We writers all need community. We all need inspiration. And, for better or for worse, we need smart strategies for making money, whether through freelance work, books, speaking engagements or by helping others improve their writing. Twitter is bursting with...
To us freelancers, time really is money. So why is earning what we’re worth such a challenge? Easy methods like charging by the word or the page seems great — until you get hosed by higher-than-average research requirements or a helicopter client who calls every...
Do you remember how easy it was to tell a story when you were a kid? All you had to do was pick up two mismatched socks (at least mine were anyway) and create a simple, silly narrative around Mr. and Mrs. Stripey-Sock. And back in those days, you always had an...
As a teenager, I felt in the very core of my being that I was destined to be a newspaper reporter and probably a Pulitzer Prize winner. I was already reporting for my middle school newspaper, “The Saghalie Skyhawk”, on crucial issues of the day like lunchtime...
Anyone who thrives in the solitary act of writing probably has some difficulty networking. Once you finally come out of your focus tunnel for air, it can be hard to articulate what you’re working on and what it means for your overall career. It’s even worse if you’re...
I’m in my fifth year as a full-time freelance writer, which means I’ve been freelancing longer than I’ve had any other job. I’ve learned a lot since I started freelancing — how to pitch, how to negotiate, when to look for a new client — but my biggest...
My summer after grad school was typical, I’m sure — endlessly dredging up job opportunities with decreasing interest and increasing anxiety. My search totaled two cases of strep throat, one car accident, three offers (one taken back shortly after I was deemed...
What does your blog post writing process look like? For a lot of bloggers — whether they’re blogging on their own blog or as a freelancer — writing blog posts involves: Struggling for an idea, under deadline pressure. Leaping in without a plan. Putting off...
For many creative writers, the yearning to live the write life feels more like a necessity than an option. This makes freelance writing an attractive option. Making money freelance writing for businesses and publications preserves a writer’s ability to tend to their...
Starting out in the freelance writing world, I was full of enthusiasm. I was eager to get my business going; I was pitching all over the place. Cold pitches, job boards, you name it. As much as I hoped to be an overnight success, deep down I knew it would take some...
