Successful Freelance Writer

The ringing phone seemed innocent enough, so I answered it. There was no hint of menace in the tone of the voice on the other end. But as his words continued to tumble over the line, I knew that this was a trap.

It was yet another credit card offer – promising all kinds of wonderful benefits and rewards if I would just sign up. The irony was that it was my existing credit card company calling to offer another credit card. The rewards program was the same and the benefits were also the same. The only real difference was the name of the card that would be issued (it seems they have a different gimmick name for every conceivable purpose).

The card would carry a 0% interest on all purchases or balance transfers for 12 months (or something like that). It doesn’t really benefit our family because we pay off the balance each month so that there is no interest anyway.

“What do I need with another credit card?” My limit on the existing card is more than I could ever imagine using.

He hem-hawed around the benefits and the rewards but dodged the questions.

“But what do I need with another credit card?” I was determined to understand why the credit card company would even consider calling me for additional credit.

His answer hit hard. “To help you maximize your credit opportunities.” In the words of a dear friend of mine, “they want you to run up the first card – get the second card – and run up the second card so that you owe them the rest of your life.”

As soon as she said it I realized I had been approached by a debt pusher – and I just said NO!

Tags: Budgets and Finance, Fun and Fiction // Add Comment »

Freelancers have to be amazing money people. There is never any way to guarantee that the money they are suppose to earn each month will be in the bank during that month. This is one of those months for me. Add to that the fact that a tree fell on the house (requiring a deductible payment), car insurance is due, the kids have a dental appointment AND the tags on all the cars have to be renewed and you are already talking about a hard month anyway.

It is fortunate for my sanity that I have followed some simple guidelines to prepare for these unexpected events.

1. ALWAYS budget by what you received last month and not what you are expecting to receive. If I’m working off what I have in the bank then I don’t fret over late payments, changed contracts, or canceled gigs.

2. Set aside for big payments. Each month I put a portion of the insurance payments in the savings account. My goal is to be able to make the payments without touching the reserve, but the reserve is there for tight months like this one.

3. Don’t settle in to your current situation. Every day I look for new gigs, opportunities or submission locations. Some days they come looking for me (usually my favorite kind). My goal is to make around $50 to $75 per hour and to work consistently for 6 to 8 hours per day, Monday through Friday.

4. Save in several different formats. I use my Paypal account (with the Money Market choice so it earns good interest), a savings account to put back for tax payments, a savings account for emergency payments, a savings account for expected payments (like the insurance premiums), and I’m considering a savings account through ING because the rates are so good. Whew – there are more than I realized. By separating out the money I’m not tempted to use one fund to pay for something else. (BTW – this does not include retirement monies).

5. Put back a portion of bonus payments. Any time unexpected money comes in, 40% of that goes into savings. That includes bonuses, Tax Rebate checks, or money from jobs that offer revenue share as well as upfront payments. If it wasn’t expected money (in my invoice folder) then it splits into the savings.

The easiest way to make yourself crazy as a freelancer is to budget on what you are expecting. The old adage “don’t spend it before the check clears” still holds true today. Wait until you have the money in your account before you begin planning for that money. Budgeting from what is in your account and saving along the way will help you live with peace and calm that not everyone else experiences.

Tags: Budgets and Finance // Add Comment »

There is no excuse for sitting around. We all need down time, but there are so many productive ways to use that down time that it is a wonder the television was invented at all. If it were not for my own enjoyment of Dr. Who and Robin Hood then I would probably have my satellite turned off tomorrow. If I follow through with my own schedule, I may turn it off for lack of use anyway!

This morning I made a list of all the things that I want to accomplish in and around our home – from cleaning out the bedroom to creating seating around the yard (and most everything you can think of in between). My goal is to have a home, yard and space that is not just ready for guests but that actually draws guests to share in our blessings.

The initial list was rather short – just very basic goals. The long list is the objectives that I will use to reach those goals. I didn’t break them down by tasks, but rather by time. If I have five minutes I can . . . if I have fifteen minutes I can . . . and so on until I got all the way through a full day.

