Adventures In Freelancing

Whew, I have not had a minute to breathe since the holidays. Between sick kids, sick me, oldest son's birthday, Christmas, New Year, and the countless other things life throws at us, I feel like I haven't had a minute to breathe. But we still have to work and meet deadlines, even among life's craziness.

I have to admit that I've slipped a bit on the deadline meeting during this hectic period. I've been assigned a large health writing project that has really consumed me. In fact, it kind of overwhelmed me, among all of the other things I had going on. This project is a good one, and I didn't want to risk losing it or any future work with the company who assigned it, so I knew what I had to do. I fessed up to my editor that I was having difficulty with the assignment and was honest about my situation.

Fortunately, my editor was sympathetic. In fact, she's assured me that she understands and that the deadlines may have been a bit "aggressive." What a relief it was to hear that! An even bigger relief was to learn that there is a new assignment waiting for me when this one is complete. Again, whew. I truly am appreciative of the fact that my editor is flexible and know that this is not always something freelancers can depend on.

So I'm not recommending that you be late with assignments or flake on deadlines. The moral of this post is that, if you are unable to live up to what you've committed to, you should always be upfront and communicate with your editor or client.

What about you? Have you ever run into a situation like this? What did you do about it? Please share your advice in the comments!

Photo by rightee

I wanted to take a moment to warn you of some scams I've become aware of recently that target freelance writers. I received these "responses" in my inbox after applying for writing jobs online. Here's one such response:

Mary,

After reviewing your resume, I think you would be a great fit for the position.  The next step is a mandatory credit and background check.  You can access the website we use for this by clicking here now.  Please send us the file you receive so we can review it.  Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

Regards,
Christine Rawley
Hiring Manager

I found this email to be suspicious on many levels.

1. The email didn't specify what position I would be a great fit for. There was no mention of a company or website. Even the signature, "Christine Rawley, Hiring Manager" was vague. Hiring Manager for whom?
2. The email mentioned reviewing my resume. I rarely send resumes for freelancing jobs. Usually, I apply for jobs that ask for samples of my work. I'm pretty sure I didn't send any resume.
3. Mandatory credit and background check? I've only been asked for a background check once when applying for a writing job. That was for Examiner.com, which I ultimately decided not to pursue further when I realized that I wasn't interested in writing for revenue share. It's very scary to me that this person with no identifying credentials whatsoever is asking for my personal identity information.

Here's another email I received that I believe to be fraudulent.:

Hey Mary,

Thank you for your prompt response to the craigslist ad.  We got someone to write a decent percentage of the articles but that means we still need 30 more 400 word articles written before 1:00 PM on Friday, October 9, 2009.  The pay is now $55 per article.  Full details are available on the freelance website GoFreelance which you can get to by clicking here.  We use this website for security reasons, to keep a record of our conversations, to make sure we get the articles and that you get paid in full and on time for your work.  You will be required to electronically sign a non-disclosure agreement on the freelance website.

Regards,
Brian Longfellow

My concerns with this one are:

1. GoFreelance.com seemed to ring a bell with me, but I clicked on it anyway. After reading through the site, it seems there is a monthly charge to use it after your 7-day free trial. Hmm...
2. So I looked around a bit and found that GoFreelance.com has been scamming writers for some time. Check out this article from Katherine at Swan's Blog for more informaiton about this scam site.
3. Not that the rate of $55 for 400 words is totally outrageious. I think it's a fair rate, actually. But rarely do I see this kind of pay on Craig's List ads. That, combined with the ambiguity of the types of articles that were to be written, caused me to wonder.

For the record, neither of these folks replied to my emails questioning them and their authenticity. Interesting. Also, I want to mention that I rarely apply for freelance gigs lately, as I"m putting a lot of my energy into my own personal blogs at the moment. The jobs I have applied for have been ones that truly seemed worthwhile and that I would be interested in. In addition, the sites that I use to search for jobs are very reputable, ones that I trust implicity. These are Freelance Writing Jobs and About Freelance Writing. If I was foooled into applying for these jobs, and they slipped past Deb and Anne's radar, you know these were well-worded ads that anyone could be tricked into applying for.

So please be careful when applying for writing gigs. Don't give any personal, identifying information unless you feel completely comfortable with the authenticity of the person or company offering the job. If you have any doubts, be sure to ask for references. Also, there is often a contract or tax documents that are required for legitimate jobs. Not always, but often. And never pay money for work. Check out this article by Deb on Top 10 Freelance Job Ad Red Flags for more things to be on the lookout for.

