Adventures In Freelancing

Yesterday I renewed my online subscription to Writer's Market. This is something I hadn't intended to do because I had made the decision to focus my writing efforts on blogging, rather than articles for print or the Web. However, I changed my mind after thinking about things some more recently. A wise idea may be to diversify my writing a bit for better economic stability. I'll still pursue blogging positions that appear to be worth my time and effort, as well as focusing on my own blogs and a project that I have in the works, but I know that writing for magazines and trade journals can pay quite well. It just seems to make sense to give it a shot as a way of adding to my worth as a writer.

Writer's Market is a must for anyone looking to write for print or online publications. You can purchase it in book form and can even buy a deluxe version of the book that allows you a year of internet access. I chose to skip right to the internet subscription because I used the online version far more than I even opened my hard copy.

For $39.99 a year, you'll receive access to "the most comprehensive database of listings available - updated daily." You can also track your submissions through the Writer's Market website, which I find to be a lifesaver. Another feature that I like is the ability to set up customizable folders to keep track of markets that interest you. I'm in favor of anything that improves my organization and makes my life easier!

When I signed up, I was surprised and delighted to learn that I also received a download of The Writer's Ultimate Resource Guide 2008 presented by Writer's Digest. I recently saw this CD advertised in my WD magazine for $14.95. This is a fantastic resource to have because it includes articles like "101 Websites Every Writer Should Visit", "100 Best-Bet Markets for Magazine and Book Writers", and "22 Agents Who Want Your Work...Now!". Can't beat that..

So if you're considering writing for print or online publications, it's well worth the money to invest in a subscription to Writer's Market. Just checking out the listings will get you inspired to send out those query letters, and the detailed information onf where to find writer's guidelines and editor contacts is essential to freelancing success.

Let me know if you decide to subscribe. I want to hear about your writing journey!

I am so excited to announce that Adventures in Freelancing was ranked #20 in blogrank's list of Top 25 Freelance Blogs! What an amazing honor this is. Close to 20,000 blogs are tracked, using 16 different factors to evaluate them. Some of the factors include RSS subscribers, monthly page views, and Google Page Rank.

You can read more about the algorithm that was used and visit the other freelance blogs on the list. I know I've discovered some fabulous new resources and look forward to exploring the sites and to networking with some new folks. Thank you so much, blogrank. for taking the time to compile this list. I am very excited to be a part of it!

I'm still alive! Did you miss me? I've missed you and this blog. I truly have. This summer has been quite an eye-opener for me. Having the kids home all day keeps a mom extremely busy. On a personal note, it's been fun. We've gone to the pool and played outside. On a professional note, it's really caused me to reevaluate some things.

Letting Things Go

I decided to drop a blogging job because I found that it was becoming too stressful to try to keep up with it on a daily basis, especially when considering the money the job paid. I'm really not begrudging the employer. There's a lot of controversing in the freelance world about how much to accept for your writing, and it's a very personal decision. I know that employers have to work within their means, in many cases. But I also know that I no longer felt fulfilled by accepting the rate the job was paying.

When I took the gig, it was exclusively on a topic I knew a great deal about. Coming up with daily content was not extremely difficult, and I was able to write a post during my son's nap time and was still able to keep up with my other pursuits. Since the kids have gotten out of school and the blog's topic has changed a bit, I realized that I needed to prioritize.

Things Happen For a Reason

Here's the amazing part. I decided to let that job go so that I could focus on my kids and my blogs, with the full intention of digging up new blogging gigs when the kids go back to school. As soon as I made that decision, an offer for new, higher-paying work came in, and I decided to go for it.

Even though I'm still spread thin right now, this new connection seems beneficial in that it's exposing me to a more in-depth kind of writing than the short blog posts I'm used to. And making the time to devote to my new endeavor is a little easier when the monetary payout is a bit higher. I feel like I'm growing as a professional, and that means a lot.

What about you? Have you ever made the decision to let a paid gig go? What made you come to that decision, and what were the results? I'd love to hear your story.

