Tag Archives: mike o’mary

Freelancing Your Way to a Job

Workshop Customer Service Contest alternate photo low resby Mike O’Mary

December unemployment numbers will be reported on January 8, and recent weekly reports on unemployment claims indicate that things are getting better. But it’s still a tough economy out there. As of the end of November, U.S. unemployment was 10%, and underemployment (a freelance writer bagging groceries, for example) was 17.2%. Pretty grim.

If you are freelancing by choice, my hat is off to you. I know some people who have very successful freelance careers and would never consider going to work for someone else. But if you’re freelancing because you’ve been laid off, I have good news for you: freelancing just might be the best way to find your next job.

Twice in the past decade, I was offered (and I accepted) corporate jobs from my clients. So my tip for those of you who desire a corporate job is to offer up your services as a freelancer first. I believe this is actually a better way to get a job than competing with the dozens (or hundreds or sometimes even thousands) of people sending in resumes for job openings.

In the two cases where clients offered jobs to me, I went to the client with no ulterior motive. I really was not looking for a job. I was looking for freelance work. I didn’t want them to give me a job; I wanted to give them some help. That difference in attitude made a difference to them. And in both instances, there was a definite sense that they had discovered me…their attitude was almost a joyful “look what I found!” (Compare that to the attitude of a potential employer during a job interview where all-too-often they are looking for reasons not to hire you.)

Bottom line: Don’t mislead a potential employer. If you’re not interested in freelancing, then don’t present yourself as a potential freelancer. But if you are interested in freelancing – and if you are also interested in the possibility of a full-time job with the right employer – then marketing yourself as a freelancer just might be the best way to get your foot in the door to your next job.

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

The Freelancer’s Best Friend?

Best Friendby Mike O’Mary

Who is your best friend? As a freelancer, maybe you will say it’s your faithful dog or purring cat because they’re the only creatures that keep you company when you’re working late at night. But if you don’t have one or more graphic designers among your best friends, you might want to make that a priority for 2010. 

I wrote my first corporate annual report in 1988. I’ve worked on at least one every year since then, and in the years I was freelancing, I sometimes worked on three or four per year. So I’m guessing I’ve written about 35 annual reports, plus countless capability brochures and other types of collateral. (If I was smart, I would have saved a few copies of each one so I could wallpaper my den.) Along the way, I have worked with many graphic designers – and when I made the move from corporate employee to freelancer, those graphic designers were my best friends because they were a steady source of referrals. 

Graphic design firms by definition focus on design, so they seldom have copywriters on staff. But graphic designers are constantly in touch with clients who need content in addition to design. Those clients often asked the graphic designer to recommend freelance writers or editors. So if you haven’t already done so, reach out to a few graphic designers and make yourself available as a resource to them and their clients. The design firm may put you directly in touch with a client, or they may prefer to subcontract work to you. Either way, it’s a great situation: the graphic design firm provides its clients with a broader range of services, you get more freelance work – and you make friends with some very creative people!

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

Putting a Price on Your Work

Computer Cat Night low resby Mike O’Mary

Hello Friends! Throughout my career as a writer, I’ve done creative work (mostly for fun) and corporate work (mostly for income). On the corporate side, I’ve worked as a corporate employee who sometimes hired freelancer writers and editors, and as a freelance writer and editor who sought work from corporations. 

One of the things I learned by working both sides of the corporate fence is that corporations think in terms of budget, whereas most freelancers think in terms of hourly rate. Even I made the switch when I went from being a corporate employee to being a freelancer… Continue reading Putting a Price on Your Work

New Blogger in Town

doorway low res

by Mike O’Mary

Hello Friends. This is my first post as a guest blogger on Freelance-Zone, so allow me to introduce myself. I am a writer, editor, publisher and producer. Didn’t plan things that way…that’s just the way it turned out. My experience includes everything from writing speeches and annual reports for large corporations (as a freelancer and as an employee), to publishing creative writing in Sunday magazines across the country, to producing sketch comedy shows in Chicago. Along that way, I may have (inadvertently) picked up some useful knowledge. I’m painfully aware of the things I don’t know, but I sometimes surprise myself with the things I do know. So in my guest blogs, I will endeavor to share some useful information with you, and discuss various aspects of doing corporate and creative work as a freelancer. 

Another thing I intend to do is to provide you with opportunities to publish at Dream of Things. So consider this a call for submissions: we are currently accepting essays for books on a variety of topics. Think “Chicken Soup” with wild rice, thicker stock, more meat, lots of veggies, and cilantro and tortilla chips sprinkled on top. Or, more to the point, “Chicken Soup” with a soul. Maybe that’s overstating things, but I hope you get the point…I’m looking for good stories with substance. 

A few words about “story” versus “essay.” Some people hear “essay” and think “term paper.” Or worse, they think self-indulgent opinion piece. I use “essay” and “story” interchangeably at Dream of Things. That’s because when I say “essay,” what I really mean is “creative writing that tells the story of a meaningful or humorous experience, or the story of an interesting or inspiring person.” It’s possible to pull off an essay built around your personal observations and insights, but you have to be very clever or exceptionally insightful to make it work. So when in doubt, tell me the story of that experience or that colorful character. 

You may already be writing the kinds of essays we’re looking for on your blog. And new writers are welcome. For details, see the Dream of Things Workshop Projects. Till next time, dream on.

Dream Of Things

mikeby Catherine L. Tully

Today I have the pleasure to share with you something really interesting. Editor and writer Mike O’Mary has come up with an idea for writers that I think will go far, and I interviewed him via e-mail so that I can share his ideas with Freelance-Zone readers here today. Let me know what you think, and be sure to sign up for more information at Dream Of Things.

FZ: Tell me a little about your background as a writer/editor.

Mike: I like writing essays, and I’ve also written fiction, drama and sketch comedy. The highlights are the essays I’ve published in various Sunday magazines, and writing and producing sketch comedy in Chicago. As for editing, I’ve edited several books, and I’ve written and edited lots of speeches and annual reports. So I’m a pretty good editor, but to me, writing is more fun.

FZ: What is Dream of Things?

Mike: Dream of Things is a book publisher and producer of videos and whatever else we decide to produce. It’s also an online community where writers and other artists can come together to 1) suggest ideas for books we’d like to see, and 2) write or contribute to books built around themes/ideas that spark our interest. Dream of Things will publish the books, and writers and other contributors will share in the royalties.

FZ: How did you come up with the idea for this?

Mike: I have always enjoyed working with creative people…writing workshops…working with actors, directors and musicians on theater productions…working with photographers, illustrators, graphic designers and video producers on other projects. I am very fortunate to have a lot of very creative people as friends, and I wanted to find ways for us to work together more often. I also hope to make a lot of new friends and to work with many of them… Continue reading Dream Of Things