Open Mic Comments Thursday - Here We Go…
Thursday, May 22, 2008
It’s Open Mic Comment Time - or close enough.
The topic this evening you ask?
Making money as a writer / editor / translator / freelancer.
Unless, of course, you want to comment about something else, tell us how you do it, how you wish it were, ask questions, etc. etc. etc.
Only one rule, and that’s be nice.
Simply make a comment below and let’s see who else comments… you don’t have to wait for someone to finish… just go for it…
Tags: editors, freelance-writing, making money, money, open comments, open mic, translators, writersRelated Stories
POSTED IN: The Kitchen Sink
78 opinions for Open Mic Comments Thursday - Here We Go…
Anne Wayman
May 22, 2008 at 7:20 pm
Okay, we started 10 minutes early… just more time… how do you best like making money writing?
George Hunt
May 22, 2008 at 7:29 pm
I have been successful getting gigs from Anne’s litst and recently hit a real winner as I become the copywriter for a WEB Developer.
Anne Wayman
May 22, 2008 at 7:30 pm
it’s officially time to start… must be someone out there…
Anne Wayman
May 22, 2008 at 7:31 pm
George, that’s great… congrats, any secrets?
Anne Wayman
May 22, 2008 at 7:32 pm
And yeah, refresh to see new comments and I”m watching the comment approval thingie like a hawk for you new here.
Anne MO
May 22, 2008 at 7:35 pm
My question is, do you think it is possible to be a freelance writer nowadays and NOT have your own web page or blog?
Anne Wayman
May 22, 2008 at 7:37 pm
Anne, why would you not want to have a web page or a blog or even both?
gina
May 22, 2008 at 7:40 pm
Hi Anne - a writer friend recommended your site to me and since then I’ve been checking the listing for writing jobs daily. I have yet to ever get paid for writing but admire those of you who do and actually have something in the works that I should get an answer about this weekend. I can’t wait to read all the comments and really hope they’ll have some good ideas for me.
Anne Wayman
May 22, 2008 at 7:41 pm
Hi Gina… glad you’re here… none of us who do get paid were born knowing how to do this… we’ve all been in your situation… what kind of writing are you applying for?
Anne MO
May 22, 2008 at 7:41 pm
It is all a matter of time I guess. Not having enough of it, etc, with small children, etc. I write freelance for money and poetry for myself. I sort of like NOT having that extra webspace to fill up my time/mind. BUT I guess it seems more and more necessary as prospective employers ask for a link to your site.
Jenn Mercer
May 22, 2008 at 7:42 pm
Ok, I’ll hop in with a question. I am looking for freelance translation work, but I am still writing articles, essays, poems, reviews, etc. I’m not quite sure how to market myself as my interests and experiences are so varied. Any ideas as to the best way to approach this?
Gina
May 22, 2008 at 7:43 pm
Making money isn’t easy as a freelancer. I blog for a few sites, and I’m making about part-time wages. Maybe not even that much. I’m making more as time goes on, but it really is a feast or famine type of job.
Anne Wayman
May 22, 2008 at 7:43 pm
Anne, I sure recognize that time thing… when my kids were small we didn’t have a web…yep, I’m that old ;)
What I will say is that having a well-established site brings me clients I wouldn’t find any other way… and it takes awhile to get one established.
Yeah, I think it is almost a requirement these days…
Anne Wayman
May 22, 2008 at 7:45 pm
Jenn, I don’t know translation well… but I would guess if you can get even one paid translation gig you can build on that… as far as articles etc., I’ve written all over the map… I just followed my nose and my interests.
gina
May 22, 2008 at 7:46 pm
My hobby is gardening, which I love to write about but don’t have nearly the gardening experience as my competition. I’ve had much better luck with business type stuff. I’m a finalist for a b5 blog which im so freakin excited about. I have no clue about writing/blogging etiquette - is it kosher to say what b5 blog I’m a finalist for?
Anne Wayman
May 22, 2008 at 7:46 pm
Gina, part time is the way you start… good on you… the next step is learning to ask for more.
Jenn Mercer
May 22, 2008 at 7:47 pm
Anne MO
Howdy! I’m a writer for $, poet for myself as well. I have a personal journal, but not a blog because I could never settle on one ‘audience.’ I haven’t decided what to do with the blog question either. Right now, I have a placeholder comment on my webpage (which uses a WordPress template) and I am planning to use it for updates such as upcoming publications.
