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Tag: freelance writer

  • Why Every Freelance Writer Needs an Accountant on Your Side

    Why Every Freelance Writer Needs an Accountant on Your Side

    I didn’t work with an account the first time I went freelance.

    Back then, I made a quarter of what I do now, so I figured I couldn’t afford one. I assumed hiring an accountant was a luxury I wasn’t quite ready for.

    On the contrary, an accountant is a freelancing staple you can’t afford not to have.

    Hiring an accountant should be the first investment you make as a freelancer. I promise it will save you time, money and sanity.

    Whether you’re just starting out or trying to play catch up, you’ll be so grateful to hand this hurdle off to a pro.  

    Freelancers’ tax situations “Can be pretty complicated,” says Sophia Bera of Gen Y Planning. Hiring an account helps us learn “About what we need to track on an ongoing basis and what we should deduct.”

    Even if you love numbers and paperwork, a professional ensures you’re doing things legally and with the most money left on your table.

    Accountants save freelancers time

    Why spend precious billable hours wondering what boxes to tick and whether you did your math right? Most accountants take care of everything — the right way — in just a few hours. It’s especially true for us creatives who hate numbers or simply have a full schedule.

    Personally, when I spend too much time on work I hate, the work I love suffers. On days I try to research tax questions, I don’t have the energy to write great copy or manage my client load.

    And since that’s the work I charge most for, I want to spend all my available hours doing that work.

    Everyone has their own process, but here’s how I save time on my taxes:Les

    1. My assistant inputs invoices and expenses into FreshBooks (sort of what I might hire a bookkeeper for, but on a much smaller scale).
    2. I scan and upload tax forms (Think: 1099s) into my Dropbox “tax” folder throughout the year.
    3. Then, in March, I send everything to my accountant so he can take care of the rest.

    Accountants help freelancers keep more money

    Some folks think filing their own Schedule C isn’t particularly complicated. I am not one of those people.

    But the most important reason to hire an accountant is because they help you keep more money. Most freelancers forget to account for many legitimate business expenses and end up paying more taxes because of it.

    For example, my husband and I used TurboTax last year. The deeper we went, the more complicated it got. We were recently married, were renting out a room on Airbnb and I had recently started taking on freelance gigs on top of my full-time job.

    We got about $2,000 back in our refund. Score!

    But a few months later, after deciding to move to Europe, we hired an accountant to help with the international transition. She discovered that, through TurboTax, we’d missed out on an extra $1,000 in our refund. A thousand dollars.

    Yes, she cost $500, but that’s still an extra $500 in our pockets because we hired her.

    Accountants teach freelancers how to handle money

    They’re not called your “most trusted advisor” for nothing. An accountant not only knows the ins and outs of your freelance business, but is familiar with the nitty gritty details of your life.

    Working with an accountant has been invaluable to me as a general adult human. My first accountant provided me with general coaching on how to document my expenses to protect me should the IRS ever audit my return.

    Your partnership “Can also allow you to understand what qualifies as a business expense and familiarize yourself with the rules to maximize your deductions,” says CPA Dan Hodgin. Who knew a percentage of my rent counted as a business expense?!

    How to choose the right accountant

    Not every accountant is right for you. Case in point: The first accountant I worked with was great for freelancers, but not so much for expats. When I got to Germany, the first accountant I interviewed had a ton of fancy experience, but wasn’t particularly friendly. The one I did hire is patient and happy to answer my endless questions.   

    Choose an account who speaks your language

    Whatever your experience, you need an accountant who can be clear about what they need from you.

    Yes, you want someone with experience (more on that below), but if you’re like me, sometimes it’s more important to work with someone who doesn’t make you feel stupid.

    My first accountant had a ton of experience, but seemed to expect I knew everything about freelance taxes. Since this was my first time doing this, I needed someone who could hold my hand. It took months to find a young, friendly accountant who would answer my questions without doing a virtual eye roll every time I emailed. I’m so glad I did the research to find him.

    Choose an account familiar with your situation

    Experience definitely matters, but not all experience is created equal. An accountant who specializes in freelancers might not be right for startup owners. Or expats. Or luddites.

    “Accounting” is such a broad term and you want someone who’s familiar with your exact situation. Right now, I have two accountants: One specializes in expat German taxes, the other works with many freelancers abroad.

    “You need to find someone who’s willing to educate you about your tax situation,” added Bera, “So you can make sure you’re taking advantage of the deductions and tax credits available to you.”

    It may sound too nitty-gritty —and most accountants have several specialities — but this granularity is worth investigating.

    Ask for recommendations

    Accounting isn’t just about filing your taxes each year. Do you also need bookkeeping help? Estate planning?

    By talking to other freelancers in your area and industry, you can get a feel for who might be the best fit.

    And size matters. Many freelancers want to build a relationship with someone long-term, so a huge accounting firm might not be the best choice. But small firms don’t offer every service under the sun, so consider your needs and act accordingly.

    Talk to a few different firms, both large and small to get a feel for what you need.

    Do you work with an accountant? How has the process been for your freelance business?

  • Tracking Freelance Earnings: February Income Report From Nicole Dieker

    Tracking Freelance Earnings: February Income Report From Nicole Dieker

    Do you work on freelancing projects that take more than a month to complete? As longer projects become a more significant part of my freelance workload, I’m rethinking how I track my income against my monthly earning goals.

    Here are my February numbers:

    Completed pieces: 55

    Work billed: $4,670.93

    Earnings received: $3,330.38

    I wrote nearly 56,000 words in February, with an average per-piece earning of $85. I didn’t hit my $5,000-a-month income goal in February, but I didn’t expect to. Every February, I take a week off to attend the JoCo Cruise, so I knew my “work billed” number would probably come up a little short. (The cruise is totally worth it.)

