Freelance Writers Have Health Insurance Options – But You May Not Like Your Choices
November 4, 2009 by Deb
Filed under Health Care
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By Matthew Lubin
While our elected officials squabble over the future of our health insurance, millions are living without any coverage. We can only speculate how new legislation will affect our coverage (if we’re fortunate enough to have any). If all goes well, the government will bring down the cost of health insurance through employers [...]
15 Places for Freelance Writers to Find Magazine Markets
November 3, 2009 by Deb
Filed under Freelance Writing
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Many freelance writers aspire to break into print, particularly magazines. Magazine markets and guidelines offer tips for pitching and querying, payment details and editorial contact information. The problem with magazine markets is how often they change. Editors move on, guidelines are updated, payments go up and down.
The Writer’s Market, which updates annually and lists [...]
About Suite 101: An Interview with Editor in Chief Colin Smith
November 3, 2009 by Deb
Filed under Web Content
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Deb’s note: This interview is part one in a series featuring content sites. As there have been much speculation and a few rather lopsided “investigations” regarding content sites, I thought it would be fair to talk to the people behind the content sites and let them tell the FWJ community a little about what [...]
What Every Freelance Writer Needs To Know About Taxes
November 3, 2009 by Deb
Filed under Freelance Writing
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by Thursday Bram
If you’re making the switch to freelancing, it’s easy to miss some of the details that go along with completing your taxes. There are some major differences in the paperwork if you’re working for a company or if you’re self-employed. While there are plenty of ways to save money on your taxes [...]
A Freelance Writer’s Guide to Twitter
November 2, 2009 by Deb
Filed under Community, Cool stuff for writers, Networking
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Twitter is an essential resource for freelance writers. At first considered a fun little social networking site, Twitter now reaches far beyond your average social networking forum. In fact, next to the blog, many feel Twitter to be the most important social networking/social media tool for freelance writers.
Knowing how to use Twitter to your [...]
When an Error Goes to Press
November 2, 2009 by Deb
Filed under Freelance Writing, Writing Tips
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by Dawn Allcot
Famed freelance writer Debbie Ridpath Ohi (aka @InkyElbows on Twitter) recently tweeted: Only lazy writers assume “an editor/agent will fix it.” ALWAYS aim for your best work.
I agreed, posting that it’s not an editor’s job to clean up messy copy — a point I wrote about at my first post here at [...]
Why I Don’t Use Text Speak
November 2, 2009 by Deb
Filed under Thoughts and Stuff
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At my last full time job, everyone used Skype to communicate as we all worked at home. My mornings usually began with a chat with my boss that went something like this:
Him: hi how ru?
Me: Fine, and you?
Him: bsy
Me: What’s on tap for today?
Him: cn u cll ur client 2 find out what hppned?
Me: [...]
News and Announcements: November 1, 2009
November 1, 2009 by Deb
Filed under Announcements
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Taking care of the housekeeping!
Comments Contest
Thanks to the entire FWJ community for participating in our comments contest. For many members of the community, it was business as usual and I appreciate your continuing to provide thoughts and insight to our discussions here. We also met a few new friends. Welcome! I’m tallying up the [...]
6 Ways Freelance Writing is Like Halloween
October 31, 2009 by Deb
Filed under Freelance Writing
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Halloween and freelance writing are two totally different entities but they’re more alike than you think. For example, the effort always pays off.
Getting into the spirit of today, I give you:
6 Ways Freelance Writing is Like Halloween
1. You have to act quickly or you’ll miss out on the full bars: There’s always one house [...]
Why Every Freelance Writer Should Switch to the Dvorak Keyboard
October 30, 2009 by Deb
Filed under Freelance Writing
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by Heath Gordon
The Dvorak keyboard is a keyboard layout that will save you time and prevent repetitive stress related injuries. I’ll help you get started, but first, a history lesson:
The QWERTY Keyboard was specifically designed for the typewriter, eliminating jams, but limiting the typing speed. In 1932, realizing there were [...]
