The second newsletter that is always guaranteed to make me stop in mid-sentence or even mid-IM conversation with a client is the newsletter from SomeECards.com. If you’re not familiar with SomeECards, it’s not your mama’s eCard site. You won’t find any irritating flashing lights or dancing chinchillas. What you will find is Graduation Cards emblazoned with “Congratulations on getting through the easiest part of life” or a Wedding Invitation that truthfully announces “You’re cordially invited to witness a large chunk of our parents’ savings disappear in a five-hour time span.”

But as freelancers, we’re not usually inviting people to weddings or graduation parties. What we’re doing is working our asses off. And, as it turns out, SomeECards saw us coming, too. Here are thirteen eCards tailor made for freelancers:

1. For Those Days When You Just Can’t Get Motivated
2. For Lowballing Clients (If law enforcement asks, I don’t recommend emulating this card.)
3. For Public Relations Contacts
4. For the Nit Picky Client
5. For Beloved Contractors (Kidding!)
6. For Social Media Consultants (to send to themselves when this one just won’t cut it)
7. For Freelancers with Phone-Phobia
8. For those Distant Freelancing Colleagues
9. For the Workaholic Freelancer
10. For the Freelance Developer
11. For the Freelancer Pursuing Passive Income
12. For the Part-Time Freelancer
13. For the Client Who Won’t Listen

(My sincerest apologies for all the clicky. I’m not sure what their reposting policy is and don’t feel like getting sued today.)

Didn’t find the eCard that encapsulates your freelance experience? Then SomeECards will also let you create one. Have at it!

Somebody has been talking me up. Lately, I’ve had shiny-eyed prospective new freelance writers popping up out of the woodwork to ask me how to get started.  So hi there, new writers! This post is for you.

What are my two top pieces of advice to potential freelance writers?

1.) Specialize

2.) Successful freelancer writers don’t just write for money, they run freelance writing businesses. And running a business is a lot like work. If you’re ready to make a fortune in your first year and you’re allergic to 60 hour weeks, then this profession might not be for you.

If that didn’t scare you off, here’s some of my best advice to new freelancers on how to actually get started:

The Quick and Dirty Guide to Landing Freelance Writing Jobs, Part 1

The Quick and Dirty Guide to Landing Freelance Writing Jobs, Part 2

The Quick and Dirty Guide to Landing Freelance Writing Jobs, Part 3

Here are some books and ebooks you should purchase and devour (I don’t read a ton of ebooks so this list may grow at a later date):

The Well-Fed Writer by Peter Bowerman

Web Writer’s Guide to Launching a Successful Freelance Web Writing Career by Jenn Mattern

And here are some blogs you should read religiously.

If you don’t use an RSS feed reader, start doing that today. Believe me, you’re going to need it in your career.

All Freelance Writing

Freelance Writing Jobs

Angela Booth’s Writing Blog

Freelance Switch

Freelance Folder

This blog, The Life and Times of a Freelance Writer

I also recommend following my Facebook group, “Jennifer Escalona – Writing Job Leads (Now with Wisdom!)” Maybe you’ll find a job and learn a little something in the process.

Finally, do you know why I really wrote this blog post? So that the next time somebody asks “Hey, have any freelance writing tips for me?” I have a place to send them. As a freelance writer, you’re going to be busy hustling to make a living. Every little shortcut you can make for yourself is another billable hour you can charge somewhere down the line.

Now get to work, newbie. Freelance writing careers don’t start themselves. And before I forget…

Welcome to our world!

So sick of cheap writing rates! (anywhere)

from Toronto Writing Jobs

To all of the job posters looking for writers and offering “get your voice out there”, “exposure” or similar in lieu of decent pay:

Once upon a time, a writer’s greatest challenge was finding a publication that would publish their work. There were only so many magazines and newspapers that an article could be published in. Now, anyone can publish a blog, online zine, or website about any topic. Why some people still offer “getting your voice out there” like it’s actual currency is mind-boggling. Instead of a writer pouring their energy and time into a well-thought-out article and selling it to someone else for mere pennies, that same person could start their own blog, zine, or website and retain creative control. Sure, you wouldn’t make that precious $5 or even $20, but it would be yours, and you could get all of the credit for it….while at the same time getting the same exposure.

