How Freelance Writers Can Save Money By Giving Money

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For many writers, math is not a strong suite. Creativity comes easy, but when it comes time to worry about taxes, writers often run the other way. The danger that goes along with freelance writing is the idea that you do not get a formal paycheck. While a traditional job will take care of the taxes for you, in general, freelance writing probably won’t. In other words, it’s in the hands of the writer to set money aside for taxes.

Now to make things even more complicated for those who despised math growing up: there are different types of taxes that you have to pay. Consider the two types of taxes all freelance writers should be saving up for before April hits: [Read more…]

Revision Requests Getting Me Down

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Dear Jodee,

Most of the time when I submit my work to a client, it is accepted the first time. There are times, though, when I have a run where several pieces are sent back. During these times, I start to wonder about the quality of the work that I do and I feel a bit insecure about continuing to do work for clients.

What would you suggest?

R.J.

Dear R.J.,

I think that to be involved in creative work always involves a certain amount of insecurity. You can’t just show up and expect to get paid; instead, you have to not only produce quality work, but it has to be reviewed and accepted before you receive any money. There are times when it can be stressful – especially when you get a number of requests for revisions in a row.

If you are able to separate your self from your work it can be easier to deal with these situations. Yes, you put part of yourself into what you write (which is why you are good at what you do), but when a client asks for a change he or she is not rejecting you. It’s about the work, and the client has the right to get what he or she wants.

Everyone gets these requests, and in some cases there is more than one round of edits. You may have produced the work, but the request to make changes isn’t about you. As long as you have followed the instructions properly, just put it down to part of the job and make the changes the client has asked for.

Get up and stretch, take a walk, and then come back to work on the revisions. You will have a better perspective on the assignment by taking a break first.

How Do I Get Started as a Freelance Writer

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Dear Jodee,

I love writing. It’s always been one of my passions. I want to go to college but can’t afford it and am definitely not scholarship material. I want to get a job as a freelance writer to earn some money for at least a two year college. I’m graduating this year and I can’t stand thinking I might not be able to go to school anymore. Will you please give me some advice on what I should do? I’d really appreciate it.

Jo

Dear Jo,

It is possible to make enough money from writing to help you pay for school, but I should tell you that there is a difference between writing for yourself and taking on assignments for clients. You will need to be able to follow instructions carefully when doing paid writing work.

If you are going to be graduating this year, I would suggest that you find some non-writing work first and then start writing part-time. That way, you can give yourself some time to get a feel for whether this is something that you would like to pursue professionally while not putting all of your eggs in one basket.

There are many different ways to get paid to write, and I would suggest that you check out the information here at FreelanceWritingGigs, as well as other sites, to learn as much as you can before you start looking for work. You may have to try a few things before you find a type of writing that is a good fit for you but if you are passionate about words and willing to work at it, you can reach your goal. Good luck!

Going Green in Your Writing Office

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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

  1. 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, notes, lists and coloring for the kids.
  2. Invest in recycled paper. Prices are now more reasonable than ever. Keep an eye out for sales at your favorite office supply store and stock up when possible.
  3. Digitize bills, bank statements, invoices, etc. Much of our waste and clutter problems stem from incoming mail that can easily switch to electronic files. Often companies will give consumers a discount for the switch from paper to electronic billing.
  4. Ban pesky receipts. There are several programs that allow you to digitize your receipts – my fave is Shoeboxed.com – eliminating the need to keep bunches of paper. Make sure any app or service you choose uses IRS approved methods.

Product Control

Put your money in green – products and services. There is a huge variety of recycled goods on the market for offices including file folders, organizers, calendars, etc. A little bit of research will go a long way to find products that fit in tight budgets.

Product control also means controlling the amount of energy electronic products consume. A quick way to keep energy usage low – plug all of your electronic devices into a power strip. At night, hit the switch and cut phantom energy use!

Waste Control

  1. Reuse ink cartridges. Instead of tossing a spent cartridge have it refilled. When a cartridge can no longer be refilled, dispose of it properly. Use local cartridge recycling centers and many ‘big box’ stores provide the service, free of charge.
  2. Donate old goods and electronics. Much of the waste in our landfills is electronic waste and things that could be recycled. Both office furniture and electronic goods can be passed onto shelters and thrift stores. Electronics not in good condition can be dropped off at any electronic recycling operation. These centers repair, repurpose and properly dispose of the hazardous parts of our gadgets.
  3. Cut the flushes. If you work from home this item is easier to implement. Save water and resources by following the old adage “If it’s yellow, let it mellow; if it’s brown, flush it down.” It’ll also save loads on your water bill!

