Navigating a Career In Freelance Writing: Ten Keys to Success
Melissa Shultz
Navigating a Career In Freelance Navigating a Career In Freelance Writing: Writing:
Ten Keys to SuccessTen Keys to Success
Navigating a Career In Freelance Navigating a Career In Freelance Writing: Writing:
Ten Keys to SuccessTen Keys to Success
# 1 Establish A Plan# 1 Establish A Plan..
• All good plans are inspired by a goal. What is yours?
• Plant a seed.
• Generate a concept
Navigating a Career In Freelance Navigating a Career In Freelance Writing: Writing:
Ten Keys to SuccessTen Keys to Success
# 1 Establish A Plan# 1 Establish A Plan..
• Determine the types of writing you will focus on and the minimum income you can survive on.
• Save money before you begin.
Navigating a Career In Freelance Navigating a Career In Freelance Writing: Writing:
Ten Keys to SuccessTen Keys to Success
# 1 Establish A Plan# 1 Establish A Plan. .
• Set up an office.
• Open a business checking account.
• Get a business credit card.
Navigating a Career In Freelance Navigating a Career In Freelance Writing: Writing:
Ten Keys to SuccessTen Keys to Success
# 1 Establish A Plan# 1 Establish A Plan. .
• Print business cards.
• Get insurance.
• Dance around the new office.
Navigating a Career In Freelance Navigating a Career In Freelance Writing: Writing:
Ten Keys to SuccessTen Keys to Success
# 1 Establish A Plan# 1 Establish A Plan. .
Navigating a Career In Freelance Navigating a Career In Freelance Writing: Writing:
Ten Keys to SuccessTen Keys to Success
#2 Get #2 Get Help.Help. • Employ the help of
groups that represent writers
• National Writer’s Union www.nwu.org
• American Society of Journalists and Authors http://www.asja.org
• www.authorlink.com• www.writersgarret.org
Navigating a Career In Freelance Navigating a Career In Freelance Writing: Writing:
Ten Keys to SuccessTen Keys to Success
#2 Get #2 Get Help.Help.
• Trade Associations
• www.asaecenter.org
• www.consumeraction.gov/trade.shtml
Navigating a Career In Freelance Navigating a Career In Freelance Writing: Writing:
Ten Keys to SuccessTen Keys to Success
#2 Get #2 Get Help.Help.
• Careerbuilder.com• JOBcentral.com• Monster.com• FederalGovernmentJobs.us• Jobs.com• Flipdog.com• Indeed.com
Navigating a Career In Freelance Navigating a Career In Freelance Writing: Writing:
Ten Keys to SuccessTen Keys to Success
#3 Be #3 Be Prepared.Prepared. • Offer different rate
options. 22 Hours Total
Creative Director - 8 hours @ $100 / hour Copywriter - 14 hours @ $ 50 / hour _____________________________
$1,500
30 Hours Total
$1,500 / month
for 3 months
Navigating a Career In Freelance Navigating a Career In Freelance Writing: Writing:
Ten Keys to SuccessTen Keys to Success
#3 Be #3 Be Prepared.Prepared. • Offer different rate
options.
• Determine payment stages.• Review types of rights.
• Include a cancellation clause.
• Keep track of your hours.
Navigating a Career In Freelance Navigating a Career In Freelance Writing: Writing:
Ten Keys to SuccessTen Keys to Success
#3 Be #3 Be Prepared.Prepared. • Be prepared to
make quarterly payments to Uncle Sam.
• Get an accountant for at least one round of taxes.
• Stay on top of what the IRS permits and doesn’t.
Navigating a Career In Freelance Navigating a Career In Freelance Writing: Writing:
Ten Keys to SuccessTen Keys to Success
#3 Be #3 Be Prepared.Prepared.
• Set up an accounting system.
• Save for a rainy day.
• Get health and disability insurance.
Navigating a Career In Freelance Navigating a Career In Freelance Writing: Writing:
Ten Keys to SuccessTen Keys to Success
#3 Be #3 Be Prepared.Prepared.
• Hire your own freelancers.
• Send out written agreements.
• Send out 1099’s.
Navigating a Career In Freelance Navigating a Career In Freelance Writing: Writing:
Ten Keys to SuccessTen Keys to Success
#4 Learn How to Market #4 Learn How to Market Yourself.Yourself.
• Check out other writer’s websites.
• Create your own website?
Navigating a Career In Freelance Navigating a Career In Freelance Writing: Writing:
Ten Keys to SuccessTen Keys to Success
#4 Learn How to Market #4 Learn How to Market Yourself.Yourself.