Always do your own due diligence and research. Don't let the scammers intimidate you into not applying for jobs. Just be aware that they exist and that the job boards aren't the only place to find paying gigs. Have you ever been scammed? Please share your tips for avoiding scams in the comments.

I'm still alive! Did you miss me? I've missed you and this blog. I truly have. This summer has been quite an eye-opener for me. Having the kids home all day keeps a mom extremely busy. On a personal note, it's been fun. We've gone to the pool and played outside. On a professional note, it's really caused me to reevaluate some things.

Letting Things Go

I decided to drop a blogging job because I found that it was becoming too stressful to try to keep up with it on a daily basis, especially when considering the money the job paid. I'm really not begrudging the employer. There's a lot of controversing in the freelance world about how much to accept for your writing, and it's a very personal decision. I know that employers have to work within their means, in many cases. But I also know that I no longer felt fulfilled by accepting the rate the job was paying.

When I took the gig, it was exclusively on a topic I knew a great deal about. Coming up with daily content was not extremely difficult, and I was able to write a post during my son's nap time and was still able to keep up with my other pursuits. Since the kids have gotten out of school and the blog's topic has changed a bit, I realized that I needed to prioritize.

Things Happen For a Reason

Here's the amazing part. I decided to let that job go so that I could focus on my kids and my blogs, with the full intention of digging up new blogging gigs when the kids go back to school. As soon as I made that decision, an offer for new, higher-paying work came in, and I decided to go for it.

Even though I'm still spread thin right now, this new connection seems beneficial in that it's exposing me to a more in-depth kind of writing than the short blog posts I'm used to. And making the time to devote to my new endeavor is a little easier when the monetary payout is a bit higher. I feel like I'm growing as a professional, and that means a lot.

What about you? Have you ever made the decision to let a paid gig go? What made you come to that decision, and what were the results? I'd love to hear your story.

As new freelancers, it's so easy to get sucked into taking low-wage gigs in our quest for clips. Sometimes newbies, and non-newbies alike, end up sticking with low wages for reasons beyond the clips. It's tempting to stay within our comfort zone. Low-wage jobs rarely have much editorial oversight, and they tend to be rather easy. We don't have to stretch our talents or risk rejection with these typs of assignments. I've discovered in my short time writing professionally that it feels so much better to write for my worth than to write for safety.

The subject must be on a lot of people's minds lately because I've seen blog posts about what kinds of wages freelancers should accept all over the internet lately. Deb Ng of Freelance Writing Jobs writes one of the best posts I've seen when she asks, "Who Sets Your Writing Rates?". Deb encourages us to set our own rates, within reason. We, of course, must consider what a company or individual is willing to pay. Small start-ups and individual operations won't be able to pay what the big guys can. We know that. But we also know what feels right. I've learned it's so important to go with your gut when deciding which jobs to accept.

It's scary to turn away jobs, and I know it can be overwhelming the first time you have to give someone your rate for a project. All the "what if's?" come into play. What if I bid too high, and they laugh at me? What if I bid too low, and I screw myself out of a decent wage? Do some research. There are sites online that can help. Freelance Switch has a rate calculator that takes into account things like time for marketing, health insurance costs, and the like. Also, check out Jennifer Mattern's article on setting your freelance rates. She lays it all out in an easy to understand way. I like that.

Setting rates for your writing is simply a step in the negotiation process. It's likely the prospective employer will be willing to discuss the possibilities with you. If it doesn't work out, you can at least feel good about getting your feet wet in the art of negotiation and knowing that you didn't accept less than you're comfortable with. Trust me, it's a good feeling.

I recently read one of the most honest accounts of the freelancer's life I've ever come across. Dana Prince writes about how much freelance writing pays at her blog, The Writer's Blog. It's a post you'll want to read.

Dana talks about her early days of writing for the web when she was proud of doubling her income from earning .01 per word to .02 per words in her first year. I know that doesn't sound like much. I also know that many writers will say you're a fool to work for such pittance. Dana goes on to tell how these jobs taught her the skills she needed to learn for internet writing. Marketing herself was one of the lessons she learned.

She earns more today than in her first year of writing and says that her best paying jobs come from clients she obtains on her own, rather than those from content sites. But what I appreciate about Dana's post is her honesty and the fact that she doesn't condemn other writers for the path they take. Her words are encouraging, and she gives inspiration through the picture of where she is today.