It doesn’t take a lot of effort or money to change your office into a green one. It’s almost as easy as putting on a “Kiss Me I’m Irish” pin.

What tips do you have for greening up an office?

When to Follow Up with a Prospective Client

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Dear Jodee,

What is an appropriate time to wait before following up with a potential client? I’ve made a pitch and had a good initial discussion with the client but haven’t heard anything further. I don’t want to appear too pushy, but I also don’t want to let this opportunity get away from me.

Martin

Dear Martin,

I can appreciate that if you have had a positive response from a prospective client you want to get the project firmed up right away. Even if a client is receptive to your pitch, it doesn’t necessarily mean that he or she will be ready to get the project underway immediately. In a case where there are several people who must be consulted to approve the project, it will take longer than if the decisions are being made by one person.

You will want to follow up so that you stay on the client’s radar, but you don’t want to be in touch so often that you appear desperate for work. If you haven’t heard back after the initial positive response in a week or two, send a polite follow-up e-mail or pick up the phone to reach out to the client to find out what the status of the project is.

7 Blogs You Should Be Reading ‘Write’ Now

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I firmly believe reading great writing is key to becoming a great writer. It doesn’t matter the subject, what matters is how the writer connects with their readers and how well they deliver the information they are charged with conveying.

Check out these great blogs *listed in no particular order.*

1. The Oatmeal

Before you cry ‘Foul!’ Yes, The Oatmeal is not a traditional, 500-word-per-post blog. It is, however, incredibly clever with the small amount of words each post uses. Each blog hits its target and it doesn’t dwell on ledes to do it.

2. TechCrunch

Chock full of information, TechCrunch is a tech lover’s New York Times. It combines straight forward writing with a strong understanding of its audience. The only way those folks are going to talk about their cat is if the cat wrote a review about an app.

3. Social Media Examiner

Want to know how to maximize your LinkedIn contacts? Stuck on hashtags? Social Media Examiner wades into the ever changing world of social media and successfully caters to both the novice and experienced social media user. The writing is clean and focused. Bullet points, headers and lists are always used to break down information quickly and clearly.

4. The Urban Muse

A writing site with great writing. The Urban Muse tackles everything from networking to time management and gets readers engaged with its ‘Open Thread’ posts. Funny, real and useful – what else do you need?

5. Inkygirl

Here is another writer’s website with great writing, fantastic information and hilarious comics. Inkygirl‘s Debbie Ridpath Ohi really needs to stop looking in my window and using my life as inspiration for her comics. Despite the fact that she lives hundreds of miles away and draws me as a white woman with short hair I know it’s me. 🙂

6. DadCentric

The power of mom blogs has rocked many a wayward corporate campaign, (Right Motrin?) has been documented in traditional media and even highlighted on Oprah. Dad blogs, on the other hand, have received less fanfare. It’s a shame because blog networks like DadCentric are producing really wonderful content from a perspective that is too often trounced upon by perception. I have long held the belief the “mom knows best” bit is B.S. *climbing off my soapbox now* Beer, bottles, better parenting and butt-kickin’ content makes this a great bit of blogosphere.

7. Freelance Writing Jobs

Yes, this blog. Freelance Writing Jobs is more than daily job leads. We are thriving blog with great information and professional writers who work hard to bring what we learn to others. Go beyond the home page into some of the categories and archives. There is a wide variety of solid information available. Plus we write good too. 🙂

Got a favorite blog? Tell us below!

 

 

Nervous About Meeting Prospective Client

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Dear Jodee,

I’ve been contacted by a prospective client who wants to arrange a time to meet. I’ve been working remotely for some time and the idea of sitting down for an interview is really intimidating. Can you give me some tips?

Nervous Nellie

Dear Nellie,

First of all, congrats on being invited to meet with a prospective client. I can understand that this is exciting but a little uncomfortable as well, but you need to keep in mind that this is not quite the same thing as a job interview. You are sitting down with someone to have a discussion about whether you can work together to help the client achieve his or her goals.

