Jan
24
I’ve been so sick for the past week that if I was still working at the law office, I’d have been cashing in on some of that fabulous paid time off. Here at the home office, I’ve been trying to plug on. However, that great cliche of “business as usual” would be an understatement.
I’ve been super slow on one ongoing project (for which I’m hoping to make up time this weekend), and I’ve been writing blog posts a day ahead of time for another client (just in case). All personal projects (such as this blog) have gone by the wayside. I’ve been reading a few of my favorite blogs from my iphone while I’m lounging around in too much pain to work but too wired up to sleep.
As I’ve been in bed forcing myself to rest, I’ve been wondering how other freelancers handle things when they’re sick.
Do you outsource your work? Contact clients and ask for extensions on deadlines? Just try to keep going, even if your work product isn’t up to par?
What about those of you who have regular clients you work for on a daily basis? If you’re a blogger, for example, and you’re writing five posts a day for a client, how do you manage that sort of thing when you’re sick? Ask for time off? Write as many posts as you can in between trips to the toilet?
I’m seriously curious. How do you all handle freelancing through illness?
Jan
15
Over the past year, blogging for lawyers has become a bigger and better paying portion of my workload. There’s a lot less competition for lawfirm blogging jobs than there is to write copy or content for lawfirm websites. I’m not certain why — perhaps the daily commitment factor? Right now, all of my regular clients, with one exception, are lawfirms.
Last year around this time, I was floundering around a bit more. Basically, if I saw a writing job I thought I’d be qualified for, I’d apply. While the money wasn’t bad, I can’t say I really had a niche. I was doing more formal writing and research projects for lawyers, doing some web copywriting for lawyers, but at least half of my income was coming from other types of projects, from writing copy about pet care to articles about home business.
So, do you have a niche? How do you know when it’s time for a new niche?
Are you getting a steady stream of business? Do new clients approach you for your services? Will you make more money this year based on client demand? How’s the competition in your field?
Sometimes freelancers stick with a niche they’re comfortable with, even though it’s not making them enough money, simply because they’re in a rut. But is the routine of doing the same old thing day after day (just because you’re used to it) the best way to make a living? Often times, it’s not.
Take some time to go through your client list. Look at the projects you’ve completed over the past year. Then look at the market demand versus your competition. Is what you’ve been doing going to continue to make you money, or is there a new (possibly a related) niche you could focus your energies on to improve your freelance business?
Jan
11
Writing Meme: Roar for Powerful Words
Filed Under writing from home | 6 Comments
Katharine Swan has tagged me for a Roaring writers meme, the point of which seems to be to offer three writing tips I “believe are necessary to make writing good and powerful.” Here goes…
1) Step into your readers’ shoes. Whether you’re writing sales copy for the latest tech gadget or you’re writing an informational article on the health benefits of buying organic produce, your writing won’t be powerful unless you can reach your reader. To do that, you’ll have to know who your reader is, what he’s looking to learn or buy, what his motivations/desires are behind that learning or buying, and how you can best connect on a personal level with that reader. I try to imagine what I’d be looking for if I were the reader and write accordingly. It’s a system that generally works for me.
2) Leave room for the reader to make up her own mind. I’ve heard that in composing music, the rests (silences) are what makes the piece most powerful. I believe it’s the same with writing. If you tell someone what to do (or buy), it might work, but you’ll likely be more successful leaving room for someone to form his own opinion (or make her own buying decision) based on the information you give and the way you deliver that information.
3) Be original. There’s so much regurgitated writing out there, from news to general web content, that reading online can make for a dull experience. The best, most engaging pieces I’ve ever read (in any genre) are ones that offer a clearly unique point of view or previously unheard-of information.
Others I’d like to see roar about writing (if they haven’t already participated):
Jeanne Dininni of Writer’s Notes
John Hewitt of Writer’s Resource Center
Tom Colvin of Becoming A Writer Seriously
James Chartrand of Web Content Writer Tips
Opal Tribble of Addicted to Writing
Jan
6
The beginning of a new year is a natural time to take inventory of what you’ve done well for your freelance writing business, as well as your mistakes. Figure out what you did wrong, and figure out what you could do better.
Did you take on too many clients in 2007? (I did.)
Did you under-estimate your self-employment taxes? (I did.)
Did you invest several hundred dollars on books related to your field but never take time to read them? (I did. You should see this pile of books…)
Were you too slack in collecting on invoices? (This was a 2006 issue for me, which I happily beat in 2007.)
What are you doing to start 2008 as a better freelance business person?
Jan
1
I’m not the type to resolve to quit things I’ll never quit or change habits I’ll never change, but my freelance writing career is one spot where I do make the effort to come up with some attainable goals. I try to resolve to do things for the better (for my writing business) each year, and I’ve more than fulfilled my goals in previous years. So, onto 2008…
My resolutions this year are pretty simple, but they’ll take some hard work to achieve.
1) Stop working by midnight each night.
2) Take at least 1/2 a day off each weekend.
Many of you may think I’m joking, but seriously, this is how much I work. I can’t say I’m too bummed about my working life as it is now, but as a precaution for major burnout and/or a pending health collapse, I’m trying to trim my schedule down.
Some of what I’m in the process of doing to attain these goals:
1) Drop a few clients.
2) Drop a few personal projects.
3) Drop a few pro bono (volunteer) projects. (I haven’t wanted to do this, but I added up the hours I spend on volunteer work — all for reputable charities or truly needy people — and have found that I spend more than 30 hours per week on charitable work, so it’s time to cut the cord a bit.)
4) Visit fewer blogs. (This is an area where I can stand to cut back at least an hour per day.)
5) Save my “fun stuff” (like blog surfing and pleasure reading) till last in the day, and skip it entirely if I haven’t gotten a certain amount of work done by a certain time each day.
What are your new year’s resolutions? If you’ve already posted them on your blog, feel free to post a link here in the comments.
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About Amy Derby
Formerly a corporate paralegal, I ditched the pantyhose to begin freelancing in 2004. I enjoy long walks to the coffee maker, never setting an alarm clock, and not wearing a bra to the (home) office. I can be reached at amy.derby (at) gmail.com.