photo by: brykmantra During my short stint at a private investigator, I had the opportunity to face my fears. I was afraid of a lot of things, but being determine wasn’t one of them. Several months into it, my supervisor called me a “bulldog” because he said I didn’t let go of the target once I found it. In retrospect, I think it’s the same stubborn perseverance that has kept me writing thus far.
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Photo: Steve Wampler Oh the things that freelancing has taught me! Some of the things I’ve learned are the importance of keeping good business records, receipts and tracking all my queries. If it was ever beneficial to be organized, it’s now! But another gem came from the wisdom of other freelance writers. From discussion boards like those on Writer’s Digest and LinkedIn, and invaluable chats with people like fellow writer Jordan Rosenfeld, I’ve learned the secret of keeping my head above water, and my wallet out of the red. It’s called, “diversify.” In my lil interview with freelance writer, editor and…
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I was going to start this post with something like, “How to Know It’s Time to Say Sayonara to Freelancing and Take That Full-Time Job” but I realized I’m no expert in the area. I am, however, going through this same situation and know other freelancers who are going through it as well. The question we’re all asking ourselves is, “Do we sacrifice our freelance freedom for regular pay at full-time job?”
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or do they? With magazines folding left and right, hundreds of staff writers being laid off at newspapers, there’s more than enough reason to panic. After all, if all the good experienced writers are suddenly out of work, where does that leave us freelancers? Don’t give up just yet! Although it’s tempting to give in to the wave of panic, reacting out of fear won’t make things better. In fact, you might be setting yourself up for future regret. Think of it this way. Remember when you were single and lonely? Or how about really hungry, let’s say starving? What…
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When you’re staring at a blank screen all day and listening to nothing but the sound of time passing by, it’s difficult to be a freelance writer. Then you get days like today. By some stroke of luck I had the chance to connect with one of my writing idols. Can you imagine my excitement when contributing editor and columnist for Writer’s Digest magazine and fiction writer Jordan E. Rosenfeld invited me (!!!) to chat with her over tea and dreams? Yeah, pretty surreal! Fortunately I got some of her inspiring words down here, which I think is great advice…
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Photo by: TCM Hitchhiker Sometimes the word writer and monster feels like one and the same. You’re all alone. People think you’re weird-at least you think they think you’re weird. You spend all of your time holed up researching online, in the library, reading at cafes. You send out letters asking people for work like a desperate fiend needing his next fix. Most of the time you wonder if, like Shrek, you’re the only monster in the woods. Is there anyone else out there going through the same things as you?
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Photo by: Vicki’s Pics Sherri Shepherd has a book coming out entitled, “Permission Slips.” If I had a book coming out, I’d call it, “Rejection Slips.” I’m sure every writer gets them. Those standard letters or brief emails that says, “Sorry the position is filled. We liked you but…” So close, and yet so far. How do you keep querying, writing, and pursuing your dream as a freelance writer, when you keep getting those heartbreaking slips?
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photo by broken thoughts I took an evening writing class late last night. For 4 hours I sat, listening to the teacher speak. Four hours later, I realized. Why didn’t I learn this as an undergrad in English?! Then it hit me. There was this entire aspect of freelance writing that I hadn’t even considered previously…the Business Side of Freelance Writing! Doh!
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Photo by: Onion I’ve already listed “What Being a Writer Has Taught Me” in an earlier post, but one thing I didn’t mention was how it has changed me. See, I’m a shy person. As a grad student in Counseling Psychology I took the Myers-Briggs personality test which only confirmed my introverted-ness. Yet, when I put pen to paper or fingers to keyboard I’m suddenly transformed. Kind of like superman with his cape I guess. It makes me “more powerful than a locomotive and able to leap tall buildings in a single bound.” Well, maybe only in my dreams. But…
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photo by Lisa Norwood Here’s what I’ve learned. Tell me if you think I’m wrong or right. It seems like in the digital world particularly in the area of freelance writing, there is a wave of what I like to call “lit cliques.” It’s kind of like being in high school, you know which group you belong-the geeks, the oddballs and you know which group you’d like to belong-the jocks, the popular crowd. Well social networking on sites like LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter is kind of like a big popularity contest where top freelancers are in one corner and others…