I posted an article about the finances of a freelance writer yesterday and wanted to say a little bit more about it today because it is an important part of the profession. Many writers struggle to make a living out of freelance writing for years but with a litle planning there is no need to go back to a 9-5 job at all.
Business banking is an important part of having your own business so you should take the time to look around for a good deal. Many will now give fee free banking for a period of anywhere between six months and eighteen months. You should choose a good plan with as many months fee free as you can because this will give you opportunity to plan and this is the most important thing.
Planning will give your writing creer longevity because you can get and keep your finances in order right from the start. Plan out expenses in advance and always over-project them so you are not left short of cash. That includes everything from overheads like rent and utilities to expenses for software, travel and other facilities you may need.
I do advise any writer to have a least two savings accounts in addition to the main business account because you will need one for tax payments and one for emergencies. It is essential that you make tax payments into your savings account every time you get paid so that you are not left short when you do get your bill through. You should put as much as you can in the other savings account every month too. The beauty of writing today is that there is a massive demand for it as a result of the Internet but you may find that you do not have work from time to time if a contract comes to an end and you have to find work, for example. It is always better to be safe than sorry!
Friday, 22 February 2008
Thursday, 21 February 2008
Managing Your Business Finances Effectively
There is a lot to deal with when you finally quit the dreaded office job and try to make a go of it as a full time writer. Finally turning a hobby into a career was a bit of an eye opener for me personally because I didn’t realise just what was involved. I had done a lot of research but nothing will prepare you for that day when you sit in your home office and begin work for the first time. Whilst I got used to a lot of elements of owning my own business quickly, one thing that did take me a little time to adapt to was the financial aspect of running my own business.
It is very difficult going from a regular income each and every month to getting paid by clients as and when the work is completed. I had purposely built up a list of clients before I left my job and really landed on my feet, but it does take some managing. For example, you have to be able to budget for bills, put tax payments away and make sure that you have an emergency fund should something go wrong. However, the most pressing aspect of it is making sure that you can buy the equipment you need to be able to work effectively and efficiently within a few months of branching out on your own.
There are two ways to do this. The first is business banking. You could apply for a loan via your business banking provider. You should set up business banking before you start because you are much better equipped to manage your finances that way. Business banking loans are the same as normal loans in many ways but they go on your business rather than your own name and credit report. As such, you may be in debt for the first few years of your business.
However, there is another solution. If you plan out the equipment that you need (computer, printer, fax, filing cabinets, desk etc) then you will be able to plan your saving and spending in advance. You may be able to obtain a cash advance via a payday loan. The beauty of payday loans is that there is no credit check and you could borrow money via one for equipment before your last regular salary payment or even afterwards as long as you have money coming in. Some companies that offer payday loans do accept applications from the self-employed. The great thing is that you avoid being in debt over a fixed period because it is payable when you get paid, so you get no debt and the stuff you need to get started!
It is very difficult going from a regular income each and every month to getting paid by clients as and when the work is completed. I had purposely built up a list of clients before I left my job and really landed on my feet, but it does take some managing. For example, you have to be able to budget for bills, put tax payments away and make sure that you have an emergency fund should something go wrong. However, the most pressing aspect of it is making sure that you can buy the equipment you need to be able to work effectively and efficiently within a few months of branching out on your own.
There are two ways to do this. The first is business banking. You could apply for a loan via your business banking provider. You should set up business banking before you start because you are much better equipped to manage your finances that way. Business banking loans are the same as normal loans in many ways but they go on your business rather than your own name and credit report. As such, you may be in debt for the first few years of your business.
However, there is another solution. If you plan out the equipment that you need (computer, printer, fax, filing cabinets, desk etc) then you will be able to plan your saving and spending in advance. You may be able to obtain a cash advance via a payday loan. The beauty of payday loans is that there is no credit check and you could borrow money via one for equipment before your last regular salary payment or even afterwards as long as you have money coming in. Some companies that offer payday loans do accept applications from the self-employed. The great thing is that you avoid being in debt over a fixed period because it is payable when you get paid, so you get no debt and the stuff you need to get started!
