Adventures In Freelancing

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?

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.

Wow! It's been a long time since I've blogged. I took a bit of time off because my whole family was sick with some kind of yucky flu for a couple weeks. I have to confess that I actually started it and then shared it with everyone else. Usually, it's the kids who bring it home from school. But this time, it was mom. So I took some time to lay aruond, drink ginger ale, and administer cold medicine.

Taking Time Out

The last week or so, I've been taking some time to once again reevaluate some things. The past year that I've been blogging has been wonderful. I've learned so much and made so many online friends. But I've realized that I'm not where I had hoped to be professionally by this time. I started blogging as a springboard to freelance writing. I wanted to get myself in the habit of putting words down on a regular basis and learning to handle the fear of putting myself out there. I've done that, but I haven't accomplished what I'd set out to do.

I've gotten some paid writing jobs, mostly blogging gigs. And I've enjoyed them greatly. They've taught me about choosing content, dedicating myself to posting daily, how to work with a virtual boss, how to write concisely, and how to invoice. What I haven't done is score good paying gigs on a regular basis, as I had hoped I would by this point.

My New Outlook

After taking this down time to think things through, I'm feeling better about where I'm going. I've started researching writing markets and planning out queries. I'm also taking time to get some business cards printed and make some connections in my local community. I've arranged to put the baby in part time daycare when school starts back up for the older kids. My amazing husband is supporting me in this decision, even though we really don't have the estra funds in our monthly budget for childcare. We're doing the daycare thing on a trial basis. If I'm not able to bring in some worthwhile income with my writing within a few months, I'll discontinue daycare.

I'm also working on developing a new blog project with an online friend. I'll tell you more about it when it's off the ground, but it has to do with advising college students. That's what I did in my professional life before leaving the traditional workforce to become a work-at-home mom. I've blogged about higher education for others; I think it's time to take the leap into starting my own blog using what I know to help others.

Feeling Optimistic

I"m feeling very excited about my new professional outlook. Taking some time off these past few weeks has really helped me to put things into perspective. I know that I have the ability to use my writing skills to earn a living, and I plan to move forward in a more productive fashion than I have been. Not that I regret anything I've done over the past year. I'm glad I took the time to test out the waters, do my research, and meet amazing people who've inspired and motivated me to succeed.

And I'm thankful that my family has stood by me in this exploration and that I've been fortunate enough to be able to take this time to explore. I'm looking forward to what lies ahead.

Cross posted at my personal blog Everyday Baby Steps

This is just a quick post to show you all my new work station. I've been feeling so disorganized and scattered lately.I realized that I had a nice office setup in the bedroom that I haven't used since getting my laptop. There's no room on that desk for both my laptop and desktop computers, so I always just sit in my big living room chair to write these days. You can imagine the distractions I face there between three kids, the TV, the comfy couch, loads of laundry, and a messy house. So I decided I had to come up with a new working arrangement in the quest for improved productivity. Here it is.

It's not exactly a desk. It's really just a console table from Target, but it fits quite nicely on the wall next to my bedside. When I'm not using it as a writing station, I simply roll my chair back to the main desk, and it looks like a nice, decorative side table. I'm really loving it so far. I feel so much more focused when I sit down to write now. I get showered and dressed, then I sit down to write at my desk each morning while the baby naps. It's working out quite well. What are your tips for enhancing productivity? Where do you carve out space in your home to write? Leave a comment and feel free to link to your own post or photos!

I just read a post from my friend, Caroline, at Morningside Mom. In it, she talks about her desire to make writing a paying prospect so that she can continue to be there for her children. This is what I want as well. I'm sure so many of you want this very same thing. Caroline goes on to say that she simply wishes to contribute to her family's income and talks about her intense desire to just write, and she talks about the signs in her life that are pointing to writing for her.

Reading her post was like seeing my own thoughts on paper. I started this blog because I've done so much research on freelance writing, and I felt I could share what I've learned with others while being motivated to pursue my own writing path. I thought my "path" included writing for print publications like trade journals, regional publications, and maybe, eventually, national magazines. I've been feeling guilty lately for not pursuing the avenues that will lead me to those things, like collecting writer's guidelines and sending queries.

But I've been so busy blogging. Oh yeah, and caring for three children and a household. Targeting publications and analyzing them for a best fit, not to mention querying, waiting for a response, researching, interviewing. . . it all takes so much time. While I know it can be done (I've read Writer Mama, remember?), my signs seem to be pointing to blogging. I thoroughly believe that things happen for a reason, and I've decided that I will allow myself to follow the signs and take things as they come.

I've got a couple other blogging opportunities in the wings. Paid blogging opportunities. That makes me a writer, being paid for my services and talents. That doesn't mean I won't write for my dream publications of Redbook or Prevention someday. It just means I'm going to do what works for me at this point in my life and be so appreciative that I have these opportunities.

What's your writing dream? Are you following it right now? Or, like me, have you changed your path to follow new dreams for now?

* Another sign just showed up. I just got a phone call, and the caller ID read "Prevention". No, they weren't calling to offer me a contributing editor position, just to renew my subscription! But I did choose to renew because I may need those issues to refer to for my future queries.

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 just received word yesterday that both of my personal blogs, Everyday Baby Steps and Adventures in Freelancing, have been accepted to Alltop! For those of you who aren't familiar with Alltop, it's a site that lists the best online resources in nearly every topic area imagineable. I'm so honored to be a part of it.

All of my blogs are now listed at Alltop. I found out this weekend that my new blog for college students, And You Will Graduate, was accepted. I was so happy. I've known about Alltop since I started blogging, and I knew what it meant to be added to its pages. I'm so unbelievably thrilled for my "babies", my own personal blogs, to get in.

Everyday Baby Steps is listed in the Women category, and Adventures in Freelancing can be found in the Freelance section. And You Will Graduate is in Alltop's Education category. I'm so proud of this accomplishment. Thank you to everyone who visits my blogs and interacts with me. I love blogging, and all the opportunities it brings to reach beyond my small community.

If you've never visited Alltop or it's been a while since you have, why don't you go and take a look around? There are so many amazing websites and blogs to discover there.