What Kind Of A Writer Are You?

by Catherine L. Tully

What kind of a writer are you? Most people who enter the freelance writing field have no idea when they begin what type of writer they will be. Some go in thinking they are going to pen the world’s best novel, only to find they have an aptitude for writing children’s books. Others start out hoping to write for something like Newsweek and find they are better suited to writing a blog about a subject that they love.

What about you?

If you aren’t sure, the only way to tell is to stretch a bit. Go out of your comfort zone and try some new things. Are you always pitching health and fitness articles? Try an essay or a short filler here and there as well. Or perhaps you are a fiction writer? Why not take a chance on a non-fiction piece too?

The only way to find your way is to experiment and see what feels right. So go ahead and take a chance on something new. You’ll be glad you did.

6 Freelance Job Resources You Haven’t Thought Of

by Joe Wallace

Looking for freelance gigs? You’ve probably been all over the map in search of more steady work, but there are a few places that haven’t been beaten to death by the scraper sites..though they probably will be after we publish this. Best advice? Keep your BEST job resources to yourself as long as possible to avoid the bandwagon syndrome.

That said, here are a few that haven’t been ruined by scraper sites yet…and some that NEVER will be due to the nature of the job sourcing:

Reddit Jobs is pricey for editors to list gigs on–300 a day for 30 days–so you won’t be troubled by a bunch of spammy ads from the usual places offering you three bucks a post or “revenue sharing”. At press time, the problem with Reddit Jobs for freelancers is that some fields are underrepresented, but that obviously changes depending on supply and demand.

Artisan Creative. The reason why Artisan won’t be scraped out of usefulness for a busy freelancer? They have a screening process for candidates. This isn’t an “all-comers” source of freelance jobs, it’s a situation where talent actually matters. Artisan is a creative staffing agency that places writers, coders, designers, and many other freelance specialties. The jobs are heavy-hitting, too. Major companies, household names. I have personal experience with Artisan Creative and am very happy with them.
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Dream Catchers and Goodreads

by Mike O’Mary
Two news items this week, one for writers, one for readers:
1. Dream of Things launched a “Dream Catchers” section of its website to highlight authors whose work has been selected for future publication in a Dream of Things anthology. We get lots of great stories at Dream of Things, and our editors are constantly reviewing new submissions. The best creative nonfiction will be published in our anthologies. But putting an anthology together takes months.

Meantime, we’re sitting on all these great stories. Not anymore! Each week, we plan to feature a new story on the Dream Catchers section of dreamofthings.com. This week’s story is “Forever Sharp” by Terri Elders of Colville, Washington, and it will be published in an anthology about great teachers later this year.

2. Goodreads.com: I’m not sure the world needs another online social networking site, but if we have to make room for one more, goodreads.com looks like a pretty good one. It’s basically a place to rate books that you’ve read, share that info with others, and learn about new books you might want to read. Billed as “the largest social network for readers in the world” with 2.9 million members, Goodreads says, “Somehow, reading books seems to have gotten a bad rap. People are working too hard and not making time to read. But every once in a while you run into a friend who tells you about this ‘great new book I’m reading.’ And suddenly you’re excited to read it. It’s that kind of excitement that Goodreads is all about.”

Goodreads also looks like a good place for an author to set up shop. Take a look at the Goodreads Author Profile of yours truly for an example of what an author can do on their site.

Mike O’Mary is founding dreamer of Dream of Things, a book publisher currently accepting creative nonfiction stories for anthologies on 15 topics.

Freelance Jobs Are Just A Network Away

Yuwanda Black wrote an article many moons ago for CopyBlogger called Where Have All The Freelance Jobs Gone? Where indeed? I’ll tell you where. They’ve mutated.

Once upon a time, freelancers–especially writers–needed a set of skills directly related to putting words down to tell stories, report news, or sell products. They also had to sell themselves in cover letters, queries, and proposals.

Then came the web, SEO content, blogging, and an explosion in online copywriting. The notion that “everybody’s a writer” gave way to “everyone’s a blogger”. Some get paid, some do not, but the cliche is there for a reason.

Freelance work for writers seems to be subdividing into two basic categories, at least for now. I tend to think of it as skilled and unskilled labor. There’s a certain point in a successful writer’s career where a decision is made or a path is taken to an important collection of skill sets beyond the ability to write well. Those who don’t take the leap wind up stagnating. They don’t make it out of content land, instead remaining trapped like prehistoric dragonflies in amber.

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Getting Started…

Well readers…we have a new face to welcome to the lineup here at Freelance-Zone! Meet Erin Dalpini, our new contributor…read more about her in the “About” section on our site. But for now…here’s Erin!

Picture this: you’re sitting at your desk, staring at your computer screen, which is displaying a stark white word processing page—an empty canvass waiting to be filled with verbs, nouns, conjunctions, punctuation—and you’re waiting. All you have to do is simply begin moving your fingers and the sentences will start to form, but you catch yourself staring at the cursor as it blinks away at you (such a tease!) and intimidation sets in. How to begin?