Friday, 8 February 2008
Build Your Skills By Writing Reviews
If you're planning to be a freelance writer in the future then your immediate problem is knowing where to start. It took me months to figure it out and years before I could go full time. Now that I am, I wouldn't change it for the world! It is a long hard journey and it doesn't get any easier when you have made that first step but it does get much more enjoyable.
I have never undertaken a formal education as a writer. Instead, I have worked on my skills on the job itself. The majority of work I initially completed was unpaid just to build up a clients and contacts list but I did manage to make money on the side from what was essentially a hobby back then.
There is a website that will pay you for your opinions and enable you to build up your skills at the same time. In fact, there are quite a few. You will never earn very much off them, but there is something much more important up for grabs. The other members will help you. You write reviews of products, post them and then the members will often message you with hints and tips.
The material you write will very rarely be useful in any major writing jobs,but the advice will be priceless. Your basic writing style will shine through and they will assess it for you, pointing out weaknesses for you to work on.
The site is called Ciao! and you can access it and sign up for free by clicking the banner below. It is a useful starting point for you if you do want a little help. As a member, if you do post a review on there then let me know because I'll be happy to offer any constructive feedback that I can to help.
I have never undertaken a formal education as a writer. Instead, I have worked on my skills on the job itself. The majority of work I initially completed was unpaid just to build up a clients and contacts list but I did manage to make money on the side from what was essentially a hobby back then.
There is a website that will pay you for your opinions and enable you to build up your skills at the same time. In fact, there are quite a few. You will never earn very much off them, but there is something much more important up for grabs. The other members will help you. You write reviews of products, post them and then the members will often message you with hints and tips.
The material you write will very rarely be useful in any major writing jobs,but the advice will be priceless. Your basic writing style will shine through and they will assess it for you, pointing out weaknesses for you to work on.
The site is called Ciao! and you can access it and sign up for free by clicking the banner below. It is a useful starting point for you if you do want a little help. As a member, if you do post a review on there then let me know because I'll be happy to offer any constructive feedback that I can to help.
Friday, 25 January 2008
The Benefits Of Journalling
The journal is an important part of every freelance writer's toolkit. Whether you are an experienced writer with several years in the field under your belt or a novice that has yet to begin typing that all important first article, a journal can really get your juice flowing and ideas moving through the creative filter inside your mind.
Many people make the excuse that they do not have time to keep a journal, and many don't... but if you are a writer then you should make time because it could be a great foundation for your career. Many writers benefit from their journals for a variety of reasons, and it is this range of reasons that provide the benefits and advantages of the journal:
Refine Your Style - A journal gives you the perfect opportunity to hone your style. Many writers do not have one definitive style of writing when they begin to build a career, and this is why some buyers and employers will reject your work. They want one specific style the majority of the time so that you display consistancy. In other words, they know in advance what they are paying for! There is nothing wrong with being versatile and mastering several styles, but you must be comfortable with one in particular if you are to make it! A journal is the perfect forum to do that because you can experiment before finding your own style.
Evolve Your Ideas - If you have ideas, you can initially use a journal to jot them down and work on them as and when you like. If nothing comes of them to start with then they are there to tap into at a later date.
Critique Your Own Work - You can use a journal to spot holes in your own work. It is best to do this on a regular basis so you can spot any changes and weaknesses. Once a month is roughly about the regularity at which you should take a look at your work and make a few notes and goals. It is important for a writer to be able to critique his or her own work in order to evolve and get better so it is a technique that you must work on right from the start. A journal is the best possible way to do this because it keeps everything in the one place.
Of course, there are more benefits and advantages, but from a beginner's point of view, the three above are the most important. When you have been keeping a journal for some time, maybe around six months or so, you can begin to keep another important book, which is an extension of the journal. This is the ideas book. Check back shortly for more information and a quick guide to get you started!