As new freelancers, it's so easy to get sucked into taking low-wage gigs in our quest for clips. Sometimes newbies, and non-newbies alike, end up sticking with low wages for reasons beyond the clips. It's tempting to stay within our comfort zone. Low-wage jobs rarely have much editorial oversight, and they tend to be rather easy. We don't have to stretch our talents or risk rejection with these typs of assignments. I've discovered in my short time writing professionally that it feels so much better to write for my worth than to write for safety.

The subject must be on a lot of people's minds lately because I've seen blog posts about what kinds of wages freelancers should accept all over the internet lately. Deb Ng of Freelance Writing Jobs writes one of the best posts I've seen when she asks, "Who Sets Your Writing Rates?". Deb encourages us to set our own rates, within reason. We, of course, must consider what a company or individual is willing to pay. Small start-ups and individual operations won't be able to pay what the big guys can. We know that. But we also know what feels right. I've learned it's so important to go with your gut when deciding which jobs to accept.

It's scary to turn away jobs, and I know it can be overwhelming the first time you have to give someone your rate for a project. All the "what if's?" come into play. What if I bid too high, and they laugh at me? What if I bid too low, and I screw myself out of a decent wage? Do some research. There are sites online that can help. Freelance Switch has a rate calculator that takes into account things like time for marketing, health insurance costs, and the like. Also, check out Jennifer Mattern's article on setting your freelance rates. She lays it all out in an easy to understand way. I like that.

Setting rates for your writing is simply a step in the negotiation process. It's likely the prospective employer will be willing to discuss the possibilities with you. If it doesn't work out, you can at least feel good about getting your feet wet in the art of negotiation and knowing that you didn't accept less than you're comfortable with. Trust me, it's a good feeling.

I thought you might be interested in reading my latest article at Type-A Mom. Blogger Link Up is a service for writers, PR folks, and bloggers that allows them to connect and to help each other. You can request guest posts from people who are knowledgeable in your subject area or you can offer your own services and expertise to others, which is a good way to be seen as an expert and gain publicity.

I just signed up on Friday, four days ago, and received my first response for a guest beauty blogger at my mom blog, Everyday Baby Steps. Not bad. Blogger Link Up also allows bloggers to get information from PR representatives about possible review products. This is a great service for freelancers looking for expert sources or quotes for feature or roundup articles. Head on over and read my article at Type-A Mom for the full story.

Do you know of any similar services? How do you obtain sources for your posts and articles?

I'm not sure if you've seen this one yet. It's from ProBlogger, Darren Rowse, and it's full of good, solid information. I'll add my two cents later, but I just wanted to get this out in case you hadn't had a chance to see it. Enjoy!

You must go read this post about places you can get paid to blog. It's at Hongkiat.com, a site that offers online tips for tech users, designers, and bloggers. I've never vvisited this site before, but this article contains an amazingly thorough list of places where you can get paid to write. My advice would be to read each summary to get a feel for which you'd like to investigate further. Then take a look at those sites, fill out their required information, and be sure to ask questions. It's imporant to find writing jobs that fit your personality, values, and lfestyle. Promise me you won't jump on the first opportunity that comes along just because it pays, please. This is so tempting when you're just starting out, but I've learned that it only leads to frustration and wasted time. Let me know if you find any promising opportunities, and best of luck!

I recently read one of the most honest accounts of the freelancer's life I've ever come across. Dana Prince writes about how much freelance writing pays at her blog, The Writer's Blog. It's a post you'll want to read.

Dana talks about her early days of writing for the web when she was proud of doubling her income from earning .01 per word to .02 per words in her first year. I know that doesn't sound like much. I also know that many writers will say you're a fool to work for such pittance. Dana goes on to tell how these jobs taught her the skills she needed to learn for internet writing. Marketing herself was one of the lessons she learned.

She earns more today than in her first year of writing and says that her best paying jobs come from clients she obtains on her own, rather than those from content sites. But what I appreciate about Dana's post is her honesty and the fact that she doesn't condemn other writers for the path they take. Her words are encouraging, and she gives inspiration through the picture of where she is today.

