New regional monthly hip-hop magazine is looking for freelance writers with an interest in and knowledge of hip-hop. We’re looking for the tone of each piece to be edgy and speak to the young urban population. We have the editorial calendar set; now we just need writers to get going on producing content. Contact Person/Business: Erin Eagan/CONNECT Magazine Articles are roughly 1,200 words and include profiles, features, Q&As and opinion pieces. We will pay on a per article basis. Rate is negotiable. Please send resume and writing samples to e.eagan4@gmail.com.
Don't Ignore the Hidden Job Market for Freelancers
August 8, 2009. 5 Comments
I read recently that only about 20 percent of jobs are ever advertised. We post some of them here at FWJ regularly. That means that a whopping 80 percent of all opportunities are never advertised. Most people looking for freelance writing work concentrate their efforts on the portion of the market that is readily accessible. Why Answer Job Ads? The short answer to why people who are looking for work look to job ads is that like the low-hanging fruit, these kinds of opportunities are accessible and relatively easy to get. The client indicates they are looking to hire someone [Read more…]
How to Get a Big Job from a Small Country
August 8, 2009. 9 Comments
by Sharon Hurley Hall One of the worries people have about taking their freelance career on the road or moving it abroad is how they will actually get work. There can be a feeling that if you are cut off from the major urban hubs then you might find it difficult to gain access to high paying clients. That’s not true at all. With a bit of organisation, you can have a successful freelance writing career, no matter where in the world you choose to live. 1. Get A Good Website if you’re not at the end of a local [Read more…]
Self Editing Tip #2 – Read It Out Loud
August 7, 2009. 6 Comments
Last week we talked about distancing yourself from your work in order to be able to edit with a fresh and critical eye: Self Editing Tip #1: Distancing yourself from your work. In addition to distancing yourself from your piece you need to be able to hear what the piece sounds like to other people. No, you don’t have to go and round up neighbors to read your articles, all you have to do is read it out loud to yourself. Sounds a bit strange I know. The best thing about reading written work out loud is you are better [Read more…]
Freelance Writers Wanted
August 7, 2009. 4 Comments
Freelance Writing Jobs is pleased to welcome Demand Studios as our newest sponsor. The folks at Demand Studios are always so impressed by the caliber of writers coming from FWJ and we’re happy to support a company that works with both new and established writers. Demand Studios® – one of the web’s top writing communities responsible for publishing thousands of articles a day to a large network of premium media brands including Livestrong.com, eHow.com and Trails.com – is seeking experienced freelance writers to create insightful articles for more than 30 million readers to view. We are currently recruiting writers who [Read more…]
Freelance Writing Jobs for August 7, 2009
August 7, 2009. 33 Comments
Actually I was wrong yesterday. Anyone CAN be a writer. Thanks to content sites accepting anyone without even seeing writing samples, anyone can, indeed, become a writer. However, not everyone can be a good writer and I think that’s the difference. Now before I receive another flood of hate mail, let me explain a little: I’m not trying to discourage new writers at all. While I hope I’m giving them a good place to start, I also hope I’m being realistic. I enjoy providing this haven for writers of all levels to discuss and share. However, as a lot of [Read more…]
Freelance Writing Jobs for August 6, 2009
August 6, 2009. 43 Comments
I had an interesting conversation with a relative last night. We were talking about another relative who is home now and disabled. He’s bored and thinking of working at home. My relative suggested he write or blog and I sort of took issue with that. I know it wasn’t meant to be insulting, but was I put off a bit. Freelance writing has become just another “Work from Home!!!” job. We’re now lumped in the same category as envelope stuffers. I don’t know if many people realize how much hard work it takes to be a successful writer and how [Read more…]
Do You Earn a Full-Time Income from Home?
August 5, 2009. 15 Comments
I’m writing today because of a comment left here by Carol Tice. First of all, I’d like to thank her and everyone else who has been commenting on and Tweeting my posts, as my self-esteem and self-worth are directly related to these things. Carol wrote (albeit, to Deb) in response to The Glamorous Life of the Freelance Writer: “I think you need to raise your rates…you’re always blogging about your insanely long hours. I have 3 kids and I work about 30 hours a week and make a very fulltime living, mostly just during their school hours. Remember, one day [Read more…]
How Do You See Your Resume?
August 5, 2009. 4 Comments
Preparing a freelance writer’s resume is a bit different from a standard one. If you were looking for a job where you are working for an employer as opposed to offering your services as a self-employed professional writer, your goal would be to make the employer interested enough in you to invite you to come in for an interview. It can be a little different when you are applying for freelance writing gigs. I’ve only had one client where I had to go through a formal interview process before being hired. The other people I’ve worked with (so far) have [Read more…]
Freelance Writing Jobs for August 5, 2009
August 5, 2009. 8 Comments
If I haven’t expressed my gratitude for this community in a while, I apologize. I don’t lie when I tell folks this is the greatest blog community (we’ve even won awards for our community spirit). I especially enjoy watching you all interact and share ideas, tips and experiences – and warnings. The other day I was on a conference call with a well known web company that may become a huge sponsor for us. While on the call, I was told they love posting ads here because each time they put out a call for writers the writers from this [Read more…]
Freelance Writer Wanted: Social Media, Blogging – $50 per post
August 5, 2009.