I've learned in my past year of writing for the web that confidence comes with experience, and with that confidence come contacts and understanding. I've approached writing on my own terms, and there's been a lot of trial and error along the way. I'm just now beginning to see my path, and I feel comfortable with what the future holds for me and my writing career. I thank Dana and others like her who have provided inspiration, support, and encouragement through their direct words (through Twitter, Facebook, e-mail, etc.) and through encouraging written posts such as this. I hope I can provide such encouragement to new writers that visit me here at Adventures in Freelancing. Please don't hesitate to get in touch with me if you have a question I may be able to answer. I'll sure do my best. At the very least, I'll give you a sympathetic ear because I've probably been there!

I'm @marybabysteps on Twitter, and you can find my contact information and links to my other social networking profiles in my sidebar.

I decided more than two years ago that I wanted to look into the possibility of becoming a freelance writer. I read books, studied websites, and even took Master's level courses in Professional Writing. This was when I was still an academic counselor in the traditional working world. While I loved my job and my students, the working atmosphere left a lot to be desired, and I knew I was missing out on a lot in my kids' lives. Life felt constantly rushed, on auto-pilot. So I began my research and preparation, hoping to make working from home a reality. The reality came sooner than I expected when I learned I was pregnant with my third child and, soon after, had to leave my grant-funded position.

I haven't come as far as I'd hoped during that time, but I've certainly learned a lot. The material I read and the classes I took were enormously helpful. There's nothing, however, like personal experience to teach us important lessons. Here are some of most pertinent lessons I've learned in my journey toward becoming a paid writer.

1. You better be confident. While I read tons of advice on dealing with rejection and not taking it personally, this is not what I'm referring to when I say "confident". I mean confident in a way that you have gotten over, or are prepared to get over, any baggage you may be carrying about how good you are and what you're worth. Trust me, if you can write a coherent sentence, using correct grammar and punctuation, that's a good start. Chances are you're just as good as the next guy, and you won't find out how good you can be if you don't just jump in and give it a whirl. Linda Formichelli, a very successful freelancer for national magazines and trade journals, posts about this over at The Renegade Writer Blog.
2. Stubbornness is a virtue. Yes, patience is necessary. You won't become a paid writer overnight. But you really need is to be downright stubborn, knowing that you can't give up because it will take time to get there. Relish in even the smallest of victories. For example, a personal note from an editor, even if it's a note rejecting your query, is a positive thing because it lets you know you're on the right track. Editors don't take the time to write notes unless the receiver is worth it. I talk more about this at my pal, Shon's site, ChickLitGurrl.com.
3. You need to have focus. Everyone talks about the importance of having a niche. It is often an advantage to write in a niche area because you get to know your material, can target markets with more efficiency, and may stand to make more money as an expert in your field. More important than having a niche, in my opinion, is having a plan. This is been my downfall for much of the past year or so.I've been very unfocused, trying this and that, always looking for opportunities. I spent a great deal of time reading about things rather than doing them. I've felt an enormous sense of relief and productivity at finally deciding to focus my efforts on blogging. In fact, I'm feeling even more refreshed because I've made the choice to make my own blogs my primary focus. I had a recent epiphany when I realized that I was treating my blogs as a hobby and as a platform to showcase my writing, hoping it would lead to paid work. Why wouldn't I want to focus my energy into my own labor of love and work to earn an income from that? This is my new path.
4. You must market. I always thought marketing was more for professional copywriters, rather than for freelancers wanting to write for print and the web. I was wrong. Just as anyone else hoping to be paid for their service, writers must sell themselves. You have to send countless queries if you want to write for magazines and journals. You have to make connections through social media and blogging if you want to promote your blog. Getting your name out there is imperative for freelance writers of any genre. I've found that marketing goes hand in hand with confidence. Don't be afraid to put yourself out there and interact with others about your work.
5. Productivity is required. I said you'll need to just do it in order to be successful, and that means producing. You can't be productive if you're a disorganized mess, as I often am. But I'm working on that. As a mom of three, it's taken me nearly a year to nail down a schedule that's been anywhere near productive. I've tried so many different things, and you may have to experiment with developing your own routine as well, depending on your personality and your situation. It doesn't come easy, but if you're realistic and true to your needs, you'll find a style that works for you.

I could go on and on, and I just may decide to continue this post. For now, these are the necessary skills of a successful freelancer, from my personal experience. What would you add?

Short answer - I don't know. Sorry, I just don't. There are so many different kinds of freelance writing; each one demands different skills and effort, thus each one commands a different level of payment. What I do know is that there are a lot of people out there ready to suck writers dry and to take advantage of them, and it's imp;ortant that you don't fall prey to such scammers.