Meryl K. Evans
May 22, 2008 at 7:48 pm
One of my good friends is an author of a few romance books and she doesn’t have a web site. I never asked why. She’s involved with a writer’s organization and goes on retreats. Good question for her.
Anne Wayman
May 22, 2008 at 7:48 pm
ooooo a b5 blog, Gina… fingers crossed.
So re the gardening, there is always a need for the fresh voice for the beginner…
Business is a good steady place to be as you experiment with other stuff
Gina
May 22, 2008 at 7:49 pm
I keep adding freelance assignments. I write for more than one site, two with steady monthly income, and I just sold my first fiction piece a few months ago, and it has been published. Thank God we don’t depend on my income to pay the bills!
Anne MO
May 22, 2008 at 7:49 pm
I think I have to bite the bullet and get the website.
Thanks Anne. I have found two jobs through this site and one is my fifty cents a word gig.
(Glad you have the “e” too–it does make a difference!)
Anne Wayman
May 22, 2008 at 7:50 pm
Meryl, I guess a novelist might be an exception… she’s got her publisher, and her audience, but does’t she also have a site or a page through her publisher? If she doesn’t yet, she may have to eventually since author/reader interaction is considered important
Anne Wayman
May 22, 2008 at 7:51 pm
Jenn… welcome! What do you write about for $$$?
Anne Wayman
May 22, 2008 at 7:52 pm
btw, you guys and gals can talk to each other here too… ;)
Gina
May 22, 2008 at 7:54 pm
On the blog question:
I have a website I barely use, I write for two blogs, and I also have my own personal blog, and I write for a blog magazine. I think having a blog is important for a writer. It gets your name out there and it helps you build a readership.
Meryl K. Evans
May 22, 2008 at 7:55 pm
@Anne re: my novelist friend — I agree and she’s a sweet person.
That’s great, Anne in MO, on your 50 cents a word gig. Don’t do mag gigs much these days — not good at the query stuff. Mostly business with long-term clients.
My third client ever as a freelancer — I’ve worked with him for about seven years — we met for the first time last year at a big family event here. He’s wonderful. He can even tell when I’m going through a rough time.
gina
May 22, 2008 at 7:56 pm
Gina (wow, 2 gina’s and 2 anne’s is kinda confusing) congrats on getting your first fiction published! That’s gotta feel awesome. I’ve always been so envious of fiction writers. Did you start out writing fiction or does that talent just take time to develop?
Anne Wayman
May 22, 2008 at 7:56 pm
lol, Gina, your a blog head ;)
the website can be static, with links to your work…
Gina
May 22, 2008 at 7:57 pm
Hi other Gina! I have been writing fiction since I was a kid. That is where I started about twenty years ago. I started writing professionally in 2000, all non-fiction. I just finally made my first sale in November, published in March.
Anne Wayman
May 22, 2008 at 7:58 pm
Symone - did you get here? Your age won’t make any difference… not if your writing is good and exciting… start submitting to magazines, etc. and building both experience and a portfolio… keep applying and you too can make money as a writer
Paula S.
May 22, 2008 at 7:58 pm
Hi y’all!
Anne W. - thanks for providing us with such great info.
I’m a newbie to the freelance writing market and haven’t found anything yet, but I’m going to re-draft a plan and see what I scrape together. It’s been insightful reading the newsletter, articles and the comments on here!
Congrats to those with works in the pipeline!
Gina
May 22, 2008 at 7:59 pm
That is what my website is. I need to update it though. It’s been awhile. I update the resume instead of the website.
Anne Wayman
May 22, 2008 at 7:59 pm
what! two Ginas????? congrats Gina 2 on your first sale… now you’ll get more if you keep at it.
Jenn Mercer
May 22, 2008 at 8:00 pm
Anne W,
I write profile articles for a University newsletter and for its website. Now that the semester is over, I am also sending queries to magazines and writing spec articles on gardening and life as a nontraditional student.
In fact, Anne MO, I’m working on an article for Greenprints (http://www.greenprints.com/wguidelines.html) in another window. I think they would be quite open to a beginning gardener’s thoughts.
Sherrie
May 22, 2008 at 8:00 pm
Anne,
Do you recommend sending out portfolios to potential clients via e-mail or snail mail? I have sent several paper packets to departments of a university in my area and have not received a response. My concern about sending them via e-mail is loading them up with so many attachments of writing samples and resume.