The point is: if you want quality writing, you now have to pay for it. Exposure in itself is no longer a reward when any writer can do that for themselves, on their own timetable, for their own glory.

Bash ideas with a trash can lid if you have to!

This was probably because she made submitting to magazines sound deceptively easy. Cauley writes for all kinds of publications, including The Sunday Paper, an Atlanta alt weekly where I’ve noticed her byline before. She writes all types of pieces, too, from food criticism to human interest pieces to travel guides. Her seminar reminded me of the reason why I wanted to be my own boss in the first place – control over my own work.

Cauley is also a hustler. (In a good way. Not in a Paul Newman way, or a corner of Peachtree & 8th way.) Many freelance writers have the luxury of a spouse to foot half the bills and, hopefully, snag the health insurance, but Cauley made a career all on her own as a single mom. Go girl!

My big takeaway from Cauley’s seminar was to stay constantly on the lookout for ideas, and wrestle them down when they come along. For example, she once saw a sign pointing to a chapel here in Atlanta at Hartsfield Jackson Airport. Her curiosity about a chapel in an airport turned into a story about the airport’s full time chaplain. Who knew they even existed? Few people. Which is why it was a great story.

So, follow in H. M. Cauley’s footsteps. You probably see and hear dozens of story ideas every day. When one pops up, knock its legs out from under it and take it down!

But first, welcome to day two of “Why Should Freelance Writers Attend Writing Conferences?” Like I said yesterday, I’m a devoted advocate of industry related networking opportunities, and writing conferences offer not only networking opportunities, but learning opportunities, too. That’s a whole lot of opportunity right there.

When attending the Red Clay Writers Conference sponsored by the Georgia Writers Association and held in Kennesaw, GA last Saturday, I met a delightful author named J. Steve Miller who’s seminar was entitled “Sell More Books! (Cheap, Unobnoxious Tactics that Actually Work for Shy Authors and Non-Celebrities).”

Miller had quite a lot to say about strategies for book publicizing, and just like with Karen Denovich yesterday, I’m not going to give away all the maestro’s secrets here. I will talk about my favorite take away:

When publicizing your book the right way, you are NOT self-promoting. You are providing a service to people who need it.

Wow, so simple, yet us self-promotion shy folks would never have thought of it quite in that light. And we’re not just talking about books here. Like many of you, I used to (okay, sometimes still do) see a lot of public relations techniques as sheer self-promotion. But when I stop to think about it, the work I’m promoting is awesome, right? Shouldn’t I share that awesome with others who want to learn all about the awesome I have on offer? Now substitute words like specialization, expertise, information, your book, your article, your manuscript, etc. for “awesome” and you are in the mindset to promote yourself.

Shy promoters, put that in your pipe and smoke the next time you hesitate to send out that blog post, press release, or query. Of course, be sure you really are promoting your work to people who need to see it. Otherwise, yes, you’re obnoxious.

For more about J. Steve Miller, check out his freelance writing blog or head over to Amazon to browse “Enjoy Your Money! How to Make It, Save It, Invest It, and Give It,” the personal finance book he is currently “unobnoxiously” promoting. And, as always, come back tomorrow for more insider secrets I managed to glean at the Red Clay Writers Conference this weekend.

Let’s pretend I don’t attend graduate school at the university where the conference was held. I went because I wanted to meet other people in my field and network with them. I met two other freelance writers, a book publicist, a poet, an online connection I’d never met in person, and a potential client who ask about my ghostwriting services. Truthfully, meeting the potential client was an added bonus. I really got (relatively) dressed up and spent my lovely Saturday afternoon in doors to network with others in my industry.

While at the conference, I was able to sit in on four really amazing seminars. I was very impressed with all the speakers, and so I thought I would give each one of them props throughout the week.

First up, freelance writer Karen Denovich.

I’ve never seen anyone illustrate the freelance writer’s double life quite like Karen Denovich. I won’t give away her joke, but I will recommend that you attend her next seminar for a laugh. Ah, there’s nothing like freelance writing humor.

