Here is the snippet that inspired me to write this post:

“After sending two invoices for payment, I sent another and called the client when the receipt that they had received it came back.

CLIENT: Why are you calling me?

ME: You haven’t paid and this is the third invoice I’ve sent.

CLIENT: It’s even more than the last one!

ME: Yes. The contract you signed stated that I would add a late fee for payment.

CLIENT: You mean I have to actually pay you? I thought you were joking!

ME: What on earth made you think that?

CLIENT: You’re a freelancer!

ME: And…

CLIENT: Well, you work for free! If you were supposed to be paid, you’d be called a paidlancer or something!”

Wow. Pretty certain I’d be speechless at that point.

I did a bit of research to try and find the origin of the term and what I found pretty much matches what my common sense had told me.

From Wikipedia:

“The term was first used by Sir Walter Scott (1771–1832) in Ivanhoe to describe a “medieval mercenary warrior” or “free-lance” (indicating that the lance is not sworn to any lord’s services, not that the lance is available free of charge).[1] It changed to a figurative noun around the 1860s and was recognized as a verb in 1903 by authorities in etymology such as the Oxford English Dictionary. Only in modern times has the term morphed from a noun (a freelance) into an adjective (a freelance journalist), a verb (a journalist who freelances) and an adverb (she worked freelance), as well as into the noun “freelancer”.”

Well, there are certainly times when I feel like a “medieval mercenary warrior.” Who would have thought that a perfectly developed term from the 1800s would come back to bite some poor schmuck in the 21st century?

I guess we might need to start a movement, a revolt, an uprising. Decry the use of the “freelance” term and insist on being “paidlance writers.” somehow I doubt it would catch on.

The thing is, it sounds like the freelancer in this case did everything correctly. They had the client sign a contract, they invoiced and followed up correctly. I can’t imagine anything else they should have done and now it is likely they will never be paid for their hard work. That is a bummer. I have to admit that I’m having a little difficulty believing a client could be so dense, especially after signing a contract. It may just be a ruse to try and get out of paying a bill, but I bet it wouldn’t stand up in court.

I’ve never had anything quite so bizarre happen with a client. I’m wondering if any of my fellow freelance writers have ever had something like this happen.

The benefits of publishing

• An e-book is the perfect place to showcase your talents for any client who may be considering hiring you. An e-book immediately (right or wrong) says that you are a subject matter expert. It says that you are professional and hip to the way things are done these days.
• Publishing an e-book gives you valuable experience doing just that. I have taken on several clients who wanted to hire me for my expertise in publishing an e-book at places like Smashwords and Amazon.
• An e-book gives you a value-added product that you can offer to clients.
• Done correctly, with the proper price point, an e-book could make you a little money

The really good news is that the world is your oyster here. Your e-book could be anything that you think would be useful for potential clients. Or, it could be a comprehensive model of an area you feel particularly qualified about. Make it as short or as long as you like remembering that you need it long enough to be of value and not so long that you scare folks away.

In terms of the actual publishing, there are several ways to go. The easiest by far is to simply convert your e-book document into a .pdf file. Most e-readers can recognize this format and virtually any computer is going to have Adobe PDF Reader installed. This will get the job done for your short, basic e-book.

If you’ve put together something a bit more intensive then you may want to actually consider publishing and marketing your e-book using a service such as Smashwords. Sites like Smashwords take your completed Word document and convert it into all known e-reader formats. You set your price, get royalties and market your book. Using this kind of service does require a bit more work on your part but the extra effort is well worth it. The book needs to be formatted correctly and it needs to have an appropriate cover. At Smashwords there is a style guide that walks you through the entire process.

You can also accomplish the same thing over at Amazon using their Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) site. That is also free and is a fairly simple process.

This probably goes without saying, but I’ll say it anyway. Before you publish, take the time to get it right. Get as many sets of eyes on your content as possible. Hire an editor if you have to. Nothing reflects more poorly on you as a writer than having a book published that is rife with grammatical and typographical errors. Don’t chance all of your hard work on sloppy editing.

