If I had a dollar for every time someone contacted me asking me to do work for free, I’d be a hell of a lot richer than I’d be working for free. In the past month alone, I’ve been asked four times to “partner” with or “look at” someone’s work. I had a stranger write…
Money
No-Marketing Guide to Freelancing
Everyone has a sweet spot. It’s that place where the struggle is over, the work and clients come easily, and that working-hard mode you’ve been in for ages has shifted to the hardly working mode. And you’re actually better off. Man, what a sweet spot that is. But what a ton of work you put…
How To Increase Freelance Article Rates
I love it when someone shines a light on a truth and your own lightbulb comes on. That’s how it was for me in 2013 when Walt Kania (whose blog is pretty fabulous, by the way) wrote this guest post for Writers Worth that still resonates. What you charge is determined by one person —…
The #1 Way to Earn More at Freelance Writing
I’m in the middle of a long run of constant work. I’ve met my March earnings goal with the projects I have on hand already, and it’s only the 4th of the month. You want that too, right? Look, there are precious few “secrets” to making a living freelance writing. Most of what you’ll do…
Stupid Math Tricks Freelancers Perform
Sometimes, freelance writer, it isn’t your idea that’s the problem. Sometimes it’s not an idea at all. No seriously, that’s not an idea you have. It’s a pipe dream. Case in point: in a forum recently, a friend of mine said she’d seen where an aspiring writer announced she’d chosen a niche. Great! Only …….
How Freelance Writers Get Sucked into Low-paying Work (and how to stop it)
Imagine getting this email: Hi (your name): Just wanted to let you know I’ve moved to a new company, and we’re looking for writers. I recommended you since we’d worked together when I was at the last company. Do you have time to chat on the phone? So you call. The conversation goes something like…
Why Your Hourly Freelance Rate May Be the Wrong Approach
I don’t charge hourly anymore. Let me be more specific: I don’t quote an hourly rate anymore. I don’t really need to. Neither do you. Here’s what I do instead: I quote a per-project rate, or a per-month retainer. Why is that important? Because sometimes the job you’re doing is much, much more than the…
Free Advice Friday: Setting Freelance Rates Sensibly
Has it really been a week since I’ve been here? This is what happens when your life has a hiccup. I had a good excuse — the day before Thanksgiving in the early hours (1 am), my daughter gave birth to a gorgeous little creature named Jaxon. We were so excited and in love that…
Easy Freelance Money-making Shift
What I’m listening to: You Can’t Save ‘Em All by Big Harp Funny how your career tells you what you should be doing. At a recent Meetup function, I was asked what kind of writing I do. “Risk management and insurance writing” I replied. It wasn’t until a few days later that I realized only…
5 Things You Lose When You Raise Freelance Rates (and One Thing You Gain)
What I’m listening to: Feel It Still by Portugal. The Man Writers, it’s time you get serious. No more bitching about being underpaid. No more trolling job boards and announcing on forums that freelancing is dead. No more expecting clients to respect you when you’re giving them a price break that hurts your own…