photo by Dunechaser

What’s one airline safety guideline we could all listen to as freelance writers? Take care of yourself first, then help others. It’s a rule that needs repeating especially since there are a ton of scams out there. It’s hard enough working as a freelancer, marketing your skills, and defeating your inner demons to write, without having to deal with deadbeat clients.
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Martha Stewart’s recent rant about FoodNetwork star and talk show host Raechel Ray got me thinking, “Is it better to be honest or keep your mouth shut?”

As a freelance writer, sometimes you work with people who are unprofessional or difficult. Is it ever a good idea to state honestly how you feel about the working relationship or is it better to cut ties cleanly and quietly?

What do you think?

Better to be honest and state what’s not working (e.g. low pay, unreliable client) or end things without saying a word?

The December issue of The Writer magazine inspired this holiday post on goods to grab especially for writers. If you’re bewildered about what to get your fellow writer friend or you’re jonesing for a few writer gifts yourself, keep reading for my Top 5 List of Christmas Gifts for Writers:
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photo by: RogueSun Media

I say “acting” because that’s what all writers feel at some point in their careers. That we are all acting, pulling the wool over everyone’s eyes, pretending that we are actual writers when there are days we wonder if we’ll ever really deserve the title.

That’s how I felt on the days I put on my mask and became “the journalist.” Since I got my degree in English not Journalism, I wear that badge with both fear and trepidation. I don’t want anyone thinking that I (god forbid!) am a real reporter less they mock my writing style, scrutinize my copy and laugh behind my back at my poor attempt at journalistic prose. After all, I’m not a real reporter, am I?

While undercover in my sad attempt to protect my weary heart from public attack, I still learned a great deal about life. Whether we admit it or not, the process of writing enables us to become the role we fear-a writer. The amazing thing is that when I learn to accept the possibility of the position, I learned a great deal about myself and about life. Here’s what I absorbed from walking in the shoes of a reporter: Read the rest of this entry

Yes the best things in life are free. If only we could still get things for free in this worsening economy. Well I’m making Monday a whole lot better by letting you in on my secret stash of free resources for writers. After spending last week scouring the web, I compiled this Christmas list of freebies: Read the rest of this entry

photo by: flyzipper

I promised a list filled with books that have helped me get a jump start into the field of freelance writing. This is a short list but I will expand as I get more books in my arsenal.

• Starting Your Career as a Freelance Writer by Moira Anderson Allen. This book is one of my favorites. It’s fun to read, informative, and less textbooky in comparison to other how-to books. Great book to have on hand as you’re querying or writing your first draft.

Writer’s Digest Handbook of Magazine Article Writing edited by Michelle Ruberg. Chock full of expert information not only pertinent to beginning writers. While it’s less entertaining than others, it’s filled with really great information like things to do reduce risks when working with start-ups that I wish I had when I first started.

• The Forest for the Trees by Betsy Lerner. Another one of my favorites. It’s less how-to and more how it is to be a writer. I pick this up when self-doubt creeps in and am instantly gratified by sayings like this, “…the degree of one’s perseverance is the best predictor of success. It is some combination of ability and ego, desire and discipline, that produces good work.”

photo by Pieter Musterd

The wheels started turning a year ago. My dream of being a freelance writer was beginning to come into fruition. But there was something amiss. My career never really took off until a few months ago after I left a cubicle job for freelance freedom. Part of it was a disbelief that I could really do it and the other part was my attitude with the query letter. I just didn’t like doing it. Scratch that. I despised it.
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photo by: Tomm (hmm at Rosa tint)

Over the past 3 months I’ve learned more as a freelance writer, than I ever did working in a cubicle. Learning things that I’m passionate about is fun and so I’ve been absorbing everything around me, attempting to learn as much about the freelance writing world as I can.

From months of reading, writing and learning, I’ve compiled a list of resources that has helped me and will hopefully help you, get a head-start on becoming a successful freelance writer. Read the rest of this entry

photo by: HarryAlverson
It’s time to say goodbye to October and hello to November! My how time flies. One of my past co-workers shot me an email, giving me an update on his life. Since I left the corporate world about three months ago, he happily received a promotion. That got me thinking-what have I been up to since then?
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