This was a very rudimentary article on self publishing. If you have specific questions, please feel free to get in touch.

Image from Finance and Economy.com

In my post last week I mentioned that one of the support system components most valuable to a writer is a writing forum. I’ve put together this list and I hope it can help you to decide if belonging to a forum is something you want to do. They are not listed in any particular order and the inclusion of a forum here should not be construed as a whole-hearted recommendation. Check them out. Poke around a bit. Lurk. See if any of them are a good fit for you. After checking them out, get back to us with any feedback or recommendations. Also, feel free to leave info in the comments section about any other writing forums that you have found particularly useful.

The Forums

• Writing Forums.org – http://www.writingforums.org/
• Writing Forums.com – http://www.writingforums.com/
• Writing.com – http://www.writing.com/page/writers_forum/writers_forum.html
• The Writing Forum – http://www.thewritingforum.net/
• Mythic Scribes – http://mythicscribes.com/forums/
• Legend Fire – http://www.legendfire.com/
• The Writer’s Beat – http://www.writersbeat.com/
• Absolute Write – http://absolutewrite.com/forums/
• WriteWords – http://www.writewords.org.uk/forum/
• Freelance Writing – http://www.freelancewriting.com/discussion-forums-for-writers.php
• Writer’s Digest – http://www.writersdigest.com/forum/
• Fiction Post – http://www.fictionpost.com/forums/
• Science Fiction Fantasy World – http://sffworld.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=10
• Nathan Bransford – http://forums.nathanbransford.com/
• Content Writers – http://www.contentwritersforum.com/
• Mystery Writer’s – http://mwf.ravensbeak.com/
• The Next Big Writer – http://www.thenextbigwriter.com/forum/index.php
• Make Literature – http://www.makeliterature.com/forums/
• Writer’s .net – http://www.writers.net/forum/
• My Writer’s Circle – http://www.mywriterscircle.com/
• English Forums – http://www.englishforums.com/
• Young Writers Online – http://www.youngwritersonline.net/
• The Memoir Writing Club – http://memoirwritingforum.com/forum.php
• Faith Writers – http://www.faithwriters.com/Boards/phpBB2/index.php
• Cracked.com – http://www.cracked.com/forums/
• Writer’s Weekly – http://forums.writersweekly.com/viewforum.php?f=15
• Pencil Jack – http://www.penciljack.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?15-Writing

Enjoy!

Please, please, please don’t interpret this post as one of those, “It’s a new year! Set goals! Be everything you can be!” kind of posts. ‘Cause it ain’t. I can’t stand/don’t do those kinds of posts. That’s my own thing – I suck at goal writing/keeping.

On the 2nd day of this new year I put myself in a position where I left a good paying 9 – 5 job that was killing me through the stress imposed by an impossible boss. I should be scared, but I’m not. I’m actually excited to be focusing once again on writing. And being focused on the writing means getting back into writing for money. The folks at Visa are very keen on my doing this.

I don’t doubt for a moment that I’ll be able to get back into the swing of it. I set my to do list this morning and have been flying through it, gleefully scratching things off the list as I accomplish them. With a lot of the clutter out of the way I am able to focus on the freelancing and the first thing I’m doing is getting back to my roots. The first blog article I ever write for my web site was about Textbroker. Textbroker is a great place for beginning freelance writers to cut their teeth and today I’ve discovered it is also a great place to ease back into the whole business of freelance writing.

It had been a good year or so since I last visited Textbroker. What I’ve found is that the folks there have made a lot of improvements to the site. When I first went to log in, I was kinda afraid I had been booted from the site, given how long it had been. Well, all of my stuff was still there as was my 5 star status. Awesome. I discovered that Textbroker had set up a place for writers to add a greatly detailed profile, including a profile image, interests, writing samples and even a resume. I also received a pleasant surprise when I went to the “Open Orders” page. There were literally hundreds of orders available. Textbroker is not a bid site. You choose an order and start writing. You’re not paid a ton of money on most orders but if you can write a decent article in 20 or so minutes, you should be able to pull down $15 to $20 an hour without too much problem.

