Recently, I dropped out of a LinkedIn writers’ group. I was already disenchanted by some of the conversations, which revolved around how miserable it was to be a freelancer these days. When a rather sketchy job posting was allowed to stay on the forum — and was defended by the moderator — I knew it…
Running Your Freelance Writing Business Like a Boss
I’ll admit it — at times, I still get a case of the guilts. I’ve been freelancing since 2003, so you think I’d be over that feeling of having to be at this desk at a certain time. Yet every vacation, every day off I took (aside from weekends), I felt like I was playing…
Finding Your Freelance Brand
I’m not here. Really, I’m not. I’m fishing north of the border and enjoying time away from electronics. But I wanted to leave you with some things to think about until I get back. — Cathy Miller does it simply. In fact, she says so. It’s her brand, and it’s a smart one. Her website,…
The “Do Not Think About List” Revisited
Way back in 2013, I wrote about things that unnerve us and that take up too much of our time worrying about, fussing over, or venting to friends about. In the current political and social environment, it might be time to revisit that list. And update it. If anyone needs it, it’s me. I’m addicted…
The Tuesday Freelancer: Handling Client Disagreements with Grace
Last week I headed in to the local Macy’s to spend a gift card. I found a few things that I took to the sales desk. That’s when things got, well, weird. The salesperson was a younger woman — mid-thirties perhaps — who was dressed in a really neat rocker-chick style, including awesome makeup. She…
7 Time-saving Moves for Freelance Writers
What I’m listening to: Love Is Bigger Than Anything In Its Way by U2 I’m hung over from a late night — went to the U2 concert, and didn’t get in until the wee hours of this morning. So today, with a full work day and an weekend already filled up with way too much,…
Marketing Monday (on a Tuesday): No More Weasels
What I’m listening to: Get Out by Frightened Rabbit Okay, okay. So it’s Tuesday and I’m giving you a Marketing Monday post. Sue me. We had a long weekend (started on Thursday), and it meant a lot of driving, most of it done by me. When I got back last night, there was no way…
The Freelance Writing Situation (and Removing Yourself from a Bad One)
Double post from me on Monday. The reason? I goofed up in scheduling. No biggie. Just go back and read at your leisure. I was on a LinkedIn Group for a good while, but last week, I just couldn’t any longer. It was a group specifically for freelance writers and editors, and I kind of…
The Ethics of Freelance Writing
You can’t believe everything you read. I was on Amazon shopping for a microphone about a month ago. I sorted results by Average Customer Review, and bought one based on the 9 glowing reviews one microphone received. Too bad they were fake reviews. Oh, I did my homework. I looked for the “verified purchase” tag…
Writers Worth: When Fear Matters
We’ve been talking a lot about what we’re afraid of and what we should do to, well, get over it. What we haven’t talked about is when we have to pay attention to our fears. When our fears matter, and when they deserve some attention. Some fears that are more than just our little egos…