Freelance writer wanted for startup. One to two blog posts daily on the topics of social media, blogging, new media, web 2.0, blogging and anything else that fits. Blog posts can range from instructional to newsy. Desired candidate doesn’t simply know a little something about social media, they live social media. If you think social media is only Twitter, please do not apply. Send a cover letter AND resume Include relevant writing samples No attachments If you have never blogged and know nothing about the above, this isn’t the job for you Tell us why we should choose you over [Read more…]
Freelance Writing Jobs for August 4, 2009
August 4, 2009. 6 Comments
A couple of years ago there was much drama over a scammy company called Laray Carr. This company ripped off writers and designers and led to a full scale FBI investigation. Well, it appears the people behind Laray Carr are back again, under the name Niche Age Media. I won’t rehash all the sordid details here, espcially when Victoria Strauss just did so at Writers Beware and tells the tale so well, but I will ask you to check out these former posts here and at Writer’s Beware so you don’t fall victim to these scammy people. Writer’s Beware: Laray [Read more…]
Where to Find Free WiFi HotSpots Around the World
August 4, 2009. 15 Comments
The good thing about being a freelancer is our ability to take our laptops and go. We can work on vacation or just go to the local coffee shop when we’re in need of human company. The trick, of course, is finding the places offering free WiFi. We’re only as good as our wireless connections, and fortunately for us, there are hundreds of places to connect. Here is where one can find free WiFi Hotspots or websites listing Wifi Hotspots – from around the world. Local venues Panera Bread Starbucks The Public Library Krystal Restaurants Toomers Coffee – Auburn AL [Read more…]
5 Reasons Freelancers Should Keep Regular Business Hours
August 4, 2009. 20 Comments
We freelancers cherish our flexibility. We enjoy sleeping as late as we want, packing up and going to the shore at a moment’s notice and working wherever our laptop takes us. This doesn’t always work in our favor, however. With flexibility comes a whole other assortment of issues, including people who don’t respect our time or job and the loss of ability to stay focused. Though it sounds like an oxymoron, freelancers might consider having business hours. While this might make us a little less flexible, it has it’s benefits. People respect your time more: For some reason people don’t [Read more…]
Your Writing Golden Hours
August 4, 2009. 1 Comment
Writing golden hours – those hours in a day when you are most productive, feel the best and do your best work. My hours used to be around or after midnight. I could write without interruption and ideas seem to flow. Not anymore. Most things I write after midnight need to be edited so badly the next morning there’s no point in even attempting to string a sentence together. My life has changed and the demands on my time has changed to the point that after midnight I’m so sleepy I couldn’t write my way out of a paper bag. [Read more…]
The Phone is Your Friend – Use it!
August 3, 2009. 18 Comments
If I had my druthers, all of my freelance writing business would be conducted via email and Skype. It’s so much easier. I don’t have to put on my happy voice. Don’t have to wear my game face. If I don’t feel like getting all schmoozy, I don’t have to. For me though, a telephone is an essential tool, one too many freelance writers are quick to avoid. Let me explain a bit more… I have a client. She hired me to help build her online presence and she hates the phone too. We’ve been emailing back and forth for [Read more…]
Freelance Writing Jobs for Monday, August 3, 2009
August 3, 2009. 19 Comments
It’s Monday and a brand new month, you know what that means. It’s clean slate time. Push away any bits of negativity or lingering doubt from last month and start anew. Let’s see what we can do to be more profitable and productive in August. I’m taking steps by working harder on my next book/ebook. I took advantage of the rain to do some serious writing and I’m happy to report it’s coming together nicely. My fresh start for August is spending at least an hour a day on this project until it’s finished – and it’s going to be [Read more…]
Where does Inspiration come from?
August 2, 2009. 1 Comment
OK, so now you have your ambition and a clear idea of what you want to write and why you want to write it. You also have in mind what that success is going to look like; be it money, prestige, intellectual plaudits or even becoming attractive, you know know what it is you want. And now you want your writing to take you there. So, you sit at your keyboard with an expectant grin and and a heart full of hope and you begin typing. Then you stop. Then you start again for a while and then you stop again. [Read more…]
10 Reasons for Difficult Clients or Why Your Clients Aren’t as Difficult as You Think
August 1, 2009. 3 Comments
All freelancers have difficult clients, though the definition of “difficult” is certainly in the eye of the beholder. Some feel a client is difficult because he requests edits while others don’t like clients who check up on their projects each day. While there are a few who are really, truly mean-spirited or micromanaging, most aren’t as difficult as we might perceive them to be. Clients have good reasons for being hands on or requesting your best effort. Consider this: It’s their baby: When a client hires a freelancer, he’s retaining the person he feels will best represent his product or [Read more…]
