Comments for WordCount http://michellerafter.com Freelancing in the Digital Age Thu, 04 Feb 2010 11:16:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 Comment on Writer games Examiner.com to make a point about content aggregators by Renna Panama http://michellerafter.com/2009/05/30/writer-games-examiner-com-to-make-a-point-about-content-aggregators/comment-page-1/#comment-8079 Renna Panama Thu, 04 Feb 2010 11:16:39 +0000 http://michellerafter.wordpress.com/?p=3065#comment-8079 Kudos from one braniac to another. :) Kudos from one braniac to another. :)

]]> Comment on Cracks in the ice by Lori http://michellerafter.com/2010/01/27/cracks-in-the-ice/comment-page-1/#comment-7993 Lori Wed, 03 Feb 2010 13:35:22 +0000 http://michellerafter.com/?p=4195#comment-7993 Things are insanely busy for me right now. I love it. I have three ongoing weekly deadlines, one daily deadline, and various projects due this month/next month. I keep looking to April 15th and thinking this is all money in the tax bank.... Things are insanely busy for me right now. I love it. I have three ongoing weekly deadlines, one daily deadline, and various projects due this month/next month. I keep looking to April 15th and thinking this is all money in the tax bank….

]]> Comment on Reposting – The secret to my LinkedIn success by Maria R. http://michellerafter.com/2008/11/06/reposting-the-secret-to-my-linkedin-success/comment-page-1/#comment-7928 Maria R. Tue, 02 Feb 2010 19:47:12 +0000 http://michellerafter.wordpress.com/?p=1166#comment-7928 I just started to use linkedIn and it is already working for me in connecting to folks in my e-mail list, but the most interesting thing is that I have another forum for sharing my on-line newspaper and blogs. Overall, this is a fantastic website. I just started to use linkedIn and it is already working for me in connecting to folks in my e-mail list, but the most interesting thing is that I have another forum for sharing my on-line newspaper and blogs. Overall, this is a fantastic website.

]]> Comment on WordCount Q&A – One freelancer's DIY book publishing success by Michelle V. Rafter http://michellerafter.com/2009/02/26/wordcount-qa-one-freelancers-diy-book-publishing-success/comment-page-1/#comment-7847 Michelle V. Rafter Mon, 01 Feb 2010 23:15:12 +0000 http://michellerafter.wordpress.com/?p=2045#comment-7847 Thanks for the comment. Corinne was the subject of this Q&A but this isn't her blog. You can find her at <a href="http://thoughtsontranslation.com/" rel="nofollow">Thoughts on Translation</a>. Michelle Rafter. Thanks for the comment. Corinne was the subject of this Q&A but this isn’t her blog. You can find her at Thoughts on Translation.

Michelle Rafter.

]]> Comment on WordCount Q&A – One freelancer's DIY book publishing success by Carolina http://michellerafter.com/2009/02/26/wordcount-qa-one-freelancers-diy-book-publishing-success/comment-page-1/#comment-7831 Carolina Mon, 01 Feb 2010 17:40:54 +0000 http://michellerafter.wordpress.com/?p=2045#comment-7831 Hi, Corinne, I'm new to the area and found your post today while searching local publishing houses. I am considering self-publishing, but I haven't settled on it yet. I am leaning in that direction though. Congratulations on your book sales! I think you did a great job. Thanks for a very informative piece that is definitely keeping self-publishing the main option at the moment. Forgive my see spot run-I never know what to say when I meet new people:) Hi, Corinne,

I’m new to the area and found your post today while searching local publishing houses. I am considering self-publishing, but I haven’t settled on it yet. I am leaning in that direction though.

Congratulations on your book sales! I think you did a great job.

Thanks for a very informative piece that is definitely keeping self-publishing the main option at the moment.

Forgive my see spot run-I never know what to say when I meet new people:)

]]> Comment on Cracks in the ice by Michelle V. Rafter http://michellerafter.com/2010/01/27/cracks-in-the-ice/comment-page-1/#comment-7827 Michelle V. Rafter Mon, 01 Feb 2010 16:25:39 +0000 http://michellerafter.com/?p=4195#comment-7827 Thanks for sharing the details of your 2009 experiences, and best of luck this year, sounds like you're off to a great start. Michelle Thanks for sharing the details of your 2009 experiences, and best of luck this year, sounds like you’re off to a great start.

