I realized I worry about freelancing all the time. I worry if I’m using my time wisely, if there’s something else I should be trying, or if I’m working smarter. I've read wonderful advice from WOW!'s instructor Nicole LaMarco about how we should focus on the writing and sending out instead of the worries. And you know what? She's right! I made a list of FIVE common freelancer concerns, and how to combat them. I'll share three today and the rest next week on Thursday.
Concern #1: Running Out of Good Ideas
Many writers worry that they may run out of good ideas. Without ideas that editors want, a freelance career may be hard to sustain. That’s true. However, I know many writers, and most of them have more ideas than they will ever have time to write. But if this is a concern of yours and you worry you won’t come up with a saleable idea ever again, then try these solutions:
• Keep a notebook with you, and any time you see anything of interest—jot it down. Refer to this notebook when you feel stuck.
• Talk to family and friends about ideas or what they are currently interested in.
• Scour through newspapers, magazines, and anthologies for ideas.
• Take a broad topic like dogs or weddings, and create a mind map. Narrow the topic until you get a new and unique idea.
Concern #2: Health Insurance:
This is a huge concern for freelancers, especially if a writer is not married to someone with health insurance. You need to educate yourself on your current options, and what you can do to cover yourself. It’s important to have health insurance. Here are some sites where you can find information. Talk to other freelancers you know, and ask them what they do.
• A list of links about insurance: http://www.terryburns.net/Health_Benefits.htm
• Allena Tapia's About.com site: http://freelancewrite.about.com/od/finances/f/healthfaq.htm
• Freelancers Union: http://www.freelancersunion.org/insurance/explore/
Concern #3: Time Management
7 Comments on Concerns (and Solutions!) for Freelance Writers, last added: 8/4/2011
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By: Margo Dill,
on 7/14/2011
Blog: WOW! Women on Writing Blog (The Muffin) (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: freelancing, women freelancers, business writing, Margo L. Dill, Add a tag
External Communication
One of the most common types of business writing is when a company hires a freelance writer to create materials for public viewing. The writer’s job is part writing and part public relations as she produces materials that communicate with potential and current customers. Small- to medium-sized businesses are more likely to hire freelancers for these jobs because they don’t have the budget to pay a staff writer (or provide benefits like health insurance), or they don’t have enough regular work to keep a writer busy forty hours a week.
If a company hires you to work on external communication projects, you could be writing:
• Newsletters
• Letters
• Brochures
• Press Releases
• Blogs
• Website copy
• Ads
• E-mails
• Presentations
• Reports
• Social Networking Profiles
For example, I’m currently working with a psychologist who is creating a parenting brochure for her clients. I’m taking her technical jargon and making it more parent-friendly, as well as adding practical examples that parents can relate to.
Many businesses today create newsletters or brochures full of helpful tips, projects, recipes, community information, and more to create a relationship with their customers. A hardware store could hire you to create a bi-monthly newsletter full of do-it-yourself projects and highlighting ways the store is helping in the community. A photographer might want to create a newsletter or brochure around the holi
3 Comments on Business Writing: What Is It Exactly?, last added: 7/15/2011
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Number # 3 is especially pertinent to me, Margo.
Thanks for the post.
thanks for the link, Margo. another concern that many have is the spotty payments, no regular cash flow. I often encourage people to vary their incomes for this reason. That is, consider investing time in passive incomes, teach seminars now and then, conference talks, etc.
I'm not a freelancer, but this is a great post :)
You're smart for a girl :D
wonderful blog!!!! Thank you so much!!
Balancing time between clients and projects is another big one for me. Every editor wants to know you're focusing on their project(s) and every client needs to have your undivided attention. As a freelancer, it's often volume that makes the balance sheet work but achieving balance with so many balls in the air is often tough
Thanks for the reminders, Margo!
@Sioux, Jenn C, and Allena--you are welcome!
@Wayne Ahhh, gee, you're so charming. ;0)
@Jill and Allena--thanks for adding to my list! I think we are providing freelancers some great resources, here!
dont worry be happy! <:o)