    On the subject of “work billed”: It’s a little complicated this month. If I were to calculate all of the fully completed and billed work, February’s number would only be $3,420. I spent most of February doing work on projects that will be complete in March, so I’m listing the $4,670.93 number because it more accurately reflects the amount of work I got done this month — and helps me determine how close I am to my $5,000 income goal.

    Taking on larger — and longer — projects

    My income tracking is becoming more challenging because I’m taking on bigger projects that can’t be completed in a month. When I got started as a freelancer, I wrote six short pieces a day for content farms; now I’m working on pieces that require significant research and take several weeks to complete.

    The longer a piece takes to complete, by the way, the more likely the deadline will shift at some point during the process. This has less to do with the dreaded “scope creep” than it does with the idea that it’s difficult to plan out all the details of a complicated project in advance.

    As my clients and I begin working on these projects, we often find we need to go after an additional source or spend an extra day looking for answers to a question — which in turn pushes back the deadline.

    What does that mean for me? Well, it’s harder to accurately track how much money I earn every month, for starters. If I spend two months working on a project, it isn’t useful to me to say “In February I earned nothing on this project, and in March I earned $4,000.” When I make my freelance spreadsheet, I need to prorate that $4,000 over the length of the project so I know that $2,000 counts for February and $2,000 counts for March — and I still need to earn $3,000 extra each month to hit my income goal.

    In case you’re an accountant: This is my informal income-tracking spreadsheet that helps make sure I’m on target, not the spreadsheet I use to do my taxes! That’s a different system, and tracks income in the month it was earned.

    It’s also harder to plan my workload, since I have to include overflow time for deadline changes, last-minute revision requests, and other tasks. This month, I’ve tried to solve this problem by turning Mondays into “buffer days” — instead of scheduling other work for Mondays, I’ll keep them open and flexible for whatever needs to be done. I’ll let you know how it goes!

    It’s one more thing you might have to figure out, as you move up in your freelance career: How to track long-term projects against your monthly goals, and how to manage a workload that might include shifting deadlines.

    Let’s switch focus and look at a freelancer who is just starting out. What are his freelancing goals, and what steps is he taking to achieve them?

    Q&A with Robert Lynch

    Robert Lynch is a freelance writer in Adelaide, South Australia. He recently started working as a freelancer, and has already picked up a weekly contract. He’s also making smart choices — like negotiating better rates, investing in his business and improving his pitches — to help build his career and grow his income.

    ND: What is your current freelance life like?

    RL: I’ve just finished university and finally have the time to pursue a writing career. At this point I’ve been freelancing for only three and a half months. In that time I’ve had some significant breakthroughs. I’ve sold one-off pieces and I picked up a regular weekly contract copyediting, which paid $170 a week. After two months at $170 per week I successfully negotiated with the client to increase my workload to [earn] $300 a week.

    What would you like to improve about your freelancing career?

    At the moment copyediting is my only freelance income. I’d like to build up other income streams to support me. I’ve written short stories, some accepted and some rejected. I’d like to be able to know whether what I’m writing is a good fit for a publication, so that I decrease the chance of rejection. This is something I’m sure I will get better at with time and practice.

    What steps are you taking to help you get there? Have you had success so far?

    I try to send one piece of fiction work away each week for consideration to be published. I write sci-fi mostly. This kind of freelancing has an 8-12 week lag from sending in the work to getting feedback, so if I send in work regularly after that initial lag I will get feedback regularly. At this point, I haven’t received feedback for the first piece that I sent away, so I have no idea whether this has had success or failure yet.

    I’m also trying to view freelancing as a small business, so there are business aspects that I have focused on. I’ve dedicated a lot of time in the last 14 weeks to building a writing platform. Getting my website/personal blog (www.robert-lynch.com) built and published; building a twitter following (@BobLynchBSc); and to a lesser extent commenting and replying to content that other people have produced.

    Success in this endeavour is hard to measure. People have come to my website and have read the content I have posted there. That’s good. I have no comparison on whether those numbers are high or low for a blog about a writer’s journey. I’m happy with what I have so far and I look forward to growing that following by producing content that helps other writers with their own journeys.

    Do you have an income goal for 2016?

    My income goal is to earn more than $500 [AUD] a week, which amounts to earning more than $26,000 in 2016. This is the minimum I can earn where I can then devote myself to writing full time. This is the number in which I get freedom from looking for work elsewhere. At the moment I’m working as a barman to make ends meet and I’d rather spend those hours writing.

    What steps are you taking to hit that income goal? Have you had success so far?

    I’m trying to get a few blogs published off of my site. From there I intend to start pitching regular blogging series to websites. I have already learnt a lot from your Pitch Fix series, so hopefully I will have some success. Some of these pitches will be to writing sites like The Write Life, but also some specifically science-based blogs. I have a science degree after all and since scientists are not known for their creative writing skills, I’m hoping to be able to help bridge the gap between real science and the general population. I don’t think that I’m going to build up these relationships overnight, but if I can, I see a future where I’m regularly earning as much from blogging as I am from copyediting.

    Another revenue stream I see as achievable this year is to be regularly selling fiction. I have found a number of magazines and websites that will pay for fiction. By sending in regular stories for consideration for publication I’m hoping to better my writing and be regularly aligning with editor’s needs by the end of the year.

    There are a few other revenue streams I’d like to try, but their ability to earn scales directly with the size of my writing platform, so they aren’t viable in the short term.

    With the $300 a week I already have coming in, I think that from just blogs and stories it’s more than achievable to be earning above that $500-a-week goal.

    What is the hardest part of freelancing for you?

