Once upon a time (2003), I was thrust into the world of freelance writing when I lost my job. Through connections I’d made on the job, I was able to start working independently the very next day. This freelance stuff was going to be easy. Yes, I was that naive, my freelance friends. What followed…
Working smarter
4 Rookie Mistakes Freelance Writers Make
A writer friend and I were discussing LinkedIn yesterday. She runs a popular writing group there, and she was telling me some of the post requests and connection requests she’s had to reject. I get it. When I was first on LinkedIn, I saw immediately that it wasn’t like Facebook or Instagram. It was a…
How I Boosted my Freelance Career (and how you can, too)
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the freelancer I was and the freelancer I am now. They are two different people, my friends. The old me was a hit-and-miss freelancer. I lost my job suddenly and had two kids to support. So my freelance career back then was pasted together. I’d take whatever gig…
1 Freelance Move That Nets More Work
“I liked it a lot. It looks like you have been with this company for years.” That’s feedback that a writer friend received from a new client. One two-hour job that was written in the company’s voice to the audience they’d stated. Know what that does? That small job netted my writer friend some serious…
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…
The Freelance Cattle Call
Let’s just say it. Some job postings are there to attract tons of responses. And they get what they ask for. Why would anyone want to attract tons of job applicants? And exactly why is that bad? First, let’s look at an example of the cattle call. We looking for a freelance copyeditor to review…
Practically Foolproof Freelance Business Boosts
There are no guarantees in freelancing. There. I’ve gotten that out of the way. I bring this up because I’m about to present you with what I think are foolproof ways to boost your freelance writing business. But there’s a caveat: Nothing is foolproof, and less so if you don’t do the work. Too many…
How Freelancers Can Find More Time
We are well. My mom and I are now COVID negative and at or close to optimum health. It was a bit of a rough ride, but so much better than so many other people had it. My mom was hospitalized and put on oxygen, but it was for other conditions unrelated to COVID. And…
Taming the Freelance Project from Hell
Question: How many of you have taken on a freelance project that turned out to be one speed bump after another? Yea, me too. Let’s face it — even the best writer is going to come across that one project that threatens to break them. I had one such project recently that, while small and…
4 Ways to Get More Freelancing Done
Fifteen projects. That was my to-do list by Wednesday of last week. I would say it’s an usual month, which it is, but lately, I’ve been having a string of months just like this one. While that’s phenomenal for the bank account, it’s lousy for the emotional wellbeing. But I sit here typing, ignoring most…