Decide what's right for you.

This may be based on your enjoyment of the material you're writing or the time involved. You may be shooting for a particular amount of money per hour. There are lots of factors to consider here. Lisa from Work at Home Mom Revolution wrote a great post on this matter and provides a link to a resource from Freelance Switch that can help you to calculate your ideal rate. The bottom line is not to accept a position that's going to make you feel burnt out or resentful in terms of what you're being paid.

I just had a discussion with a blogging pal who asked me if she was being offered enough for a particular job. After hearing the offer, I hesitated to tell her that I thought it wasn't enough. Each person has to decide this for themselves, but I did feel what was being asked of her was not nearly enough for the compensation being offered. I told her this as well as letting her know that her talents are beyond that. I also gave her some information on how I've gotten paid blogging jobs as a starting point.

Evaluate Your Situation

While I'm not currently making the money I'd like to be, I am confident that I'm building bridges that will lead me to more paid writing opportunities. I've struggled with whether I'm making the right decisions for my career, and I've had to reassess my plans a few times already. Because I have three children, I know my writing time is limited. I'm now focusing on realistic goals and writing pursuits that are less time consuming than full-length magazine features.

I'm not saying limit yourself, and I'd never advise anyone not to follow their dreams. For me, however, it makes sense to tailor my writing to a smaller scale for now. I still have long-term goals set and feel good about the path I'm taking to reach them. That's something I'd say is most important of all when deciding the types of writing and rates of pay you'll accept. Does it fit into your lifestyle and does it mesh with your goals?

For More Information

You'll want to read what Deb Ng has to say at Freelance Writing Jobs on the subject of low-paying writing jobs. She gives some wonderful advice on the subject. She also explains why some folks pay writers so very little and how this affects the rest of us. Be sure to read the comments at this post for valuable insight from other writers. You're sure to learn a lot.

I wish I had a definitive answer to give. I just don't. Follow your gut. Cliche as it may sound, sometime it's the best advice there is. What are your thoughts and experiences? Please let me know!

If you've read books on freelance writing or taken classes, you've probably heard the phrase, "Write what you know." a million times. It makes sense. It's a good way to start. Writing what you know and what you're comfortable with is a great way to get your bearings when beginning your freelancing career.

I've read a lot about finding your niche as well. I've even taken a class on the subject from the awesome Lorna and Tamara over at Sparkplugging's Freelance Parent. I learned a lot in that class; though I still haven't nailed down my niche. I just have too many interests!

What I am learning, however, is that it does pay to take what you know and sell yourself with it. Since starting my college blog, And You Will Graduate, I've begun researching different areas of student life and higher education. I'm so happy to get back to the field I love, and I'm also discovering many publications out there for students and those working in the field that I wasn't aware of. And I've reached out to the editors of some of these publications with good results. I've gotten myself some leads on fabulous writing opportunities!

I would have missed out on these completely if I hadn't gotten back to my student affairs roots with this new blog. I don't know why I neglected to pursue these avenues. I guess I figured that part of my identity was behind me. It doesn't have to be. For me or for you. Do you have an area of expertise from a former career, through specialized training, or a hobby you're passionate about? Capitalize on that knowledge and look for publications or even corporations in that industry to pitch your services to.

Getting hired in any job requires setting yourself apart from the crowd, and the freelance world is no exception. Sit down and brainstorm your strengths. Search Google for publications or outlets that fit your interests. Then get in touch with the editorial staff or PR folks at the places you've targeted. You never know where it may lead!

Do you have any suggestions to add or experiences to share? Please let us know. I truly want to learn from each other!

I read a post by Chris Brogan recently about cultivating a writing habit. Cultivating. What an interesting word choice. I've been thinking about this for days. To cultivate is to nurture, to develop, to shape. These are the things that come to mind when I hear the word. Does a writing habit need cultivaitng?

I write nearly every day. But, truthfully, I wouldn't say that I've developed a habit of writing. I still feel like I'm squeezing in my writing as an afterthought between taking care of the kids and handling the household duties. After nearly a year since starting my journey toward becoming a writer, I still don't feel that I've really incorporated writing into my life. I want to change that in 2009.

Brogan breaks down the steps of writing into a formula of "read, write, write". He recommends reading voraciously in order to get a feel for the writing styles of others and to improve your own writing skill. I love that. I also think that reading all that you can will help to generate ideas and fuel your creativity. When I'm stuck for ideas, I simply turn to one of the many interesting tidbits I've just read.