    Fitting everything in. I want to transition to writing full time this year. At the moment I’m working 15 hours a week copyediting, trying to learn the writing business, trying to write 1,000 fiction words every day, keeping an active Twitter presence, trying to start blogging, running my own website and blog (which includes fortnightly videos on YouTube), working in a bar, still looking for work that I might get using my degree, volunteering as head medical trainer at my local football club and acting as the chairperson of my local writing group. After all of these things I still need to find time to spend with my girlfriend.

    Generally, I can’t fit everything in. That means that I have to prioritise those things that pay me money right now and some of the long-term business stuff suffers for it.

    In order to get better at this, I’ve mapped out a time management plan. If I stick to it then I think I’ll be able to fit everything in. I don’t have a history of sticking to routines though.

    What do you feel like you do really well as a freelancer?

    I have a strong work ethic and I’m actively pursuing feedback or advice to improve myself.

    Neil Gaiman did a commencement speech a couple of years ago where he said that to be a successful freelancer you need to do three things: Submit work on time, do good work, and be nice to work with. I am completely in control of whether the work is done on time, so I make sure that I don’t miss deadlines. Whether my work is good or not I can only know if I get unbiased feedback, so I actively seek it out. And I try to build good business relationships, which so far has got me repeat work and better pay.

    What advice do you have for other freelancers?

    In the short time I have been freelancing, all of my successes have come from taking risks and trying new things. In every case the worst thing that could have happened was that people didn’t like what I was doing or contractors just said no to my proposals.

    If there is anything that I have learned so far, it’s that you have to take a risk to get anywhere. If you never try, you’ll never have any success.

    What advice would you offer Robert Lynch? Also, what advice would you offer me, as I start working on longer projects? Share your thoughts in the comments.

  • 231 Publications That Actually Pay Freelance Writers

    231 Publications That Actually Pay Freelance Writers

    So, you’ve invested in all the right writing tools, and The Elements of Style has a permanent spot on your desk. You know how to write the perfect pitch. But when it comes to growing your freelance writing career, it’s time to take it up a notch.

    That’s right. I mean going for the big bucks.  Let’s go.

    Here’s a round-up of all The Write Life’s posts on great places to write that actually pay.

    31 Travel Magazines and Websites That Pay Freelance Writers

    19 Websites and Magazines That Want to Publish Your Personal Essays

    Calling All Foodie Freelancers: 20 Dining and Food Magazines to Pitch

    Where to Submit Short Stories: 23 Magazines and Websites That Want Your Work

    29 Free Writing Contests: Legitimate Competitions With Cash Prizes

    28 Parenting Blogs and Magazines That Pay Freelance Writers

    Get Paid to Write Articles: 10 Magazines That Pay $500 Or More

    Get Paid to Write Personal Finance Articles: 18 Outlets to Pitch Now

    How to Get Published by 19 Health and Fitness Magazines

    Get Paid to Write: 17 Great Grants for Writers

    Get Paid to Write: 17 Fantastic Writing Fellowships for Authors, Journalists and Poets

    And don’t forget about our ebook, 71 Ways to Make Money as a Freelance Writer

    What amazing publications would you add to these lists?

  • Danny Margulies’ Secrets of a 6-Figure Upworker: Review

    Danny Margulies’ Secrets of a 6-Figure Upworker: Review

    We review ebooks, courses and tools for writers, so you can make good decisions about how to invest in your writing career.

    Course: Secrets of a 6-Figure Upworker

    About the creator: Danny Margulies is a long-time sales guy, but a relatively new freelancer. When he quit his job to “go freelance,” he had no idea what he was doing. But within a few months on Upwork (formerly Elance), he was charging premium rates.

    Now a successful copywriter, he’s created the course Secrets of a 6-Figure Upworker to walk you through the step-by-step process he used to ramp up his career and make bank doing it.

    Price: $297 for the whole thing. Includes the full course videos, worksheets and forum access.

    Who It’s For: Any freelancer who wants to learn how to position and sell themselves. The course is specific to Upwork, but these tactics are useful for anyone, new or established, looking to charge more and bring in better clients.

    What It Will Help You Do: The self-paced course takes you through everything from your profile to your portfolio to your proposals.

    Each section features a handful of videos ranging from just a few minutes to over half an hour. Each video is a simple PowerPoint with Danny’s voice walking you through his strategies, while also showing you real-life examples. All the content is available to binge-watch in one day, but be sure to watch them in order since they do build upon each other.

    This is not, however, a course about how to use Upwork. Because I’d never used the platform before, I had questions about things like tests, reviews and setting my rates as a newbie. Danny does not address website specifics, probably because platforms like these change all the time.

    But after finishing the course, I’m glad he didn’t go into these aspects. His strategies really aren’t about Upwork at all — he really teaches you how to sell yourself as a freelancer no matter where you go to find clients. Upwork’s idiosyncrasies are easy enough to learn on your own.

    What’s Included: Secrets of a Six-Figure Upworker is broken into four main sections: Your Business (positioning yourself), Your Leads (tapping into the Hidden Upwork Economy), Your Proposals (selling yourself) and Your Results (keeping clients for life).

    There is a small on-site community forum that’s pretty active, but I didn’t get a ton of benefit from talking to other members. For me this was a heads-down, do-whatever-Danny-tells-me type course.

    What Would Make It Even Better: My only real complaint is that Danny isn’t a natural presenter. He recorded a few calls as part of the bonus section and he’s charming and engaging. But his videos? It’s very obvious he’s reading from a script. The result was a lot of rewinding when I’d find myself dozing off.

    The content is compelling, don’t get me wrong, but I wish the videos themselves were a little more lively.  

    My tip: Find something else to do while listening. You don’t really need to watch the videos so I had fun with markers and a coloring book while I listened.

