3 Grim Legal Realities Freelancers Need to Accept

Sometimes the law just isn't fair...

Barbed Wire Image

In an ideal universe, the law is there to protect both parties in a contract equally. The freelancer and the client would both have guards to prevent the other from doing something unscrupulous or somehow taking advantage of the other. Of course, in an ideal universe, justice would be free, it would be immediate and it would never make any mistakes. Unfortunately though, we don’t live in a perfect world and, in many regards, that legal playing field is very much tilted against the freelancer. Not only do clients, typically, have more money but the global nature of the Web [Read more…]

This is My Mohawk. Tell Us about Yours.

I can do something this obviously goofy because I have the best freaking job in the world. And so do you.

Now, I know that most of you don’t have even the slightest inclination toward Mohawkdom. You’re in this business, too, though. That means you could have one if you so desired. You could even dye it pink and then write “Sex Pistols Forever” in red Sharpie above your ears.

Separation, Integration and Working as a Freelance Writer: My Peas are Touching My Meat (and it’s Good)

I realized that I don’t really want a separation between the professional and the personal. I don’t want regular hours, a regimented schedule or a sign on the door of my basement office.

Screw separation. I want integration.

10 Reasons Why the WAHM Thing Might Not Be Working Out

workfromhome

I left my day job exactly 8 years ago to become a freelance writing WAHM. Prior to that I worked as a freelance writer for two years while still juggling a full time day job. Freelancing from both sides of the fence wasn’t always easy, especially when just starting out. Thankfully I worked hard and stuck with it. Thankfully, I was successful and didn’t have to return back to an office job. Working at Home: It’s Not What You Think In ten years time, I’ve seen many of my fellow WAHMs start a business but go back to full time [Read more…]

10 Habits of Successful Freelance Writers

success

For most of the Freelance Writing Jobs community, it’s not enough to be a freelance writer. You want to be a successful freelance writer. However, freelance writing success isn’t found on a job board or even a blog. You can find your success by cultivating good habits and working hard to get ahead. The most successful freelance writers know what it takes to be the very best: 1. Focus The ability to complete projects without succumbing to distractions is important. When you’re constantly stepping way from your work space to check on kids, see what’s to eat or watch the [Read more…]

More on Freelancing, Blogging and Giving Out Free Information

free!

At SXSW last weekend I had a chance to attend a small, intimate gathering made up of many of the top writing bloggers and social media professionals in the space. We had an interesting conversation regarding email and how many people write to us on a daily basis requesting advice. Most of us described receiving hundreds, if not thousands of emails each day requesting advice for getting started, setting rates and other questions. So herein lies the dilemma…. Every bit of advice folks email to ask about can be found on this blog. For example, I receive mail asking for [Read more…]

Your Freelance Writing Clients Know You’re Lying

Pinnocchio

Freelance writing clients are smart cookies. Most of them know when they’re being conned or lied to. In today’s public and open world of freelancing, you can’t call in sick and head to the beach. You can’t claim an aunt died when you really just want a few days off. If you’re going to lie to your clients, keep in mind that in most cases they’ll find out. Don’t Invite Clients to View Your Personal Details if You’re Going to Be Dishonest As freelance writers we work hard, but we still maintain flexible schedules. There’s no reason why we shouldn’t [Read more…]

Contracting vs. Freelancing in Large Corporations

Corporate-Lady

If you’ve been a freelance writer for a while, you may be scratching your head and wondering about the title of this post. More specifically, you’re probably wondering why I’m contrasting freelancing and contracting. Unless you’ve incorporated your own business you probably already know that in the United States, at least, most freelancers are treated as independent contractors. When tax time comes, U.S. based companies who paid a freelancer or an independent contractor over the specified amount (in 2009 it was $600) will send them a 1099 form for tax purposes. It may seem to many that freelancing and contracting [Read more…]