Interesting that Brogan lists the "write" step twice. The first stage of writing involves constantly thinking about writing, mulling ideas around in your head, considering how you'll eventually put them on the "page". I do this all the time. Sometimes I don't even realize it, but then I notice I'm actually framing the sentences in my head that will eventually end up in my finished work. It becomes second nature, a habit.

The final "write" is about developing structure and finding your groove. Brogan advocates thinking about the structure your writing will take. What kind of writing are you doing? Is it a blog post, marketing copy, or a feature article? Each requires a different approach or structure, but no matter what you're writing, the most important step is to just write. The more you do it, the more habitual it will become.

I suppose I'm on my way to cultivating this habit of writing. I think what I need to do most of all is just jump in. I usually find that once I've begun, the words eventually flow. And it doesn't have to be just right; that's what revisions are for. So thank you, Chris Brogan, for helping me to move closer toward nurturing and shaping my own writing habit.

Do you feel you've cultivated a writing habit? If so, what steps did you take to do so? Advice would be appreciated.

I recently had a number of folks DM me on Twitter, asking how they can get paid blogging jobs.  Listen, folks, I'm certainly no pro blogger.  I simply tweeted to someone that I recently got another paid blogging job, and it seems to have been taken out of context.  I sent the people a quick DM with som links of where to find jobs, but after thinking about it, I realized I have more to say on the matter.

I do have two paid blogging jobs.  One is on a fill-in basis, only about twice a month, for Family Eden.  My newest is a blog for college students called And You Will Graduate.  I'm very excited about this opportunity because I will be writing about issues pertaining to my former career as a college academic adviser.  I loved helping students, and now I get to combine my knowledge of higher education with my new passion for writing.  Here's my advice for getting your foot in the door as a paid blogger.

Network

It really is worth your time to get involved with social networking.  I met Ana Castro of Family Eden on Twitter.  She saw that I was interactive in the Twitter community and replied to my call for launch prizes for this blog.  (You can win e-courses from Family Eden this week, so enter!)  We made a connection, and I was a logical choice for her when she was looking for contributors to her new Family Eden blog.

My new blogging gig is through the Hart Empire Network, run by Hartley Singer.  I first heard about Hart in a post on Freelance Writing Jobs where he gave advice on how to get hired for paid writing gigs, from the point of view of the person doing the hiring.  So when I came across Hart on a networking community I belong to, called Performancing Hive, I decided to approach him to see if he was still in need of bloggers for his network.

Research

I wouldn't even have known about Performancing  Hive if I hadn't been listening to Deb Ng's show on Blog Talk Radio when she talked about it.  Deb runs Freelance Writing Jobs.  Are you seeing a pattern here?  I did my research by reading the articles and studying the jobs at Deb's site, which led me to learn about Performancing Hive, which led to my contacting Hart Singer.  Follow?

In case you can't tell, I love Deb's site.  You'll find all kinds of information on freelance writing there.  Check out the section on Networking Blogging Tips and the Freelance Writing Jobs for Web and Print.  And, of course, another great source of information on becoming a paid blogger is Darren Rowse's well-known site, ProBlogger.  Visit the ProBlogger Job Board for great leads on legitimate blogging gigs with established networks.

Brag a Little

We're often hesitant to toot our own horns. But when you're looking for a job, not being afraid to talk about your accomplishments will get you closer to your goal.  If you're applying for a finance blog, and you have a great record in the banking industry, then say so.  When I approached Hart, he asked me which of his blogs I wanted to write for and requested my ideas on where I'd take that blog.  My first choice was to write for the blog on Battling Stress, as I have experience as a mental health counselor, and I thought the topic would fit in with my niche as a health writer quite nicely.

But I also pitched him the idea of writing for college students on his And You Will Graduate blog because I knew it would be a popular topic that few people have expertise in.  So I was sure to include my academic credentials (a Master of Arts degree in College Student Personnel) and the fact that I received an award from my students as Outstanding Academic Adviser of the Year for two years in a row.  It kind of felt like bragging, but I'm proud of those awards and of my degree, and they do make me stand out from other applicants.

I wouldn't hesitate to put those items on my resume and to talk about them at an interview for a position at a university, so why not use them to my credit when applying for a blogging job?  Think of things that will make you stand out from the crowd or that make you imminently qualified to write about a certain subject, and then talk them up to potential blogging employers.  You'll be one step closer to getting the blogging gig of your dreams.