Freelance writing is now one of the sources of income for many moms dads and othersalike. As a freelance worker, they are free to serve as many clients as they can. They build reputation by submitting works on time and providing high-quality work. The reputation built will then result into new job offers or job referrals from satisfied clients and writers will have increased income. As a writer, you can collect positive reviews from your satisfied clients. However, many potential clients today, go beyond profile reviews. They have now started to dig for more information about you. Below are the tools you can use [Read more…]
Requirements for Working with Clients in Other Countries
October 21, 2011. 1 Comment
Freelancing is a skill that takes some honing. While someone who has a knack for networking will find it easier than others, there are still challenges that you just have to work through. Much of it, in fact, is a matter of learning the hard way, and we all have our horror stories. Of course, the risks and difficulties become more pronounced when working with people from countries other than our own. All communication is done via email or instant messenger, though some might occasionally ask for Skype. There is no real legal recourse when things go wrong. All in [Read more…]
Freelancers Can Budget, Too!
October 17, 2011. 1 Comment
Freelancers have, be definition, a fluid income source. Projects come and go, clients don’t always have steady work, and new opportunities are just around the bend. There is also the somewhat unsteady foundation for many websites, magazines and experimental publishers, which make it hard to know when what payment will be coming when, and for how long. In the past, I have spoken to dozens of other freelancers who seem to agree that this makes budgeting a near impossibility. As a consequence, they end up living from month to month trying to put their money wherever they can, and making [Read more…]
How to Happily Accept Criticism
September 22, 2011. 2 Comments
It has been said that the two most sensitive people in the world are artists and writers. This is often proven in how the two groups take criticism, which is a regular part of our chosen professions. Perhaps this is because we all tend to put so much of ourselves out there when we craft our art. We are opening ourselves up to review, and we all want what we create to be well received. As a blogger, you are even more vulnerable to negativity. Not only are you writing on a much more frequent basis, but you are doing [Read more…]
Going Green in Your Writing Office
St. Patrick's Day isn't the only day to be 'green'
March 17, 2011. 7 Comments
Bring up the topic of green living and people think recycling and light bulbs. These are, of course, important parts of caring for the environment, but they are not the only things each of us can do to save, reduce and reuse resources. The office presents several opportunities to lessen our personal impact on the world around us. Paper Control Cut back on paper use. Writer’s use a lot of paper, including to hand -edit pieces. That’s why it’s important to keep a bin next to the printer to deposit used paper. The paper is can be reused for back-side printing, [Read more…]
When a Freelance Writing Job Doesn’t Pay
How to make the decision to work for free
March 8, 2011. 10 Comments
There is perhaps no other topic in the freelance writing world that generates more controversy than the concept of writers writing for free. Bring it up and lines in invisible sand are drawn, commenting spikes and in the case of Harlan Ellison, a few F-bombs are dropped. It’s understandable. Shady publishers and editors prey on vunerable writers who want to see their names in print. Writers are constantly burned by “write for free now and earn later” promises in which “later” never comes. However, in the angry buzz of the debate something gets lost. Choice and education. There will always [Read more…]
Freelancer 2.0 – Shoeboxed Review
Getting organized with online help
March 2, 2011. Leave a Comment
There have been many advances in the field of freelance writing over the last few years: for most publications it is no longer necessary to send in an SASE (self-addressed stamped envelope) query; electronic payments outpace snail mail checks; social media has made it easier to connect to other writers and editors, etc. The business side of freelance writing has gotten easier with more online applications streamlining mundane tasks many writers loathe. Shoeboxed is one great app that moves shoeboxes full of receipts out of the closet and into cyberspace. Shoeboxed organizes and stores receipts, business cards and documents [Read more…]
Article Clip 911
Protect your career and back-up your work
January 13, 2011. 7 Comments
This is it! This is the opportunity you’ve been waiting for – a publication you’ve had your eye on is interested in your work. Perhaps you’ve had a chance meeting with an editor or saw a job post. Now all you need is to send in that one great clip. You know, the one that shows your skill, expertise and spot on interviewing? So you type the title and your name into Google to pull up the piece…It’s gone. Silly you, you never got around to saving that clip or even printing it out. You figured it would always be [Read more…]
Writing is Like Sex
Keeping it fresh and frisky with new crackers
November 30, 2010. 8 Comments
While you’re doing it, you’re focused, zoned in and intense. Every distraction is met with deep disappointment – the phone, the kids, the dog standing there watching you do it. When you’re not doing it it’s all you can think about leaving you distracted. “It” is writing, but the passion in which we pursue, fantasize about and devour it makes it a lot like sex. That’s another big reason why it’s fun. The Heat. There’s nothing like the heat of new blog post, new assignment or new magazine. The magazine represents an opportunity. The blog post or assignment represents a [Read more…]
Creating Your Own Freelance Writing Gigs
Rainmaking as an Alternative to Job Listings
November 30, 2010. 7 Comments
I believe that one reason writers aren’t in higher demand is our collective shortcoming in marketing our gifts and their value. We have a tendency to wait until people see a need for us when we should be telling them why we’re so damned valuable. When you’re rainmaking, that’s exactly what you’re doing.
