by Deborah Ng
If there’s one thing I noticed lately it’s that there’s no shortage of blogs about writing, freelance writing, freelance writing jobs and blogs. What this means is there’s no shortage of writing jobs and advice. What do you think? The more the merrier or overkill?
Here’s what I’m reading this weekend:
- Here’s a great post by Lorelle Von Fossen at Blog Herald on where to find blogging jobs and how to apply. It’s a follow up to Blogger Jobs: What are They Looking For?
- How to Stretch your Articles into Dollars at Blogging Tips. What do you think? Is article marketing the way to go?
- You’ll appreciate Lori’s post - Six Phrases that Mean I’m Not Paying. at Words on the Page.
- Chris Garrett has a thought-provoking bottom line on What are You Saying Between the Lines.
- FWJ Friend James Chartrand does get around. Check out his post at CopyBlogger 10 Quick Tips for Building a Business Online.
- 13 Ways to Make a Freelance Living at Daily Writing Tips. The list keeps growing doesn’t it?
- Did you know the folks in the U.S take less time off work than any other country? It’s true. We spend too much time working and not enough time to enjoy ourselves. This post at Escape from Corporate America called Paid Vacation Time: A Right or a Luxury discusses just theat.
- Scott McIntyre’s guest post at Successful-Blog discusses the importance of connecting with the non-blogger. Something I talk about often. Do bloggers only blog for other bloggers, or are they truly trying to reach the masses? Discuss.
- Harry and James at Men with Pens discuss what happens when anyone and his brother can get a book published. Are they diluting the quality of writing? How do you know whose advice to trust?
- James Mowery, at my old stomping grounds of Performancing, is questioning the legitimacy of the Blog Networks. I think it’s like with anything, there are good and bad and one must always proceed with caution.
- John Hewitt has a great series at PoeWar this week regarding Techincal Writing - something we’ve been talking a bit about ourselves. Check out A Career in Technical Writing: The Fax About Outsourcing, A Career in Technical Writing: A Strange New World, A Career in Technical Writng: Life as a Newbie and A Career in Technical Writing: Workaround.
- Check out Dustin Wax’s post at ProBlogger Nine Signs of an Effective Blog Post.
- Tei at Rogue Ink (A good name for a tattoo parlor!) has a blunt and frank series called “Money Talks” about setting rates. Read Introducing the Money Talks, Day One: How Much Money Do You Need?, Day Two: Hourly Rates, Calculation, Confirmation. And Confusion.
- Wendy Piersall at Sparkplugging explains her absence and it’s something I can relate to in a big way: Why Entrepreneurial Burnout is Like that Big Breakup with Your Ex.
Hope you’re having a great weekend!
Deb
July 13th, 2008 at 9:21 am
I think there is an overkill, but many such sites/posts sure do seem to be popular.
July 13th, 2008 at 9:47 am
Good links, Deb, but the Problogger post you linked to was written by Dustin Wax, not Darren. Cheers!
July 13th, 2008 at 10:59 am
I knew that, Joel! Fixed.
July 13th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
Some great links, Deb. Many thanks!
Here is one which supports my belief that almost anyone can become a technical writer if he or she wants to make the transition:
http://www.poewar.com/a-career-in-technical-writing-a-strange-new-world/
John Hewitt was a lobbyist before shifting to tech writing. He is the first former-lobbyist current-tech writer I know of. I welcome him to our great profession.
I also wish him good luck since he admits: “No one really had a plan for me. They just assumed I would take care of things. They gave me my tools, a P75 computer with Windows 3.1, Microsoft Word and a bootleg copy of PageMaker. The rest was up to me…”
Oops… I can see a lot of “but that’s not what WE thought you’d be doing?!” type of headaches in his future. That doesn’t sound good at all since when the wheels come off the wagon (and once in a while they do) most employers usually think “it’s all writer’s fault.” That’s why a technical writer needs to be well prepared going into any writing project.
You can read about a good way to get around to accomplishing that in my upcoming FWJ column on how to write a “Documentation Plan.”
P.S. Remember my earlier tip about companies that use MS Word as their main technical writing platform, that they are usually better for entry-level jobs and should be targeted by beginner tech writers? Hewitt’s company fits in that profile.
