| For the e-book, Advice from Successful
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| | mostly by word of mouth and via my Web
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| Freelancers: How They Built Their Careers
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| | site.
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| & How You Can Too!, I asked ten questions
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| | 7. Under what circumstances would you
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| of freelancers who were living their
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| | turn down work? Jennifer Dirks:
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| dream life. Following are some of their
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| | Journalist, Editor, Writer, Speaker
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| answers. They cover successful marketing
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| | I've turned down work if the pay (or
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| techniques, how to get clients and more!
| |
| | potential payoff) won't compensate me for
|
| 1. Why did you start freelancing? Yuwanda
| |
| | the work I'd put into it. I also once
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| Black, Writer, Editor, Small Business
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| | turned down work from a magazine
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| Columnist
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| | publisher who in the past has asked for
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| My sister and I worked at the same
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| | several rewrites without explanation and
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| company. We were freelancing on the side.
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| | I was unsure if anything new I did for
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| Once we realized that we were making more
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| | her would ever please her.
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| as freelancers than as full-time
| |
| | 8. Approximately how many hours a week
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| employees, she quit and started Inkwell
| |
| | would you estimate you work? Nan
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| Editorial. Once the business was able to
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| | Yielding: Copywriter
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| support two salaries, I joined her, which
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| | Anywhere from 50-60. I pretty much work a
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| was one year later (1997).
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| | 9-hour day ... weekends included.
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| 2. How long have you been a full-time
| |
| | However, I do allow myself some time off
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| freelancer? Eileen Coale: Marketing &
| |
| | every so often to just 'play,' so it
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| Corporate Communications Writer
| |
| | averages out.
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| I don't work full time. On average, I
| |
| | 9. If offered a well-paying, full-time
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| work about 15 hours a week, sometimes a
| |
| | position, would you accept? Please
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| bit more. I work mornings until my
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| | explain why you would accept/refuse.
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| youngest gets home from kindergarten, and
| |
| | Richard Adin: Desktop Publishing &
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| sometimes I'll put in evenings and
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| | Copyediting Services
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| Saturdays as well. Sixty to 70% of my
| |
| | This cannot be answered yes or no; there
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| work hours are spent networking and
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| | are too many factors that I would have to
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| marketing to get assignments. The
| |
| | consider. "Well-paying" is important but
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| remainder is spent writing. In another
| |
| | also important, perhaps more so, are
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| year or two, I expect that ratio to flip.
| |
| | matters of responsibility and challenge.
|
| 3. How many years of experience do you
| |
| | 10. What is the number one piece of
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| have? Marcy L. Brown: Cataloging,
| |
| | advice you would offer to freelance
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| Indexing & Information Management
| |
| | newbies? Rachel Goldstein: Web Developer,
|
| I have five part-time years of indexing,
| |
| | Graphic Designer, Muralist
|
| but 10 years of library employment
| |
| | In order to assure your chances for the
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| including cataloging, some indexing, and
| |
| | greatest success, you should do some
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| information management.
| |
| | self-evaluation before you leap into
|
| 4. Do you specialize in a certain area,
| |
| | freelancing. Not only does it take a
|
| e.g., legal, medical, production? If so,
| |
| | special temperament to run a successful
|
| what? Cathy Moore: Writer, Instructional
| |
| | business, but it also takes talent and
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| & Marketing Copy
| |
| | expertise in your field. This includes
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| Instructional writing and marketing copy.
| |
| | some or all of the following personality
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| I write appealing text for any
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| | features: self-confidence, common sense,
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| readability level, including kids.
| |
| | innovation, and ambition.
|
| 5. What specific marketing tips have you
| |
| | Summarizng the experts:
|
| personally tried that worked? Jennifer
| |
| | ►Have experience in your area: All
|
| Lawler: Writer, Editor
| |
| | of the contributors worked full-time in
|
| I tried a direct mail letter to editors
| |
| | their area at some point to gain
|
| that included the type of editing I could
| |
| | experience.
|
| do, a few companies I had worked for, and
| |
| | ►Marketing: Simply put, you will
|
| my business card printed in such a way
| |
| | not succeed unless and until you learn
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| that it could be popped right onto
| |
| | how to market your skills (effectively
|
| someone's rolodex. This letter generated
| |
| | and consistently).
|
| so much business for me that I never had
| |
| | ►Perseverance: Simply hanging in
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| to do another direct mail package.
| |
| | there is the final piece of advice our
|
| 6. How do you get most of your clients?
| |
| | contributors offered.
|
| Katharine O'Moore-Klopf: Editor, Copy
| |
| | Excerpted from Advice for Successful
|
| Editor, Factchecker
| |
| | Editorial Freelancers: How They Built
|
| When I first started freelancing, I got
| |
| | Their Careers & How You Can Too! on 11
|
| them mostly by word of mouth, and some
| |
| | 01. It is a companion to How to Really
|
| were former employers. Now, I get them
| |
| | Make a Living as an Editorial Freelancer.
|