In the time leading up to the appointment, learn as much as you can about the client and his or her business. As you review the web site and any other information you can gather, make detailed notes and go over them several times before the meeting.

As part of your preparation, try to identify specific areas where your expertise can benefit the client. The person you will be meeting with may have some ideas about how you can help, but it doesn’t hurt to come to the table with some strategies of your own.

Keep in mind that while the client may be interviewing you, this is also an opportunity for you to decide whether you want to work with the client as well. Have a list of questions of your own prepared so that you can understand the scope of the work the client needs, as well as his or her professional working style.

If you can get away from the idea that this is an audition and think of it as a discussion, you may feel a bit less nervous. Good luck!

How do I Prepare a Writer’s Resume?

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Dear Jodee,

I’ve seen ads for freelance writers where the prospective client asks for a resume. How do I prepare a writer’s resume for freelance clients?

Confused Applicant

Dear Confused,

A writer’s resume isn’t some mysterious document; it’s just a resume for a writer. The idea of being a self-employed business owner and having to prepare a resume strikes me as being a bit unusual. If you were hiring someone to look after your lawn, fix your broken toilet or replace your roof, you wouldn’t ask to see a resume, so why would a freelance writer have to provide one?

Since clients can and do ask for a resume from a freelance writer, it’s a good idea to have one prepared. This is not something you should do once and then forget about; ideally you review it regularly and update it as you gain experience.

Where some people tend to get confused about preparing a writer’s resume is how to deal with their professional experience. You can list it on the document like any other professional experience but instead of including an employer’s name you can state that you are are a “Self-employed Freelance Writer (Editor, Blogger, Communications Consultant, etc.), along with the relevant dates.

Do you name your clients on your freelance writer resume? It depends. I would suggest naming names if the work is attributed to you. For ghostwriting clients, you may want to be more discreet and describe the type of work you have done rather than sharing who you have worked for.

Some people who use a writer’s resume prefer to use a functional format that focuses on their skills, as opposed to a chronological one. Whichever format you choose, make sure you proofread it carefully before submitting it to a prospective client. It’s also a good idea to have someone else go over your resume to check for typos and other errors you have have missed in your review.

Freelancer 2.0 – Shoeboxed Review

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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 online. I signed up for Shoeboxed’s free trial and have fallen in love with it. I chose the ‘most popular’ $29.99 option that gives users:

  • 150 items scanned by the company,
  • 500 catch up scans
  • 2-3 turnaround time for mailed in items
  • Access to the Shoeboxed mobile app for smartphones

in addition to the unlimited self-scan option that is available on all of the other plans.

Mail-In Experience

Initially, I worried about sending my receipts and precious contact info (via business cards) off to some random address. Fortunately, Shoeboxed provided their own cute blue SASE envelopes to send my items in AND I was able to track the envelope’s progress through the Shoeboxed system. The company returns all materials within a couple business days, which is great for buyer’s remorse or tracking rebates.

The turnaround time for my mail-in receipts was quicker than the plan indicated. Instead of 2-3 business days, I found my receipts online by the end of the next business day.

Smartphone App

Using the app for iPhones was just as easy as popping the receipts in the mail and maybe even easier because I could do it as soon as I received the receipt. A couple camera clicks and a business lunch was logged and added to the expense tracker – it would make any tax accountant proud.

I do have an issue with the unpaid plan. The business card scanner app automatically sends an email to the contact information provided. Potential new client? Bigwig you want to impress? Shoeboxed is going to send them an email and the only way to disable this feature is to upgrade to a paid plan. This is one feature Shoeboxed should remove from the mobile app.

Online Interface

I really didn’t want to learn a new system and spend gobs of time reconciling it with the programs I already use for invoicing, taxes, etc. Good thing this program interacts seamlessly with other popular bookkeeping programs like  Quicken and Freshbooks and all the information can be exported into Excel and CV files.

The open and self-explanatory interface makes it easy to find the information you need, while the reporting areas makes it easy to figure out where the money is spent. The program organizes your receipts by type and creates reports to show the amount of money spent on each category including online purchases – a great tool for any business owner.

The business card tracker is just as helpful. It puts the information from the card into a contact management system that you can edit. The front and back of the card is scanned so any info you need is available when you need it. The best part is the info extracted from the card can be downloaded to most popular contact management systems like Gmail, iPhone/AppleMail, Yahoo, Blackberry, etc.

