For many, the phrase “freelance writing” conjures up images of famous magazines on a newsstand. Often the best-paid work, however, comes from companies that aren’t in the publishing business at all. They’re commissioning articles as part of their content strategy, to either connect with their customers or improve their website’s search traffic.
Until I stumbled into this little side gig of translating Italian poetry, my idea of poetry didn’t go much further than “Roses are red…” etc., etc. Occasionally, I read, and reread, and tried to understand some of the poetry published in The New Yorker. First of all, it didn’t rhyme, so that threw me off. Then, on many occasions, even after a third or fourth read, I was still asking: “Say what?” I must have snoozed through the poetry segment in English class because all this free flowing thought was a puzzle to me. And now, I was being asked to translate it.
In a previous article, I wrote about Metasearch as being one fantastic engine for finding hidden writing jobs on the web.
Well, Metasearch is dead. God bless the departed king. God save the new monarchs. The most meritorious successors, it seems to me, are the following…
I have been freelancing for over 20 years and I can best describe my love affair with writing as feast or famine. Freelancing provides me with the opportunities to explore the subjects I am most passionate about: women’s and family matters, education issues and the arts. The pay is steady and a nice supplement to my income as a part-time teacher.
Want to work “smarter, not harder” this year? Strategic guest posting is the ticket! In fact, Leo Babauta, mega-successful blogger, author, and creator of Zen Habits, (with more than 200,000 subscribers), states in an interview: “Guest posting is by far the best way to grow an audience.”
I dropped out of school, went back several times, and after a series of jobs and “careers,” which resulted in an extensive collection of hairnets and nametags, I finally got serious about being a writer, and figured out the first obstacle to working at home full time: money.
I know you are a busy lady, but since you are the professional in this field, I wondered what the best selling/most sought after books are? What length book and subject would be the best to write? I want to cater to the latest readers’ interests if possible. Thanks for any suggestions.
Being a freelance writer is not an easy job. You have to be your own personal manager, your own bookkeeper, your own publicist, the one who promotes your work, and, of course, a writer. However, this is the easy part when your clients are 12 flying hours away and you have to make everyone feel satisfied – including yourself.
When I was first offered a blog ghostwriting gig by Jim, a director of something-or-other for a tech company, it would’ve been putting it nicely to say I was underwhelmed. Via LinkedIn message, I was offered the chance to connect about a writing assignment. The lead seemed so low qualified that it was not until Jim messaged me again that I replied with (admittedly faked) interest.
Amazing commission: Write five short science fiction pieces on specific themes for a corporate brainstorming/innovation event. The catch: all five stories required in a month.
