The Devil Is In the Details

by Joe Wallace

Take a good look at the picture and try to figure out what’s wrong with it.

If you have trouble spotting it at first, don’t feel too badly–the image is so tiny you probably missed it the first time, but look again. Nobody in their right mind would actually put a full coffee cup ON their laptop the way this one is. It’s an invitation for disaster all right, and anybody with morning brain could easily knock over a cup of java–especially where THIS one is placed.

Seems sort of dumb not only to put a coffee cup on a laptop, but then to take a PHOTO of it, to boot. Somebody thought this looked great, but didn’t think about the implications. (And before you ask, I’m the one who took that photo. On purpose. It amused me, but stupid things like this do before I’ve had enough caffeine.)

But it does prove a point—it’s easy to overlook something terribly obvious in the rush to get the goods. How many times have we ALL hit “send” on that e-mail before proofreading it? When you find out later that you dropped a “the” or mangled your recipient’s name, the rest of the day is spent kicking yourself until you’re too sore to sit.

I catch e-mail marketers out all the time. You know the ones–they’re trying very hard not to make their sales pitch read like a form letter, but they forget to snip out some crucial part of the e-mail they sent to the last poor schlub. Your “personalized” e-mail has somebody else’s information in it. Or just plain wrong info. “I’d love to help you promote your purple envelope business, Mrs. Wallace.”

Tee hee.

Then there’s the way you get burned when you’ve hit “reply”. Or rather, you THINK you’ve hit “reply”. Instead you hit “reply all”. Then you accidentally send that candid message about your crappy lunch break to someone you really didn’t intend to contact. Whoops.

I’ve made a fool of myself enough to teach myself a couple of tricks in this department.

1. I never hit “reply” anymore unless I’m able to reply to EVERYONE in the e-mail. I always initiate a new e-mail. Sounds obvious, but it’s not–otherwise we wouldn’t be having this conversation here and now.

2. I proofread my e-mails. This might seem excessively nitpicky, but now that it’s a habit and I do it with ALL e-mail, I tend not to send out things that have flaws, errors, unintended recipients and other not-ready-for-prime-time problems.

3. I walk away from e-mail for 10 minutes or so before replying to bad news, things that make me angry, or information that increases my work load. For me, the time away gives me a moment to think through everything.

4. I always re-read the last paragraph of everything I write one last time before I declare it finished and hit “send”. For some reason, people tend to forget tact most at the end of an e-mail. I like to catch that sort of thing when I can.

5. I try not to assume people know what I’m talking about or even remember conversations we’ve had about what I’m getting in touch for. It makes life so much easier to give a little road map (in a nice and tactful way) just in case.

6. I try to write e-mails and cover letters with the assumption that the reader hasn’t had any coffee yet.

Stretch Out, Stay Flexible

Greetings Freelancers! I am an editor but I come in peace!

Let me introduce myself. My name is Amanda and I’ve been a professional editor and a writer for seven years. I’ve run the spectrum when it comes to the writing and editing industry, from my early days as a music journalist to the more recent corporate world of B2B copy editing and I’ve lived to tell the tale. Currently, I spend my days as a Community Manager for RunMyErrand (a start-up based out of Boston) creating marketing strategies on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, which is a fancy way of saying I screw around on-line all day and get paid. Woot!

But I digress. You, reader, come to this valuable blog site to learn how to make it in this tough and unforgiving industry, and to that I have but one piece of advice for you: Be flexible.

Within the writing and editing industry, the opportunities for job growth and change are constantly appearing, disappearing and reinventing themselves. Who knew when Facebook first popped up that there would be lucrative marketing opportunities on-line for nearly every company in the world? Who knew that Twitter would become such a powerful beast in terms of information sharing and driving website traffic? Who could have guessed that blogging would become the bread and butter for so many wonderful writers to launch careers?

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Top 10 Freelance Job Tips

by Joe Wallace

It’s totally misleading to headline this post by pretending to offer you advice on landing a freelance job, because I’m not going to tell you what to do. I’m starting to develop an aversion to the Ten Commandments style of freelance advice posts–probably because I’m one of the worst offenders with that particular technique.

Instead, I’m just going to tell you what’s worked for me.  And by “worked” I mean these techniques have landed me everything from small writing jobs paying under $20 per assignment to gigs writing for Wal-Mart and Shopping.AOL.com. I’ve used the same strategies for five-dollar music review gigs and $70K + per year freelance editing jobs.

That’s not a typo.

Here’s what I do: … Continue Reading

Avoiding the Paper Bin

by Mike O’Mary

Dream of Things has a Fan Page on Facebook, and a while back, somebody left a message for me on the Dream of Things wall: “Ever time try write storys use go in paper bin because stoys not at good.”

At first, I didn’t know what to say. But I thought about it, and then I wrote back: “I think I understand. I have days like that, too.”

Actually, I have a lot of days like that, and recently I kind of hit a wall. Which is why this post is about taking care of yourself and making sure you get plenty of rest and relaxation.