Denovich presented a basic overview of the freelance writing life. As an experienced freelancer, I did not learn anything that was totally new and foreign to me, but I did learn about a few things in more depth. For instance, did you know you can comfortably say about 75 words in 90 seconds in a television commercial? On the other hand, I attended this seminar with a friend who is interested in becoming a freelance writer, and she took copious notes and learned a ton of basics. Denovich is definitely your woman if you need a funny and credible overview of the freelancing life.

As Denovich described some of her most interesting projects, I realized that she’s a marketer as much as a freelance writer, and that reinforced something that I’ve noticed lately: the most successful people in our profession do more than just put fingers to keyboard all day. In fact, much of what she said reminded of the latest SpecialtyBuzz interview on this site. Like Denovich, Jennifer Mattern is an experienced copywriter, and both give similar advice.

Denovich’s most important advice to freelancers was to get out of the house and meet as many people as possible. As the president of the Marietta Business Association (for you non-locals, Marietta is one of Atlanta’s largest suburbs), Denovich has found a great way to network and meet all kinds of contacts to further her business. While she didn’t specifically say to go out and run for a Presidency of join a Board of Directors, it sure sounded like the connections had aided her in her business. I’m going to follow her advice and attend a Networking in Atlanta event ASAP because I really, really, really need a few good web designers and graphic designers to call on when my clients need extras.

Come back tomorrow for my review of J. Steve Miller’s seminar on effective yet non-obnoxious ways to publicize your book.

“I need a ride a couple miles down the road, but your husband said I had to ask you,” the stranger said.

A glance at Mr. Escalona gave me no clues as to what he wanted me to do. The lady seemed nice, they had been in what sounded like a friendly conversation in Spanish (considering that most Spanish sounds like yelling to me, this seemed positive), and both were looking at me expectantly, so I said, “Sure.”

If you don't implement POLICIES, she could kill you

After we let the stranger out – she didn’t kill us, as us for money, or come out with any freaky indecent proposals – my husband said, “Why did you do that? She could have killed us!”

“I thought you wanted me to!” I said, wounded.

Oops! Our lack of communication had led us to engage in a dangerous behavior neither of us really wanted to perform.

Boy, you know what would have prevented that situation? If we’d agreed beforehand on a “No Hitchhikers” policy.

Of course, you can’t be ready for everything that comes your way in life. How on earth was I to know that I would need a “No Hitchhikers” policy when navigating South Florida? But luckily, with your business, you have a little more warning when it comes to situations that may arise. And the best way to be prepared for those crazy situations is to have a firm policy in place. That way, if a client asks you “Hey, do you write copy and pick up my laundry?” you are ready to answer with a firm, “Nope, copywriting only.”

Of course, not all situations you’ll run into in your business are as easy as that one. None of us pick up laundry, right? Right? Most situations that warrant a policy are sticky. Here are some examples:

1.) Late Payments – If you do not have a policy in place regarding collecting late payments, a late or non-payment situation can go downhill really fast. Maybe the client is stringing you along, promising a check that’s never truly in the mail. Or perhaps they are arguing with you about the terms of your contract—long after the work was completed and delivered. This is where it’s important to have a plan in place for dealing with late payers, even if you’ve never experienced this particular phenomenon. (Lucky you.) A sample policy might include tacking on a late fee to payments late over 30 days, calling the client bi-weekly for the next two weeks after that, and then taking the client to small claims court if they still do not pay after 60 days. Any time you don’t get paid is a stressful time. Having a policy in place can actually prevent you from going crazy as all those bill deadlines pass and you still don’t see a paycheck in your account.

2.) Setting Fees – You’re talking to a potential client. Discussions are going well. You are both excited about the project and ready to get started. Then the client drops the bombshell that he can only pay half of your going rate. Because you are a savvy freelancer, you have already set your going rate based on what it takes to live, save for rainy days, save for retirement, and maintain the lifestyle to which you are accustomed. If you take this project, no matter how exciting it sounds, you are going to have to short something else in your life. This is where it’s vital to have a firm fee policy. No matter how exciting the project sounds, it’s not as exciting as not having to dine on cat food when you enter your dotage.