Maybe this is a non-issue for you. However, one of my writing hold-ups is finding the perfect way to get started. Whether I’m working on news, features, creative nonfiction or a book review, I tend to spend a hefty chunk of my time crafting the perfect introductory statement (how was that one, by the way?), and only when I am moderately pleased with what I’ve created—subject to change later—I will push forward.

Along my writing journey, I’ve picked up a handful of tips for getting started from some of my favorite writers, some of which I’ll share here… … Continue Reading

Follow Friday?

 by Catherine L. Tully

If you don’t know what the title of this post means…get ready to learn a great promotional strategy on Twitter. “Follow Fridays” is a way to figure out who to follow–and to share those you follow with others. To participate, simply tweet the words #followfriday (don’t forget the “hashtag” # before it) and then the username of the person you wish to share with the @ sign. For example, #followfriday @freelancezone @catherinetully.

It’s that simple. You can add as many people as characters allow (140) and if you run out of space, you can create another tweet. Try it–it’s fun!

Poetry All Around You

by Mike O’Mary

Sometimes, when I sit down to write, I draw a blank. Yet the idea of not having anything to say seems absurd—especially in a world so full of interesting people and events. But sometimes we just get so overloaded we become desensitized. We take things for granted, and that’s not good.

But I found something that seems to help. I don’t read much poetry, but a friend of mine recently had a book published. I bought it, and he asked me to tell him what I thought of it.

After just a few pages, I looked up and looked around and realized that I was seeing things differently. A world that had seemed devoid of anything interesting was suddenly filled with detail. All I had to do was look a little closer.

On the top shelf of my bookcase, for example, are a dozen or so items. An old wooden roofer’s toolbox filled with dried flowers and eucalyptus. Next to that, a little clay bowl that my daughter made, then a coffee mug from the University of Montana, and an Eiffel Tower that could have been purchased at Target but happens to have been purchased in Paris. There’s a wooden carpenter’s plane from a phase when I was fascinated with old tools, a beer stein from Heidelberg, an amethyst crystal from one of my sisters. Photos of my mom, my daughter and of the softball team I coached last summer. A fancy clock I bought for $100 while on vacation, and a clock I bought at an outlet store for $3.99 because I liked its simplicity.

All that sitting right there on one little shelf.

I’m going to go back to reading my friend’s book now. But I already know what I’m going to say when I write to him: I’m going to tell him it was good.

Mike O’Mary is founding dreamer of Dream of Things, a book publisher currently accepting creative nonfiction stories for anthologies on 15 topics.

Run Your Freelance Career Like a Business: Advertise

by Joe Wallace

Why is the business card in the picture above blank? Believe it or not, that’s how a lot of freelancers treat themselves. Instead of running their freelance careers like a business, they squander their energies with little or no direction.

To survive in business you must do three things:

1. Offer good products or services at a competitive price.

2. Be active in the community where you want to do business.

3. Advertise and promote your brand.

A lot of freelancers get the first two right but fall down on the job when it comes to #3, promoting your brand. I can hear some now saying, “But I already have a Twitter account and a Facebook page!”

Twitter and Facebook are inded critical parts of the puzzle. But take a look at any successful business today and you’ll see how they approach social media is more of a means to an end when it comes to PR and self-promotion–not the end itself.

Your self-promotion efforts should include Twitter and Facebook, but consider them to be communication channels instead of billboard advertising. What’s the difference?

Twitter and Facebook are seldom used (successfully) to actually SELL things. They’re most effective when used to make connections, network, and inform. People are leery of the hard sell on social media. But when was the last time you heard anyone complaining that a billboard or radio ad sales pitch was too self-serving? … Continue Reading

“Get Moving Early” And Other Icky Advice

by Catherine L. Tully

I hate to admit this, but I get more done when I get up early. Much as I love being a night person, when I get out of bed at a decent hour and get moving, I simply am more effecient. So my advice to you is even though you can sleep until you wake up naturally–it’s a better move to set an alarm.

And yes. I know that is what people with a day job do.

Want some more “icky” advice? Here are some unpopular truths about freelancing:

+ Keeping a schedule is better than winging it. You can wing it occasionally, but if you don’t create patterns for yourself, you will have a hard time keeping up with everything you have to do.

+ You have to spend time marketing yourself. This means more than social networking time on Twitter and Facebook. This means developing quality relationships with other writers. It means taking the extra time to get to know your editors a bit and ask them how things are going once in a while. Relationships mean a lot in this business.

+ You really don’t need the newest toys. Ooh. I know. This one hurts. But it’s true. The fact of the matter is–your old laptop will probably work for a long time…so you can pass on that cool, compact netbook. You really don’t have to buy that new digital camera. And you probably can get by without a second monitor. It’s easy to overspend on gear that you don’t really need to do your job.

