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Open question: Do any of you belong to your local press club? If so, what are the benefits? Do you think that it is a helpful for freelancers to become members?
The prospect of becoming a freelance writer is both exciting and a little bit scary. Let’s face it: the freelance writing community is a big ocean full of bigger fish (a.k.a. experienced writers) and you as a newbie have to somehow manage to take a deep breath, jump in and hope you don’t immediately sink or become a larger fish’s dinner. The mere thought is enough to make any newbie cower in fear of the unknown.
As someone who has spent a majority of time dangling my toes in the edge of that proverbial ocean, I can wholeheartedly say that the experience is well worth it. However, I have also spent a fair share of time in the freelance ocean struggling against the undertow. There are a lot of things I wish I had known before I started, that would have made my journey a little smoother. But I suppose that’s the blessing of hindsight.
If you are just starting out, I’d like to share with you some things that I learned that just might make your experience a little easier. Before you dive into that intimidating ocean of freelance writers, take some time to familiarize yourself with some life rafts that dot the water.
1. Freelance writing will not be easy, nor will you become rich. Every newbie freelancer has aspirations of becoming the next Carrie Bradshaw or the next assistant at Vogue. These are great fantasies for when you are standing on the line at the bank daydreaming, but they are not reality. Dream jobs do not fall out of the sky. An editor from Conde Nast will not call you at home and ask you to pen a piece on the new Manolos. Not going to happen.
What will happen is work, and a lot of it. You will work on copy for things you have never imagined writing about. Pieces on such varied topics as hybrid vehicles, male enlargement devices and rhinoplasty, will begin to fill your portfolio. You will be paid for these gems, but you certainly won’t be running out with your new found millions and quitting your day job (not yet anyway).
Expect to write about a wide range of subjects, and know how to use the internet to search for reputable sources of information (note: Wikipedia is not a source you want to rely on for your information).
2. You need to know your worth as a writer and you need to know what rates are acceptable. Sure, you’re excited to write and you will take on any project that comes your way. However, it is important that you know the going rates for particular kinds of freelance writing, editing and proofreading jobs so that you are getting what you are entitled to. You wouldn’t be willing to work at McDonald’s if they paid you $2 for every 200 hamburgers you flipped, would you? Well there are a lot of freelancers out there who sell themselves short by taking on writing jobs that require 10 articles at two dollars a pop.
We all have to start somewhere, but being taken advantage of is never a good way to begin. If you are worried about lack of experience or published clips, try writing for a site like Suite101. You will be able to get some web-published clips and some good experience writing for the web. Another good way to build up your portfolio is to offer your writing services to volunteer organizations. While these are commonly non-paying, they are quite reputable and will give you great clips and references for future projects. Even better, you will get to feel all warm and fuzzy inside that you did something nice for someone!
To get an idea of acceptable rates, check with the most current version of the Writer’s Market book. This book will become your bible and it is advised that you spend the $25 each year and pick up the newest version. The book offers a wealth of advice from market listings, freelance market rates and helpful articles pertaining to all things freelance.
3. Providing samples of work means you are giving away your work for free. Working hard to write a quality piece, only to have someone take it from you with nothing more than a thank you is unacceptable. Do not work for free. If a client wants to see how your write, provide him/her with clips of your work (see #2). Freelancing is a job, just like any job, and when you work you are expected to be paid for your services. If a potential client will only work with you under the context of a freebie, walk away.
4. It is much easier and satisfying to write about what you know and what you are interested in. Chances are high that the first piece of writing advice, solicited or otherwise, that you were given regarding your freelancing endeavor, sounded something like this: write what you know. This is a very good piece of advice and should be something you try to adhere to when you can. Of course there will be times when a client wants copy written about colon cleansing or forex trading, and of course you have to write about these topics that you no nothing about and have no particular interest in whatsoever.
However, when pitching ideas, stick to the things you enjoy. It is much easier to write about something that you are personally interested in, not to mention the research behind the piece will be less time-consuming. You are more likely to produce more work of a higher caliber when it is about something you know.
5. Freelance writers who are not organized and cannot manage their time should consider another career path. You will be juggling multiple projects at any given time. It is essential that you keep track of all your deadlines on one central calendar (I find the large desk ones work best). You also need to keep track of payments from clients. You should create a system, even if it is a simple notebook where you devote one page to each project/client, in order to keep up with billing out clients and recording payments.
I am trying to get my hands on some copies of Sassy magazine. If anyone happens to have any that they’d like to donate I’d be more than willing to pay for the shipping costs. I need them for some research that I’m doing and I don’t want to spend crazy amounts of money on ebay for them. Think of this as an act of karma.
Please help if you can, I’d be very appreciative.
Recap: While catching up on my afternoon fill of Gawker, I came across this that caught my attention. An NYU journalism professor has banned her students from blogging (A). Upon taking a survey of her class of 16 JOURNALISM majors, only one has a blog (B). So readers, take your pick. Which fact about this story is more disturbing…(A) that a journalism professor informed her students that “there will be no more blogging” (in regards to her course evidentally) in the same class that she lectured that “it is essential for journalists to blog”. OR choice (B) that in a class of undergrad journalism majors, only one has a blog?
