We Get Letters: Deb Finally Reads Her Email

by Deborah Ng

If there’s one area I need work, it’s getting my email in order. I read it, deal with the most pressing issues and file the rest away to answer later. It’s that last bit that is out of control. I’d like to thank everyone for their patience in waiting for a response and also for those who allowed me to post their letters here. All are used with permission.

Freelance Writing Jobs’ Reader Mail

Hi,
I would like to start writing product reviews how can I do so I read you blog and it is quite informative.

Thanks a lot

Meera

Hi Meera,

I do product reviews for Cookerati and they’re so much fun!

Are you doing product reviews for someone else or on your own blog or website? If you wish to do them for someone else, look for writing and blogging jobs for product review writers. Sometimes your employer will set you up with products to review, other times you’ll have to find them on your own.

I’m on a bunch of publicists’ mailing lists and they send me items to review often. I also use Profnet to help find news and products to review for my blogs.

Here’s a post from March 2008 that may help: Writing Product Reviews

Hope that helps!

Deb

Dear Deborah,

This is a complete shot in the dark, and I am sure you receive a million of these sad pity cases a day, but oh well, I hope you are in the mood to read another… For my sake… I simply want to ask this, and at the risk of sounding foolish and naive, here goes: What is the best writing jobs out there for someone who really has no built up credentials? I am a graduate student, whose major is English, whatever that means, and the prospect of teaching is not only grim and laborious, but non-rewarding, and financially pathetic. I am a gifted writer however, and I am willing to write anything, whether it be blogs, articles, fiction, non-fiction, the entire gamut. Any chance you could steer this inert lump into the right direction?

Thanks,

Peter N.

Dear Peter,

If you have a degree you have credentials. Writing is one of those forgiving professions where you don’t always need a laundry list of qualifications to get the gig, you only need to be a good writer and knowledge of the topic you’re writing. There’s a little bit more to it than that, but I’m sure you get the idea. If you’re a good writer, you’ll find work.

My recommendation is to start a blog on your favorite topic so you’ll have a few samples of your writing to show. I would also write a few articles to have on hand for when you apply for a job. Clips don’t necessarily need to be published, most employers only want to see how well you write.

I always recommend new writers take some time to read up on freelance writing, especially best practices for finding jobs and applying for them. Once you feel you have a good idea of the process, begin applying. You may find yourself with several rejection letters before you land your first gig, but that happens to all writers.

Please let me know how it goes!

Last week I wrote 12 Things to Do Before Applying for a Freelance Writing Job. Hope it helps you!

Good luck,

Deb

i want to write short stories for pay on the internet. any suggestions would be most appreciated.

dan f.

Hi Dan,

A good place to start is with proper usage of upper and lower case letters

Are you looking to write short stories as in fiction? I’m not sure of many of these markets but if they’re advertising and paying, they’ll be posted here or at one of the other job boards. If any of the regulars know of any good short story markets, please let us know.

If you mean short stories as in blog posts and articles, please see the advice to Peter above.

Good luck,

Deb

Hi Deb,

I know you are incredibly busy so if you’d like to pass this on the Terreece or Jodee, no problem. I just need some advice or reassurance from people with more experience than me. I have experience writing for the past 4.5 years, but just began freelancing in January.

I have this client that has been great so far. Over the past few months all I’ve received is nothing but praise. Out of nowhere (according to them) now my writing has gone downhill and they gave me the impression that they are having to do sooo many edits on my pieces.

After a long talk there were some mistakes I had made and I agreed and then there were a lot of accusations and slams to my abilities as a writer. This gentleman doesn’t really have the skill of delivering constructive criticism and is pretty condescending. There is no other way to put it.

I’ve looked over my writing and don’t feel that things have gotten worse. Maybe a bad sentence here or there that I should have corrected. Anyway, the conversation was horrible. I tried so hard not to get defensive, but I was and pretty darn angry. I try to always take criticism well and learn from it, but it was difficult in this case.