Shoeboxed made it easy for me to keep my finances and contacts organized for the whole month. I didn’t miss my weekly input chore and I was able to access info from anywhere. Using the Shoeboxed reports helped me define a better budget for both my business and home. I don’t like spending money, but this app is well worth it.

What apps help you keep your business moving?

Full Disclosure: FWJ’s parent company, Splashpress Media, has an affiliate connection, however that relationship had no bearing on the nature or content of this review.

How Not To Suck at Freelance Writing

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Being a freelance writer isn’t an easy gig. Many people wake up on January 1st and after staring at themselves through a hazy fog of cheap champagne and celebratory glitter decide that this would be the year they took the big step and pursue their passion for the written word.

Three months and several rejection letters later they sit alone in their basement home office muttering about being an under appreciated, true artist. Instead of writing for a living, they spend the majority of the day failing at freelancing. Fortunately, after spending a fair amount of time sucking at this job and talking with other writers who have also, at some point sucked, I have found five truisms that should keep you from flunking out of freelance writing:

Freelancing is a J-O-B.

The bunny slippers, the special hours, the inordinate amount of time spent checking email or taking photos of food may make this gig look like a cool excuse for tax write-offs. I assure you, whether you are wearing a bathrobe or a business suit, if you don’t commit to working you won’t eat. Internet currency/street cred/real estate cannot be printed off and used as cash to pay the gas bill. I’ve tried it already.

Real world client interactions rock.

It’s shocking I know, and if you need to take a few moments to compose yourself I understand. There are times where you’ll have to *deep breath* unplug from the Matrix and get out there to find clients. Networking events,

business events and conferences, etc. are places to find these clients. If you have a niche, go to events for that niche, then you can hit them up on Twitter, FB, LinkedIn, etc.

If you never leave the house, you will miss out on a lot of opportunities.

Embrace technology.

If you want to pick a low-budget, start-up business, freelance writing is the way to go. To start, all you really need is a computer, an internet connection and a printer. However, if you stop there, the freelance writing money wagon will not stop at your door.

Okay, I’m not sure about there being a wagon, it could be an internet rumor like Facebook shutting down. The truth is, if you are unable to communicate with an editor, don’t have a website with links to your work or refuse to get on that Tweety thing or Faceplant you are going to miss opportunities.

You don’t need a fancy website, but you do need a little slice of internet real estate where you can host your clips. The advantage is two fold: many editors don’t open files from people they don’t know which means your query with clips attached may be deleted or shunted to the spam file. Also, you cannot rely on a website to keep your clips live. Saving them as a PDF and uploading them to your website will keep you from losing clips to limited bandwith or upgrading tragedies.

While you’re setting up your site, grab yourself an email account, an IM (instant message) profile and a social media account. If you have to pick one I would start with Twitter. Facebook tends to be more personal, while Twitter allows you to follow people in the industry without being personally connected.

Avoid begging.

You don’t need a paying client immediately to pay the rent, you have an opening in your schedule. It’s the difference between “Please go out with me, I haven’t had a date in a year” and “I scored two tickets to the game on Saturday, would you like to go with me?” Desperation is a turn-off in both the public and private sector. So don’t announce to Twitter that you need a job. Approach clients/editors privately – dm, email, phone call and let them know you  are available.

Do Your Research.

Not a week goes by that I don’t get an email that says “I love/like/tolerate/skim your work on Freelance Writing Jobs, how do I become a freelance writer?” I always wonder why they left a site chock full of info, from a variety of industry professionals, to send me an email.

When I write back I always direct them back to FWJ and include a few of my favorite “Get started links.” I do this not to be an ass, but to give them the opportunity to use their own research skills to find the information that is important to them. Every writer has different goals, pathways and priorities when it comes to this profession. Putting in the time to research the industry boosts a writer’s confidence and affords them an opportunity to personalize their writing journey.

Being a freelance writer isn’t easy, but it is a worthwhile, bankable profession as long as writers keep an eye out for possible pitfalls on the way to writing success. Starting out well and maintaining good habits along the way will hopefully keep you from enduring a suckfest. I’ve been there and it’s not fun. You don’t need to be a starving artist to have a successful writing story. Plus, a rumbling tummy interferes with your inner monologue as you write.

Got any tips on how to stay sucker free? Share them below!

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