25 Tips to Become a Successful Freelance Writer
Build Your Freelance Writing Business
October 28, 2010. 5 Comments
Today is my last day as part of the Freelance Writing Jobs team. Time constraints and other obligations have made it difficult for me to give this community the care it needs, but I leave you in the very capable hands of Franky Branckaute and the Splashpress Media team. If you’ve been following my branding series and want to read more about branding and social media marketing, you can follow the link to read a free bonus chapter from my new book, 30-Minute Social Media Marketing, and if you’ve been following my copywriting series and want to learn more, you [Read more…]
Freelance Writing Business Tips from Richard Branson
You're a Writer and an Entrepreneur
October 26, 2010. 4 Comments
Richard Branson is the founder of Virgin Group, a highly successful company with customers around the globe in multiple lines of business. He’s also a serial entrepreneur — he just pursues his entrepreneurial spirit through his larger company (and on the occasional extreme sporting trip). Today, Richard Branson published a post on his blog called How to Succeed at Failure. That post leads readers to a question and answer series that he participates in, which is published on the American Express Open Forum. In this particular question and answer post, Branson responded to questions about failure, and his answers can [Read more…]
How Do You Handle Unresponsive Clients?
October 26, 2010. 11 Comments
Recently Carson Brackney wrote this wonderful article about getting more work from existing clients. The advice he gives is excellent, and I have followed most of it unconsciously for some time, but it got me thinking about what happens on the opposite end of the spectrum when we must deal with an unresponsive client. This has been on my mind recently because I have been worrying about a client who suddenly dropped off the face of the earth. Fortunately, he went incommunicado shortly after he paid the balance he owed me on our latest project, so I’m not concerned about [Read more…]
An Interview with Dan Schawbel – Author of Me 2.0
Learn How Personal Branding Can Help Build Your Freelance Writing Brand
October 4, 2010. Leave a Comment
I was fortunate enough to have international best selling author and personal branding expert, Dan Schawbel, write the forward for my book that’s coming out next month, 30-Minute Social Media Marketing. The second edition of Dan’s incredibly popular book, Me 2.0, comes out this week. You can read his bio at the end of this post which demonstrates just how well Dan knows what he’s talking about! I spent a few minutes with him discussing how freelance writers can build their own personal brands in order to build their businesses. Dan’s insightful answers to my questions are included below. Be [Read more…]
How to Make a Living as a Writer
This is How I Do It? What about You?
September 30, 2010. 20 Comments
I Don’t Live in the United States – Can I Apply for U.S. Freelance Writing Jobs?
The Simple Answer to a Common Freelance Writing Question
September 16, 2010. 3 Comments
I receive a lot of emails and comments on Freelance Writing Jobs posts asking the same question: I don’t live in the United States. Can I apply for U.S.-based freelance writing jobs? Since it’s such a common question, I want to provide an answer publicly. Here goes… Can you apply? Yes. The hiring manager will determine whether or not they’re willing to work with a writer outside of the United States. You’ll never know if they’re willing to do so if you don’t apply. When it comes to freelance writing, you’re not an employee. You’ll either be paid as a [Read more…]
Different Ways to Create Content
September 3, 2010. Leave a Comment
It doesn’t take rocket science to realize content is what blogs need to survive, succeed and even profit. In most circumstances blogs require a constant flow of quality content. There have been many would-be-bloggers who’ve thrown up a website with a handful of pages filled with pillar content and leave it at that. Then they move on to the next blog. That kind of blog model can work if you stay within micro niche topics where there is very little competition. However, if you prefer to build a blog and keep adding content – you will want to consider your [Read more…]
Multiple Niche Sites versus One Large Site
August 31, 2010. Leave a Comment
I’ve seen it happen numerous times – in fact, I’m guilty of catching blogging fever myself. When someone catches the fever, they are faced with the urge to setup multiple blogs covering a variety of niche topics that are of interest to them. Early in my blogging career I had and was attempting to maintain 13 blogs. That’s right THIRTEEN! Let me just say it didn’t take long for me to find that was Impossible! Recently I had a discussion with a friend of mine who would like to begin earning money blogging and would like to start off earning [Read more…]
Create Content With Timeless Appeal
August 25, 2010. 1 Comment
If you’ve continued reading to this point, you’ve likely taken the time to evaluate the “standard guidelines” and feel you have what it takes to blog. While you take some time to develop your blog for appearance sake, you’ll want to begin thinking about your initial content. I personally recommend you put some thought into creating timeless content that will serve as your pillar posts. Even if you select news-related topics, you can create timeless pieces that means the content you create will be useful today, tomorrow, a year from now and quite possibly 5 years from now. Blogs that are focused [Read more…]