Michelle

]]> Comment on Cracks in the ice by maggie leyes http://michellerafter.com/2010/01/27/cracks-in-the-ice/comment-page-1/#comment-7756 maggie leyes Sun, 31 Jan 2010 21:54:45 +0000 http://michellerafter.com/?p=4195#comment-7756 This is exactly what happened for me ... 2008 was strong as I started my freelance biz, after leaving a trade magazine managing editor post. But 2009 was a different story. There were a few months around summer/fall when I was wondering if I was going to make it. But I was convinced that with staff cutbacks, "they" (magazines, websites, etc) would only be able to survive just so long before they needed "staff," albeit freelance. I hung in for 3 or 4 months of making less then my expenses and then, wham, October brought in a major ongoing freelance gig with a former contact. I work ongoing 60 percent of my time for them for a "salary," but I maintain my remote office (1,000 miles away). I also just got another gig that hits on both the magazine and online worlds, which will be regular, and ongoing income as well. Plus I have my freelance articles and podcasts from my former employer ... Really, almost more work than I can handle. What I did during my "downtime" over those 3-4 lean months of scant work was beef up my online skills including social media: Twitter, FB, blogging etc. Then, once the economy started to thaw, I was able to sell those skills in addition to the magazine and online experience I already had. My advice to others is to hang in there. As Michelle says, learn new skills and then offer them to those who don't have the staff resources to produce that kind of content. This is exactly what happened for me … 2008 was strong as I started my freelance biz, after leaving a trade magazine managing editor post. But 2009 was a different story. There were a few months around summer/fall when I was wondering if I was going to make it. But I was convinced that with staff cutbacks, “they” (magazines, websites, etc) would only be able to survive just so long before they needed “staff,” albeit freelance. I hung in for 3 or 4 months of making less then my expenses and then, wham, October brought in a major ongoing freelance gig with a former contact. I work ongoing 60 percent of my time for them for a “salary,” but I maintain my remote office (1,000 miles away). I also just got another gig that hits on both the magazine and online worlds, which will be regular, and ongoing income as well. Plus I have my freelance articles and podcasts from my former employer … Really, almost more work than I can handle.

What I did during my “downtime” over those 3-4 lean months of scant work was beef up my online skills including social media: Twitter, FB, blogging etc. Then, once the economy started to thaw, I was able to sell those skills in addition to the magazine and online experience I already had.

My advice to others is to hang in there. As Michelle says, learn new skills and then offer them to those who don’t have the staff resources to produce that kind of content.

]]> Comment on The great freelance rate debate continues by Mridu Khullar » Blog Archive » The Debate Surrounding Demand Studios http://michellerafter.com/2009/09/11/the-great-freelance-rate-debate-continues/comment-page-1/#comment-7689 Mridu Khullar » Blog Archive » The Debate Surrounding Demand Studios Sat, 30 Jan 2010 18:58:11 +0000 http://michellerafter.wordpress.com/?p=3620#comment-7689 [...] Also from WordCount: Some novice freelancers see writing for Demand Studios, Examiner.com, Helium and other content aggregators as a legitimate way into the business. They’re willing to put up with working conditions that make more experienced writers cringe: fees of $10 to $20 or less per article that necessitate cranking out dozens, even hundreds, of pieces a month to make a decent living. [...] [...] Also from WordCount: Some novice freelancers see writing for Demand Studios, Examiner.com, Helium and other content aggregators as a legitimate way into the business. They’re willing to put up with working conditions that make more experienced writers cringe: fees of $10 to $20 or less per article that necessitate cranking out dozens, even hundreds, of pieces a month to make a decent living. [...]

]]> Comment on Cracks in the ice by Michelle V. Rafter http://michellerafter.com/2010/01/27/cracks-in-the-ice/comment-page-1/#comment-7642 Michelle V. Rafter Fri, 29 Jan 2010 16:42:25 +0000 http://michellerafter.com/?p=4195#comment-7642 Thanks Steve. What you're doing at NozzlMedia is of course part and parcel of this trend - hope it's going well! Michelle Thanks Steve. What you’re doing at NozzlMedia is of course part and parcel of this trend – hope it’s going well!

Michelle

]]> Comment on Cracks in the ice by Steve Woodward http://michellerafter.com/2010/01/27/cracks-in-the-ice/comment-page-1/#comment-7614 Steve Woodward Fri, 29 Jan 2010 08:28:31 +0000 http://michellerafter.com/?p=4195#comment-7614 I think you're right, Michelle. Something's in the air, and I think it's optimism. Check out this blog post from former Oregonian editor Michele McLellan: <a href="http://www.knightdigitalmediacenter.org/leadership_blog/comments/20100124_promising_community_news_sites_-_the_hunt_is_on/" rel="nofollow">"Promising online news organizations - The hunt is on."</a> Also, The Oregonian's new publisher, Chris Anderson, apparently presided over a stirring town-hall meeting for employees recently. One longtime editor posted this on his Facebook page: "For the first time in a long time, The Oregonian feels alive and vibrant and poised to do great things. Innovative, and very inspiring..." Let's hope for the best in 2010. I think you’re right, Michelle. Something’s in the air, and I think it’s optimism. Check out this blog post from former Oregonian editor Michele McLellan: “Promising online news organizations – The hunt is on.”

Also, The Oregonian’s new publisher, Chris Anderson, apparently presided over a stirring town-hall meeting for employees recently. One longtime editor posted this on his Facebook page: “For the first time in a long time, The Oregonian feels alive and vibrant and poised to do great things. Innovative, and very inspiring…”

Let’s hope for the best in 2010.

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