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Freelance Writing
I graduated from college in May with a bachelor of arts in journalism.
Most of my time since then has been dedicated to finding a job. I've been working on some freelance writing projects on the side.
Considering that I've put a lot less effort into freelance writing, it's been a lot more successful than my job search. Okay, so really I've applied for two freelance jobs and I got one of them, and it has potential to be semi-permanent at $25 an article.
DH thinks I should put more effort into working on freelance writing. I have a blog I could work on, and I'm really interested in social media marketing so I could work on promoting my blog via social media which could be really nice in a portfolio.
If I could make it work it would be really nice.
So, I guess basically I'm wondering if anyone knows anything about freelance writing. I've seen a couple posts on freelance work, but I'm not sure I've seen a writing specific one. Has anyone been able to make freelance writing work? Where do you find freelance writing jobs? Does anyone have any advice or suggestions?
Re: Freelance Writing
I have a BA in journalism, currently getting my MFA in writing. I was a magazine editor for two years, then got laid off in November. Since then, I've done freelance writing and held a part-time job. (I did some freelance work before that, but not as serious/full-time as this).
The best way I've found to get good, long-term freelance positions is through your current contacts and networking. That probably doesn't help you much since you're new in the field, but you can try mining your professors and classmates and see what comes up. I have a long-term contract freelance job right now that I got through my old chief editor. He's also hired me to do some projects for a marketing company he runs on the side, and several former co-workers have hired me for freelance work, as well.
But I did get some jobs through cold-calling or answering ads (one I even found on Craig's List. It was reputable and I worked it for two years before I became more valuable than the jobs paid.) Basically, when I cold-called, I would email (so not actually call) the editor of my local paper, news website, whatever, and offer my services. I'd let them know what I specialized in (don't tell them you'll write anything -- market yourself as having one or two things you do well and have proof to back it up) and offered clips and my resume. I typically didn't name my price in that first email because most magazines have a standard rate they pay, and they'll offer that to you if they're interested in hiring you. You can negotiate if you like but most places don't have much wiggle room.
I didn't attach my resume or clips in the initial email because editors are weary of attachments from strangers (I know this from personal experience.) Be prepared to send a LOT of emails and not hear back, and be prepared to follow-up by email. I used to get emails from freelance people and be interested, but get so swamped with deadlines I'd lose track; when they followed-up it showed me they were serious and I took time to look at their cover letter.
Editors want to see already published work. While your blog is great because it keeps you writing and markets yourself, it's not really something that editors care about, unless you're bloggng about what the article is on and you already have an audience. Editors want to see published clips that prove you can be succinct, know AP style, and write in the style they like. Whenever you can, send clips that relate to the job you want -- as in, don't send restaurant reviews for a finance article posting. At first, you can definitely send clips from your college paper, but as soon as you have something more professional (or if you do already), use that.
Another consideration is taxes. If you're going to make freelancing a full-time job (and many papers are laying off staff writers in favor of freelancers, so it's doable), be prepared to have a lot of work to do come tax time. I suggest paying your estimated taxes quarterly, and if you go through a lot of different small jobs, hire an accountant.
Good luck! It will be all about doing the groundwork and getting your foot in the door, just contacting editors and people you know. Once you have a few contacts that like your work, they will hire you again and again. (Don't just think locally; think national magazines and trade publications that you have an expertise/experience writing in that subject area.)
I'm a full-time staff editor at a regional magazine, plus I do freelance writing on the side. I mostly write for Demand Media, but I've also done freelance work on Elance and recently had my first "real" freelance job with two city wedding magazines in other states.
I would love to be a full-time freelancer, but right now, it's not realistic. Mostly because of no health insurance and having to pay higher self-employment taxes on freelance work.
Additionally, it can be frustrating to get paid ... I submitted an invoice for wedding magazine #2 two months ago for $800, and I'm still waiting for that check. I had the same problems with Elance. I like Demand Media because they pay every tuesday and Friday without hassle, but sometimes available titles dry up and it's not a reliable source of income.
I don't want to shy you away from freelancing, but I want you to be aware that it's not easy. I'm going to make a go of it when my husband's salary reaches double what it is now and he has good health insurance for both of us. Until then, it's a sideline project for more money.
~ Kelsey Jean ~
Cooking with Crouton: A Food Blog
Oh yes, this is definitely true. Even with my long-term job, it seems there is no pattern to when the checks will come. I'll go six (and once eight) weeks without a check, then I'll get two or three big ones at once. You have to budget really well so you don't get in trouble in the months where the jobs are harder to find or the checks aren't coming as quickly as you need them. I actually have a second, PT job to fill in the gaps with a semi-regular income.
It's definitely hard. You have to do 100% of the work, networking, putting yourself out there, and you won't always get paid what you think you're worth (plus the tax issue). And like PP mentioned, I don't have health insurance and that is a big problem. I'm looking for FT employment. I like freelancing, but I don't want to do it full-time permanently.
I used to be a full-time senior copywriter and I moved to Quebec City and started freelancing. It was easy for me to find work - I have steady work with a newspaper, wrote a travel guide, and work for my husband's company.
I like managing my own schedule, listening to the radio as loud as I want, and working with a glass of wine. What I dislike is preparing invoices and always feeling like I work more hours than for what I get paid. The $25 for an article is only good if you're able to write really fast and if you don't have to do any research. Try to get paid for word or time.
It's tough and right now, I'm doing it because I just moved to a new city where there's no full time jobs doing what I do because everyone speaks a different language. There's also no competition - ha.
Making money off a blog is also EXTREMELY difficult. I'm not trying to talk you out of your efforts, but I would only do these things on the side of a regular job. Also, yes, get clips - editors will definitely want to see them.
Thank you all very much for your advice and suggestions.
I'm very aware that freelance writing is going to be difficult. We don't have any kids, and we just graduated from college, so we're still used to living on our college budget. So, if I'm going to try something like this, now seems like the time.
DH and I have set a time limit, and we'll see how well freelance writing is going after the time is up. If it's not going well, then I'll go back to applying for full time jobs.
I'm also applying for an internship that has a decent potential of turning into a job in December.
I wasn't really thinking of the blog as a source of income, but more of a way to get my name out there. I realize the writing from my blog will not suffice as a writing sample to send to someone, but I have heard of several people who got freelance jobs after someone stumbled across their blog.