    How It Changed My Life: I started this course just a few weeks ago. I had no Upwork experience and assumed the platform was full of low-balling freelancers and low-quality clients.

    But within just three days I landed my first job, though a private invite, at $95/hour (double my usual rate). Just a few days after that? I was hired through a proposal just a few hours after sending it. Both new clients have now hired me for ongoing work and I’m in the process of interviewing for three more projects.

    I took this course because my clients weren’t lighting my fire. I attract tech companies, but I much prefer working for lifestyle businesses. When I found Danny’s course I figured it could help me both branch out and and also increase my rates. In just two weeks I’ve done both.

    Danny says, “The moment you try to win on Upwork by doing what seems natural, you’ve already lost.” After taking his course, I couldn’t agree more.

    I thought I was pretty good at attracting and keeping new clients, but I see now I was doing everything wrong. Whether on Upwork or not, I will never go back to how I was pitching before. I think Upwork and I are going to have a beautiful relationship.

    Our Recommendation: Secrets of a Six-Figure Upworker should be required watching for freelance copywriters. Danny’s positioning and pitching advice is the most comprehensive and fascinating I’ve ever experienced. The format is clear and his strategies are easy to implement. To be honest, I’m nervous about publishing this review because I’m scared of additional competition.

    So, you know, stay away. Shoo!

    This post contains affiliate links. That means if you purchase through our links, you’re supporting The Write Life — and we thank you for that!

  • Freelance Writers Can Work Anywhere, Right? Maybe Not.

    Freelance Writers Can Work Anywhere, Right? Maybe Not.

    Is the life of a digital nomad even possible? Is it real?

    Yes. No.

    Over eight years I’ve lived in four different countries, hopping between the United States, England, New Zealand, Australia and, now, Germany.

    The only reason I’m able to do this is because my work is portable. I started early as a social media consultant and recently moved into full-time copywriting.

    So I was eager to read The Freelancer’s last post, Expat Freelancers on the Advantages and Challenges of Working Abroad. Writer Joann Plockova lives and works in Prague, and many of her experiences working outside America mimic my own.

    Taking advantage of your dual-culture knowledge? Check.

    When I lived in New Zealand, my experience running social media campaigns in the United States was a huge benefit. The technology hadn’t yet picked up steam there, so my knowledge and expertise were in demand.

    Needing to hustle no matter where in the world you live? Check.

    It’s harder to hustle abroad. My work is portable, but my network is not. It’s hard to maintain a solid professional community when you can only stay connected online. I’ve had to more or less start over in each country, making the hustle that much harder.

    Trying to run a business in “foreign waters?” Double check.

    I’m still not sure I’m correctly registered with the German government. It’s hard enough dealing with taxes in America. Try dealing with German tax paperwork.

    Plockova is right though: freelancing is freelancing, no matter where you are. Unless you’re moving with an already healthy client load and established business, you will likely not be typing in outdoor cafes in Ubud.  

    Speaking of outdoor cafes, Plockova missed a crucial issue for freelancers considering expat life.

    File under: WiFi problems

    It took me three months to get reliable Internet in Germany, and very few cafes offer WiFi. I spent more than $200 per month on data sticks and sent a lot of frantic emails to clients when I couldn’t send big files due to slow Internet.

    Easy WiFi is not as prevalent outside the States, and it’s been a massive headache in every country I’ve ever lived. So if you plan on country-hopping, find a long-term portable Internet solution. And if you’re moving to a specific country for a longer period of time, expect at least a month or two of shoddy Internet.

    I also wish Plockova had talked about her tax situation.

    Freelancing: When tax time is all the time

    While not a sexy topic, taxes are often the biggest source of contention when you work outside the States.  

    The US is one of the few countries that requires you to file taxes no matter where you live or for how long you’ve lived there. On top of that, you still have to file in your chosen country.  

    You’ll likely need to hire two accountants. And, remember, if you plan on working anywhere in the European Union, expect significantly higher taxes. I’m expected to pay almost 50 percent of my income to lovely Germany. And sure, you could argue I’m getting more benefits — free healthcare being the big one — but it doesn’t truly even out.

    Basically, it depends what kind of freelancer you are.

    I work primarily as a copywriter, which means a lot of business clients. Plockova, on the other hand, is a journalist. “Standing out from the crowd as a foreigner can be a massive advantage,” she wrote. “I’ve had numerous editors express their appreciation about receiving story ideas from Prague since I can provide perspective both as an insider and an American.”

    Since I don’t write for many traditional publications, I have yet to experience this benefit. I’ve actually had the opposite response. Many businesses are not eager to work with a writer who’s so far away. Our massive time difference means I hold many meetings at night, which isn’t ideal for a good night’s sleep and romantic dinners with my husband.

    That said, she is right about having great material when you travel and live abroad. I’ve written a number of essays about my experiences and there’s a constant curiosity on how I make it work. What visa do you get? What are your expenses? The answers to these questions make great content, what can I say.

    I live abroad for adventure. To experience the world. For me, freelancing has been harder abroad. But the benefits of a lower cost of living and being able to hop on a train to Amsterdam for the day? That’s what makes it worth it.  

    International freelancers, what do you think of Plockova’s article? How would you rate your experience as a freelancer?

  • 3 Times Working for Free Can Help Your Freelance Writing Career

    3 Times Working for Free Can Help Your Freelance Writing Career

    Hey, will you write this blog post for free?

    If you’ve ever been asked this question, You’re probably rolling your eyes and groaning, “No, not again!”

    As writers and creatives, we’re often advised against working for free — to know our worth and not accept anything less. And believe me, here at The Write Life, we agree. It’s important to set a precedent that freelance writers deserve to be compensated fairly for our work and expertise.