I’m feeling so angry at myself for getting worked up and how I am letting this really affect my confidence as a writer.

My question is do all writers go through this? Is everyone else more skilled at taking criticism?

Thanks for any advice you might be able to share.

Name withheld by request

Dear Deborah,

I was confused about what you were calling “$2  and $3 jobs.” I was an editor for 15 years before taking on a husband, mortgage and baby, as you said. My baby is now in school all day, so I am trying to ramp up my freelance writing career. I have had a couple of regular clients during the last 6 years, and I get paid $1 per word for all the articles I write. Is that still the going rate?

How much have I missed out on in the last 6 years?

Best regards,

Kelly F

Deb

I was a journalist from 1999-2003, and then dropped that to get my Master’s in Counseling. During down time inbetween jobs this year, I came across your site and decided to try for some possible freelance positions. I think about a month ago, you posted an ad from orato.com, and I applied. A few weeks later, they responded and were very excited about my story pitch (The Obama Effect, which describes a town hall meeting with Barack Obama and my family’s response to attending). That story is now on the front page of the site and both myself and one of the editors are looking forward to more articles!

Thank you so much for the Freelance Writing Jobs site, it is a great resource for writers!

Sincerely,

Angel W

Hi Angel,

Your news made my morning. Congratulations on your success!

Best,

Deb

Hi Deborah,

I don’t know if you ever do this sort of thing, but I have a freelancing question and I thought it was just the kind of thing that could be answered by the many wise people of the FWJ community, plus it may be a dilemma that others have had as well. Would you consider posting it in some form so we can see what others think? If you don’t want to clutter up the blog, that’s okay, I understand

Here’s the story: I’ve been writing for a blog since last October and I’m thinking of asking for a raise–though to be honest, I’m not even really sure how to ask for a raise. I’ve always worked project to project and have never been in this position before, but that’s not my real question, which is this:

There’s another writer on the site. We exchange pleasantries occasionally, link to each other’s work when appropriate, and post in advance which stories we’re covering. Other than that, though, we don’t really deal with each other. I don’t have any idea how much he’s being paid; we started at the same time, so I guess it’s a similar amount (I would like to think…). If I ask for a raise, should I tell him my plans? Should I ask him with the idea of jointly bringing up the question? Or should I just deal with me and let him worry about his own issues?

Any suggestions?

Thanks!

Kirsten A

Hi Kirsten,

Freelancers, like all workers, need to raise their rates from time to time. Here’s the thing: It’s not up to your clients to issue raises. The beauty of freelancing is that we can raise our rates every time we feel we’re deserving. Heck we can raise our rates any time we want. As for other writers, it’s really none of their business what you’re paid or whether or not you ask for a raise.

Send your client a very nice letter informing that effective a certain date you will be raising your rates and let him know the amount. If he refuses to pay, you can move on to clients who are willing to pay your price or stick with him knowing he doesn’t think you’re worthy of an increase in pay.

I hope it goes well!

Deb

Dear Ms. Ng,

I’m just starting out in the blogging/freelance world as I was
wondering if you suggest using your real name or an alias for projects.
I prefer to use my own name on my work, but I fear putting my name in
the online world (ID theft). Would using initials be a good way around
this?

Thank you,
Danelle M

Hi Danielle,

It’s a matter of preference. Many in the online world use an alias to protect their identities from those in the real world, and some just prefer the anonymity of a pen name. I use my real name for all my writing because I like seeing my name in print and because I’m careful about the information I put out about myself. For instance I don’t give out my son or husband’s names nor do I mention towns, schools or other personal details.

There’s nothing wrong with a pen name if that’s your preference.

Best of luck,

Deb

If you have questions you’d like answered here, please send them to deborahng(at)gmail(dot)com with “We get letters” in the subject line. Please let me know if I have permission to reprint and use your name. Thanks for everyone who writes. I promise a response one way or another, it just might not be the same day.