I've learned in my past year of writing for the web that confidence comes with experience, and with that confidence come contacts and understanding. I've approached writing on my own terms, and there's been a lot of trial and error along the way. I'm just now beginning to see my path, and I feel comfortable with what the future holds for me and my writing career. I thank Dana and others like her who have provided inspiration, support, and encouragement through their direct words (through Twitter, Facebook, e-mail, etc.) and through encouraging written posts such as this. I hope I can provide such encouragement to new writers that visit me here at Adventures in Freelancing. Please don't hesitate to get in touch with me if you have a question I may be able to answer. I'll sure do my best. At the very least, I'll give you a sympathetic ear because I've probably been there!

I'm @marybabysteps on Twitter, and you can find my contact information and links to my other social networking profiles in my sidebar.

I spent about two hours last night curled up in my big, comfy chair reading my latest copy of Writer's Digest mazine. I read it cover to cover. I've been a subscriber to Writer's Digest for well over a year now, but I have to confess that my last several copies have gone unread because of my focus on other things, like blogging, cleaning, and those three little munchkins that run around my house!

The May/June 2009 issue is packed full of great stuff. I went straight to the featured spotlight section on how to stand out to editors and agents, which was packed full of good stuff, starting with an insightful article on building your writer's platform by Christina Katz, author of Writer Mama: How to Raise a Writing Career Alongside Your Kids . Her newest book is Get Known Before The Book Deal: Use Your Personal Strengths To Grow An Author Platform. A writer's platform consists of all the things I've mentioned that are necessary beyond the writing, like marketing yourself, networking, and blogging. Putting yourself out there and becoming visible is essential to selling yourself as a writer. Also in this spotlight were articles on the must-have online marketing plan and social networking for writers.

But all of this incredible information doesn't even touch the surface of what was in this issue. There were also articles on whether full time freelancing is right for you and an amazing list of the 101 best websites for writers. I also enjoyed the piece on writing op-eds, as this is an area I'd like to explore. Writer's Digest also offers a weatlh of information for fiction writers. This issue features an interview with Stephen King and Jerry B. Jenkins and a number of stories on aspects of characterization.

So are you ready to get your subscription yet? Go check out the website and take a look around. You'll find helpful feature articles and links, as well as blogs and online courses. Enter at your own risk and don't say I didn't warn you if you end up spending all afternoon there!

It's Thursday, and we've been in Missouri since Saturday afternoon. Remember the plans we had for our vacation week at Grandma's? Well,you know what they say about the best laid plans. . . Poor Norah got sick Monday with a tummy ache. She seemed a bit better Tuesday, so we headed off to Branson. She wasn't better. She and I spent the evening in bed at the hotel while my mom, Bill, and Noah headed out to see Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede. Apparently, Norah just isn't meant to see that show. Last time we went, she was sick too!

My poor baby girl woke up to more throwing up on Wednesday morning, so we headed out to the Urgent Care in Branson. Thank you, Dr. Porter and the staff at Skaggs Hospital's Urgent Care for taking care of my little girl and getting her on her way to feeling better. She didn't recover right away, and we had to forego our day at Silver Dollar City. She even woke up sick this morning, but the nausea and tummy ache seem to have subsided. We all went out to dinner tonight together and had a lovely time.

Tomorrow, we'll attempt to have a little fun with the kids and go to a barbecue at a friend of my mom's. She has horses and lots of other animals. The kids should have a ball. We head for home Saturday morning, and there's a chance I may get to meet my best online buddy, Angela, in Cleveland on Saturday! So all is not lost. We got to spend time with family and have a little bit of fun. Most importantly, my baby girl is feeling better and there was nothing to seriously worry about. I'll be back to blogging and twittering full force next week. Hope everyone is well.

Please forgive me if this post is incoherent and fragmented. I'm a bit out of sorts and a lot tired! Night night. Til next week!