    But sometimes volunteering or working for free can actually help kickstart a thriving writing career.

    Case in point: a few years ago, I received an email from a startup founder inviting me to write a guest post about public relations for his blog. I wrote the post, not expecting much except to have my byline associated with a popular and interesting website.

    Much to my surprise, after the post was published, I received an email from the founder asking me how else we could work together. Three years later, that startup is my long-time blog management and social media client.

    Writing a guest post for free led to consistent paid work. No doubt, there are times when it makes sense to volunteer or work for free.

    Here are three instances when volunteering may be a smart move to help grow your portfolio, leave you feeling fulfilled and boost your career.

    1. When you have minimal experience and need to build your portfolio

    Brand new to a given field or just getting your start as a writer? Volunteering may make sense to build up your expertise and portfolio.

    It’s often challenging to find paying gigs when you aren’t able to tangibly show an editor, potential client or employer you know what you’re doing. Volunteering allows you the opportunity to experiment, find your way and gain valuable work experience.

    Then, once you have a couple of clips and samples, you’re more easily able to approach paid opportunities with confidence.

    For example, when I was in college, a debut author reached out to me to ask for my assistance with publicizing her book launch. I took on the project free of charge and quickly learned all types of new skills: writing a press release; organizing a blog book tour; working with book bloggers and crafting social media messages.

    After completing the project, I was able to turn that experience into a case study for future clients and opportunities.

    How to do it

    Think about the types of clients you’d eventually like to write or work for. Reach out to them and ask if they’d be interested in your assistance with (insert your skill here).

    Most people will be thrilled to hear from you, especially small businesses, entrepreneurs and non-profit organizations.

    If you’re more interested in blogging and writing gigs, check out the “contribute” or “write for us” page of the blogs/websites you enjoy reading and follow the directions to send them a pitch. Many sites are eager for guest content.

    2. When you’re passionate about a cause

    What are you extremely passionate about? Combining your expertise with a cause you care about can make you feel good about yourself and the value your work brings to the world around you.

    Graphic designer Jennie Lewis is passionate about keeping beaches and seas clean, and wanted to put her skills to good use. She reached out to 2 Minute Beach Clean and offered up pro-bono design skills. “Using my time and skill to help make a difference in an area I’m passionate about feels worthwhile,” she explained.

    Similarly, consider volunteering or writing for free simply because it makes you feel fulfilled.

    “I think everyone should have some sort of volunteer cause they get involved with. It helps keep us human and sensitive, as opposed to falling into a negative outlook of the world,” said Maddy Osman, who volunteers as the race director for Cupid’s Undie Run in Chicago and writes free guest blog posts when it ties into her blog’s niche.  

    How to do it

    Think about the causes you hold dear to your heart. Are there organizations you’re already involved with or aware of who could use a passionate volunteer with a specific set of skills? Don’t be afraid to reach out to them via email or social media accounts.

    If you’re looking for the chance to combine your writing skills with a great cause, consider using VolunteerMatch to search for specific opportunities related to your interest area in your city.

    Similarly, simply Google keywords “Writing volunteer opportunities in (your city name here).” After doing a quick search for here in Philadelphia, I came across Mighty Writers, a non-profit that teaches kids to think and write with clarity.

    3. When it offers you exposure you otherwise wouldn’t have found on your own

    It can be a controversial topic in freelancing circles, but whether we like it or not, writing for free puts you and your work in front of an already established audience.

    Think about the Huffington Post. The popular website typically doesn’t pay its contributors, yet writers all over the world are vying to have their names associated with the well-known brand. They can then add Huffington Post to their portfolio and writer bios, giving them more legitimacy when they seek out paying gigs.

    Writing for free can lead to great exposure for you, your work or whatever you’re interested in promoting or sharing. Cristina Roman, co-head honcho at One Woman Shop agrees: “We know there’s a lot of mixed opinions on writing for free for exposure, but we’ve found it very valuable when we’ve had a specific funnel to direct readers to. We find it useful as a means of getting readers involved in the One Woman Shop community and engaged with our offerings.”

    How to do it

    If you’re looking to promote a product, service or brand, consider finding highly-targeted blogs or websites with a similar audience as the one you’re trying to attract. Of course, first check out their submission guidelines to see if they accept guest posts. If you can’t find anything on their website, consider sending them a well-written and researched pitch email.

    Is it always worth it?

    While writing and volunteering for free certainly have many exciting benefits, let’s not forget there are times when it definitely doesn’t make sense to write or volunteer without payment. Here are a few of those times to keep in mind:

    • When the project takes too much time away from paid work
    • When you already have a significant level of expertise
    • When the exposure to you and your brand will be minimal
    • When it will take way too long to see any return on investment
    • When the work no longer fills you with joy and excitement

    What do you think? Have you ever volunteered or written for free? We’d love to hear about your experiences!

  • How to Be a Freelance Writer: Skip These 10 Embarrassing Mistakes

    How to Be a Freelance Writer: Skip These 10 Embarrassing Mistakes

    The first time I went freelance, I was 22. I jumped in with both feet, quitting my job and starting a location-independent life.

    I couldn’t be more grateful. Without freelancing, I never would have been able to travel the world. I learned more in those two years than I ever did at school.

    But, if I’m being honest, I didn’t love it. The pay wasn’t great, I had little work experience, and running any business is hard. I had no idea how to deal with contracts, invoices, taxes and health insurance.

    My world became less about the actual work and more about staying afloat. I did everything wrong.

    Seven years later, I’m back at it. But this time I’m prepared.

    The good news is, whether you’re 22 or 82, you can learn from my initial naivete:

    1. I didn’t hire an accountant

    At 22, I thought only hugely successful freelancers could afford an accountant. With systems like TurboTax, why waste the money?