Thanks,
Sherrie
Anne Wayman
May 22, 2008 at 8:01 pm
Paula, it really is write, rewrite and market… you did get the free booklet at http://www.aboutfreelancewriting.com didn’t you… that’s what it says and I wrote it because I know it’s true.
gina
May 22, 2008 at 8:04 pm
Jenn - I’m working on something for Green Prints, too! I had never heard of that magazine until I saw the listing for open submissions but it sounds right up my novice gardening alley.
Anne Wayman
May 22, 2008 at 8:04 pm
Sherrie… you’re right about attachments… are you sending in response to ads?
If you’re feeling bold, call one of the places you sent a pkg and ask if they got it, and what they thought of it… you may be surprised and actually get through to someone.
Paula S.
May 22, 2008 at 8:04 pm
Anne W. - yes, I did get the free booklet. I’m a poet and short story writer (still unpaid), so it’s been interesting to try and balance readings with submissions for paid writing.
I’m hoping something will pan out by year-end!
Jenn Mercer
May 22, 2008 at 8:05 pm
Gina,
Excellent! I’ll see you on the TOC!
-Jenn
Anne Wayman
May 22, 2008 at 8:05 pm
Paula, fingers crossed here for you.
Jenn, maybe you and sherrie should talk?
gina
May 22, 2008 at 8:07 pm
Jenn - what is TOC please? I’m clueless!
Sherrie
May 22, 2008 at 8:09 pm
Hi again,
No, I’m not responding to ads, I’m cold mailing. I have two longstanding contracts with universities - both newsletters - and I’m trying to fill up the gaps in my time with writing for alumni magazines.
Sherrie
Anne Wayman
May 22, 2008 at 8:09 pm
lol, table of contents… sorry Jenn… couldn’t resist… and gina, it’s fine that you asked, someone else also wanted to know
Anne Wayman
May 22, 2008 at 8:11 pm
Sherrie… sometimes it works better to cold call before you mail… I know I know, I hate it too… see Peter Bowerman’s book, The Well Fed Writer… he makes cold calling doable
Sherrie
May 22, 2008 at 8:15 pm
Hi again,
Do you really think folks want to be bothered by freelance writers cold calling? It seems like all the ads for writers on Craigslist say NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE!
Sherrie
Jenn Mercer
May 22, 2008 at 8:15 pm
Sherrie,
I agree that sending a portfolio as a series of attachments is unwieldy. What I am planning to do myself is take my paper portfolio and make it into a web version. Once I’ve done that, it will be fairly simple to point to the webpage - and easier to update.
I designed the paper version of my portfolio for an internship class. The professor said that the best use of a portfolio was something to bring in for interviews as a way to demonstrate actual clips. It’s not really something that you would send out blind as you want it to be a fairly hefty product.
I’d be interested to hear if other people have found portfolios to help them with obtaining work.
Paula P
May 22, 2008 at 8:16 pm
Hi everyone- I have really just begun but seem to be doing ok doing some freelanceing on some how to do things….
Paula P
May 22, 2008 at 8:16 pm
Hi everyone- I have really just begun but seem to be doing ok doing some freelanceing on some how to do things…. nothing of big bucks but ok for extra cash
Anne Wayman
May 22, 2008 at 8:18 pm
Sherrie… no, they don’t want to be bothered UNTIL they are looking for a writer… and lots of folks want to be interupted… I wouldn’t cold call ads… but out of my local yellow pages… people who are advertising are inundated with calls… you want the others
Paula P
May 22, 2008 at 8:18 pm
does anyone make any real money - enough to actually quit their “day” jobs?
Anne Wayman
May 22, 2008 at 8:18 pm
Welcome Paula, what kind of writing are you doing?
Anne Wayman
May 22, 2008 at 8:19 pm
Jenn, I don’t have a paper portfolio… just my website
Paula P
May 22, 2008 at 8:19 pm
by profession I am a nurse but you name it- I will try to write about it- I also have a content driven website I am attempting to pull together about Aruba
Anne Wayman
May 22, 2008 at 8:20 pm
Paula, you sound like a generalist, like me. And yes, I earn a good living and I only write.
Meryl K. Evans
May 22, 2008 at 8:22 pm
Paula, I’ve been a full-time freelance writer for three years and make as much or more than I did in my day job.
