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