I hit a wall mentally and physically after four months of working 70-80 hours a week. I launched a new publishing company and online bookstore, published two books, started soliciting submissions for 15 anthologies of creative nonfiction, recruited and retained seven editors to edit those 15 anthologies, started contributing to The Freelance Zone, and began editing two book-length manuscripts. And that was in my spare time because I also have a day job. This past weekend, I couldn’t think any more. So I took the weekend off. I went for a walk on Saturday, then spent the afternoon cleaning out my closets, trying on old pants (I had somehow accummulated about 40 pairs of pants) and setting aside anything that didn’t fit for donation to charity. Then Sunday afternoon, I went to the Green Mill in Chicago for some live jazz and to celebrate my girlfriend’s birthday. It was a much-needed break.

When I was freelancing, one of the things I found most challenging was battling the feeling that I could never completely relax. I always felt I needed to be looking for the next assignment, and I never told a client “no” because I never knew when the client might call again. But relaxation is critical to your well-being. Otherwise, it is very difficult to do the very demanding work of writing and editing. So turn off that laptop, put on some music and try on some pants (or try on whatever you like to try on to relax), and live today so you can write again tomorrow.

Mike O’Mary is founding dreamer of Dream of Things, an independent 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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Darren Rowse Says “Make It Bite-Sized”

Doesn’t that massive plate of Korean food look yummy? But there’s no way you could possibly get through all that food at once, which is why there’s a handy bowl of rice at each place setting. It helps keep the meal in perspective and forces you to eat like a civilized person–a few small bites at a time from the rice bowl.

Ingenious, eh? You recognize when you’re getting full much sooner when you’re stopping and starting as opposed to one continuous shovel-fest.

What’s all that got to do with freelance jobs, making money online and earning a living from your writing? … Continue Reading

The Freelance Jackass Factor: Dealing With the A-Holes In Your Business

It’s a fact of life in freelancing. Eventually you’re going to be stuck with people with habit and business practices which are annoying at best, completely infuriating at their worst. What to do? Here are my top five strategies–things I use whenever dealing with these people and their clueless behavior:

5. Risk Management. If I can spot them coming before I am entangled with them, I try to avoid ‘em completely. Sometimes you can’t, so I make sure I define my terms and conditions to the letter in order to head off the endless revisions or pointlessly long conference calls ahead of the game.

4. Get Paid According to the Level of Hassle. Part of defining terms ahead of time for me is getting paid more money for being subjected to a client’s boorish behavior. Those endless conference calls? I bill them. Those additional rewrites for no real reason? Ditto. People get pain and suffering compensation in lawsuits, why shouldn’t you get the same kind of compensation for dealing with a jackass client?

3. Keep Records. A jackass client will turn on you suddenly and demand extra services or other hassles based on what they claim is non-delivery or delivery that fails to live up to the agreement. Don’t be taken by surprise by this, no matter how nice they’re acting lately the potential is ALWAYS there. Get everything in writing even if that’s just you keeping careful notes for yourself.

2. Time Management. Don’t let your crappy clients steal time away from your GOOD clients. I would rather ask for an extension on a deadline from a crap client than a good one any day of the week. Pick your battles well.

1. Give As Good As You Get. The client that takes a full week to get back with you shouldn’t expect you to jump the second the e-mail hits your inbox. I try to “train” my clients to expect the same level of response and attention they give to me. Some get the hint, others don’t. My time is valuable–it’s worth a lot of money–and I try to convey that wherever possible.

One way I do this is by subtly reminding the clients that I work for other people, too. It’s easy to assume a freelancer is at your disposal. I never let that impression happen–I am always talking about other activities in a vague way. “Oh, sorry–I’m not available at 2PM, I’ve already got a meeting scheduled with one of my other clients.”

Top Five Steps to Beat Isolation and Winter Blahs

There’s an excellent post at The Writing Journey that talks about freelance isoloation, and with winter coming round the corner at full steam, now’s a great time to anticipate the winter blues, and locked-away-writing-all-day blahs and get on top of those issues before they get on top of you.

Number one cause of the winter blues? Lack of sun exposure. Don’t make the mistake of missing out on some sunlight time, even if it’s just to walk around the block in a hurry as the winter wind tries to push you back inside.

Don’t freelance in isolation, either. This winter, make a point to get into some coffee shops and do your work–be out and among the people, sit in a window with some sun streaming in when you can, and give yourself plenty to look forward to when the day is done.

This winter could be–depending on where you live–a true ordeal. We’re bracing for the worst here in Chicago and it won’t be easy to take our own medicine, but it’s absolutely critical to make the effort. Otherwise productivity suffers, money flies away, and your career starts to feel like a chore. The word “free” is the first part of the term “freelancing” for a reason.

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Why Go Freelance?

Ever wonder why you did it? Or want to do it fulltime? There are plenty of reasons people cite, including the desire to have more control over life in general or the need to start a new career and a new life.

But the freelance lifestyle has its own set of pitfalls that most writing sites don’t mention. Are you ready for these?

–Your boss will still be a jerk. Except now, the boss is YOU.

–You’ll work more hours for yourself than you did for the old boss.

–The money will come in late. A LOT.