Anne Wayman
May 22, 2008 at 8:24 pm
I knew I wasn’ the only one ;)
Paula P
May 22, 2008 at 8:25 pm
How did you guys do it? I really need to hear from people like you on how you did it- I plan on moving to Aruba although I will keep my residency in US and freelance writing is my goal so can you toss a few tips or success stories my way? :)
Meryl K. Evans
May 22, 2008 at 8:26 pm
My story is here: http://www.meryl.net/2008/04/how-i-became-a-full-time-freelance-writer/
Anne Wayman
May 22, 2008 at 8:26 pm
Paula, I’m trashed this evening… but I’ll sum up what I think has made me successful in a blog post tomorrow… it’s a great question… just not up for it at the moment.
Anne Wayman
May 22, 2008 at 8:27 pm
Meryl, I’ll link to you in the post, and anyone else whose got a success story.
Anne Wayman
May 22, 2008 at 8:28 pm
you guys, I’m out of here… but stay and chat… we’ll do it again next week… thanks eveyone
(waving bye bye)
Paula P
May 22, 2008 at 8:28 pm
Awesome Merylo- I can really use this- it is wonderful-anyone else out there who can throw some advice my way?
Symone
May 22, 2008 at 8:29 pm
My question lies relatively on how to become a freelance writer and if i will be taken seriously. I am just 17 and still in highschool, but i am whole heartedly interested in writing and I think that freelance writing would be a great job opportunity for me (to start out). I am interested to get you opinoin on whether an employer would hire me or not, especially because the only experience I have is writing essays and school papers.
Paula P
May 22, 2008 at 8:29 pm
thanks loads anne
Meryl K. Evans
May 22, 2008 at 8:31 pm
Symone, I strongly recommend going to college and take creative writing, English, journalism types of classes. They’ll help you smooth and round out your writing. College classes also enhance your thinking skills and discover new and better ways to research and solve problems.
If you can’t afford it or can’t go full-time — that’s OK, too. Just start part-time and many community colleges are excellent. A friend of mine teaches English in a comm college and the students are grateful because she teaches them important basics no one ever taught them in high school.
Paula P
May 22, 2008 at 8:31 pm
Hey Symone-
GREAT! that is excellent that you are young enough to get a great start- you might try doing some regular old writing work on something you will most definately get paid for- I do eHOw- not much money but this month I made about 500 bucks and it was easy and I did it when I wanted- there is loads to do for them and I have been trying to get my kids involved- its easy cash and will help you get used to writing
Mary Emma Allen
May 22, 2008 at 8:32 pm
I did make it over for a few moments, Anne. Such interesting comments and information. I’ve done freelancing, as well as worked full time for a newspaper and a corporate account. I’ve enjoyed both ways. The full time, of course, meant a regular pay check and benefits. The freelancing, for me, has been fill in between or along with other things in my life. Blogging has become a fascinating field for me most recently.
Meryl K. Evans
May 22, 2008 at 8:32 pm
Time for me to go to bed… not on the PST coast. :) Catch you on your sites, here, or my site.
Paula P
May 22, 2008 at 8:33 pm
me too meryl- late here in NY
Mary Emma Allen
May 22, 2008 at 8:34 pm
I’m on eastern time, too, so must sign off. One of the “other things” I do in my life is substitute teach and teach writing. Up early to do that tomorrow.
Paula P
May 22, 2008 at 8:35 pm
Symone if you want the info on writing for them - email me and I will get it to you- its nice money for rather easy work.
email- nyrnwriter@yahoo.com
paula
Mary Emma Allen
May 22, 2008 at 8:35 pm
Do this again, Anne!
Paula P
May 22, 2008 at 8:36 pm
“nite all” and thanks for the tips!
Paula S.
May 22, 2008 at 8:42 pm
Hope everyone has a great nite! Thanks for the suggestions & positivity!
Symone
May 22, 2008 at 8:43 pm
Meryl and Paula,
Thank you guys so much for the advice. I will definitely be looking into eHow now, (I’ve often just used them for resources but now I can look beyond that). I will take your advise and use it to my advantage. Also, does anyone know any other great sites that will offer opportunities like this? I could use both the cash and the practice writing.
Symone
May 22, 2008 at 8:45 pm
Ok, thank you Paula! I will definitely take advantage of that offer.
gina
May 22, 2008 at 9:08 pm
Anne W. You are not going to believe this but within a few minutes of telling you about the b5 blog opportunity I received an email from them saying I’ve been selected for the blog! YAY me!
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