Many people make the excuse that they do not have time to keep a journal, and many don't... but if you are a writer then you should make time because it could be a great foundation for your career. Many writers benefit from their journals for a variety of reasons, and it is this range of reasons that provide the benefits and advantages of the journal:
Refine Your Style - A journal gives you the perfect opportunity to hone your style. Many writers do not have one definitive style of writing when they begin to build a career, and this is why some buyers and employers will reject your work. They want one specific style the majority of the time so that you display consistancy. In other words, they know in advance what they are paying for! There is nothing wrong with being versatile and mastering several styles, but you must be comfortable with one in particular if you are to make it! A journal is the perfect forum to do that because you can experiment before finding your own style.
Evolve Your Ideas - If you have ideas, you can initially use a journal to jot them down and work on them as and when you like. If nothing comes of them to start with then they are there to tap into at a later date.
Critique Your Own Work - You can use a journal to spot holes in your own work. It is best to do this on a regular basis so you can spot any changes and weaknesses. Once a month is roughly about the regularity at which you should take a look at your work and make a few notes and goals. It is important for a writer to be able to critique his or her own work in order to evolve and get better so it is a technique that you must work on right from the start. A journal is the best possible way to do this because it keeps everything in the one place.
Of course, there are more benefits and advantages, but from a beginner's point of view, the three above are the most important. When you have been keeping a journal for some time, maybe around six months or so, you can begin to keep another important book, which is an extension of the journal. This is the ideas book. Check back shortly for more information and a quick guide to get you started!
Monday, 14 January 2008
5 Essential Skills For Budding Freelance Writers
5 Types of Article You Can Write
by David Goldsmith
If you always write the same type of article then you are probably limiting your chances of getting published. Look at your favorite publications and you will see they print a variety of types of article. Here are five of the most popular types.
The ‘How To’ Article
This is a very popular type of article, in which you tell the reader how to do something. It could be how to build a garage, how to write a book, how to sell a house, or how to clean tar off a pair of trousers. These articles tend to be particularly popular because people love to find out how to do something.
When writing how to do something, and if the sequence is important, then it is a good idea to number each step. Remember to keep your instructions simple, yet specific. And you could even use a picture or illustration if the publication allows it.
The ‘List’ Article
The list article is an article that lists several related pieces of information, and is one of the easiest types of article to write. It could be “10 Ways to Save Money”, “5 Flowers to Plant In April”, or “The Best 12 Places to Live in Canada”. A list article should have:
• An introduction.
• The list; each item may be a paragraph or two.
• A conclusion.
The ‘Roundup’ Article
In the roundup article, you provide a roundup of information, statements, or opinions from a variety of sources. You might interview a number of experts, for example, and ask them the same list of questions. In your article you then write a roundup of the answers, e.g.
“Bill Jones, CEO of SHJ Limited, is confident that the market will turn around soon. “Within the next six weeks at most”, he predicted. But Tom Sloane, at Pickwick Associates, disagrees. He explains why…”
The 'Inspirational' Article
Inspiration articles include inspirational narrative, essays, articles on faith and religion, and self-help articles.
Do you know of an issue or concern that affects many people? Think of your own every day experiences. Write about the issue… and help the readers to deal with life and to improve themselves in some way.
The ‘As Told To’ Article
Because many of the people who have outstanding experiences are not writers, there is a market for writing those people’s stories. This is quite similar to ghostwriting, except that in this case the audience knows that you are the writer. In the credits, you would show “By Peter Wallace [subject], as told to Jim Davies…” [writer].
Instead of writing a third-person narrative of the event, the ‘As Told To’ article makes the tale more real and personal by using the first-person.
So next time you are about to write an article, pause… and ask which type of article would best suit your situation and topic. By varying the types of articles you write your writing will also develop a new depth and your articles will be picked up by a much wider variety of publications.
About the Author
David Goldsmith is a freelance consultant and writer. For more information on writing, he recommends Worldwide Freelance Writer. For more information on freelance writing and a database of more than 1,700 writing markets, visit http://www.WorldwideFreelance.com
by David Goldsmith
If you always write the same type of article then you are probably limiting your chances of getting published. Look at your favorite publications and you will see they print a variety of types of article. Here are five of the most popular types.
