Adventures In Freelancing

It's been a very long time since I've posted here at Adventures in Freelancing. While I love writing about writing, I realized I had to get some focus in my life. So for the last several months, I've been putting my energies into my family, my personal blog and paid writing projects. I've had various projects, from professional blogging gigs to writing for private clients, and the work has been enjoyable.

I'm still not making a full-time living as a writer, but that's okay. What I've come to realize is that I'm happiest when I feel like I have a balance. I know that so many people are chasing that seemingly unattainable balance, but as a freelancer with a husband who works full-time, I've realized that I have the luxury of coming close. I do need to work in order for us to get by financially, but I no longer feel the need to match my previous income.

I'm still taking steps toward doing the kinds of work that most fulfills me. I've finally set up my professional website, and I'm enjoying networking and marketing with this tool in hand. Having a website makes it all so much easier. How did I ever do without it? When I apply for jobs, I simply provide potential employers with my website URL, and they've got my writing samples and a snapshot of who I am right at their fingertips.

So that's what I've been up to lately. How about you? What kinds of things are you working on? Are you happy with your balance?

Are you happy with your writing career and where it's going? Even if you're not exactly where you want to be right now, do you feel like you're on your way? There were times that I felt this kind of satisfaction and hope along my writing journey. Unfortunately, lately has not been one of those times.

The freelancing waters are murky for me right now. I won't repeat a long story that I've already told once. But because writing is what I do, it just makes sense to try to sort things out a bit here, with other writers who likely understand. I thought I was doing well and that everything was going along smoothly. Things really seemed to be good.

But then something started tugging at me. That nagging feeling I so often get that things aren't how they should be. Yes, I was writing. For money. Isn't that what I wanted to do? When my main gig fell out from under me, I realized that simply writing wasn't enough. I'm an idealist, a romantic, and do-gooder. When I do something, I have to feel it. I have to know that it's meaningful, that it's what I'm meant to do. Even in traditional jobs that were less than fulfilling, I could usually carry on for a while if I believe that what I was doing had meaning, that I was doing something good. Writing SEO for corporations that would end up making tons of money from my work while only paying me peanuts was not giving me the warm fuzzies. Do you know what I mean?

So when that job ended (after the initial panic), I realized that it's probably time to make a change. A change for the better. For me and for them.

They need a mama who is content with what she's doing, or at least who is satisfied with what she's contributing financially to her family. I'm not naive enough to think that all jobs are going to be perfect. But recent events have been a wake-up call that the path I was on was not the right one for me or for my family. Though I'm feeling kind of low and a bit defeated, I am resolved to moving forward and working toward a career that fits.

I've begun reading or re-reading books on freelancing, and I'm working to regain my focus. I'm taking notes and really trying to pull the information from the material that I think will be most relevant and helpful for me, and it's been a beneficial process. I'm feeling hopeful about where my writing is going and am beginning to see a glimpse of just where it might take me. I can't wait to get there.

What do you do when you get into a writing rut? How do you pull yourself out to the point that you're excited about moving forward?

My colleagues Ed Gandia, Pete Savage and Steve Slaunwhite at TheWealthyFreelancer.com have just written an excellent book titled The Wealthy Freelancer: 12 Secrets to a Great Income and an Enviable Lifestyle (Penguin/Alpha).
Getting great clients and well-paying work is something that eludes many freelancers — especially in this economy. But this book is packed with the practical, hard-earned strategies Ed, Pete and Steve have used to consistently attract good-paying clients, earn high incomes and enjoy a great quality of life.
It’s is essential reading for any freelancer or solo professional who wants to enjoy a business and lifestyle that are “wealthy” in every sense of the word.
Here’s the best part. The book will only set you back 11 bucks and change. And as part of their launch effort, Steve, Pete and Ed are giving away $321 in fr*e instructional materials.
These aren’t “leftover” bonuses or junk items no one wants. They’re products for which people normally pay $39 – $97 because they’re designed to help you improve very specific areas of your freelance business.

The catch? You have to grab a copy of The Wealthy Freelancer by midnight on Friday (March 12).
To learn more about the book or the bonus materials Ed, Pete and Steve are giving away this week, visit www.TheWealthyFreelancer.com/amazon.

Ed is also offering readers of Adventures in Freelancing a special unadvertised bonus. It’s an e-book titled The Smart Mompreneur: A Step-by-Step Guide to Converting a Skill Into a Lucrative and Flexible Business, which he co-authored with Noelle Abarelli, a successful mompreneur and mother of two.
This e-book is an excellent and “meaty” (184 pages) guide that will help take you from where you are today to becoming a well-paid mompreneur…with more time and flexibility to be the mom you want to be.