I was amazed at how simple it was to make a list of things I could do with just five minutes. It’s almost embarrassing that I haven’t been doing them. It’s not like they are difficult or painful. Instead they are simply things I put off until later. It seems that procrastination has found yet another way to eat my time.

No more!

Reaching my goals will only come with one step forward at a time. Using my time all day every day to get to these goals will not just make my home more enjoyable but it will make my relationships with my children and husband better and it will help me create a whole new level of success in my writing.

What are your goals? What are you willing to do to reach them today?

Tags: Attitudes, Family and Home, Scheduling, writing // Add Comment »

There are six glass or crystal bowls in my cabinet. This does not include the nice plastic, ceramic and silver bowls in my other cabinet. I love to entertain, but even I think this is a bit over the top.

I’m going to blame it on our wedding (even if it was almost 15 years ago). We received a total of four towels (two sets of a bath towel and wash rag) and one set of sheets. Everything else was silver, crystal or china. Just what every couple needs when they are first starting out.

There was a time when I tried to use the gifts as much as possible. After three kids – all boys – those times seem like a far away dream. Part of it is that I don’t have time to entertain like I once did. Most of it is because we are much more casual than I thought I’d be. Crystal and silver just don’t work well with water balloon fights and grilling.

We are planning a huge sale/fund raiser in August to help fund an drama ministry (and to get rid of all the stuff that is getting in the way out our blessings). I have a feeling that at least a few of those bowls will likely make the sale. If I get real frisky I might even take a few of the more impressive items to an actual auction.

All I know is that it is time to use it or to lose it. What are the crystal bowls in your life that are cluttering up your ability to receive the blessings God desires for your life?

Tags: Family and Home, Spiritual Walk // Add Comment »

This blog is getting regular visitors - although nothing like some of the sites that I visit. And there has even been an offer to run some ads on the site – although the offer was almost insulting.

It makes me wonder if it’s possible to have a website that makes money that doesn’t focus on gossip or shock. If it is I have not yet figured out the magic bullet. I have found a few tips though.

1. Build your visitors before you monetize. This is something I work on every month by experimenting with different set ups (from one or more article every day to just one a week). I keep up with my stats and what I’m doing to see if there is one thing that makes a huge difference.
2. Focus your website. There are so many ideas running around my head that I haven’t been able to hone in on one subject for this site. I’m leaning towards the writing side, but I will probably have to either start a new site for the family focused articles to give myself a release of all that pressure.
3. Be passionate. There are days when it is my sheer will that pushes me to write. This venture is much more time consuming and painstaking than I though it would be. If you aren’t writing about something you love then it will show – either by your lack of understanding of the subject or by your lack of desire to write.
4. Be patient. Creating a blog is like writing a novel – very few people get their final draft the first time through. After two years of working on my website I’m still working on my website. Be prepared to change your format, to redesign your site and to funnel your material to the articles and keywords that are getting the most attention.
5. Know the odds. My website has made me exactly NO money since I first set it up. Because I’m a writer, I do use my domain fees and hosting fees as a tax write off so technically it hasn’t cost me anything either. The truth is that few blogs on the market today are actual money makers. If you are in it for the cash only then you might want to find a different avenue for seeking your fortune.

While it is possible to make money from a blog (or to win the lottery or write a best selling novel) it is not something that happens to everyone. It will largely depend on your audience, your material and your site. The more time you take on developing these three aspects then the more likely you are to begin earning some money from your site.

Tags: Blogging, Work from Home, writing // Add Comment »

It is possible to make money doing any thing that you want. There just has to be a plan and then willingness and a consistency to follow that plan. It doesn’t matter whether you want to become a millionaire, lose weight or make money doing something you love. Every thing is possible once you conceive it and follow through.

1. Start now. Nothing happens over night. You need to build your business before you fly on your own. Begin small and you will work your way up to the success that you desire.

2. Keep learning. No matter how good you may be (or you might THINK that you may be) there is always something more to learn. Attend conferences, take online courses and find community classes or writer’s groups that can help you increase your knowledge and advance your craft.

3. Create a plan. Decide what genres you want to settle into and write out goals (i.e. publish a series of fiction mystery novels or syndicate a column). After the goals you will want to write out steps (measurable objectives) that will help you reach each goal. Put together a writing plan very similar to any business plan that you would create.

