I’m a strong believer in good karma. Blame it on the nuns who taught me in elementary school. It may sound mushy, but I believe you can do well by doing good. So I’m happy to throw a little good karma into the universe and share if it helps other writers. Don’t get me wrong. I’m also happy to be the recipient of others’ generosity.
Here are 5 easy ways to bring good karma to your freelance writing business:
1. Pay it forward. Just this morning I saw a notice on LinkedIn that a freelance friend was working on a piece on entry-level jobs in the financial services industry and immediately flashed on a young woman I know who snagged a position at a major Wall Street brokerage right out of college. Maybe not the best time to get into the business. But I digress. I emailed and found out my friend still needed sources so I sent her the young woman’s contact information. Who knows if my writer friend will ever return the favor. That’s not the point. Some day somebody will do me the same kind of good turn.
2. Share editors’ contact information. There’s are a part of you that wants to keep the good editors to yourself. But seriously, you can’t write every article in every issue of your favorite publications even if you tried, so wouldn’t you rather have freelancers who you know and who are good writers get some of those bylines rather than total strangers?
3. Send stories you see in other publications to editors. This reminds me of the newspaper clippings my mom mailed to me in college so I’d be up to date with what was happening at home. I’ve picked up the habit, only now I email news stories to an editor at a trade magazine where I’m a contributing editor to make sure she’s seen them.
4. Share your experiences. Spend the day teaching elementary school kids how to write feature stories. Volunteer to sit on a panel discussion at a writer’s workshop. Take a younger writer under your wing. One of the reasons I started this blog was to share what I’ve learned over more than a dozen years in the business. “But you’re giving away all your secrets,” my mom said when she started reading my blog. Maybe I am – well, not all my secrets. But so far it hasn’t hurt, and it’s helped introduce me to new editors, markets and opportunities and at the same time allowed me to expand my circle of freelance friends. That’s good karma.
Looking for more reasons why you should be a sharer? According to The Anti 9-to-5 Guide, a group of freelancers can band together to out publishers with less than sterling business practices. It can also help you make connections in the business, according to Freelance Switch.
What good karma’s come your way because you’re a sharer? Or have you gotten stung by being too helpful?
Of course I would return the favor, Michelle! I love that other writers (and some editors) check my LinkedIn status and offer suggestions. I even got an assignment because an editor saw I was researching a certain topic.
I think sharing information also helps freelancers fight the solitude of working alone.
I know you would return the favor Susan, you’re definitely of the freelance sharer mind set, as anyone who reads your blog, http://www.theurbanmuse.com, would know.
Michelle R.
Glad your Mom is still an influence on your writing. C
greate article keep it up..