finding freelance work | Words on the Page

Quick & Easy Traps

Posted on April 26, 2011 by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Fear of Falling by The Badlees What a day yesterday. I’d like to tell you how much work I accomplished. I’d like to tell you how much marketing happened. I’d like to – but I can’t. I managed the Home page for a Web project, a phone call with a potential…

It’s All in the Perspective

Posted on April 20, 2011 by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Ten Thousand Things by The Avett Brothers Yesterday was one of those productive days that makes me glad to be a freelancer. I managed a crazy schedule without interruption because A) I work from home, B) I don’t have to attend meetings, and C) the commute time is better spent writing….

Making It Happen

Posted on March 16, 2011 by lwidmer

What I’m reading upstairs: The Violent Bear It Away by Flannery O’ConnorWhat’s on the iPod: Hey, Hey by Dispatch Don’t forget – sign up now for the one-day Webinar hosted by Devon Ellington and yours truly! I’d love to see you there. Here’s the link. Interesting day yesterday. Because I’m awaiting approval on one project,…

Spreading the Wings

Posted on February 9, 2011 by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: 25 to Life by Eminem Crazy day yesterday. Had some research to do and a small project to handle, but mostly I spent the day going over contracts and arranging interviews for an article. Today starts what I call my Marathon Interview Week – four in two days. It doesn’t sound…

What’s in Your Freelance Basket?

Posted on February 3, 2011 by lwidmer

What I’m reading: Night Crawler by Diane Parkin What’s on the iPod: The Electric Boogie by Marcia Griffiths (Oh, yes I did!) Nice day yesterday. I managed one small project, then had the rest of the day to plan out an article, including lining up interviews and scaring up some experts. The experts part was…

Worthy Tip: Take This Job, Not That One

Posted on January 28, 2011 by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Laundry Room by The Avett Brothers There’s one good thing about shoveling snow – it’s great cardio and muscle work. I’ve found if you have enough Aleve, you can pretty much shovel your way from one side of town to the other. Not that I want to or intend to –…

Doing it Better

Posted on January 26, 2011 by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Rockstar by Nickelback Good day yesterday. I managed a project, research on another project, a dental appointment, closure on yet another project, and tutoring my Vietnamese student last night. She had to take a test to measure her progress, so I had an hour of uninterrupted reading time in the library….

Overeaters Anonymous, Here I Come

Posted on January 20, 2011 by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Better Together by Jack Johnson Remember my sitting idle in November and December? Remember my wondering where all the clients were? I wasn’t worried – well, yes, I guess I was. I figured they’d be back, but I was eager to see them back sooner rather than later. Well, in true…

The Best Laid Plans

Posted on January 18, 2011 by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Through Smoke by Needtobreathe It’s funny how as the birthday of one Robert Burns draws near, I’m finding myself quoting his To a Mouse. If the best laid schemes indeed “Gang aft agley”, that was yesterday. Try as I might, I couldn’t get beyond one project, which quickly morphed into three….

The Big Question

Posted on January 7, 2011 by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Magnificent by U2 Yesterday was a small part work and a large part distraction. After her 24-hour bout with the flu, daughter woke up and packed for her Disney trip. I dropped her and her boyfriend at the airport, then headed straight for 30th Street Station to pick up the stepson,…

Devon Ellington

January 7, 2011

I've landed some nice gigs from Hope Clark's Funds for Writers, and she also has information on full-time jobs, grants, and residencies.

It'll be interesting to see what local gigs I land here with my next marketing push over the next few months, or if the bulk of my client list remains all over the map.

Jake P

January 7, 2011

Good suggestions, LW. Along the lines of your 3rd item, graphic designers have been my best resource over the years. Someone who understands the importance of good content, and how much better he or she will look to her clients, is a wonderful creative and business partner.

Two caveats: 1) You DON'T want to waste time trying to convince someone who *doesn't* care about the text, just move on; and 2) At the risk of generalizing, designers tend to be more sensitive than writers to criticism, so act accordingly. You can't have an adversarial relationship the way so many editors do with their art directors.

Cathy

January 7, 2011

Great ideas all the way around. I have used Hope Clark's as well and keep saying I'm going to "hook up" with graphic designers, but haven't done it. My bad.

Another is asking for referrals. I have done personalized emails to friends and clients that don't sound like a begging plea or annoying advertisement (at least I hope not) and I chat about what kinds of things I have been doing. Which of your friends don't work for a living and have contacts? If you're like me, not many. And they are inclined to help but they just don't think about it until you ask.

Lori

January 7, 2011

Devon, thank you for the suggestion. I've never heard of Hope Clark's before, and I welcome the new avenue!

I think you'll be swimming in gigs soon. Sounds like you've immersed yourself in the culture and community already. I'm eager to see the results, too. 🙂

Another great suggestion, Jake! Thank you. I've worked with a few designers in the past, and you're right on both counts. I've not had any prima donnas, but they're creatives, too. Criticism should be gentle and helpful.

Great idea, Cathy! Sometimes just asking around in your current circle opens doors.

hugh.c.mcbride

January 7, 2011

"I'd say my life was interesting, but only vicariously so."

A bit off the general topic, but I nominate this sentence to replace "Write what you know" as the world's standard writing aphorism 🙂

I mean, I realize that many of us have fascinating existences, but there's a reason that we ended up in gigs that require spending a lot of time alone in a room, writing about other people (real or imagined), right?

Back on topic, I'd like to emphasize your advice to err on the side of the "soft sell" when it comes to promoting oneself via social media. For example, Twitter is a fantastic platform for making connections & drawing attention to your work, but folks whose Twitter feeds are nothing but sales pitches are more likely to alienate than attract.

Paula

January 7, 2011

It's yet to prove incredibly fruitful, but I try to keep in touch with former editors who've moved on. One moved to a trade that doesn't use freelancers, but I e-mail her every now and then just in case. Another editor is about to leap from an industry trade to a top ($2/word) consumer mag in the same genre, so you know I'll be sending him congratulations once he starts his new job.

I get Hope Clark's newsletter and check her site, too. Another favorite is Writers-Editors Network. For the past four years or so I've sprung for a mid-level membership that includes a listing in the site's writer's database. A couple of editors have sought me out through the database, but I've also landed some long-term jobs through their Member's Only job board. The $49/year membership fee (they have cheaper levels, too) pays for itself many times over each year.

Wendy

January 7, 2011

Look locally. I like working with local clients,because you get to know each other. Also, some people shy away from hiring over the internet because their afraid of scams, etc. They see you in person and feel a little better paying higher rates. Well, some do anyway. Not all.

I would love to see the end result of the painting. Sounds cool.

Jessie

January 7, 2011

The first half of this post would have really been useful when I was just getting started a year ago – I had to figure all that out the hard way!

The second half, though, is very useful to me in the present though. I love this kind of practical advice. Great post!

Lori

January 10, 2011

Hugh, I never thought about it, but I guess it's true! I sit in a room all day and create visions for other people. I guess we're all in someone else's dream. 🙂

And I couldn't agree more on the Twitter feeds. I've stopped following people who are too self-promotional, and I refuse to follow them if their last ten tweets were all about themselves.

Thanks for the tip, Paula! I'll check out the site. Not sure I'll ever pay for a membership unless there's more promised than jobs, but if it's tried-and-true, I'm listening.

Wendy, we have all the words done. Now it's time to find some illustrations for line breaks (it'll make sense when I finally get a picture up here).

Jessie, I hear you! It's tough starting out because you think work is no farther away than the Internet, which is true. It just depends on where you look and how you approach it. 🙂