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Freelance Tips - Freelance Writing, Freelance Jobs

Freelance Work/Life Balance

January 28th 2010 23:18
As a freelance writer, getting the balance right can be a bit tricky when you start out. While you are not making much money yet, it often feels like you should be working constantly. If you do, it will wear you out and you might lose your passion for writing.

It is important to remember that you need time to relax, do something you enjoy. You need to have a life outside of writing if you want to have a variety of things to write about.

Don't feel guilty about going out with friends for dinner or to a movie. Take pen and paper to take notes and write a review later (check with your friends first if it's okay, though, you don't want to ruin dinner).


Take a course that will make you an expert in another niche. The more expert knowledge you have, the bigger the writing opportunities.

As a writer, reading counts as career development - even if it's fiction. It's important to see how other people use language and tell a story. Non-fiction writers need to be story-tellers too, only their stories need to be based on facts.
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Freelancing: Fact and Fiction

January 19th 2010 22:45
Many people have a romantic notion of being a freelancer that bears little resemblance to the truth. There's the old cliche that as a freelancer, you can wear your pyjamas all day. Many fantasize about working in the sun. And too many people think that you can get away with working for five hours tops and then recline to the sun lounger.

Freelancing reality comes in many different versions, but more often than not clothes, a desk and long working hours are part of it.

If you want to write relevant, informative articles you have to do your research. You may have to talk to people or experience the subject of your article first-hand so you can make it come alive for the reader. Facing the outside world in my pyjamas? I don't think so.


Has anyone ever tried working outside, on the balcony or in a sunny café, maybe? Then you'll know that the sun makes it often difficult to see the pixels on your screen, and wind can wreak havoc with your notes if you scribbled them down on loose paper. Having your workspace is much more productive.

I don't know about you, but I like to have a certain standard of living. If I only worked five hours a day, I wouldn't make enough to even afford the rent in London, let alone eat. No, I still work full time as an employee and then another four or five hours freelance on top of that. Whenever a longer freelance project needs more than five hours a day of my attention, I use some of my annual leave. When you start out as a freelancer, chances are you'll work more than before.

I'm not trying to discourage anyone - far from it. I just want you to be realistic about the freelance adventure. You'll have to invest something in the beginning to get yourself in the position where the well-paid jobs are the rule rather than the exception. You want to be your own boss, don't you?

Fact is - sometimes I'm in my pjs all day, the wind dies down and I get everything done by lunchtime.
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Being a Small Business Owner

October 12th 2008 16:42

I was reading in another writing blog (actually, several writing blogs) about acting like a business, and it’s importance. I had a conversation about this yesterday with my fiancé, too, so I think this is a good pointer toward a topic of writing today. It’s not uncommon for this type of thing to come up in conversation, but it’s frustrating when it’s misconstrued or misunderstood.

Many people say to my fiancé or me, for that matter, that I have a “dream” job because it’s everyone’s “dream” to earn money while being at home.

Back up a minute. I’d be working the same job if I worked in a newsroom, in a publisher’s office, or anywhere else where writing is required regularly. Why? Because I’m a writer and this is a profession . . . a career.

The dream job these people seem to be referring to are those scams that are constantly advertised on late night info-mercials or in SPAM email where people can sit back, do nothing, and the money just rolls in. Excuse me, but I’ve never seen a legitimate small business owner, like a freelance writer for example, be able to pull anything remotely close to that off successfully.

The trick: you have to be a business. In reality, this is not a trick at all. It’s common sense. There’s nothing easy about running a business. Work needs to be secured, accounting practices need to be in order, deadlines need to be met, quality work needs to be furnished, and reliability must be a priority at all times. How is that just “sitting home all day” while the kids are at school?

Yes, this topic (running a legitimate business from home) is a real hot button issue with me. I’ve written in the past about how it has always interested me how many of my peers really don’t know what it is I do for work or if it is, in reality, work. How could this be?

Do you face these issues with your freelance writing career? Are you viewed as a small business owner, or are you faced with people who don’t take you that seriously? Is this a frustration you encounter regularly?
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Inspiration Supplied

September 30th 2008 13:24

Are you the type of freelance writer who is inspired by what you see while working?

I’ve always loved being surrounded by things that keep me inspired and keep my muse entertained. I find that, when these things surround me my workday is more productive. Here are some examples:

· Pretty notebooks: yes, this is girlie and won’t do much for the “manly” freelance writers reading this blog. Remember, pretty can also mean appealing to those who want something that compliments their personality, the room’s décor, or their personal tastes.
· Organizational items: I love paper trays, magazine holders, baskets, and other miscellaneous “organizational” items that are great to look at and keep my necessities where they belong.
· Pretty pens: again, this is a girlie thing and I’m okay with that. These pens can range from something you like the look of, the feel of, and the way it writes. I like a gel pen that writes smoothly, yet creates bold handwriting on the page.

If you’re using “bland” supplies that just aren’t doing it for you, consider changing things up. Supplies don’t have to cost you an arm and a leg in order to look or function the way you’re dreaming of in your office or workspace. Check out the clearance areas of the craft store, office supply stores, drug stores, and big box stores – they’re brimming with back-to-school items they’re trying to unload in order to get ready for the new season!
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Busy Seasons

September 25th 2008 19:58

Fall seems to be my busiest work-related season. I’m not really sure why, but it’s true. I’ve noticed this trend since 2004.

· Is it because more job leads are posted?
· Is it because more queries are answered?
· Is it because I’m more aggressive during fall than any other season?
· Is it because I feel more inspired?

It’s interesting because, I feel I work hard all year long . . . it’s during fall I really collect (harvest?) the fruits of those efforts. I can’t really answer the questions above aside from saying I believe it is a “sort of yes” combination type of response to all of them.

When is your busiest time of year? Do you know why your business follows that particular trend? Have you noticed a certain niche that is more popular in your writing career than others (i.e. blogging, content, magazine, etc.)?
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Monday Morning Clericals

September 22nd 2008 20:22

As much as I try keeping up with clerical work over the weekend, I always seem to be spending the first solid hour of each Monday taking care of these things:
· Email: It amazes me that I can close my email inbox with zero messages Sundays at 6:00pm, and re-open my inbox Mondays to at 7:00am to find 46 new messages (after clearing 52 SPAM messages


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Tranquil Work Environment

September 17th 2008 18:06

Do you work in chaos? Is your desk or workspace the equivalent of a bomb going off in an office supply store? Do you spend more time trying to find things than working on things?

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Tools of the Trade

May 13th 2008 16:53
Tools of the Trade
Spiral Bound Notebooks


Every new freelance writer wants to know, "what do I need to stock up in order to kick off my writing career?" It's a valid question, true, but it tends to be over-thought by some. Really, these things don't need to be pondered so much. How you use these tools deserves better thought and attention, I think


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Offline

February 5th 2008 22:48
As I mentioned over on Writing Words, I have moved house and have had broadband issues ever since.

As I have accidentally stumbled several steps up the career ladder and am in charge of an important division of our new project at the day job, being offline does not have any professional consequences


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Whoops

December 17th 2007 18:23
I find myself in an unusual position. My career is moving at a pace it has never moved before and I can hardly keep up with myself. Unfortunately - not really, I love my job at the moment -, it is not the freelance career that is on speed.

Obviously, I have to devote a lot of time to the day job at the moment. But I do not want to give up on my freelance career. I just have to settle into my new role and find out how much time I have left and how to divide that between the things I need to do and the things I want to do. Further developing my freelance writer career is one of the things I want to do. After all, you need above-average scheduling skills if you want to make it as a freelancer, anyway


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