Freelancers' business wish list for 2009
If you’re going to spend money on your writing business in 2009, what’s at the top of your wish list? That’s the question I posed to writers on LinkedIn a couple weeks ago. The answers I got were as varied as the writing businesses of the people who replied. Many freelance writers are upgrading faster [...]
How to work on a snow day
UPDATE – Dec. 19, 2008 – It snowed all week. Five snow days in a row off school. More snow predicted to fall before Christmas. Running out of things to keep kids occupied. Someone suggested letting kids play with these online games for all ages. * * * We interrupt our regularly scheduled program – [...]
WordCount weekly news recap
Bad news continues for news companies. Tribune Co. filed for Chapter 11 federal bankruptcy protection, freezing deferred compensation payments to former employees and making it uncertain whether freelancers with unpaid invoices will get their money from the Chicago Tribune and Los Angeles Times. Listener-supported radio news hasn’t escaped the current downturn. This week National Public [...]
The big myths of freelance writing
Contrary to popular belief, most freelance writers don’t roll out of bed at 10, work in PJs and bunny slippers or take pen to paper only when the mood strikes. Jen Miller, a New Jersey girl as well as being an author, blogger and freelance writer, deflates these and other popular myths about writers who [...]
Take this quiz to find out what kind of LinkedIn user you are
I’m a Savvy Networker. I know because I took this quiz and found out what kind of LinkedIn user I am. The quiz was created by Tom H.C. Anderson, head of a New York Web 2.0 market research firm called Anderson Analytics LLC. Anderson came up with the test so people could see where they [...]
Do you tell editors what you do when you're not writing for them?
I’m a firm believer in the value of specializing in a freelance writing business. I’ve also espoused in this space about the benefits of being a team player when it comes to the publications and editors you work with, and how worthwhile it is to cultivate contributing writer gigs. So if you specialize, and you [...]
A year-end to-do list for freelancers
Before you know it, Christmas will be here, then New Year’s Eve and then it’s hello 2009. For freelance writers and other self-employed people, the end of the year isn’t just about office parties and getting the Christmas gifts bought and wrapped. It’s also time to take care of some major business housekeeping before the [...]
WordCount recap – Weekly news from the digital media biz
A scenario for news – Prognosticating about the future of the news business on his BuzzMachine blog, industry guru Jeff Jarvis says there’s definitely a place for freelancers. The future of news is all about community – covering it and working with it. Examples of this already abound, such as the Seal Beach Daily community [...]
Free multimedia career training for ex-news staffers, other writers
Here’s another journalist bailout program – just in time to rescue all the newspaper reporters and editors Gannett laid off earlier this week. Webbedia Group, a new media training firm created by veteran journalists, is holding two free online training sessions on emerging technology and “post-mainstream journalism careers” for recently laid off newspaper staffers and [...]
How to celebrate the season – and write too
For the second year in a row, Dec. 1 rolled around and I’m slammed with work. I’m not complaining. With the economy and the publishing business in a shambles, it’s a nice problem to have. And it’ll help me pay for Christmas. But still, as a working parent, it’s a challenge to juggle the work [...]
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