What’s on the iPod: 25 to Life by Eminem
Crazy day yesterday. Had some research to do and a small project to handle, but mostly I spent the day going over contracts and arranging interviews for an article. Today starts what I call my Marathon Interview Week – four in two days. It doesn’t sound like much until I get to unravel it all next week.
I spent some time discussing a collaboration with some fellow writers, and I’m excited. We’re going to do something local, which could be ongoing should it be successful. Plus I signed a contract that has yet another ongoing project about to begin. March is going to be so much fun.
It’s going to be refreshing doing something beyond the day-to-day writing. I’d mentioned before feeling some change coming, partly because I wanted change, but mostly because I need new challenges. These two projects will do it, as will a third project that’s almost ready for prime time. I’ll fill you in when I can.
Last week’s post I had on About Freelance Writing was rewarding – not for me (well, just a little) but for some of the commenters. One guy in particular made my day. He followed the advice and in minutes found enough writing avenues to explore, meaning he could soon leave content farm work behind. Amen. Alleluia.
It is that simple. Figure out where you’re stuck and get yourself unstuck. He knew he didn’t want to be writing for those places anymore. It took a virtual kick in the pants to get him to look elsewhere.
Because the post focused on breaking free of content farms, I gave general advice on how to find magazine writing work. The advice applies across all areas of your career. Tired of writing blog posts for clients? Pitch to write their press releases or white papers. Can’t stand the thought of one more article assignment? Contact clients directly to work on internal communications pieces. Try these things to find new work possibilities:
1. Career Builder/Monster sites. Sure, go ahead and look for freelance jobs, but the search you need to be conducting is on the companies themselves. Get a feel for which ones hire writers and editors. These are people who have an ongoing need. These are the next recipients of your letter of introduction.
2. Search engines. Search engines are great for finding companies in your particular area of interest. Want to write for the shoe manufacturing industry? Type in “shoe manufacturers” or “shoe associations” into the search engine. Look for both association directories and individual companies/contacts.
3. Friends. Ask your writer friends – or even your lunch friends – what they’re doing these days. Sometimes the best idea for expanding your business is right in front of you. Don’t steal, but take a few pointers from your writer friends (and ask if your “regular” friends work where they’re hiring writers).
4. Brainstorm. Have you always wanted to coach? Are you sitting on short stories that could be circulating among magazine editors? Isn’t it time to finish that book? Just because it’s not work that will result in immediate paychecks doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be investing in what makes you happy. Dream it up, plan it out, and go live it.
How do you expand your business? Where do you look when you want new challenges?
Another source is LinkedIn. Similar to your recommendation of searching Career Builder/Monster sites, companies post jobs on LinkedIn and I have contacted them about doing work for them until they find their permanent candidate.
And Twitter too, Cathy. I've had good luck with just asking on Twitter.
I need to get the backlog of short stories out the door. I need to finish the book that has to get out the door next month. I need some short turn-around, quick-pay jobs for March (I started pitching). I may go after a couple more decently-paid magazine gigs that I've seen around, if they're short turn-around enough.
Right now I'm following the advice you give in the article linked to.
Reading that makes me realize how much I'm sitting on, Devon. I need to get some stuff circulating, too.
Diane, I hope the post is helpful to you. BTW, LOVING your book!
I like to try breaking into new subjects. After all, the main reason I like freelancing is because I'd quickly get bored writing about the same topics over and over.
Last year I focused on finding markets for crafty type writing but discovered most don't pay well, and those that pay fairly well usually want original patterns more than they want articles. Sorry, but when I invent my own patterns I'm not giving away all right in exchange for a modest paycheck.
This year I'm focusing on food.
That's a good focus, Paula. 🙂
I'm sitting on the brainstorming part of the list. I realized that, somehow, I've gotten out of my Inspirational field. Since that's the kind of stuff I want to write, I suppose it's high-time I got back to it. I have a couple of magazines I might try pitching to after I research them a little bit.
The other benefit of jobs posted on CareerBuilder/Monster/LinkedIn is that chances are good those companies might need a freelancer to fill in while they sort through full-time candidates. Can't hurt to send a resume and cover letter, especially if the job description includes "managing freelance writers," because that indicates the company is already accustomed to working with freelancers.