    Here’s why: BECAUSE DIY ACCOUNTING IS THE ACTUAL WORST.

    During this second go-round I’m not wasting billable hours figuring out my taxes. This year I’m paying an expert to do it right the first time.

    The bad news is I report taxes to two countries, which means hiring two accountants. The good news is my German accountant wants to start blogging, so I’m helping him write content in exchange.

    2. I didn’t stash tax money in a separate account

    This one hurts to admit.

    I didn’t track any income or put money away to pay my taxes later. I didn’t even know freelancers had to pay their own taxes. Seriously. When tax time rolled around, I had no idea what I was doing.

    (Remember, I was 22 and our education system doesn’t require  students to learn anything  about finance, insurance or navigating our tax system.)

    Today, I track everything with Freshbooks. I automatically take 20 percent  out of every paycheck, no matter how tiny, and immediately put it into an online savings account.

    3. I didn’t understand how to calculate my rates

    We’ve all heard the advice, “Charge what you’re worth!” But if you’re new to freelancing, or don’t have much experience, it’s hard to understand what this means.

    I was lucky to get any clients, nevermind one who could pay $100 per hour. So I charged $25. Sometimes less. I landed and kept clients, so I assumed I was doing something right. In reality, I  could barely make ends meet. I eventually succumbed to a full-time job.

    This time, I calculated my rate based on my old salary: $110,000 divided by 40 hours per week equals just over $50 an hour. So that’s what I charge. Clients happily pay.

    After a few months, though, I realized I can’t work 40 billable hours. With admin tasks, emails and pitching, I might hit 20 hours of client work. Which means I should charge at least $100 per hour to make my desired salary.

    This feels doable in 2016, but I can’t pretend I have this whole negotiating thing figured out quite yet.

    4. I didn’t organize ongoing projects

    At 22 I used a “system” of notebook scribblings and email overwhelm to manage projects. How I met deadlines is beyond me.

    Today, I organize one-off articles into a spreadsheet kindly provided by The Write Life. Ongoing client work goes through Asana. Goals and daily tasks to into my beloved Passion Planner.

    Together, these tools help me better manage my time and ensure no projects fall through the cracks.

    5. I didn’t prioritize personal projects

    During my first years, I completed almost zero personal projects. I updated my blog only when I had a gap in client work. I prioritized the day-to-day management of my business over growing it.

    While I love and adore my current clients, I want to double my income while also challenging myself to write types of pieces I’ve never approached before. Since I have a full schedule, this seems unlikely.

    However, when I schedule in an hour only for myself each morning, I not only prioritize growth work, but I also start my day creatively refreshed.

    6. I ignored freelance networks

    Sites connecting clients and freelancers get a bad rap, which is why I stayed far away during my first go-round. I signed on new clients primarily via referral.  

    This time, half my clients come through CloudPeeps. And thanks to Danny Margulies, I’ve also started using Upwork. Just two days into his course, I landed my first client at a rate of $95 per hour.

    Lesson: Freelance networks don’t mean you’re desperate or bound to get low-balled. They keep my client roster full and interesting, while also giving me a chance to expand my skills.

    7. I didn’t target my perfect client

    Completing an ideal customer avatar was the most powerful thing I’ve done for my business. I spent days thinking hard about the type of people I want to work for.

    Turns out they weren’t the people I was working for.

    While tech companies are easy to come by, I prefer working with women-owned business and creatives. I rebranded, overhauling my services and honing in on work I wanted. It meant saying no to many potential clients, hoping my efforts would pay off.

    They did.

    Just one month after launching my new site, I landed three long-term freelance writing jobs with creative women, all at my desired rate.

    8. I didn’t spend money on my business

    I didn’t have any money to spend, so I did everything myself, wasting precious time and never truly feeling “pro.”

    This year I invested a few hundred bucks in education — a writing workshop here, an online course there — and a few thousand in a new website design.

    To afford this, I freelanced on top of my full-time job for three months. Once I saw the difference it made, I became more comfortable shelling out for services and software that make me happier and my work more efficient.

    And now that I have my taxes finally figured out, I can finally expense things.

    Next stop? A virtual assistant.

    9. I didn’t require payment upfront

    Most freelancers make this mistake only once.

    Luckily, the client who stopped responding only owed me $60, but I never did it again.

    Now I collect money via sites like CloudPeeps, Upwork and Clarity. This ensures I get paid, even if the client flakes at some point during the project.

    For clients who hire me through my website, I require 100 percent up front, no exceptions.

    This gives me financial security and results in clients taking their investment more seriously.

    10. I didn’t pay attention to my internal schedule

    If I have to read another article about the ideal morning schedule, I’m never waking up again.

    Apparently it’s great to exercise first thing, immediately take a shower, take breaks every 23 minutes, stop working as soon as it hits 5:00 p.m., and on and on and on.

    I call BS.

    I’ve spent the last six months obsessively monitoring when I’m most in flow. My findings? Everyone is different.

    I’m more creative and productive first thing in the morning, so I work straight through until lunchtime. No shower. Still in my PJs. I know. THE HORROR.

    But because of this, I get to relax later, leisurely finishing other projects in the afternoon and evening.

    By learning my own schedule instead of copying some guru, I’m not only more productive, but I also feel good doing it.

    This applies to much of freelancing. So don’t feel bad if you worry you don’t have it all figured out. It took me two rounds to feel comfortable as a freelancer, and I’m still learning every day.

    Have you learned any freelance lessons the hard way? What can you share with us?  

  • Pitch Fix: Before Submitting Your Story Idea, Consider Your Research Options

    Pitch Fix: Before Submitting Your Story Idea, Consider Your Research Options

    Welcome back to Pitch Fix, our ongoing column where we look at real pitches from freelance writers and offer suggestions for improvement.