–You can make horrid, costly mistakes that will force you to pay the IRS more than you did in your old career. … Continue Reading

Things I Learned About Writing From Record Stores and Whole Foods

By Joe Wallace

As I drive across America travel writing and blogging about my adventures, I keep seeing these little parables about the writing life. Today’s discovery came after a morning drive from Dallas to Austin, Texas. (The day before I was in Springfield, Missouri so I probably come off a bit punchy in these recent posts).

One of my travel blogging stops in Austin was Waterloo Records–a local fixture in the indie music scene for many years. Waterloo began its stay in its current location as one of several tenants–it shared the building with two other shops. But now, the others have moved out and it looks as though Waterloo Records is poised to take over the entire building. Not sure if that will happen, but it did get my gears turning. Operating a writing business successfully should happen much the way Waterloo’s success did. … Continue Reading

Resume and Cover Letter Advice for Freelancers

by Joe Wallace

Lately I see a lot of less experienced freelancers making serious mistakes in their marketing materials. It’s tough for people without the benefit of experience (and hindsight) to judge what’s going to hurt them in a resume or cover letter, but thinking like an editor can help a lot.

Marketing yourself can be scary–how do you convey that you’re savvy, competent and reliable? How do you get confidence across without accidentally conveying arrogance?

For some newer freelancers, those questions can’t even be answered properly until one vastly important thing is addressed: … Continue Reading

Freelance Portfolio Mistakes and Cibo Matto

by Joe Wallace

One of my favorite bands of the 90s was a Japanese girl-group called Cibo Matto. The name of the band is Italian for “food madness”, and the group’s earliest songs were definitely food-centric, especially on the track Beef Jerky.

What does this have to do with freelance portfolios?

Every editor has their own strange little hiccups. Personality quirks. Some call them “defects”.

Mine is that whenever I get replies to my latest call for writers or when I browse online portfolios looking for someone to offer some writing work to, I hear a lot of Cibo Matto.

That is to say, I hear a lot of this one line from Beef Jerky. If I’m reading a resume or an online freelance portfolio and I run across material that seems needlessly self-aggrandizing, or  completely (and cluelessly) irrelevant, I hear the line from Beef Jerky where the lead singer is screaming, “Who cares? I don’t care! A horse’s ass is better than yours!”

This happens–I kid you not–EVERY SINGLE TIME. … Continue Reading

If I Had To Start Freelance Writing All Over Again…

by Joe Wallace

I was looking at a post at FreelanceSwitch about active listening, and for some reason it made me think about this type of advice and where people are at when they get it and put it into practice. I am always grateful for sites like FreelanceSwitch for dispensing targeted, specific advice like this that newcomers can use in the earliest days of their career.

There was no FreelanceSwitch when I started freelancing. What effect would that article have had on my early days as a freelancer? That’s what I was thinking when I realized that if I had to go back and do things all over again, I’d do them a LOT differently if I knew just a couple of really critical things. … Continue Reading

Sometimes You Don’t Know You’re Fired

by Joe Wallace.

I fired my tax preparer today. He doesn’t know he’s been fired yet. He’ll probably never know unless he looks in his database someday and realizes that I didn’t come back at tax time in 2010.

Why did I fire my tax guy? I discovered he filed my 2008 taxes using an old address even after I specifically said at the start of our 2008 tax prep conversation that I’d moved. Simple mistake, anyone could make it. Is that reason enough to give him the axe? No, not really.

But when I called his office to straighten things out, not only did I not get a call back the same day, I didn’t get a call back PERIOD. And taxes are far too important to doink around with. If the professional you’ve hired to do the job can’t get a simple detail right or at least get in touch to reassure you he’s working it, it’s time to move on and find someone who will instill the trust you expect. … Continue Reading

More Freelance Writing Secrets

by Joe Wallace

There are plenty of dirty little secrets in the freelance writing business. The first dirty secret is that most writers won’t tell you their dirty secrets. They find ‘em and hang on to them jealously out of fear that their fellow freelancers will act just like zombies–all swarming desperately to get their grubby little undead fingers on another piece of the freelance writing pie.

That’s dirty secret number two–freelancers WILL swarm about like extras in a George Romero movie.

Which leads me to dirty secret number three. Freelance writers only let their dirty little secrets out when they don’t need them anymore. Feeling a bit cynical yet?

It’s all part of the game, and for those who like to play, it’s just something you have to get used to. No worries, we’re all in this together and all that. Here are a few of my own personal dirty little freelance writing secrets that I actually still DO use, but I don’t mind sharing:

• I am a freelance editor as well as a freelance writer. When I need to hire writers for various projects, the first criteria I judge them on is how well their cover letters match their writing samples. Are the writers inarticulate boobs in the cover letter or are those first impression communiques just as finely crafted as their writing samples?
• When a writer tries to pretend they know something they don’t, it seems glaringly obvious to me as an editor. I never work with these people again once I’m sure they are talking out their backsides. Sorry, gang, but if you don’t know your subject matter, don’t try to write as an authority. Appeal to someone else’s authority instead. Write from a more neutral point of view and let your quotes do the talking. … Continue Reading