3.) Taking On Work – Despite my firm anti-cheating stance, I have been contacted directly at least three times about writing term papers for college students. A No-Helping-Your-Sorry-Ass-Cheat Policy was one of the first policies I implemented in my business, but I can see where other people might fall down that slippery slope of fast, easy money for term papers without thinking through the consequences of their actions. The same goes for other jobs, such as using black hat SEO tactics or writing for someone you consider a merchant of death. If you have a firm policy in place about not taking on certain types of work, it will be easier for you to turn down the devil when he comes calling with piles of cash.

4.) Emergencies – Obviously, nobody plans for an emergency, but you can implement an Emergency Policy for when one does occur. After all, the last thing you want to be wondering while watching your house burn down is “What am I going to do about my clients?” Implement an emergency policy and be ready with a form email, a list of contacts to notify, and perhaps even another freelancer to back you up while you recover.

By no means are these the only freelance writing situations that require a policy, but they are a start. If my husband and simply said to one another “No hitchhikers, honey” then we wouldn’t have had to try and read one another’s minds when it came to the friendly hitchhiker in Florida. And if you cement your policies firmly in your mind, you won’t have to hesitate when someone asks you to forgive his late fee, pick up his laundry, or write a white paper while your house burns down.

Listening to this crowd of what appears to be either crime fighters or well-meaning 16th century burghers will NOT help your business

I’ve managed to freelance full-time for almost two years without anyone butting in on how I run my business, but recently I’ve been faced with a few “helpful” bystanders armed not only with advice, but actual interference. Here’s how it happens:

You talk with someone about your business. You are excited about your growth, your marketing plan, your next project, your whatever, and it shows. That person, we’ll call her Betty Buttinski, gets excited, too. She wants to help!

Then she helps. Boy does she help. She sends your portfolio to random job postings on Craigslist. She makes appointments with contractors. She poses as a collection agent and calls people who owe you money.

Okay, okay, so I was exaggerating (slightly) with all three of those examples, but you get the picture. When you are passionate about something, it’s easy for those who care about you to become passionate about it, as well. That’s why boundaries are so important when it comes to running your business. Don’t let people assume you can go out to lunch because you “work at home,” don’t let people call you and interrupt your work day, and especially don’t let them interfere in the running of your business.

The ones who love you should be cheerleaders, but ultimately, you should be the one making all the big decisions in your business. After all, what if your friend/Mom/1^st grade teacher helps you and it backfires and costs you and your business? The relationship is damaged. Nobody wants that.

While it’s all well and good to take business advice from people who know what they are talking about, beware of the hangers on who simply want to “help.”

You see, I’m asking this question for a hypothetical friend, Yennifer Jescalona. Yennifer is a fiction writer who chooses to keep her freelance writing portfolio on point by only including business writing. On the other hand, she was recently offered a freelance writing job because the client felt that her fiction “stood out.” That, of course, presents Yennifer with a problem:

Do fiction stories have a place in the freelance writer’s portfolio?

Why They Do – Like the client said, they make you stand out. Not only can you write a killer landing page, you have the capacity for creative thought, can tell that story on paper, and have been recognized by your peers for it.

Why They Don’t – In my… Yennifer’s line of work, she’s not going to get asked to write fiction, therefore fiction stories included in a portfolio are distracting and off point. Further, fiction is highly subjective. If you were in Yennifer’s place, a potential client could be thrilled about your work and then put off by the subject matter or tone of your fiction, thus costing you the job.

So Yennifer and I want to know – should the fiction stay in the portfolio and serve as a conversation piece, or stay where it belongs, on the bookshelf? Even if you aren’t a night time fiction writer, I look forward to hearing your opinion.

I am currently plowing my way through Technorati’s State of the Blogosphere 2009 report and thought that many of you fellow bloggers might find this information helpful.

Technorati has been publishing this report since 2004, and this year’s report focuses on a subject that is near and dear to many of our hearts – professional blogging.  For example, did you know that fully 9% of active bloggers are self-employed and blogging to get business? Considering all the blogs out there, this seems like a huge number to me. (The hobbyists – the ones blogging without any particular agenda – still lead the pack by far at 72%).

Only two parts of the five part report are currently out, but a new part is slated to appear every day this week, and all make for excellent morning coffee reading. I’m especially looking forward to the section on monetization which, if I’m not mistaken, will appear on Thursday.

Give it a read!