The Freelance Writers Bane-Of-Existence

Everyone has heard the stories of full-time authors writing on the beach, or at home in their underwear and driving the car of their dreams, all on the income from a freelance writing career. But, just like every other pie-in-the-sky venture, freelance writing has its drawbacks, although the benefits and lifestyle it affords you can more than make up for the minor (and, in some cases, major) drawbacks you may encounter along the road to Freelance Riches.

Freelance writing can be a scary undertaking for the fledgling writer. There are plenty of pitfalls to suck the courage and creative juices right out of your plump, juicy, ripe little “nest egg” dream. Shoring yourself up against as many of these brick walls as possible before starting can help you to stay the course when things get a little hairy for you. So here are some tips and warnings you can arm yourself with as you take up the Sword (or pen) and slay the dragon of debt. (How do you like that imagery, You Valiant, Verbose Knight?)

First, editors put their pants on one leg at a time, just like you do. And while, yes, they are the ones holding the check you wish to receive for your labor, they are agreeing to part with those precious dollars in exchange for something that is of value to them-YOUR work of art. So you're in a give and take relationship, and despite the impression that their deadlines are hard-and-fast set in stone, most editors will be flexible with a good writer if it is truly needed. Here, be aware that you should have a good track record, either with this editor, or the ones in your references, before you go around asking for special consideration, so as not to ruin your stellar reputation. But it can be done.

In addition, don't be fooled into thinking that just because they are the one doing the hiring that they are fully trustworthy, or even modestly honest. Most publishers are, but you can really get burned, financially and emotionally, by the few you may encounter who just don't have a clue. It is a good idea to look for scam postings on some of the popular writers forums before doing a big job for a new editor. If they've scammed before, chances are, their name is blacklisted somewhere, although there are a few con artists out there who repeatedly change names and addresses and simply continue their scams. Due diligence should help you spot a loser, however, and protect your labor and creativity from getting hijacked.

Not every issue that appears shady at first is actually a scam. For instance, there are tales of writers responding repeatedly to editors requests, and being accused of not responding, only to learn their emails had been eaten by spam filters. So be sure to be polite regardless of how irritating the situation may be at first. Until you're sure it's a scam, then feel free to blast them to your hearts content, thereby protecting other writers from a similar fate. We gotta stick together, and look out for each other.

On to more technical gruntings. For those with a limited budget, you can save yourself some money by using Open Source software, rather than paying for top shelf major-label software. Check the Open Source Library, or Download.com to see if there is a comparable program to the one you are sweating over investing in. There are imaging programs, design and layout, and even a good replacement for Word, and HTML editors. Mind you, on some older systems, you may not get the functionality of the Major label, but you also don't incur the expense. If you are running on a Linux system, you are in the home stretch, and probably don't need to invest in ANY software at all, you can use all Open Source programs.

I'm assuming that if you're reading this article, you at least have some vague idea of HOW to write and who you wish to write for, so I'm not going to go into a bunch of lessons on writing, but I will say that for those of you interested in Copywriting, one of the most lucrative directions an aspiring writer could take, you should first invest in a home study course. Preferably one with sections on marketing your talents and getting paying work. For here lies the Freelancers bane-of-existence...

Getting Paying Jobs. You can look around in some writing forums, sometimes editors post listings for work, but the responses are usually overwhelming. Keep that in mind. Looking in classified Ads is sometimes a viable option, although quite time consuming. Your best option is the FreelanceWork Exchange. Using the exchange, you can keep your pipeline full, and spend your time writing for dollars, rather than looking for work. This is also a reasonable assurance that you won't get ripped off by a deadbeat publisher. Jobs on the exchange, in general terms, pay higher than ones you may find other places, and you can build rapport with publishers, paving the way for long term assignments.

So...To recap, here are the resources you can use to jump start your glamorous and lucrative writing career. (Remember me when you hit the big time, will you?)

Writing Forums...Pick one, there are lots of good ones, and even some Developers Forums can be handy for researching companies.
Sign up for Writing Etc. the Ezine for Writers and Freelancers in General. The editor is very generous with helpful information, and can point you in the right direction if you get hung up. She offers an “Ask a Question” section in each issue and answers them in the order they were received. TONS of info to glean from this little secret weapon. Search the Archives.
Open Source Library, for your software, you may have to browse a bit, but you'll only have to do this work once, and you'll save yourself some cash.
AWAI-For those aspiring to become copywriters. John Carlton also offers a stellar course, look into it.
The Freelance Work Exchange- When you get tired of looking for work, and are ready to begin actually working. You can have them email you new job postings as they come available, and you can search their database of ongoing projects. (shirt and shoes not required)
Google up some different resources, and keep a stash of “Best Places To Get Info” somewhere handy, for inspiration and education.
Don't forget to Proofread, or hire a Proofreader. (AbundanceFeelsGood.com offers $2 per article Proofing, but some article directories even offer free proofreading-Articles only.)
Get to work, and I'll see you on the beaches!

Article Source: http://www.uberarticles.com/articles

Susan Denham is a Freelance Writer and Owner of AbundanceFeelsGood.com Resources: Freelance Work Exchange / Open Source Software
Article Submission made possible by: www.articles-submit.com
Courtesy of:Susan Denham

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