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freelancing in bad times

When freelancing isn't enough – it's OK to have another job too

When freelancing isn't enough – it's OK to have another job too

By Michelle V. Rafter on February 18, 2009 | 4 Responses

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Freelance writers are nervous by nature. There’s so much that has to go right for us to make money. Editors have to like our pitches and manuscripts. Articles have to run. Accounting departments have to issue us checks and checks have to clear. When the economy goes south, we worry even more than usual, especially [...]

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Posted in Careers, Economy, Freelancing, Workplace Issues | Tagged freelance writing business, freelancing in bad times, freelancing with a full-time job, how to be a freelancer, how to boost your freelance business, working and freelancing | 4 Responses

If you're upgrading your writing career, j-school isn't the answer

If you're upgrading your writing career, j-school isn't the answer

By Michelle V. Rafter on January 27, 2009 | 10 Responses

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Twice in the last week I’ve encountered writers or bloggers who’ve run into a bad patch in their careers and are wondering if it makes sense to go back to school and get a master’s degree in journalism. Bottom line: you don’t need a degree to get work as a writer. Even if you have [...]

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Posted in Careers, Freelancing, Workplace Issues, Writing | Tagged digital media, do i need a master's in journalism, freelancing in bad times, Journalism, journalism in the 21st century, journalism school, journalism training, master's degree in journalism, Writing | 10 Responses

Best of WordCount – Beat the recession

Best of WordCount – Beat the recession

By Michelle V. Rafter on January 2, 2009 | Leave a response

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While I’m on vacation this week, I’ll be rerunning some of the best WordCount posts of the year. Look for new posts, including my predictions for the top digital media personalities to watch in 2009, starting January 5. Happy New Year! Today’s reruns: how writers can beat the recession. Top 10 digital media trends of [...]

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Posted in Careers, Economy, Freelancing, Workplace Issues | Tagged advice for beating bad economy, freelance writing, freelancing in bad times, writing about the economy | Leave a response

10 things writers can do right now to feel better about the economy

10 things writers can do right now to feel better about the economy

By Michelle V. Rafter on October 3, 2008 | 3 Responses

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There’s nothing you can do about the Wall Street financial crisis or the $700 billion bail out package that Congress is debating as I write this. You can’t control the economy, or the price of gas or who’s going to win the presidential election in November. In the face of so uncertainty, it’s easy to [...]

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Posted in Careers, Economy, Freelancing, Workplace Issues, Writing | Tagged freelance work in bad economy, freelancing and bad economy, freelancing in bad times, tips for freelancers, what freelancers can do in bad economy | 3 Responses

Writers can SWOT their way through bad times

By Michelle V. Rafter on July 8, 2008 | Leave a response

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With the economy still sputtering and freelance writers complaining about clients taking longer and longer to pay their bills, it seems like a good time for a SWOT. SWOT is the name of a career assessment technique espoused by Grant Plowman, owner of Interactive Media Publishing, a digital media publishing company in southern Oregon. I [...]

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Posted in Careers, Economy, Freelancing, Writing | Tagged freelance writing, freelancing in bad times, Grant Plowman, how to boost your freelance business, Interactive Media Publishing, reassessing your freelance writing business, SWOT | Leave a response

Guest post: Going freelance in a down economy

Guest post: Going freelance in a down economy

By Michelle V. Rafter on May 27, 2008 | 9 Responses

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Going out on your own is scary enough, so why would any sane person do it in an economy like this one? Because a bad economy may actually be a good time to start a freelance career. At least that’s what Susan Johnston is hoping. Johnston is a Boston writer and creator of The Urban [...]

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Posted in Careers, Economy, Freelancing, Writing | Tagged freelance writing, freelancing in bad times, starting a freelance writing career, Susan Johnston, The Urban Muse, Writing | 9 Responses

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Welcome to WordCount: Freelancing in the Digital Age. You'll see new material Monday through Friday on writing basics, blogging, freelancing, tech tools for writers andQ&As with media professionals. If you're looking for a place to start, check out the Greatest Hits page, with 101 of my most popular posts. Don't miss the weekly recommended reading for writers or my Twitter chat the last Wednesday of the month at 10 a.m. Pacific time at #wclw. I also host the annual WordCount Blogathon, a community challenge to post every day in May. Use the Subscribe button to add WordCount to your blog reader or get it delivered directly in your email inbox. Got a question? Email wordcountfreelance@gmail.com.

Michelle V. Rafter

Reporter, editor, blogger, finance, business, workplace issues and media.

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