard back from them pretty quickly.
I was asked to join, but they only pay $4/per post and they want them to be at least 300 words and for you to post 2-3 times a week.
Is it me, or is that insanely low???

By: Niki

Niki — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 06:28:24 +0000

Nicole,

I started out book reviewing, and it’s a great way to begin the freelance career. I did it at Suite101 then moved on to magazines and websites. I had samples, and I just studied different guidelines. I queried one magazine about doing a book review, and even though they didn’t give me a book to review, they assigned me an article about being a book reviewer. At the time, the pay was the most I’ve ever made freelancing. I even got a review in the The Writer. If you want to get paid, make sure you will get paid for the review. Some magazines will pay for feature articles but not reviews. Good luck.

Niki

By: Katherine

Katherine — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 21:58:02 +0000

Nicole, Book reviewing is how I started. I started with a site that did ebook reviews. From there I went to the niche market I was interested in at the time. Romance which has a whole ton of branches under it, paranormal, erotic, historical etc. Search those websites out and ask to review for them, many will take on newbies. From there I got brave and sent a clip to Romantic Times Book Club magazine and was taken on – although not for pay, but free books.
Find what you like and study the markets and sites. You can always start your own blog of reviews but try to do a few with a known site.
Get a Writers Market book and check for magazines that take reviews. I like New Age stuff and magazines like Pan Gaia and Sage Woman pay, not much but they do and they also send you a copy of the magazine.
Once your name gets out there you can then try your hand at interviews which can be done via email – check out a site called Wow! Women on Writing and put the name Gena Showalter in – I did that interview with her and got paid $75.
From book reviewing you can move to interviewing and then on to articles – it is an excellent place to start. What are you interested in reviewing and maybe I can direct you to some good sites?

By: Colleen

Colleen — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 21:14:02 +0000

@Nicole
I’m a newbie too and I would suggest not just limiting yourself to book reviews. If you like music and movies, do some reviews. A lot of times if you don’t have samples that are exactly what the employer is looking for, it’s good to have similar ones. I actually got a gig writing about music based on my book reviews.

@Dani
Thanks oodles for the blog suggestions! I have two blogs with zero traffic. I think I have to take a day or two and study up on it. Blogging is apparently more than just great writing!

By: Nicole

Nicole — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 20:53:49 +0000

Dani,

Yes ma’am, that will be a huge project for me to work on. You are very inspirational and know exactly what your talking about, I’m very greatful to have you give me such good advice. I will let you know as soon as I get one review in and take your tips along with me.

Thank you from the bottom of my freelance newbie heart,
Nic

By: Jenny B

Jenny B — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 20:41:01 +0000

Hi Jodeee
As always, I appreciate the leads and seeing them posted early is a great way to start the day.
Thanks so much.

By: Dani

Dani — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 20:23:03 +0000

Nic;

You are very welcome. I have a few tips on advertising your review blog – I hope that’s ok.

Make sure you use all the recommended means of driving traffic to your site, too. Use the url for it as the url you enter when you sign up to leave comments at places. Place links to your review blog on your personal blog, myspace, facebook, etc.

If you can set up (sorry, I forget the name of it) a thing that shows your blogname and the last one or more posts in real time on your blog and social networking sites, that can attract interest. Blogger/blogspot has added this new feature to their blogs. You just choose the feature and enter the url. Their widget does the rest.

Find other review and book-related sites to leave comments on. People really do click on the links with commenter names.

Make sure to comment on blogs, sites, etc that get a ton of traffic even if they are not related to books. One example would be to find a popular video blogger on youtube and comment on their videos. Their high traffic can get you some clicks, too.

Traffic can equal backlinks which can equal more traffic. If you have a traffic counter on your blog it can show prospective clients the kind of numbers you are getting, and can give you a sense of how you are doing with your promotional tactics.

If you are really brave, start a YouTube account for your reviews. Show your sparkling personality, show the book cover, and give an excerpt from your review – with a link in the sidebar to the whole review.

Be creative and have fun. If something doesn’t work just tweak it or try something new. That is a big part of being a freelancer.

By: Nicole

Nicole — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 20:04:10 +0000

Dani,

Thank you so much for your wonderful advice and enthuisam. I think you said it best “Set up your own blog or website and start putting your reviews on them.” I currently have my own ‘personal’ blog so I might take your word for it and start one about book reviews and the like.

Thank you so much and for the welcome to this blog.

Nic