4. Write daily. All the best ideas in the world will never amount to anything if they are not first put to work. Action is the key to becoming a success at anything.

5. Write differently. You may want to tackle just one genre, but by expanding you opportunities you will also expand your skills. Cross genres to help increase your basic writing skills and to uncover hidden talents.

6. Discover your niche. There is a place for you right now. You just have to find it and begin to make it your own.

7. Learn to query. The query letter is one of the most important keys for getting published in any form. Keep copies of your rejected queries so that you can take them to conferences or writer’s groups and get others to help you make them better. Don’t be afraid to query the same editor with a better product.

8. Follow through. If you say that you can do it then you better do it (and beat the deadline). Start building your credibility from the beginning.

9. Write for pay. Making money writing starts with getting paid to write. You may not be able to jump into the pond as top ten writer, but you can get your feet wet somewhere. Write what you can until you can write what you want.

10. Reach up. Once you get started then you can’t settle. Keep reaching for more. Try for the higher paying jobs, query the larger magazines, ask for the opportunity or the raise. The more experience you have and the more clips you build then the bolder you will become.

Success is only a try away. Creating a writing career – where you actually get paid for your passion – will take some time and effort but it can be achieved.

Some places to start:

www.ehow.com – not only can you post your own how to tips, but they also hire writers for projects as well.

www.craigslist.com – search in the gigs under writing and also in the writing/editing section.

www.performancing.com – they offer a list of blogger jobs and also some create tips for developing you own website.

www.paidpostingtools.com – you only make a few cents per comment, but strong posts can lead to other opportunities.

Determining what you will accept is a personal decision. Figure out what it takes you to create a story of 250 words. Put a price tag on your work ($5 is not an unusually starting point for short posts). Or you can figure up an hourly rate that you are willing to accept and figure out the price that way.

No matter how you figure your payment plan, be sure that you set aside around 20% of your income to pay for taxes at the end of the year. You will also want to keep a record of all your expenses to help decrease those taxes.

Tags: Blogging, Work from Home, writing // Add Comment »

There is complete chaos going on around of me, but I have a complete sense of calm. It’s amazing how something as simple as a movie can do that for you. For family movie night we watched “Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium” and the youngest child ran around like a wild man up until the last few minutes of the movie.

When I heard the words “the only thing you have to believe in is you,” I knew the words were for me – specific to my moment. I’ve been struggling the last few weeks to keep pushing because I wasn’t seeing any results. But the difference between the struggle and the breakthrough is often faith.

I’m taking advantage of the extreme euphoria I feel after that movie and I’m writing. I’m writing things that I’ve been thinking, I’m creating work that I need to get done, I’m editing the novel that is completed but has yet to queried. I believe in me.

When all is said and done, nothing can happen if I don’t believe that it can and if I don’t step out to make it happen. The joy I feel right now is the kind I wish I could bottle. It doesn’t matter what else is happening, I FEEL the okay – if that makes sense.

Make it happen – what ever your it may be. All you really have to do is believe in you and it is half way to there.

Tags: Attitudes, Spiritual Walk // Add Comment »

It seems to be easier to do something for peanuts than it does for real cash. Even though I try to produce the same quality content no matter who I’m writing for or how much they are paying, when the paycheck is more my nerves seem to grow in comparison.

The more nervous I am about a project then the harder it is for me to get started. I can procrastinate myself into a time crunch if I’m not careful. It’s just that I want to get the right opener and the right closer and use all the perfect words in between.

I recently started a project that is on the higher end of the pay scale. It’s for a new client with potential for more articles in the future. My nerves are so raw that I don’t even like thinking about the project – due in just a few days. The more I think about it and “prepare” for the writing the more I realize it really is all the same.

1. Do the research – that way I know more about what I’m writing about. I use the library, magazines and the internet.

2. Do an outline – break down the article in to paragraphs, steps or other ideas. This helps it to flow and makes it easier to add or subtract words as necessary.

3. Do a rough draft – get a feel for the article, the subject and the voice for the article.

4. Do editing. Kill the adverbs that you can catch and make the writing tight.

5. Send in the completed article by the deadline.

The writing it the same (or it should be) no matter what the paycheck turns out to be. The key is to NOT look at the dollars and concentrate on the subject instead.

