Sometimes these posts just write themselves. I was in the company of someone a few months back who’s a real talker. Mind you, I like a good conversation, and I love hearing other opinions. What I don’t love, nor does anyone else beyond theater and the comedy circuit, is a monologue. And no one loves…
How Far You’ve Come, Freelancer
Unlike the rest of humanity, who is busy trying to piece together some resolutions they’ll forget in a week, today isn’t about looking forward. It’s about looking back at your own freelance writing journey. A number of years ago, I was talking with a cousin, who happened to be hoeing her garden. I mentioned how…
What Turns Freelance Writers into Cynics?
Since very few people are in today or the rest of the year, let’s have a little fun. I was talking offline with a writer friend, and we were going about the business of reading into people’s motives. Then it dawned on me — I’ve become a cynic. And a skeptic, but that’s probably another…
2019 Freelance Writing Tasks to Take into 2020
It’s quiet this week, isn’t it? Oh, there are a few client projects to wrap up perhaps, and maybe more being discussed, but for the most part, things are calm. And you’re itching to get earning at a time when the world is on holiday. I know I am. But instead of sitting here for…
Protecting Your Freelance Writing Rate
Saw a discussion online a while back among writers wanting to raise their rates. At one point, someone suggested that writers make sure to negotiate a raise with their clients. Couple of things wrong with that thinking. You’re not an employee; you are not talking to your employer. Your rates are yours to set. They’re…
The Worst (and Longest-lasting) Freelance Writing Mistake
This post is about entitlement. It’s also about the big mistake some writers are making while thinking they’re entitled to something. I saw an exchange on a forum I frequent that made me wonder about a lot of things, but mostly about how some writers must truly love shooting themselves in the foot. Here’s how…
5 Ways to Organize Your Freelance Writing (and still have time for fun)
My to-do list today: Finish summary article for Client A Continue on feature article for Client B Finalize article for Client C (and invoice) Get it all done by noon because my son is arriving and staying for the next four days ‘Tis the season, isn’t it? December used to be when my freelance writing…
Tales From the Stranger Side of Freelance Writing
This post is serious. Seriously weird. Know those clients and interactions and projects that you get that make you wonder WTF years later? For some reason, one of those popped into my head last week. It was random, too. I was playing Solitaire before I got to my emails and boom! I’m thinking about one…
What’s Your Best Freelance Writing Rate?
That title alone probably causes more than a little agita for freelance writers. It still does for me. In fact, I’d say most freelancers struggle on occasion with what to charge a client. That’s normal. What isn’t normal is what I’ve seen online when writers ask each other the “What should I charge?” question. Some…
4 Biggest Marketing Mistakes, Uncovered
When you cruise social media, you see some pretty weird stuff. I’m talking about business stuff mainly. There’s plenty of other weird stuff, but business stuff — specifically, how people are presenting themselves and their businesses — makes for some head-scratching moments. Maybe it’s the hashtags I follow, but lately, I’m seeing some appeals/advertisements/begging that…