If you’re currently employed, Noelle and Ed will show you how to make the transition without having to risk your paycheck. And if you’re currently a stay-at-home mom, they’ll show you how to get there as quickly and safely as possible.
The Smart Mompreneur sells for $39. But Noelle and Ed are throwing it in as part of the bonus package when you grab a copy of The Wealthy Freelancer.
Again, this is something they’re offering us “under the table.” You won’t see it listed in the list of bonuses. So, to claim your free copy, email your name and Amazon.com receipt number to mompreneur@thewealthyfreelancer.com once you’ve purchased your copy of The Wealthy Freelancer. They’ll email you back with a link to download your copy of the e-book.

UPDATE - In only its first week of launch, the book has already made Amazon's top 25 list of business books and are likely to sell out by Friday. While you may have to wait a few weeks for your book to arrive, the bonus materials can be downloaded right away. You definitely want to get in on this great deal that so many others have taken advantage of already!

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!

I know it's been forever since I've blogged here at Adventures In Freelancing. I'm so sorry I haven't kept you up to date. You may remember when I wrote about my wonderful experience at a social media conference in Rochester, NY. Well, I've begun one job writing for my friend Ana of Premier Social Media. She hosted the conference, and I've written for her in the past. I'm helping to write blog posts for one of her clients, and I'm enjoying it very much.

What's really got me so busy is a writing job I obtained through an ad at one of the freelance blogs I visit. Before heading to the conference in Rochester, I went on a mad dash of applying for writing jobs that seemed to fit my strengths. You see, I was getting discouraged with the progress I was making on my personal blogs and wanted to at least obtain one paid writing job while I was working to get my own blogs earning. So I applied for a job writing articles on health and education. Little did I know that the ad was for a company that runs a nationally known lending firm. It turns out this firm has many sites. I've written articles on various aspects of home insurance and am working on a couple education articles right now. I also helped to research a series of articles on childhood diseases, and I'll be working on writing those articles from now until the first week of January. I received another job offer through my mad application spree. I'll be blogging for two blogs owned by Killer Aces Media. Look for my upcoming posts at Parenting Squad and Healthy Theory. I'm so excited to begin writing for these blogs, as the topics are ones I'm passionate about and so interested in.

Whew! So do you think I'm busy enough? Life is good now. I'll still be updating my personal blogs, just not as frequently. I feel like I'm on a really good path toward establishing myself as a professional blogger and freelance writer. Thank you to everyone who's supported me along this journey. Please don't hesitate to let me know if there are any questions I can answer for your or help I can provide.

Gotta go get some work done. Happy writing to you!

I've written before about what your writing is worth. It's a real hot button topic for many. People get pretty heated about it. The subject's been on my mind again recently. In fact, I just wrote a post about a blogger's worth at Type-A Mom. Everyone has an opinion about how much writers and bloggers should be paid, as well as the kinds of writing they should do.

My Views

Personally, I kind of cringe at the word "should". I'm very much an advocate for doing what works for you. I've heard the argument over and over that if writers accept extremely low wages, it will cause the market to go down for the rest of us because employer will no longer be willing to pay fair writers' rates. Honestly, that argument truly does make sense to me. I can see that one may be worried about their own future freelancing income and that it can be upsetting to see others accept such low fees. I get that you may want others to do better for themselves and to change for the better. What doesn't make sense to me is cutting others down for their actions, using condescending tones, and making assumptions about people's character in the name of trying to give freelancing advice.

I'm not going to give links or point people out. It's not my style to publicly criticize. And, frankly, I don't wish to give links to those I don't feel deserving of the time it would take. But there are a number of writers who are doling out tons of "advice" on the kinds of jobs not to take and the places writers shouldn't work for rather than giving helpful, encouraging advice on what new writers could do to increase the amount they are paid. I read these folks preach that there are lots of well-paying writing jobs out there, that you have to go beyond the job boards to find them. I get that. And I think we're all smart enough to be able to know that. I don't believe people necessarily want to have their hands held or are too "lazy" to find the good paying jobs. I just really think that they may not know how or that they feel overwhelmed at what's involved in the process. And the writers who are taking this stance are not making things seem any less confusing.

My Advice

I've spent the last year and half sort of floundering. I've found myself struggling between not wanting to accept low-paying gigs and finding it difficult to manage the time and the waiting game of querying. And you know what? I haven't been making much money at all. Again, I don't completely regret the time I've spent learning, What I do regret is allowing myself to be deterred from just going out there and writing because I've been too concerned about whether the pay is enough or whether people will consider me a real writer.