Freelance Writing Jobs for February 11, 2010

So as of Wednesday evening, we’ve been socked with a foot of snow and another five to ten inches expected over night. Part of me is thankful I have a job that enables me to stay inside during such weather, and part of me wishes I could take a snow day too. Freelance Writing Jobs Community News Did you know we post community news to our weekly newsletter? If you received and award or accolade, published a book, launched a product or any other good news to share, send it to us at wegetletters(at)gmail.com for inclusion in the weekly newsletter. [Read more…]

Freelance Writing Jobs for February 1, 2010

It’s a true clean slate Monday – a new week and a new month. What will you do to make a positive start? Your daily lists Enjoy today’s lists. I think there’s some good stuff here, hope you think so too! New around the Freelance Writing Jobs network Setting a Freelance Writing Rate Equal to the Task Freelance Writing Jobs Presents 19 Parenting Markets Freelance Writers: Are You Just Going Through the Motions? Recommended reading from around the blogosphere Practical Social Media Measurement: Leads, Conversions, Sales How to Write a Viral Blog Post at Daily Blog Tips Weaving with Words: [Read more…]

How Freelance Writing is Like…

Over the past few years we’ve compared freelance writing to many different entities. For me it’s kind of a challenge to find off the wall comparisons. I’m going to issue that challenge to you today as well. What are some of the comparisons you can make to freelance writing? Tell us here in the comments, on Twitter or your own blogs. Let’s see what you can come up with. Since I’m busy compiling markets this week, I haven’t had a chance yet to do much real blogging. So we’re going with a greatest hits post this afternoon. How freelance writing [Read more…]

5 Solutions to Prevent Fear from Hindering Your Freelance Writing Success

fear

Are you afraid to take your writing to the next level? Many new (and even some not so new) writers are afraid of setting their sites too high. They’re afraid of asking for a decent rate or breaking outside of their comfort zones. Success is scary – and it’s even more scary getting to that place. If you read this blog, it means you’re either a freelance writer or you’re hoping to become a freelance writer. Congratulations, you took the first and hardest step. Every thing else is gravy. There is nothing left to be afraid of from this point [Read more…]

The Freelance Writing Club: It’s Not So Exclusive Any More

members only

I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about freelance writing and how it’s evolved over the last decade. The freelance writing club used to be a lot more exclusive, they didn’t just let anyone in. Back in the day, it wasn’t as easy to make a living as a writer. Nowadays, it’s a little different. A Journalism or Mass Communications degree isn’t required, and freelancers don’t have to spend days chasing checks and scrounging the trades for the rare freelance writing opportunity. In 2009, freelance writing jobs are very easy to find. Freelancers of all levels have plenty of work, [Read more…]

Freelancing vs. Full Time Telecommute

A year ago I accepted a full time position with an online company. Honestly, it was a dream job. Blogging, social media, and because it was for a virtual company, I was able to work at home. In fact, if it wasn’t a telecommute gig, I probably wouldn’t have accepted. The job didn’t quite turnout as planned and almost 12 months later, my hours have been cut to part time. Though I will miss the money, I’m rather relieved. Not because of the job, (which I enjoy) but because I missed some of the perks I received as a freelancer. [Read more…]

Is Freelance Writing Only a Work From Home Job?

bunny-slippers

My friend Anne Wayman at About Freelance Writing only posts what she calls the “true” freelance writing jobs. Anne feels that if you can’t do it in your bunny slippers, it’s just not freelance. As much as I respect Anne and what she does, I have to beg to differ. I feel a freelancer is someone who isn’t tied down to one job or employer, it doesn’t matter if one works at home, on site, in the park or at the local coffee shop.  The dictionary agrees: Also, freelancer. a person who works as a writer, designer, performer, or the [Read more…]

A Little Mid-September Weekend Link Love

link-love

I hope our friends in Texas will check in below and let us know them and theirs are safe and dry! A couple of announcements before I share the love: “We Get Letters” is coming back. If you have any questions regarding freelancing, writing, blogging or any other topic discussed here, feel free to send it to me at deborahng@gmail.com. Let me know the letter is ok to print and if I can use your name. I have some for this week – but there’s still time to get in. Put “We Get Letters” in the subject line. If all [Read more…]

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things…

laptop-and-coffee

by Deborah Ng Here are the top three (freelance writing) things I can’t live without. I believe they’re self explanatory: 1. My laptop 2. My coffee maker 3. The door to my office. What three things can’t you live without?