Tags: Attitudes, Blogging, Work from Home, writing // Add Comment »

Writing online can be a profitable career choice. There are a wide array of opportunities that cover ever aspect of the writing market. The more you learn, the more you do then the more you will discover. Just don’t make the mistake that most online writers make today.

There are plenty of places that offer you the chance to write for the experience. Some will only offer you a few dollars per job. Most would quit doing both is writers valued their own work more. It doesn’t matter what you are writing or where you are writing (or even how fast you are writing) - $2 for a 300 word article is just not enough.

In the real world, giving pay that low would be illegal in the United States. That is less than the minimum wage – even for a skilled typist. The internet – as many writers have discovered – is not the real world. So what can you do to keep from undervaluing your work and to find the opportunities to make the higher pay?

1. Learn to surf the web you are interested in writing on. If you must take the “low end” jobs for income sake, then look for some that are a bit more reasonable. There are several sites that offer writers ghost writing jobs for low – but fairly reasonable – payments. Do key word searches for “freelance writing jobs” or “article content.” You should also join forums that have other writers and start making connections with the people in the industry.

2. Learn to say NO! If you wouldn’t accept the pay in the “real world” for a job that you were going to do then don’t accept it in the internet world. Have an idea of how much time will be involved in a possible writing job and how the pay would break down per hour.

3. Ask for more pay. If you are just starting out and have no publishing clips, then it may be hard to be bold. Taking the lower (but not $2) jobs is a good way to get some experience under your belt. Starting your own blog and learning ways to build the readership, visitors and subscribers is another strong selling point for your writing. Where ever you are in your writing, you can’t be afraid to ask for more – the very worst that can happen is that someone else gets the low paying gig and you end up finding something that pays more and is more suited to your writing style.

4. Search for jobs on a daily or weekly basis. There are several newsletters that you can subscribe to that list some of the top writing jobs on the market.

a. http://aboutfreelancewriting.com/jobs/currentjobs.htm (free site)

b. http://www.freelancedaily.net/ (paid site, but offers a free trial)

c. http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/ (free site)

5. Visit some of the top websites for freelance writers and for bloggers. Sites like Performancing and regularly list jobs on the site AND Problogger offer great advice for building your own websites along the way.

The worst thing that a freelance writer can do it underestimate his or her value. If you expect more then you will find more – it may just take a bit of digging to find those jobs. There are jobs that pay $.10 per word or even $150 per article – ONLINE! The key is to put in the effort to find the job, create and amazing query letter and then follow up with writing that is more than worth every penny.

Don’t make the #1 mistake most online freelancers make. Put a price tag on your work and create work that is worth it.

Tags: Attitudes, Blogging, Work from Home, writing // 1 Comment »

Many people take the plunge into writing without any real direction or understanding of the industry. I know I did. I sent in my first short story to Seventeen magazine when I was, well seventeen. It was rejected and with a photocopied letter that I still have today.

The sad thing is that I had one of the tools that would have helped guide me in my quest to write. I had received a subscription to The Writer when I first expressed a serious desire to write. The articles on query letters and knowing your market must have slipped right past me.

The Writer still comes to my home today. I also get other writing tools through the mail and now through the internet, but The Writer is still the one that ALWAYS offers me tips and suggestions that truly help me better my skills or increase my business (writing IS a business!).

If you aren’t currently receiving regular information about the craft of writing then The Writer is a great choice. The subscription fee is small, there is an online site, and the magazine is great for the experienced and the new writer.

This month (June, 2008) the magazine has some great tips on how to schedule your calendar, several articles on how to write children’s fiction and suggestions on taking real life people and molding them into fiction characters. Each month there is also a list of markets for the freelance writer and an interview with a successful writer that give tips on how to write.

Expand your writing skills and learn from some of the top writers in the field by using the tools that are available to you today. Whether you subscribe to a magazine like The Writer, invest in an online magazine subscription or find books to help you along the way, it is important that you continue the journey to become a better writer.

Tags: Blogging, Work from Home, writing // Add Comment »