The ‘How To’ Article
This is a very popular type of article, in which you tell the reader how to do something. It could be how to build a garage, how to write a book, how to sell a house, or how to clean tar off a pair of trousers. These articles tend to be particularly popular because people love to find out how to do something.
When writing how to do something, and if the sequence is important, then it is a good idea to number each step. Remember to keep your instructions simple, yet specific. And you could even use a picture or illustration if the publication allows it.
The ‘List’ Article
The list article is an article that lists several related pieces of information, and is one of the easiest types of article to write. It could be “10 Ways to Save Money”, “5 Flowers to Plant In April”, or “The Best 12 Places to Live in Canada”. A list article should have:
• An introduction.
• The list; each item may be a paragraph or two.
• A conclusion.
The ‘Roundup’ Article
In the roundup article, you provide a roundup of information, statements, or opinions from a variety of sources. You might interview a number of experts, for example, and ask them the same list of questions. In your article you then write a roundup of the answers, e.g.
“Bill Jones, CEO of SHJ Limited, is confident that the market will turn around soon. “Within the next six weeks at most”, he predicted. But Tom Sloane, at Pickwick Associates, disagrees. He explains why…”
The 'Inspirational' Article
Inspiration articles include inspirational narrative, essays, articles on faith and religion, and self-help articles.
Do you know of an issue or concern that affects many people? Think of your own every day experiences. Write about the issue… and help the readers to deal with life and to improve themselves in some way.
The ‘As Told To’ Article
Because many of the people who have outstanding experiences are not writers, there is a market for writing those people’s stories. This is quite similar to ghostwriting, except that in this case the audience knows that you are the writer. In the credits, you would show “By Peter Wallace [subject], as told to Jim Davies…” [writer].
Instead of writing a third-person narrative of the event, the ‘As Told To’ article makes the tale more real and personal by using the first-person.
So next time you are about to write an article, pause… and ask which type of article would best suit your situation and topic. By varying the types of articles you write your writing will also develop a new depth and your articles will be picked up by a much wider variety of publications.
About the Author
David Goldsmith is a freelance consultant and writer. For more information on writing, he recommends Worldwide Freelance Writer. For more information on freelance writing and a database of more than 1,700 writing markets, visit http://www.WorldwideFreelance.com
Thursday, 10 January 2008
Websites To Kick Start Your Writing Career Part 1
When you embark on a career in writing, you'll probably have an idea of where you want to go in mind. Whether you want to work for a magazine, newspaper, within a specific industry or see your name on the front of a paperback, you can't just expect to get to your destination as soon as you start to write seriously. As the old saying goes, everyone has to start somewhere! The advent of the Internet can help you!
Not only has the Internet opened up more jobs than ever before for freelance writers but it has given them a base to launch their career off, and working on various Internet sites can give you a great foundation. Every now and again, I will be posting some of the sites out there that can get you start with a quick review and a link so you can go right to the site and get started! They all offer an assortment of projects that can give you experience in various areas of writing and can help you to earn cash along the way!
1 - Rent A Coder - Rent A Coder is undoubtedly one of the best websites out there for starting off your writing career. There are hundreds of projects posted every single day concerning a huge variety of skills, from proofing and editing to articles to white papers to sales letters to press releases! It's all there. There are also a large number of buyers on there that will go out of their way to hire new people to the site to give them a leg up as well as those looking to form long term relationships with writers as well. Better still, the nature of the site means that all funds for jobs are escrowed before you start work on them so you are guaranteed to get paid if you complete the work. There's absolutely no chance of getting stiffed! Signing up is completely free as well, as is bidding for as many jobs as you like! What more could you ask for?
2 - Get A Freelancer - Get A Freelancer is also a great site for beginners because there are plenty of buyers on there that will accept bids for jobs from people that have never written professionally before. It is free to sign up but you do stand a better chance of getting a project on there if you sign up for gold membership, which currently stands at $12 a month. Of course, it is easy to make this money back! It is easier to withdraw money from GAF than most sites because you can have your own debit card. You can have the funds that you have earned transfered into that account and withdraw it at ATMs, which beats waiting for it to be transferred! Finally GAF is one of the easiest sites to work out! Just log on, post a message to buyers offering the jobs you want and away you go!