Textbroker is just my first stop in my quest to get back into the freelance writing game. I’ll probably check out some of the bidding sites today and I’m letting all of my Twitter and FaceBook folk know I’m back in business.

image from institutechildrenlit.com

I guess it kind of depends on your definition of “career” doesn’t it? For me, when I think of a career I envision something that one does as their primary means of supporting themselves. In my mind, a career is a long term proposition that doesn’t include using the current job as a stepping stone to bigger and better things.

I wonder how many of us that are freelance writing have no aspirations in terms of moving up. If a career is a job that you love doing, then moving up is not an issue, right? And what does moving up mean, anyway? Does building a big business with lots of clients and other writers working for you equate to moving up? These are all legitimate questions when examining the issue of freelance writing as a career.

Again, each of us have an idea of whether or not our freelance writing is a career. Because the definition changes for everyone, it’s kind of tough to sort out. One of the things I think makes freelance writing a non-career is just doing it part time. This is not the time to open that ageless discussion of full-vs-part time, but in terms of defining freelance writing as a career, doing it full time seems to be kind of a no-brainer for career status.

There are a lot of folks who freelance write in the day time and then work on their novel at night. For them, freelance writing is a way to get paid while they move toward their goal of publishing a book and becoming a world famous novelist. I would say that for these writers, freelancing is not a career.

I think that freelance writing can absolutely be a career. One of the things that is so great about freelance writing is that the scope of projects is nearly limitless. This means that a freelance writer does not need to stay stuck in the same writing rut day in and day out. Expansion to any number of genres (if you will) is possible at any time. When we think about longevity, this variety is key. Unless any of you plan on writing batches of keyword rich articles for the rest of your freelancing days. (Shudder)

Finally, I have to ask, “Is it okay to freelance write and not have it be a career?” I’m pretty certain the answer to that question is a resounding, “Absolutely!” You have to ask yourself if you are receiving any joy from your freelance writing. Does it make you feel alive? Does it provide satisfaction? If the answer is yes, then sally forth and continue to do exactly what makes your writing soul sing.

Career or not, sometimes it’s important to sit down and reflect on your freelance writing. Think about whether or not this is a career for you. If you decide that it is, you probably have a lot more work cut out for you. Treat it like a career and get those goals written. “Professional Up” and do everything in your power to put your freelance writing on a career level.

Image from insane-videos.com

Intuitively, it’s not something you would initially consider as a freelance writer. Why on earth would a person who writes for a living even consider producing videos? I can understand how folks would not consider this a priority or even a consideration for freelance writing but I think there is room for videos in our freelance writing life. I think freelance writers could be missing out on a valuable opportunity by opting out of videos.

First, we now live in an age where it is easier than ever to film and produce your own videos. Just think about what the process must have been like twenty years ago. I’m sure the costs were astounding and the process must have taken months. Now, you can dang near film, produce and upload a fairly decent video just using your iPhone!

What kind of videos could a freelance writer produce that are specific to writing?

• Advertise Yourself – A video is a great way to introduce yourself on your web site. It puts a personal spin on the same old boring “about” page that 99% of the other freelance writers are using. It’s a perfect way to discuss your business philosophy. Include maybe a smidgen of personal stuff to show that you are truly human.
• Educational Series – How about a series for clients educating them about the process and how a typical project flows and works? Maybe you could do a series for other writers on any number of writing topics. When you think about it, anything that could be a blog article could be a video article. This is a great way to connect with other writers and could also lead to working for other writers.

As I indicated earlier, we have the means these days to make these videos for a lot less expense and hassle then ever before. If you don’t already have one, you can pick up a HD video camera for a couple of hundred bucks. Add a tripod and you’re in business. Those are about your only expenses unless you plan on paying for video editing software. My experience is that paying big bucks for this software is really unnecessary. First, you really need just the basics for the kind of videos we’re talking about producing here. Second, there are tons of good options for no cost at all. I don’t really have the room in this article to list these but look for them in a future article.