What’s On Your To Do List?

by Deborah Ng What’s on your to do list? What do you mean you don’t have a to do list? For me, I couldn’t manage my freelancing day without it. Even now with a full time job I refer to an itemized list for my priorities. A typical freelancing to do list for me looked like this: Job boards FWJ: Post Leads Email Client project #1 (deadline today) Client project #2 FWJ: Post tip Email Client project #4 Client project #5 Phone calls

When Should You Quit Your Day Job? A Few Things to Think About

dont-quit-your-day-job

Unlike many freelancers, the decision for me to give notice at my job was based on three factors: I was about to give birth, we were moving to another state and my husband had a very good job. Before this turn of events, we discussed the right time for me to leave my job to be a freelance writer. As an accountant he was able to give me some very practical advice and things to think about, and I’d like to share them with you. Set a goal: When I left my job my options were to take a maternity [Read more…]

Why You Should Consider Cold Calling to Find Work

cold-calling

by Deborah Ng If I had to pick the freelancing task I despise the most, it’s probably cold calling. To me, that’s what smarmy salesmen do. When I was a receptionist, way, way back in the day, I would cut cold callers off at the pass because no one ever wanted to hear from them. Still, you can get good clients from cold calling, so it’s best not to rule it out altogether. Why Cold Calling? Many small businesses are busy – so busy they can’t take the time to find the help they need. They also don’t think they [Read more…]

Weekend Link Love for a Hot Summer Day

What's the View Like from your Laptop?

Are you finding jobs from Jodee’s leads? Tell us how it’s working for you in the comments. Knowing how it’s going for you and what kind of jobs work best assist us in our search. Plus we just like hearing from you. Do you have any news or tips to share? Questions to ask? Please do. In the meantime, here’s what I’m reading this weekend: Blogging Jobs: How Much Are Bloggers Paid to Blog? at Blog Herald Blogging Freedom is a Mixed Blessing at Confident Writing (Is anyone else really digging this blog? It’s one of my new favorites!) The [Read more…]

How to Turn a Low Paying Client into a High Paying Client

Look beyond rates to get the bigger picture.

by Deborah Ng Not all employers are cheap. Many of them have a good idea but not a lot of money. When it comes to start ups and the web, it takes time to build up advertising dollars or a customer base. Before you turn down a lower-paying gig, you might assess the situation and consider whether this client has the potential to pay more later. Think about this: I had one client who went from paying me $500 a month to paying me $3000 a month. So how do you turn a lower paying client into a higher paying [Read more…]

A Little Weekend Link Love – July 12 – 13, 2008

by Deborah Ng If there’s one thing I noticed lately it’s that there’s no shortage of blogs about writing, freelance writing, freelance writing jobs and blogs. What this means is there’s no shortage of writing jobs and advice. What do you think? The more the merrier or overkill? Here’s what I’m reading this weekend: Here’s a great post by Lorelle Von Fossen at Blog Herald on where to find blogging jobs and how to apply. It’s a follow up to Blogger Jobs: What are They Looking For? How to Stretch your Articles into Dollars at Blogging Tips. What do you [Read more…]

Pajama Freedom and Freelance Writing

by James Chartrand Ah, freelancing, the life of pajama attire. It’s the dream of every hopeful freelancer: to work wearing nothing but that oh-so-comfortable home office attire that so many out there promote. It starts off simply enough. The first day at your own job, you fall out bed, blindly grope for coffee and decide that changing into sweatpants is just too much trouble. Why bother anyways? Who will see you? This is your life now. This is the world of the free, where corporate suits and skirts are banished after exorcism and three rounds of the house while burning [Read more…]

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