So there you have it - the first two sites you can look at for getting a foot on the writing ladder! More coming very soon so watch this space!
Tuesday, 1 January 2008
The Rocky Road To Freelance Writing
No matter what age you are, you are never too young or too old to start writing with a view to doing it for a living. Everybody can write but very few can do it well enough to make a living from it. If you are one of that number that has a gift for writing then you should nurture your talent and actively look to make the most of it. Today is as good a day to start as any - new year, new opportunities!
There is much more to being a freelance writer than meets the eye. However, there has never been a better time for trying to forge a career out of it. The Internet has opened up a wealth of opportunities for the individual find work, but there are three rules that you have to adhere to in order to get started on the right foot. They are as follows:
Rule One - Know Your Ability!
Freelance writers are often amongst the most self-doubting people on the Earth. Very often, they do not recognise exactly what they can do. This includes both strengths and weaknesses. However, having the ability to accurately assess your skills will help you to figure out exactly what projects you could do and which ones you should avoid. For example, some great writers can just reel off an article in ten minutes flat, whereas others need to plan it all out and take 30 minutes to an hour. The subject matter may be the same, as may the quality, but the latter kind of writer should probably avoid tight deadlines. Of course, there are many situations that this applies to but the rule is the same for all of them.
Rule Two - Gain Exposure
If you started writing yesterday then you are not going to make money from it tomorrow, unless you are very very lucky! 99.9% of writers will need a day job when they get going if they want to pay the bills, but they will obviously need to gain exposure by working on the side. You can use a website that offers a bidding system for individuals looking for writing work. Rentacoder and Guru are great sites for that. Alternatively, you could set up a blog or complete article projects for free. All of those options will get your name out there and help you to build a reputation.
Rule Three - Constantly Look To Improve
There are so many freelance writing skills today that a good writer has to have a working knowledge of several if he or she wants to compete with their fellow writers for a client list! Many clients will require a writer that can complete press releases as well as generic articles, for example. You should do all you can to build your repertoire of skills so that you appeal to more clients whenever you get the chance!
There you hae it - the three golden rules! Stick to these when you are first starting out and you will not go far wrong!
There is much more to being a freelance writer than meets the eye. However, there has never been a better time for trying to forge a career out of it. The Internet has opened up a wealth of opportunities for the individual find work, but there are three rules that you have to adhere to in order to get started on the right foot. They are as follows:
Rule One - Know Your Ability!
Freelance writers are often amongst the most self-doubting people on the Earth. Very often, they do not recognise exactly what they can do. This includes both strengths and weaknesses. However, having the ability to accurately assess your skills will help you to figure out exactly what projects you could do and which ones you should avoid. For example, some great writers can just reel off an article in ten minutes flat, whereas others need to plan it all out and take 30 minutes to an hour. The subject matter may be the same, as may the quality, but the latter kind of writer should probably avoid tight deadlines. Of course, there are many situations that this applies to but the rule is the same for all of them.
Rule Two - Gain Exposure
If you started writing yesterday then you are not going to make money from it tomorrow, unless you are very very lucky! 99.9% of writers will need a day job when they get going if they want to pay the bills, but they will obviously need to gain exposure by working on the side. You can use a website that offers a bidding system for individuals looking for writing work. Rentacoder and Guru are great sites for that. Alternatively, you could set up a blog or complete article projects for free. All of those options will get your name out there and help you to build a reputation.
Rule Three - Constantly Look To Improve
There are so many freelance writing skills today that a good writer has to have a working knowledge of several if he or she wants to compete with their fellow writers for a client list! Many clients will require a writer that can complete press releases as well as generic articles, for example. You should do all you can to build your repertoire of skills so that you appeal to more clients whenever you get the chance!
There you hae it - the three golden rules! Stick to these when you are first starting out and you will not go far wrong!
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