• Experiment with queries.
• Create a business card.
Navigating a Career In Freelance Navigating a Career In Freelance Writing: Writing:
Ten Keys to SuccessTen Keys to Success
#4 Learn How to Market #4 Learn How to Market Yourself.Yourself.
• Consider your appearance
Navigating a Career In Freelance Navigating a Career In Freelance Writing: Writing:
Ten Keys to SuccessTen Keys to Success
#4 Learn How to Market #4 Learn How to Market Yourself.Yourself.
• Create a bio
• Get a photo of yourself
Navigating a Career In Freelance Navigating a Career In Freelance Writing: Writing:
Ten Keys to SuccessTen Keys to Success
#4 Learn How to Market #4 Learn How to Market Yourself.Yourself.
Network
Navigating a Career In Freelance Navigating a Career In Freelance Writing: Writing:
Ten Keys to SuccessTen Keys to Success
#4 Learn How to Market #4 Learn How to Market Yourself.Yourself.
• Create a list of editors and executives and their contact info.
• Check out mastheads and websites.
Navigating a Career In Freelance Navigating a Career In Freelance Writing: Writing:
Ten Keys to SuccessTen Keys to Success
#4 Learn How to Market #4 Learn How to Market Yourself.Yourself.
• Don’t flaunt your degrees
Navigating a Career In Freelance Navigating a Career In Freelance Writing: Writing:
Ten Keys to SuccessTen Keys to Success
#4 Learn How to Market #4 Learn How to Market Yourself.Yourself.
• List your services.
• www.MediaBistro.com
• www.FreelanceWriting.com
• www.ASJA.org
Navigating a Career In Freelance Navigating a Career In Freelance Writing: Writing:
Ten Keys to SuccessTen Keys to Success
#5 Be an #5 Be an Armadillo.Armadillo.
Navigating a Career In Freelance Navigating a Career In Freelance Writing: Writing:
Ten Keys to SuccessTen Keys to Success
#6 Be #6 Be Curious.Curious.
Navigating a Career In Freelance Navigating a Career In Freelance Writing: Writing:
Ten Keys to SuccessTen Keys to Success
#7 #7 Read.Read.
• Focus on your area of expertise.
Navigating a Career In Freelance Navigating a Career In Freelance Writing: Writing:
Ten Keys to SuccessTen Keys to Success
#8 Be #8 Be Flexible.Flexible. • Be willing to take jobs that
help pay the bills or get you published.
• Check out local publishing houses that hire ghostwriters.
• www.brownbooks.com
• www.benbellabooks.com
• Use your client’s voice.
Navigating a Career In Freelance Navigating a Career In Freelance Writing: Writing:
Ten Keys to SuccessTen Keys to Success#9 Create a “Projects-In-The-Making” #9 Create a “Projects-In-The-Making”
File.File. • Write your ideas as they
occur to you.
• Have more than one project going.
• Always have at least one pitch ready to go out.
Navigating a Career In Freelance Navigating a Career In Freelance Writing: Writing:
Ten Keys to SuccessTen Keys to Success
#10 Get #10 Get Published.Published.
• Show only relevant material.• Start small and work your way up.
Navigating a Career In Freelance Navigating a Career In Freelance Writing: Writing:
Ten Keys to SuccessTen Keys to Success#1 Establish A Plan#1 Establish A Plan.. #2 Get Help.#2 Get Help. #3 Be Prepared.#3 Be Prepared.
#5 Be an Armadillo.#5 Be an Armadillo. #6 Be Curious.#6 Be Curious. #7 Read.#7 Read. #8 Be Flexible.#8 Be Flexible. #9 Create a “Projects-In-The-Making” #9 Create a “Projects-In-The-Making”
File.File.
#4 #4 Learn How to Market Yourself.Learn How to Market Yourself.
Navigating a Career In Freelance Navigating a Career In Freelance Writing: Writing:
Ten Keys to SuccessTen Keys to Success
#10 Get #10 Get Published.Published.
#1 Establish A Plan#1 Establish A Plan.. #2 Get Help.#2 Get Help. #3 Be Prepared.#3 Be Prepared. #4 #4 Learn How to Market Yourself.Learn How to Market Yourself.
#5 Be an Armadillo.#5 Be an Armadillo. #6 Be Curious.#6 Be Curious. #7 Read.#7 Read. #8 Be Flexible.#8 Be Flexible. #9 Create a “Projects-In-The-Making” #9 Create a “Projects-In-The-Making”
File.File.