I'm done with that. I've just picked up some regular writing work, and the pay is good enough for me. In fact, I'll be freelancing for a well-known lending site and their subsidiaries. No, I won't be making $100 a post., but when I break it down per hour, it should be about $20 an hour, which is sufficient for me. And it's a start. It's a better rate than I was making earlier this year, so I'm making progress. I intend to be satisfied with that.

Jodee Redmond wrote some good advice over at Freelance Writing Jobs. She talks about diversifying your work. That's just what I intend to do. I'm going to be happy with the great blogging jobs I've just scored, and I will probably even write for some content and revenue sharing sites as I have time so that I can add to my income. I also intend to continue querying print publications as I have great ideas. I'm a mom. My time is limited and sporadic. Blogging works well for my lifestyle. Writing short pieces is ideal for fitting in during a nap or while waiting for the kids' bus to come. As a mom, I also need to be concerned with bringing in some income and being satisfied with my life, NOT with what others may think or what they would do.

Final Thoughts

I wanted to write this post as a means of encouraging others to pursue writing in a way that works for them. If you're satisfied with your writing, that's what matters. However, if you feel a nagging doubt or worry that you're not working to your potential, don't hesitate to do some research and to learn how you can move forward with your writing career. What do you think? Honestly. If you disagree with me, I welcome conversation and discussion.

As freelance writers, we often find ourselves stuck for ideas. It seems that every topic has already been covered. Finding a new slant is necessary if we want to get our articles published. Fortunately, there are always new developments and changes occurring in every industry. The problem is finding out about those developments.

We're busy people. We don't have scads of time to spend researching and hunting down the latest information in our area of interest. That's why you'll want to sign up for inclusion in the Cision database. Signing up is easy. Just fill out the form with your information and the topics you're interested in. You'll soon be receiving information and pitches relevant to all the subjects you cover. Not every email or press release will be useful to you, but I've found that much of the information I receive can be used in some way, either as blog content or to spark an idea for a freelance article.

Thanks, Jennifer James, of Mom Bloggers Club, for sharing this resource!

I just learned this trick for using Google to find writing markets from fellow writer, Linda Hutchison, and I can't believe I never thought to do this before. Sure, I've Googled "women's websites" or "college magazines" when looking for publications in my areas of interest, but this method is rather ineffective. Instead, try Linda's way.

Go to Google. Put your topic in quotation marks. Type the words "submissions" or "writers guidelines" in quotes. Then put the word "and" between them. You'll get a list of links to writers guidelines you can explore for paying markets. For example, if you type "women" and "writers guidelines" into Google, or your search engine of choice, you'll find links to lots of online and print publications for women. Probably a bunch you've never heard of before.

The thing to do now is o go through the list and read the guidelines to determine if it's a paying market and if it looks like one that would interest you. You may need to try several versions of your search. I've searched on both "adult students" and "non-traditional students", looking for markets that cater to adults going back to school. You can also substitute "subission guidelines" or "submissions" for "writers guidelines", though I had better luck with the latter.

Take some time to play around with this method and see what you find. I found a number of new markets I'd like t check into further, ones that seem to be a good fit for my writing and experience. Let me know what you learn from your search. You may want to set a goal of querying one or two of the markets you find within the next week. That's what I'm doing. Good luck!

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.

In my last post I talked about setting writing goals and sticking to them for 100 days. When I told my husband about it and the goals that I set for myself, I noticed that he looked at me a little strangely. I immediately realized what the issue was. My goal of posting to two blogs each day and sending out three queries per week didn't seem like very much to him, I believe. So I then reminded him of what else I spent my days doing - marketing.

Marketing means many things to many people. For a business it may be advertising your product, sending out press releases, and creating buzz about your product. We freelancers need to market as well. Writing is our business! Without getting ourselves in front of our audience or people who could potentially help us in our pursuits, our chances of earning an income significantly decrease.

For me, marketing includes writing query letters. Those are a key marketing piece for many of us. My marketing efforts also include social networking on sites like Twitter and Facebook to spread the word about my blogs. I recently spent some time creating a fan page on Facebook around my new blog for adult learners as well as submitting the blog to various blog directories.

All of this takes a tremendous amount of time. So if you've decided to take the writing challenge, please don't neglect to think about all the other aspects that go into your career as a freelance writer. Choose goals that are realistic for the time you have available to dedicate to your business. Like me, many of you may be juggling freelancing with raising children. You may have a full-time job and be writing on the side. Whatever the case may be, it's imporant to take outside obligations and the big picture into account when setting your goals.

There. Now I've explained myself to you as well. I feel better. What are your thoughts on marketing? Do you enjoy it or would you rather just write? I have mixed emotions about the subject. I find it fun to reach out and enjoy the challenge of using my creativity to advance my projects; however, it can get kind of tiring as well. It's a delicate balance.

Well, I'm off to do some marketing!