And as to PageMaker… either Hewitt’s supervisor has no idea what PageMaker is designed for, or they’ll ask him to generate some marketing materials, brochures, newsletters, fliers, etc. as well. But even then I’d recommend them to upgrade to InDesign, a much better product and true heir to the PageMaker throne.
July 13th, 2008 at 3:06 pm
Hey, Deb, thanks for the link (twice!) and I’m glad you picked up on that publishing one. Built for your crowd to comment on, it is
July 13th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
Deb — I tend to take the “more the merrier” attitude myself, although that’s probably because the other way I’d feel like part if the problem, since I write about writing.
Ugur — I like John’s blog a lot. I have found many of his posts to be insightful and funny. (I like funny.) I’ve been sporadically reading his blog for over a year but had no idea he had ever been a lobbyist. That’s a fun tidbit to learn.
July 13th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
Amy, you’ve got a great blog. Will make sure to read it more often.
July 13th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
Ugur — Thank you. How nice of you to say.
Do you have a blog?
July 13th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
Since I’m an up and coming writer, still trying to land that first ‘real’ job, I have to say that I’m really appreciative of every well written blog post or article I can find on freelance writing. I’m selling articles on a competative website (probably 2 out of 5 I write actually are picked up) and I’m just ready for a more serious gig. (as in, if I write, you pay me! lol)
What I’m finding to be “overkilled” is the amount of supposed jobs that really don’t pay you anything. I’ve already learned how to scan a job ad for phrases like “revenue sharing” b/c that’s not what I’m looking for. One reason I LOVE this website is because you offer up true jobs for those of us on the hunt.
I’ve also discovered how many people consider themselves “writers.” Though I don’t think education or a degree boosts you into a higher writing category; I do think at least basic grammar and writing abilities should be mandatory. lol
July 13th, 2008 at 4:04 pm
Thanks for the links Deb. The Rogue Ink article was good. I really believe that if we were all a little more transparent about what we earn it would help out the community as a whole.
It would sure be nice to see some collaborative honesty rather than snarking and back-biting about what we all should (or should not) be charging.
July 13th, 2008 at 5:59 pm
@ Connie: I find that the people who are the most interested in what I am making are also the ones who are pretty sure they make more than I do.
July 13th, 2008 at 6:20 pm
I’m just laughing at the idea that James gets around.
July 13th, 2008 at 7:12 pm
@ Lorna - Hey, if the shoe fits… Just like the Beach Boys
July 13th, 2008 at 8:54 pm
@ Jodee Lol. I see what you mean. Maybe you guys could do some sort of a post that let everyone weigh in. Something like: “What is an acceptable rate of pay?”
That would allow people from all walks of freelancing answer what they believe the rate should be, rather than having to personally state their own.
Of course, I can see that turning into a bloodbath lol, so maybe not.
Anyway, thanks again for all your hard work. I don’t know what I would do without this site!
July 13th, 2008 at 9:34 pm
@ Connie: We do have a post where people can discuss rates. It may not have been a bloodbath last last week, but I still have a couple of bruises. Good thing I’m tough.
You will find it here:
http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/07/freelance-writing-rates-have-at-it/
You are very welcome, BTW.
July 13th, 2008 at 9:51 pm
Thanks Jodee! I must have missed it, I’ll go check it out!
July 13th, 2008 at 10:48 pm
Amy, my blog is at http://write-design-sell.blogspot.com/
Thanks for asking. Take care. Ugur
July 14th, 2008 at 11:00 am
Now that James has the Beach Boys stuck in my head…
Ugur — I like your blog. Anyone who isn’t afraid of correcting the New Tork Times is ok by me.
July 15th, 2008 at 6:12 pm
@ Deb
Thank you for the link love. I have, BTW, been enjoying your Blogger Idol. I also had some things to say about your “Forever” post today on my blog.
@ Amy
I was a Lobbyist back in the early nineties, and I could do a series of posts about that as well (the stories are pretty interesting) but the writing aspect isn’t as clear sot it doesn’t fit PoeWar as well.
@ Ugur
To be clear, those events happened in the mid nineties. I have since managed to find more appropriate equipment and employers. I am currently in the midst of a conversion to Author-IT, which looks incredibly cool in theory. I can’t wait to hit the conversion.