    This month, we look at a pitch that presents an interesting thesis but doesn’t include any sources to back it up. We also look at how to pitch a story even if you don’t have your sources in hand.

    Meryl Williams’ pitch to The Atlantic

    Meryl Williams is a freelance writer you might remember from her work at The Write Life and her contribution to my piece about managing a part-time freelance career.

    She recently sent a pitch to The Atlantic that got rejected, and asked me if I had any insight into how she could fix her pitch.

    Williams’ pitch is already pretty strong. It focuses on why her story is important and what makes her piece a good fit for the publication. Is this a case of “sometimes even good pitches get rejected,” or is there something missing from Williams’ pitch?

    Here’s her pitch to The Atlantic:

    To the staff at the Atlantic:

    Rainbow Rowell has been having a good couple of years. The Omaha-based young adult author had her first adult novel come out last year, but on October 6 she’s going back to her roots with another YA work.

    The Atlantic interviewed Rowell in 2013 for a piece about YA authors who are doing it right, and she truly is. I’ve read her four books and I have been impressed by her handling of delicate subject matter, including domestic abuse, mental illness, and addiction. But even more so, I love the way Rowell consistently sets excellent examples for young girls and women in each of her books. I appreciate the power and agency her characters display, and the strong voices Rowell gives each of them. Some of them are described as being overweight but this aspect is always a non-issue — In Rowell’s books, being body positive is queen, and standing up for yourself and your loved ones takes precedence over appearance every time.

    I would like to write about how Rowell writes women for women, and about what I hope to see in her book coming out next month, Carry On. You can see previous work I’ve written on The Billfold, HelloGiggles, and the Addison Recorder. Please let me know if you have any questions. Thanks for your time!

    -Meryl Williams

    https://tinyletter.com/TheSleeperHit

    https://MerylWilliamsMedia.com/

    This is a solid pitch, and there is a lot to like about it. Williams references The Atlantic’s previous Rowell coverage, drawing a connection between her pitch and a story that worked for them in the past. She deftly works in references to her own clips, letting the editor know she has what it takes to get the job done.

    The biggest issue with this pitch is that the story Williams proposes is too speculative. Writing an article about what you hope to see in an author’s next work might be a great fit for another publication, but it doesn’t feel right for The Atlantic.

    As a comparative example: Colleen Gillard’s recent Atlantic article “Why the British Tell Better Children’s Stories” includes interviews with three literature professors to help back up her thesis. Adding additional sources to a story can lend validation to an idea and give it more credibility.

    It’s also what The Atlantic requests in its pitch guidelines:

    We’re more interested in writers who’ve done research and reporting rather than those offering up half-baked personal observations.

    So that’s how to fix Williams’ pitch.

    Pitch Fix: Cite your sources

    Deciding at what point to contact a source — before you secure the pitch, or afterwards? — is one of the most difficult parts of the pitch process.

    When I was a new freelance writer, I often got very nervous about approaching a source before a pitch was accepted, because I felt like the source would think I was unprofessional if I couldn’t place the piece.

    Likewise, it’s going to be difficult for someone like Williams to reach out to a well-known author like Rainbow Rowell without having a well-known publication to back her up.

    With that in mind, here’s how I’d improve Williams’ pitch:

    To the staff at the Atlantic:

    Rainbow Rowell has been having a good couple of years. The Omaha-based young adult author had her first adult novel come out last year, but on October 6 she’s going back to her roots with another YA work.

    The Atlantic interviewed Rowell in 2013 for a piece about YA authors who are doing it right. I’d like to follow up that piece with a story about how Rowell’s work has continued to grow, and how her ability to write strong female characters influences both her readership and her commercial success.

    I’d reach out to librarians, publishers’ sales reps, and women’s studies professors to speak to the three aspects of Rowell’s success: among readers, among booksellers, and among feminists. I’m also getting in touch with Rowell’s publicity agent in the hopes that Rowell will also be able to contribute to the piece.

    I love the way Rowell consistently sets excellent examples for young girls and women in each of her books. I appreciate the power and agency her characters display, and the strong voices Rowell gives each of them. I think your readers will also appreciate a closer look at her work and why it resonates with so many people.

    You can see previous work I’ve written on The Billfold, HelloGiggles, and the Addison Recorder. Please let me know if you have any questions. Thanks for your time!

    -Meryl Williams

    https://tinyletter.com/TheSleeperHit
    https://MerylWilliamsMedia.com/

    As you’ll notice, I completely changed the subject of this pitch. Instead of being about what one person hopes will be in a future book, it is now about how a writer found success by writing strong female characters that connected with many people.

    This is the first step I’ve taken to help Williams verify her thesis. I also gave Williams a paragraph where she outlines the research she plans to do to ensure her thesis is correct.

    Notice the wording of that paragraph: I don’t identify a specific librarian or professor, but I assume Williams will find at least one willing to talk to her about Rowell’s work. (There are a lot of librarians and professors, after all!)

    I also write “I am also getting in touch with Rowell’s publicity agent.” The use of present tense is key. If the pitch doesn’t go through, Williams does not have to contact the publicity agent; if it does, she can send the email.

    Williams’ response

    I asked Williams what she thought of her Pitch Fix, and here’s her response:

    Thanks for taking a look at this pitch!

    This email pitches a more interesting story, and one I feel like The Atlantic would have cared about more. Plus, it would have been totally doable (and super fun!) to interview a bunch of librarians and academic folks about Rainbow Rowell’s work. I also like the loose wording about getting in touch with Rowell’s people, while making no firm commitment. I’ll need to keep that in mind for future pitches.