I was going to write some more on this subject…

But I think that’s enough truth for the day. Don’t you?

Join TeamLazyWriters!

by Catherine L. Tully

By now FZ readers know that I am into exercise, so I thought I’d share this gem with you…

To the left, meet writer Regan Leigh, who has come up with a sort of “on-line support group” for writers in terms of exercise. What do you need to participate? Two things…the desire, and a Twitter account. Simply tweet your goals and then update on whether you reached them or not. There is a little more to it, but I won’t spoil the fun…check out Regan’s site for the details.

When it comes to exercise, everyone can use a little support, right? Join TeamLazyWriters today!

The Book Wars

Strange things are going on in the e-book industry. Amazon had been selling Kindle versions of best-selling titles for what I call freelance e-book prices–9.99 per download–which could be seen as a great equalizer for the whole industry, or a potential game changer in the wrong direction for anybody interested in marketing their own e-books.

After all, if you can get a Stephen King downloadable book for a tenner, why should Joe Blow Unknown be able to charge the same amount for HIS book about writing and get away with it? Or so the logic goes. I don’t subscribe to that concept myself, I think it’s more about effective marketing and having a good product.

But that’s not the point.

Amazon got into a little shouting match with publishers MacMillan and now Rupert Murdoch’s HarperCollins, who both demand Amazon stop selling their Kindle titles for 9.99. … Continue Reading

The Language of “Making Things Happen”

by Mike O’Mary
The other day, I was walking past a meeting room at work. The meeting was just breaking up and I heard the sales manager clap his hands together enthusiastically and say, “Okay; if that’s our objective today, let’s make it happen!”

Let’s make it happen. I don’t know what it is, but the workplace–particularly the business workplace–seems to spawn more than its share of euphemisms. I assume that when the manager said, “Let’s make it happen,” he meant, “Let’s do whatever we need to do to meet our objective.” But that would sound boring and not very leader-like, so instead he said, “Let’s make it happen.”

We’ve all had to sit through meetings that were peppered with trendy catch phrases, clichés and euphemisms. Unfortunately, these phrases seem to catch on with a lot of people. For every individual that suffers a gag reflex upon hearing the word “synergy,” there are at least half a dozen vice presidents who nod their heads in approval.

Personally, as a writer and occasional meeting-attendee, I think it’s best to say exactly what you mean. And when I hear something that sounds a little trendy, I try to translate it into plain English. For example, I’ve determined that when someone says, “It’s time to start thinking outside the box,” they really mean, “We’ve boxed ourselves in.” When they say, “We need to create a new paradigm,” that means, “Nobody is buying our product anymore.” And when somebody says, “This is no dog-and-pony show,” you’d better watch where you step after they’re done.

About 500 years before Christ, the Chinese philosopher Confucius figured out that, “If what is said is not what is meant, then what ought to be done remains undone.” So if you find yourself surrounded by people talking in euphemisms, you might try quoting Confucius. If they still won’t say what they mean, try quoting martial-arts expert Chuck Norris who once said, “When I want your opinion, I’ll beat it out of you.”

Mike O’Mary is founding dreamer of Dream of Things, a book publisher and online community for writers and other artists.

Freelance Tax Time

by Joe Wallace

I’m not going to be one of those sissy bloggers who says, “This is not tax advice.” This IS tax advice. It’s the best tax advice you’ll ever get. It’s two little words with a universe of implications.

File early.

One year, I  had to file late. Because I filed late, I didn’t learn until it was too late that I needed one more deduction–a big one–to keep me out of hock with the IRS. I could have contributed a nice large chunk to my IRA and avoided owing the same amount. I would have owed something, to be sure, but not the large sum I wound up having to pay.

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Using Google For Shared Work

 by Catherine L. Tully

I’m a huge fan of Google in terms of innovation, and I use several of the things that they offer–besides the search engine. If you are a writer who needs to work on something with another person, I would highly recommend Google Documents. You can set it so that the people you want to be able to see your documents can open them and make changes. I have used this many times for Word and Excel. This side-steps the e-mailing back and forth, as well as the possible overlap of changes.

Google calendar is another one I like. This is great for Joe and I, as we can keep track of what the other person has going on from month to month. While I haven’t yet adopted g-mail (and probably won’t), I do find that Google is an incredibly useful entity. If you haven’t yet investigated the possibilities, swing by and check it out sometime. See what works for you…

Writing About Dance

by Catherine L. Tully

 Many FZ readers already know that I got my start in writing by penning articles for dance publications such as Dance Teacher and Dance Spirit. I have a strong ballet background, so the advice “write what you know” rang true for me.

If you are interested in learning more about how to write for dance publications, check out an article on my dance blog, 4dancers, where another pro writer gives some good advice on how to pitch articles to publications in this particular field. It can be good to start with shorter pieces to prove to the editor that you have the chops for dance writing if you don’t have a background in this art form.