Folks these days relate very well to things in a video format. Heck, some folks expect it and are disappointed when it’s not made available to them. Give them what they want, have fun with it and make a video. I’ll bet it will turn out better than you think.

In my previous article, I wrote about the concept of connecting and I acknowledged that some folks may not even connect with other writers. This article is for those who connect or may want to connect with other freelance writers.

Let’s get right to it and look at some of the options:

• FaceBook. I fought this one for a long time. Hated it. Thought it was stupid and a pain in the ass. Finally gave in. Like Riddick’s Necromongers it was convert or be killed. I have found it to be a great tool for connecting with other writers. I get to see what they are up to professionally and if I care to look, personally.
• Twitter. Been doing it for about three years now and I dig it. Bite sized bits of what’s happening with other writers. It’s super easy to follow folks and there are some writers doing some mind blowing stuff out there. I owe it all to the tweets.
• LinkedIn. I have an account. Yay me. I rarely use it. I think it may be more useful from a business perspective but certainly not as a place to connect with other writers (unless they are already in my circle).
• Writing Forums. Madness, I tell you. Sheer madness. I’ve yet to find one that wasn’t “clicky” and full of trolls. In one particular case I was so certain I wouldn’t get a fair shake in a writing contest, I entered the thing under a pen name.
• Writing Conferences. What? Press the flesh for real? The Hell, you say. Yep, the old tried and true. If you get the chance, a writing conference is one of the best ways to make long term connections that can be so much more real than the online connections.
• Writing groups. See Writing Forums above. If you find a good one, stick to it and give it everything you’ve got. So many are dismal failures. Oh and have you ever tried starting one? Good luck with that. Let me just say that Craigslist as a starting point is sure to give you a Stephen King experience.

These are just a few of the places that you can use to start connecting with other writers. Don’t do them all – you’ll make yourself crazy. Find one or two that fit you and your style and dive in. Like I said before, strive for balance. Take things slow and the connections will come.

I’m not here to judge one way or the other. Whatever blows your skirt up, says I.

I have mixed feelings about connecting with other writers. On one hand, some of those connections have paved the way towards bill-paying gigs. On the other hand, I’ve seen these connections go horribly south – ending in ugliness and hard feelings. If I had to fall on one side of the fence or the other, I would say that overall, connecting with other writers is a good thing. If nothing else, it does remind me that there are other humans out there doing the same thing as me. As well, some of my connections have been good about being my “go to” when I need to vent (or to celebrate for that matter.)

I do think there is some validity to the time-suck argument. I think that it is way too easy to go overboard with this connecting business. When that happens, a writer may spend more time in front of Facebook or Twitter than in front of the word processor. When that happens, the writing gets cut short. When that happens, the writer is no longer a writer. They are a friend or a follower.

Balance, my friends. Like everything else in life, it’s all about balance. Tip the scales too much in either direction and you are apt to lose out somehow.

I do a couple of things to try and keep my balance. First, orthopedic shoes. Just kidding. I connect through two primary means: Facebook and Twitter. Yeah, I have a LinkedIn account but I never use it. I don’t belong to any writing forums and I don’t take advantage of any of the dozens of writing sites designed for the purpose of connecting. I generally visit FB and Twitter once or twice a day and interact a bit but generally not to excess. Otherwise, when I am hot and heavy into a writing thing, I shut down my browser and yield not into temptation. This lets folks know that I am around and that I’m paying attention, but not TOO much attention.

That’s how I do it, but I think someone could get by just fine without connecting. I know it’s hard to imagine but hey, 20 years ago freelance writers were able to make a living and they were able to do it without a bunch of instant connections.

