What’s Your Freelance Writing Back Up Plan?
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Yesterday my cable was out for most of the day. Fortunately for me, I only had one freelance writing deadline and I was able to contact my editor using my Droid to tell her my assignment was forthcoming. Yesterday reminded me I’m only as good as my cable connection. Though I’m busy, there wasn’t anything that couldn’t wait. However, if I had major deadlines and obligations I would have taken my laptop to the library or Starbucks and worked there.
What’s YOUR back up plan?
Back Up Plans for Freelance Writing Jobs
I know if my cable or power goes out, I have several options. I head to the library, Starbucks, Panera or any other place with a free WiFi connection. I can also go to my sister in law’s house to work. If I’m sick or can’t post to this blog for some reason, I know I can count on any number of people to guest post or help with leads. If, for some rare reason, I can’t complete a deadline, I can outsource to a trusted writer – with my client’s permission, of course.
I take deadlines seriously and feel professionalism is essential for freelance writing success. However, if I can’t fulfill my obligations I know the first, most important step is to contact my client and explain the situation. Clients are very understanding people and may be OK receiving work later in the day or even tomorrow.
This leads me to my most important freelance writing back up plan tip: When possible, complete all work ahead of time. Giving yourself a day or a couple of days leeway will prevent you from missing deadlines when the unavoidable happens.
There’s another type of backup plan I’d like to talk about today.
Back Up Plans for Freelance Writing Careers
I read a comment this morning from a writer who writes full time for a content site and is concerned she’ll be out of a job if they close shop. Speaking from experience this has happened before. I can’t tell you how many promising content sites and blogging networks don’t exist today. However, it’s not only content sites. Nothing in freelancing is a sure thing. Clients come and go. The only way to avoid a famine period is to spread your eggs around to different baskets. Try mixing content site work with magazine writing. Find private clients or look into blogging and other forms of passive income. Having more than one option mean you won’t find yourself scrambling for work if the unthinkable happens.
Freelance writing takes planning. Take some time to list out some goals. Sketch a plan of action for if you lose power, the cable goes out and other emergencies.
I’m going to throw out one more scenario for you.
What happens if your laptop or computer breaks, is lost or stolen?
- Back up your work often. Keep current projects on a flash drive or two in case you need to work on someone else’s machine.
- Keep passwords, important log in details and personal information on a couple of flash drives kept in different places in your home..
- Leave important information with a trusted friend.
- Keep email addresses and phone numbers where you can find them offline as well as online.
Stuff happens to everyone. Both clients and writers understand there are situations out of our control. Still, there are steps you can take to ensure smooth sailing, even during tough weather. Take some time to formulate a backup plan for a variety of situations. You may not need it, but it may save your career.
Hi Deb. Great post. I usually put my work on my flashdrive. But, if my computer at home is out, I use a computer at lunchtime. Though it is rare for me to do so. I should save my articles on the flash, but I don’t have all of my work on it.Maybe 80%. I need to get everything on there. Thanks for the reminder.
Have a great day.
It was a reminder for me as well. Fortunately we no longer have to sit in front of our computers for hours shoving disk after disk to backup. There are a variety of external or online tools to help us avert disaster.
I felt my stomach drop when I read that last one, “what if your laptop or computer breaks or is stolen.” I do back up my work, but I haven’t been as diligent lately as I should be. Thanks for all the tips and reminders!
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I keep client phone numbers around on paper. Old school, huh? I figure that I’m more likely to take an afternoon off than to sit at Starbucks or Panera all day if some natural disaster occurs and makes the Internet go bye-bye. Should such an even transpire, I’ll give them a ring. I’ve also been known to call a trusted family member and to have them log into my email to set up a “Carson ain’t answering you because he’s barely surviving a blizzard/case of the bubonic plague/etc.” automatic email response.
Backing everything up w/ a flash drive, a reputable online backup service or CD is great. If you’re like me, you have a hard time bringing yourself to do it consistently. My cheap and lazy backup system is gmail. I mail myself a copy of everything I’m working on when I shut down for the night as an attachment and I always have access to the stuff I’ve mailed out.
Can’t wait to see what other folks are doing.
It’s not too old school, Carson, I keep a lot of that in a notebook too – because you just never know.
Also, after 911, and I learned the importance of having a web based email client such as yahoo or Gmail. The company email was down as we were very close to the towers and being able to use my gmail account allowed me to tell everyone I was safe.
First, allow me to say that I don’t have accounts. I just blog. For articles I write, they’re first written in long hand and then transposed on the computer. I’m a septagenarian and have trouble adapting.
My computer crashed a few months back. While it was being repaired, I purchased a used HP. Once my Dell was repaired, I placed the HP in the corner as a back-up.
The presses must run and on time! Once, while in the newspaper business, a headline fell from the mocked-up page. We discovered it 10,000 papers later. The story made it appear that the local school was in trouble with an epidemic. The missing headline had listed the town of occurence. We crafted a rubber stamp and hand stamped the headlineline. It took forever–remember the responsibility of the press.
Backing up your work is imperative. I have a backup service that I use in addition to my jump drivers. I can go to the coffee shop and write. I could hook up my desk top and finish projects. I like to “over deliver” which means clients receive their projects ahead of time. They’re very happy to receive projects ahead of schedule.
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I agree Rebecca. Clients love to receive projects ahead of time because then they don’t have to rush when it gets to crunch time. Thanks for the tip.