    Maybe someday when I’m wildly famous, The Atlantic will pay for my thoughts on feminist fictional characters — but until then, this is an article I would have loved writing and reading. The good news is that Rowell has written a book a year since 2011, so maybe I’ll get another shot soon!

    To our readers: Do you agree with this month’s Pitch Fix? What advice would you offer Peterson? Also, how do you address potential sources when you pitch?

    Got a pitch that’s striking out? If you’d like to be an upcoming Pitch Fix subject, please contact Nicole Dieker at dieker.nicole@gmail.com.

  • 4 Ways to Manage Freelance Writing During the Holidays

    4 Ways to Manage Freelance Writing During the Holidays

    Who else takes freelance work home over the holidays?

    Since freelancers can work from anywhere, it often means that we have the luxury of spending more holiday time with family than our traditionally-employed peers who have to be back at work on Monday morning.

    Of course, we usually have to work on Monday morning too. Family members don’t always understand that just because you’re home for the holidays doesn’t mean you’re on vacation.

    How do you manage these expectations and ensure that your work gets done while keeping both clients and extended family happy?

    I’m coming up on my fourth year of holiday freelancing, so here’s my guide to getting it all done while also catching up with family and friends.

    1. Start with communication

    The easiest way to manage expectations is to communicate them. Tell your family members that you’re excited to see them this holiday season, and that you’re going to be spending part of your time working.

    Present this as a positive: Because you’re a freelancer, you have the opportunity to earn money and maintain your client relationships while still getting to see family for the holidays. Other people in the workforce don’t have this luxury.

    Once you’ve established that you’re going to work during part of your holiday visit, it’s time to communicate the boundaries of your workday. I often say, “I need to check in with clients in the morning, and I need to answer emails and turn in a few pieces. I’ll be available for holiday and family stuff after lunch.” You might also say something like “I need to spend most of Thursday working on freelance stuff, but I’ll be available to visit Grandma with you on Thursday evening, and I’ll also be available all day Friday.”

    Make these boundaries known early. Let your family know as soon as possible when you plan to be focusing on work along with which periods of time you’ve reserved for them.

    By communicating early, everyone can prepare for temporary schedule changes.

    2. Batch your workload

    If your typical freelance workday includes a lot of puttering around and chatting on social networks between writing pieces, it’s time to hunker down and focus.

    Try to batch your workload into small, distinct time blocks: 8 a.m. to noon on weekdays, for example.

    You need to avoid as much procrastination as possible to get your work done in a pre-defined time block. If you like to take 20-minute breaks between writing sprints, for example, you may need to cut that down to five-minute breaks. You don’t want to hear a disappointed family member say “I thought you were working!” when they catch you watching YouTube.

    If you can’t get all of your work done during the time blocks you’ve set for yourself, consider working a few extra hours after everyone else has gone to bed or before they wake up. I’ve gotten a lot of work done on family trips by staying up late or setting my alarm a little early.

    Pay attention to your family’s schedule to find the optimum time to work.

    Is your family the kind that likes to spend an hour or two after lunch relaxing in front of the TV? That might be your ideal work time. Have a parent who likes to spend the hour before dinner cooking up an elaborate meal? Grab your laptop and answer emails from the kitchen island. It’s like you’re getting work done together!

    3. When you’re not working, be present

    We all know you’re not going to turn your phone off when your freelance work is done. You could, however, put it in your pocket — or at least turn off email notifications.

    When you tell your family that you’ll be available for certain activities, be present. I’ll be the first to admit it’s hard. I have definitely been the person sending emails during a family hike because something came up with one of my clients. But do your best to work when you’re supposed to work, and put work away when you’re not working.

    Consider it the other side of the “I thought you were working!” argument. Try to avoid the distractions of the Internet when you’re getting work done — and then avoid the distractions of the Internet when you’re with your family!

    4. You don’t have to do everything

    Family and clients often come with similar pressures: You have to do everything, or else you’re not part of the team.

    It’s OK to say no, to both your family members and to your clients. It’s OK to tell your family that you can’t play Monopoly after dinner because you have to finish a freelance assignment, or that you’d like to get some work done while they pick out the Christmas tree — but you’ll be ready to help them decorate it!

    It’s also OK to tell a client that you can’t take on a specific assignment because you’ll be visiting your family. Or, you can ask for a deadline that falls after the holidays. You are not required to be available at all times. Many freelancers forget this, including me.

    Setting boundaries with yourself, your family and your clients — and then taking the time to communicate those boundaries — is the key to having a happy holiday while also getting your freelance work done.

    Remember, you are an adult with a real job, and you have the right and the responsibility to manage that job effectively during the holiday season.

    Then enjoy that extra piece of pie, because you’ve earned it.

    How do you manage your workload during the holiday travel season? Do you have tips for setting expectations with both clients and family?

  • Tell Us Your Favorite Writing Websites!

    Tell Us Your Favorite Writing Websites!

    It seems far off on the calendar, but January is one of our favorite times of the year here at The Write Life. It’s a time for new beginnings and new goals. And we want to help you prepare for one of your best years yet!

    That’s where our 100 Best Websites for Writers list comes in.

    After compiling fantastic resources in 2014 and 2015, we’re excited to bring you the ultimate list of your favorite writing sites in 2016.

    Whether your goal for 2016 is to get more freelance writing clients, finish your ebook (and sell it!), or seeing your byline in a major magazine, we’ve got you covered with this list of websites for writers. We want to make sure we include valuable resources, and to do that, we need your help.

    What’s your favorite writing website? Which blogs do you visit for inspiration, information or writing-related entertainment? Which sites have earned bookmark status on your toolbar? Who do you want to nominate for our list?

    Let us know your favorite sites in the comments. We’re looking forward to sharing the list with you in January!