A few years ago, I decided to start freelance writing. I didn’t have any clients (or any idea what I was doing), so I began where most freelance writers begin: trolling job boards. I probably sent out at least 100 applications before I finally landed a solid gig....
Writers, our industry has a problem: education. If you learned anything about writing in high school or college beyond grammar, you likely learned how to write a five-paragraph essay — the bane of my existence as an editor in digital media. Tired English educators so...
All too often, our email inboxes are a source of stress rather than solace. They’re filled with bills, advertisements, to-dos and slightly-problematic chain emails from our folks. (That last isn’t just me, right?) But a well-chosen email newsletter can make checking...
When you’re a freelancer, you are every department of your business—sales, A/R, administration, IT. Not to mention, you know, the actual writing part. Your time is valuable, so spending time on unnecessary tasks (or doing necessary tasks in an inefficient manner) is...
Grab a coffee with your favorite freelancer writer, and before your latte’s gone, chances are she’ll have mentioned her roller coaster income — whether to humblebrag on a particularly lucrative month or lament a particularly paltry one. Because, as someone who’s...
As a freelance writer, sometimes it feels like a losing battle to get work. You send dozens of email pitches to prospective clients but hear nothing but crickets — or at least, that’s what often happens to me. Recently, though, I had a mindset shift. I’m not...
If you don’t ask for the work you want, you’ll never get it. Let’s look at how to improve the way you ask for that work. We’re going to focus on pitching articles, blog posts and stories. Pitching isn’t the only way freelancers get gigs — I’ve gotten jobs by...
Writing a fiction novel is the ultimate goal for many aspiring authors today. In doing so, you essentially create your own characters with unique backstories and evocative plots. It’s an intimate form of art that both heals and entertains. However, this is no easy...
Jane Friedman is a writing and publishing guru. Yes, the guru moniker is used with too much abandon these days, but Friedman’s laudable credentials, practical books and excellent website have earned her the title in my book. If you get nothing else from this article...
Freedom. Flexibility. A yoga-pants-exclusive work wardrobe. Completely unrestricted coffee pot access. To the average office-dweller, the freelance life can sound like one long vacation. But if you’ve actually worked it, you know all too well the inaccuracy of that...