1. The two interviews I did were in relation to the Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest. First was with this year’s winner (and fellow Suite101 writer) Garrison Spik. The second was with the founder of the contest, Professor Scott Rice. Both interviews were informative and really interesting. I cannot wait for my next interview!
2. Decided to drop down to a free account on Elance. It still maintains my profile and client feedback, but since I haven’t been using them much, there is no fee associated with this membership level.
3. Decided to go back to school and finish my BA in English. Have applied and will let you guys know the outcome as it happens.
4. I just got an Editor’s Choice Award on Suite for my article on Back-to-School Books for Adults.
Any questions?
As a side note, I apologize for lack of posts. Been serving Grand Jury Duty (had to previously postpone it) and I am so enthralled with the workings of the legal system. Seriously considering attending law school in future.
There’s a line in the new Batman movie, The Dark Knight, where The Joker says, “If you’re good at something, never do it for free.” This simple line resonates over and over again in our careers and life in general. More specifically in terms of our writing endeavors. Practice makes perfect and the more we do something the better we get at it. At first when we are learning the ropes, working pro bono for a cause that is personally meaningful or volunteering time to help out a non-profit is always a great way to improve our skills. However, clients who are looking for work for their own business purposes must understand as smart business people that it takes money to make money. Please, do not work for free. And if you feel as though you must somehow do so to “pay your dues” that do so for a non-profit organization or a reputable charity where you know you aren’t being taken advantage of.
I am curious to see if it is worth using. Primarily it would be geared toward books and movies about books, so nothing too pricey (don’t even know if that matters?). It wouldn’t be for this blog, but another book focused blog. Share your experiences, good AND bad.
Lately while working at my desk, my cats have become a bit eager to “help”. This translates to eight paws walking all over the desk including keyboard. Then it dawned on me, I need this:
Ok, I wouldn’t actually spend money on this but it is an interesting idea. I especially like how it attaches to the side of the desk and swivels outward, what a space-saver!
Do any of you have a similar problem with pets while trying to work?
Summer and reading goes together like, well peanut butter and jelly! So have you read anything good this summer so far, or is there a book that you are particularly excited to read this summer? As you can see, I like to read, spend a lot of time reading and spend a lot of money on books:
That (above) is my 5 shelf bookcase which is literally about to fall apart because I don’t think it was made to withstand such use.
This one is my smaller 3-shelf bookcase, which has already collapsed more times than I can count.
And here is my corner bookshelf that is next to my desk. As you can see it holds just a sampling of my writing-centric books.
I don’t know about you, but the idea of paying a monthly fee to have someplace quiet to go for the purposes of writing seems a bit, I don’t know, STUPID. Paragraph is a self-proclaimed “workspace for writers” that offers writers “an affordable and tranquil working environment” in NYC. Rates are based upon membership level, with two different memberships offered (Full time and Part time), and will cost you $702 and $480 semi-annually, respectively.
I have several problems with this so here we go in no particular order:
1. If you live in NYC, can you really, seriously afford to pay this fee for a place to go and write?
2. If you are a writer in NYC, do you really have this much “extra” money lying around ($117 or 80) a month to blow on such an extravagance? Wouldn’t putting that money to something more useful (I don’t know, say self-promotion, a writing class…) be a better use of funds?
3. What happened to going to the library? For God’s sake, if you live in NY, there are only a million libraries everywhere you look. They all provide some semblance of a quiet area and better still they are free courtesy of all those pesky tax dollars we pay!
What do you think about this? Is this a good idea for the AVERAGE freelance writer (presumably struggling to make ends meet in NY no less)?
UPDATE: courtesy of Gawker, check out these “rules” for Paragraph
From: “Paragraph”
Date: June 30, 2008 1:01:37 PM PDT
To: Subject: Rules: Reminders & AdditionALL MEMBERS KINDLY TAKE HEED
Because we have been getting a good number of complaints, we’d like to remind everyone of the following rules:
*Cell phones should not ring or buzz in the writing space.
*Do not answer your phone as you’re leaving the writing space. (Dashing for the door in order to answer your phone is an additional disturbance.)
*Do not talk on your cell phone in the hall; your voice carries into the writing space.
*The café area is for eating, taking calls (under ten minutes), checking email, and *quiet* interaction. The cafe area is not for conducting business.
*Noise from the café carries into the writing space, so please keep your voice down.
*No eating is allowed in the writing space. Food attracts mice, and bags, candy wrappers and chewing make noise.
*While in the writing space, mute your computer before you turn it on, and while in use.
*When entering, leaving, and working in the writing space, please be as quiet as possible. Dropping bags and books onto desks, tapping pencils, getting up and down frequently to answer phone calls, and the like should be avoided.
A new rule:
*Newspapers should not be read in the writing space. They make too much noise.
A suggestion:
*If you’re wearing heavy or hard-soled shoes, please bring slippers to wear in the writing space.
Thank you for helping to make Paragraph a peaceful place to work.