What say you? Connected or not?

image from courseworkwritings.com

What else would you be doing? The question really goes to the foundation of your writing psyche. There are certainly a lot of others ways to express your creative self. I mean, you could cruise down the road a novelist takes. You could just keep personal journals or a blog. For that matter you could do something other than writing.

So, why do you freelance write? Is it because you’re *this* close to making your first million writing articles for other people? Do you have dreams of getting on with the Huffington Puffington Post? Maybe Time or Esquire? Lots of questions, I know. But, sometimes it’s important to ask those questions. A little reality check now and then helps to keep us honest.

Some folks freelance write on a part time basis. They have a good paying day job and freelance writing keeps them in the field. Others freelance full time, either for love of the work or because they have landed enough clients to pay the bills. If you are happy in your situation, it really doesn’t matter which camp you’re in.

If the world was your oyster, if you could do anything you really wanted, would you continue to freelance write? If money was no object and you had all the wealth you would ever need, would you freelance write? I think that answer is probably different for each of us and there is no wrong answer. Thinking about it in those terms however can sometimes shed a little light on how we operate on a day to day basis. If you’ve never thought about freelance writing in those terms then perhaps those questions are a cause for pause.

For me, if money was not a worry, I think I would be a freelance writer “full time.” I mean, I would accept clients at my leisure and not really feel much in the way of pressure. You all know how that works, right? If you don’t really need the money, it’s guaranteed to roll in.

Coming back to reality, think about what your freelance writing would be like if you were to carry the “don’t need the money” attitude to your freelance business. Would you handle things differently? I probably would. I’m sure I would feel like a lot of the pressure has been taken off. And when the pressure is off, I think it’s a lot easier to focus on the writing.

I guess I’m thinking a lot about the best way to handle being a freelance writer. I want to write, I want to make a living, I don’t really want to do anything else. I’ll keep working on it and try to keep the mindset of not really needing to do it.

If I can do that then the pressure is off.

image from punchingbagstands.org

Right in the chops. Go for the knock-out. There are a lot of freelance writers in the ring. The only way to rise above everyone else is to deliver solid punches with your writing. Clients will notice. You will notice. Soon after, everyone will notice.

Punchy

• Get out your thesaurus. I’m assuming you keep one handy. If not, shame on you. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200. You may not realize it, but your writing is tired. You use the same words day-in and day-out. You are risking becoming an opprobrious, casconading windbag so commit to launching your own literary juggernaut today.
• Become opinionated. Quit riding the middle of the road and make a bold statement or two about something that is a burning passion for you. Disregard the little voice that tells you you’re going to piss people off. There is no virtue higher than being true to yourself. Please reference any of the posts by Mark Pepper on this site. Seriously.
• Write your best stuff, then go back and eliminate 10 – 15 percent of the words. Nothing takes the punch out of your writing quite as much as being a wordy, blathering, love-to-hear-myself-talk writer. Try this one. As hard as it is to do, I guarantee that all of your efforts will be worth the result.
• Mix up your writing. If you tend to use bullet lists, lose ‘em. If you never write bullet lists, make them your standard format. Try using headers. See if you can keep all of your sentences to under 15 words. Write an entire article in pig latin. Write your concluding paragraph first and work your way backward all the way to the intro. See what I’m getting at here? The surest way to liven up your writing is to jack yourself out of your easy-chair.
• Speed write an article or two. Have a topic in mind, set a timer for 15 minutes and type like a lunatic. Don’t worry about formatting or typos, just type. After 15 minutes you can bat clean up. This forces your mind to focus and can result in punchy writing that is lean and mean.
• Make your very first sentence a bold and powerful statement about the topic. Make that sentence so powerful, someone would be daft to not read the rest of the article. If you need a day to craft that sentence then so be it. Once you have it, you can work on building the foundation of all the supporting statements.

Punchy writing is not necessarily easy writing. Hell, if it was easy, anyone could do it, right? Go examine some of your recent writings and see if they would be able to deliver that knock-out punch. If not, consider some of these suggestions and put the article back in the ring.