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Are You Busy?

I personally hate getting asked this question by clients. The truth is that I am busy. My family is probably a lot like yours – we enjoy eating and living indoors – so I make sure that I stay busy. When a client asks that question, they are really trying to find out whether you are too busy to talk to them about a project. That is an entirely different question. I’m never too busy to talk to a client or a prospective client about their writing needs. To tell someone that you are too busy to talk to them seems disrespectful and just plain wrong. No one wants to feel undervalued, especially if they are looking to spend money. Case... [Read More...]

The Job Pyramid and What it Means to You

The job market is shaped like a pyramid. Consider the pyramid shape for a minute. It’s broader at the base and gets narrower as it rises to the top. The same thing is true when you are looking at freelance writing jobs. If you are looking at entry-level opportunities, there are many of them out there. I’m just talking about numbers, not whether they would be a good fit for you or whether they pay a rate that you would feel comfortable accepting. One of the reasons that I like checking out leads on Indeed.com is that this job search engine gives you information about the number of jobs it has currently listed, as well as estimated... [Read More...]

WorkingNaked.net Announces Home Office Contest

What does your home office look like? Share the details with WorkingNaked.net and you can win a bunch of great prizes, including: Fellowes PS-79Ci Cross-Cut 100% Jam Proof Shredder Epson WorkForce 610 Elfa products from The Container Store ($250 value) Library edition binders from Russell + Hazel Home Office Solutions: Creating a Space that Works for You book by Lisa Kanarek One-year subscription to Flexjobs “I’m working naked…are you?” t-shirt I must admit, it’s the T-shirt that caught my interest. I had a good chuckle thinking about the kinds of comments that someone would get if they wore it out in public. The contest starts... [Read More...]

Didn’t Get the Gig? Keep in Touch Anyway

Have you ever been on the short list for a freelance writing job and the client decided to hire someone else? It’s happened to all of us. No one likes being rejected, especially when they have made the effort to update their freelance writing resume, choose relevant samples and craft a cover letter. When you add a bit of back and forth communication about the gig before the client makes a decision, it is disappointing to find out that you aren’t going to be working on it. When you hear the words, “Sorry, we have decided not to hire you…” your next move is important. It’s human to want to retreat and lick your... [Read More...]

Freelance Writers and (Professional) Commitment Issues

If working for an employer can be likened to a type of professional marriage (you work for one employer at a time, and if you decide to moonlight and take on another job, you probably want to keep that fact quiet or face consequences), working as a freelancer is more like living together. You are committed to that client as long as the arrangement meets both your needs, and you accept that it may not necessarily be a long-term thing (but there is a possibility that you will be working together indefinitely). Each professional relationship has its advantages and disadvantages, of course. I’ve been an employee many times in the past and while... [Read More...]

Monday Markets for March 1, 2010 are Up

You can find the latest edition of Monday Markets here.  Read More →

What Message Would You Wear on a T-shirt?

Photo credit: taliesin from morguefile.com I like T-shirts with slogans on them. If I see a display of shirts at a store or a kiosk, I do stop to check them out. I usually find at least a couple with slogans that I find funny or interesting. The T-shirts we choose to wear give the person who sees them an idea of who we are without our having to say a word. I remember the ’70s as being a time when T-shirts with messages were very popular. Customers could go into a store and look through a book of transfers to select the message they wanted to convey. The customer also got to choose the size, color and style of shirt they wanted and the... [Read More...]

Do You Care About Your Clients’ Business?

At first glance, this may seem like a bit of a silly question. Your answer may be something along the lines of, “I care if my clients are doing enough business to make sure I get paid, so yes….”, or some such thing. What I am getting at is something that is much deeper than that. Do you have an understanding of what your clients’ goals are and what they want to achieve through your writing? Here’s the thing. There are a lot of people out there who are working (or at least trying to find work) as freelance writers. When a potential client puts up an ad looking for writers, they get a flood of applications. In some... [Read More...]

What is Your Freelance Writing Target Market?

One of the positive aspects of working as a freelance writer is that you have some control over the amount and type of work that you do. Unless you have an idea about what kind of work are looking for and what kinds of clients you want to target, you are going to end up spending a lot of your time on a shotgun type of approach to finding work. This is not the most effective way to find the kind of freelance writing jobs you really want. You could come across some really great freelance writing jobs advertised in your travels, but if you aren’t a good fit for them, it’s not likely that you are going to get hired. A better approach... [Read More...]

4 Things Freelance Writers Can Learn From Olympic Athletes

I’ve been spending some time watching the Winter Olympics and I have really enjoyed seeing the action unfold. I like the variety of sports on offer and I have a deep appreciation for the athletes’ dedication and persistence. I’ve been thinking about what we can learn from the participants at the Vancouver Olympics and would like to offer up these thoughts for your consideration: There are no short cuts to success. The athletes that make it to the level required to qualify for the Olympics have been preparing for years. Most of them found a passion for their sport from a very young age and have been working hard to develop their... [Read More...]

Monday Markets for February 15, 2010 Are Up

You can find the latest edition of Monday Markets on the Freelance Writing Jobs Web and Print blog.  Read More →

Little Things Matter on Your Freelance Writing Jobs Search

For a freelance writer, the actual gig starts once you have been officially hired, the contract signed, and the deposit for the work has been received. The time leading up to those events is just as important. If you want to get hired for the gig, the job of showing the client that you are the right person starts with your initial communication. The little things matter when you are interacting with a potential client. Once you get in the mind set that your “interview” starts as soon as you start talking, you can take steps to ensure that you are presenting yourself in the best possible way. The idea here is to show the client what... [Read More...]

Newspapers: A Source of Freelance Writing Jobs Leads

// Did you know that your daily newspaper can be a good source of leads for freelance writing jobs? I’m not necessarily talking about the job ads, either, in case you are wondering. If you are looking for work from local clients, the newspaper is a good way to find out what’s happening with businesses and organizations in your community. Check out the business section to find out which companies are introducing new products or hiring more staff. A business that is launching a new product may be interested in your pitch to update their marketing materials or web site to showcase the new addition to their line. The company newsletter... [Read More...]

Are You a Hunter or a Gatherer When it Comes to Finding Freelance Writing Jobs?

// I bet you’ve seen ads looking for salespeople where the employer is looking for someone who is a “hunter.” This term refers to someone who is actively seeking out new customers for their company’s product or service. The salesperson may spend a good portion of his or her time on the phone cold calling prospects or even calling on prospective customers directly. Since businesses need to keep selling to keep operating, the sales team must not only ensure that existing customers are being serviced properly, but they must also be looking for new customers. Freelance writers need to have some of that “hunter”... [Read More...]

How to Use Discussion Forums for Writers to Find Freelance Writing Jobs

// Just like in the brick and mortar world, most freelance writing jobs are not advertised. Making contacts and developing relationships with people is the way to tap into the hidden job market for freelance writers. Discussion forums are a good place to get information that will help you in your search for freelance writing gigs, as well as an effective way to find potential clients. A Google search for “discussion forum writers” (without quotes) brings back over 25 million hits. There is an active forum at the WAHM.com web site for WAHMS Who Write.  The threads feature a combination of discussions about different aspects of... [Read More...]