Adventures In Freelancing

How do I even start freelancing?  That's probably the biggest question on people's minds when they think about writing for a living.  Some of you may be like me, never having written for publication before.  Others may have a background in journalism or publishing.  The latter may have a bit of a leg up, with experience and contacts under their belts, but becoming a freelancer is something that everyone has to work at to be successful.

I'd like to share with you some resources for getting started.  Of course, there are the fabulous prizes, I'm giving away in the next eight weeks here at Adventures in Freelancing.  These resources are a great place to start finding information on starting your freelance career off right.  Here are some other resources I've found invaluable in learning what to do and what not to do as a freelance writer.  This is by no means a complete list.  I'm working on a blog roll and list of resources, and my goal is to have that completed this weekend.  But I'll get you started with some of my favorites.

Let's start with books.  I'm getting used to reading on the computer screen, but nothing will ever replace books for me.  I highly recommend:

Writer Mama by Christina Katz - This is one of the first books I read on freelancing, and I use it as a reference regularly.  Christina gives so many tips for moms to squeeze writing into their busy schedules.  She also discusses ways to break into print magazines, like submitting tips or pitches for shorter, front of book pieces.  I consider it a must-read, even if you're not a mama!  You can also visit The Writer Mama Riffs Blog.

The Renegade Writer by Diana Burrell and Linda Formichelli - Of course, I'll mention it again here, even though it is the prize for this week.  I love, love, love this book!  Diana and Linda tell it to you straight.  Their advice on which freelancing rules to break and which to keep is just what we all need to know.  They've been there, done that, and they share what they've learned in a fun to read style.  Did I mention that they're just awesome ladies?  Linda and Diana are my freelance gurus.  Visit their blog, too!

Make a Real Living As a Freelance Writer by Jenna Glatzer - Jenna Glatzer began her freelancing career "out of necessity".  Agoraphobia kept her at home, afraid to venture out into the world.  So she dove into learning all about freelancing in order to make a living from the security of her home.  And what a living she's made!   You'll find hours worth of helpful reading at her website, Absolute Write!

The Writer's Digest Handbook of Magazine Article Writing edited by Michelle Ruberg - I love Writer's Digest magazine.  You may want to check it out; they cover all genres of writing, not just non-fiction.  They also have a book club, which is where I discovered most of my writing resources.  The Handbook of Magazine Article Writing is an anthology of great information by many of today's most successful freelancers.  This book will teach you about every aspect of getting published in magazines.

Okay, do you think that's enough to get you started?  I totally recommend any of these books to get you started on the right foot as a freelancer.  They're all packed with great information we need to know.  I think I'll save the websites and blogs for my next post.  Are there any books you'd recommend to new freelancers?  Leave a comment!

Are you just starting out as a freelance writer or maybe you're simply dreaming about the freelance life?  If either of these statements apply to you, you've come to the right place.  No, not because I'm an expert with tons of knowledge to pass along to you.  That couldn't be farther from the truth.  Actually, I'm quite new to the world of freelancing.  But I've learned quite a bit along my path, and I'm happy to share that knowledge with you.  All I ask is that you share what you know, as well.  I want to make this place a community, not just a platform for my ramblings.

Here's a bit about me and how I've come to begin my life as a freelancer.  I'm a mom to three kids - ages 9, 7, and 8 months.  Yep, there's quite a difference in age between the middle and the last.  I had it all worked out, as we often do in life.  Two kids, a boy and a girl, two years apart in age.  I'd finished my Master's degree in higher education and student affairs and was working in a job I loved as a college academic adviser.  Life was good.

Except I wasn't totally happy.  I ended my marriage, moved with my kids to the town where I worked, and soon after bought a home and got remarried.  To the love of my life, Bill.  Did I mention that Bill is 20 years older than I am?  And did I mention that, although I loved my job and my students, I didn't love my boss or co-workers?  Don't think I mentioned the fact that I was incredibly stressed out about my work environment or the fact that baby #3 was unexpected, to say the least.  Yeah, life happens that way.  But I'm a big believer of the philosophy that "things happen for a reason."

And so they did.  My out of control stress level, raging pregnancy hormones, and intense desire to slow down and enjoy my kids led me to quit that job at the community college a little over a year ago, with the resolve to act on the research I'd done regarding freelance writing.  I knew it could be done, but I didn't realize what it would take to do it.

This blog is a place to discuss just what it takes to make freelancing a reality.  Although it's been a year, I haven't come as far as I'd like.  But I'm well on my way.  Each person does things their own way, at their own pace.  Are you ready to start your journey toward a freelance career?  If so, join me as we begin our "Adventures in Freelancing" together!

By the way, you may want to head over to The Writing Journey to catch up on Bob's "How to Start Your Freelance Writing Business" series for starters.  We'll discuss lots of other great resources along our way.