Month: April 2019

Reality Check: Are You Freelance Writing Material?

Posted on April 25, 2019 by lwidmer

Yesterday, my workday looked like this: I revised a client article most of the morning. Due date — as soon as possible. Simultaneously, I was dealing with phone calls and texts from family members about our summer place. There’d been flooding. Apparently, I’m the designated calm voice in a sea (pun not intended) of anxiety […]

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Stolen Work: Theft in Freelancing

Posted on April 23, 2019 by lwidmer

Last week we talked about when your ideas are stolen. It’s a tricky topic, as ideas are not copyrightable, but there are some instance in which you, freelance writer, might have some legal ground to stand on. With your writing, however, you have plenty of ammunition. In fact, here’s your guide to what’s protected: Copyright […]

<span class="entry-utility-prep entry-utility-prep-cat-links">Posted in</span> Ethics | <span class="entry-utility-prep entry-utility-prep-tag-links">Tagged</span> | 5 Comments

Your Freelance Writing Ideas, Stolen

Posted on April 19, 2019 by lwidmer

I’ve been at this writing-for-a-living thing for a few decades, so when I hear someone complain that their ideas were stolen, I think back to the first Journalism course I took, which taught me this: Ideas cannot be copyrighted. There’s a reason for that. If they could be copyrighted, there would be just one book […]

<span class="entry-utility-prep entry-utility-prep-cat-links">Posted in</span> Ethics | <span class="entry-utility-prep entry-utility-prep-tag-links">Tagged</span> , , | 4 Comments

This Job, Not That Job: Part-time job, Full-time headache

Posted on April 17, 2019 by lwidmer

Yes, it’s clearly spring, for the lousy job listings are piling up like a line of cars following behind a cow. A really slow cow. Really slow. And the posts are getting weirder. What I’m seeing lately are postings that mask the true intentions of not the poster, but the job itself. Here’s an example that […]

<span class="entry-utility-prep entry-utility-prep-cat-links">Posted in</span> This Job Not That Job | <span class="entry-utility-prep entry-utility-prep-tag-links">Tagged</span> | 8 Comments

Freelance Files: Protecting Your Billable Hours

Posted on April 15, 2019 by lwidmer

A while ago, I was working on a project with a client’s client, and it was clear there was going to be an issue. The client was nice enough. He knew what he wanted, and I was able to interpret that into a good first draft. But there was a massive disconnect from that point […]

<span class="entry-utility-prep entry-utility-prep-cat-links">Posted in</span> Client issues | <span class="entry-utility-prep entry-utility-prep-tag-links">Tagged</span> , | 2 Comments

Idea File: Finding Freelance Writing Ideas in the News

Posted on April 10, 2019 by lwidmer

Today I’m finishing up an article whose topic came straight from the news. Think headline-grabbing, celebrity-steeped scandalous news that’s been overplayed by every major (and minor) news organization. And yet, my article only mentions that original scandal. That scandal, that news, served as a catalyst for my piece, which touches on the scandal so lightly, […]

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Freelance Idea File: Ideas for Attracting Clients

Posted on April 9, 2019 by lwidmer

How many times have you heard (or asked) this question: Where do I find clients? Today, we’re going to answer it. If I had a quarter for every time I’ve fielded that question (and asked it myself — we’re all beginners at some point), I’d not have to write for a living. It’s a legitimate […]

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Guest Post: When Clients Try to Set Your Freelance Writing Worth

Posted on April 8, 2019 by lwidmer

I love Mika Doyle. Mika is one of those beginning freelance writers who is carving out a career, but doing it the right way. I’ve watched her from the sidelines as she’s built her freelance foundation, and it’s exciting to watch. Mind you, she’s gone through the same tough cycles and struggles like we all […]

<span class="entry-utility-prep entry-utility-prep-cat-links">Posted in</span> Writers Worth | <span class="entry-utility-prep entry-utility-prep-tag-links">Tagged</span> , , | 21 Comments

Idea File: Getting Freelance Ideas from Articles

Posted on April 4, 2019 by lwidmer

Have you ever read an article that left you with more questions than it answered? Right there is a fountain of freelance writing pitch ideas. I’ve read articles that never answered the one question I was hoping they would, and the ones that just brought up four or five questions. Did the writer do a […]

<span class="entry-utility-prep entry-utility-prep-cat-links">Posted in</span> Idea File | <span class="entry-utility-prep entry-utility-prep-tag-links">Tagged</span> | 4 Comments