Jul
Freelance 101: How to Make Some Money Doing What You Love
Isn’t that what we all want? Working at something we love? I can’t show you how to make millions. But I know there are some writers out there who are interested in learning how to make money while writing. It really is possible to get paid every week for writing. I am going to share with you some places I’ve gotten paid, and some ways that other writers get paid, and hopefully, these will help you to reach some of your goals.
My two regular sources of writing income are from my region’s newspaper, The News-Gazette, and a website company, Demand Studios. I am a news correspondent, which is a fancy word for stringer, for the newspaper. On a regular basis, I cover school, village, and library board meetings. These articles are written in one night after I attend the meeting. I have developed a good relationship with my editor (which you will hear many writers say is extremely important), and now she gives me feature articles or column pieces to write also. I became a stringer after answering an ad in the paper that said if you live outside of Champaign-Urbana, and you like writing, give the editor a call or email. I have also heard of writers calling a newspaper editor and asking if stringers are needed.
Demand Studios (www.demandstudios.com) is a company who owns several websites. I write for www.ehow.com through them. If you just write for eHow, without going through Demand Studios, you do not make as much money or on a regular basis. Demand Studios is looking for writers, and you can apply on their website. They put you through a trial period, and an editor checks all my articles before posting them. They do pay through Paypal, which if you don’t have a Paypal account, I recommend getting one.
If you are a teacher or were a teacher or even love writing for kids, another place to get paid for your writing is through educational companies. I have written for Reading A-Z and a standardized testing company. With both of these places, I sent in a resume, cover letter, and writing samples. I waited and waited, and eventually an editor emailed me and asked me to write something. I have only written for Reading A-Z one time, but for the standardized testing company, I write for them a few times a year. I do email editors if I haven’t heard from them in a while and mention I enjoyed writing for them, and I am available for any assignment when it comes up.
Like many writers, I also write for magazines—on-line and print. Two magazines that I write for on a regular basis are WOW! Women On Writing (www.wow-womenonwriting.com) and Teachers of Vision. With both of these, I queried them first, and then I established a relationship with the editors. Now, I still query them, or they will email me if they have a need. I wish I could also write for some bigger national magazines, but I am still working on that. Like all writing, breaking into some of the larger glossy mags takes persistence and time, a really great connection or source, or an incredible idea. If you have written for a big mag, please let us know about your query and article in the comment section of this blog post, so we can all learn from you!
I also started my own editing business, Editor 911. I decided one day to do this, put information about it on my website, made some flyers and hung them up, and waited for people to contact me. I have to say I almost jumped up and down when someone actually called me and asked for Editor 911. That was two years ago. Since then, I have had a regular stream of clients, and some people have asked me to do more than one editing job for them. Some people pay me through Paypal, and some prefer checks. I prefer Paypal—it really is great if you don’t use it yet. I know some writers sponsor their own writing contests, teach on-line writing courses or lead writing workshops, have become writing coaches, and design or write resumes or websites. There are a lot of choices to make some extra money for the creative writer!
I also check the job boards, although this is something I just started doing, but it is how I found out about Demand Studios. The thing about the job boards is you have to be fast. If you see a job opening that interests you, then you have to apply for it IMMEDIATELY. Chances are, a hundred other writers have seen the same opening and have applied immediately.
Here are some websites for job boards:
- www.craigslist.org
- www.freelancewritinggigs.com
- www.online-writing-jobs.com
- www.freelancewriting.com/freelance-writing-jobs.php,
- allfreelancewriting.com
I also subscribe to a couple newsletters where I get jobs and markets delivered to my inbox. You can find these at
- www.fundsforwriters.com
- www.wow-womenonwriting.com . (Their monthly Premium Green e-book is a great resource, and you also belong to a listerv with a subscription.)
I hope you find something in this blog useful. I also hope you will make sure to get PAID for your writing. There are so many places that pay—don’t give away your writing for free unless it is a good career move (like an important literary magazine.) Yes, I do still work on my creative writing, and I do work as a substitute teacher, so I am busy. But it is fun to write and get paid, and I am hoping some day, I can sub even less and write even more!
Thanks for having me on the blog this week, Scribes Tribe!
Happy Writing!
Margo
www.margodill.com
Thanks for all of the useful tips! It just goes to show how many ways freelancers can make money. Looking forward to your next installment!
July 14th, 2008 at 3:39 pmHey Margo! We’re so glad you’re here. Thanks for the heaps and heaps of fabulous information and links in this post. It makes me realize all the opportunities I’ve been missing. I need to get to work! You are an inspiration. Have a great day.
Candace
July 14th, 2008 at 4:20 pmMargo, you never cease to amaze me with how organized you are and how much you accomplish towards your writing goals. So my question is, how do you organize your day and/or time to get so much done? Do you ever get bogged down with perfectionism? And for those of us who sometimes procrastinate, do you have any advice?
July 14th, 2008 at 4:37 pmThis page was loaded with new things for me, and I will share with a Montana sister-in-law who is writing as well. There is so much to know and do with writing that it is amazing that people manage to do it and hold full time jobs!
Since you have asked for questions, I have one that may seem lame. I have been submitting for several years and usually get my rejections rather quickly.
Have you noticed editors slowing down in with repsonse times lately?
I usually submit heavily in winter months. This year I worked in various markets, sent SASEs, and followed guidelines that said they would respond in 3 months. It has been 4-7 months with no response, not even rejections with the exception of one fast email. That editor wants to consider the story and let me know he is reading. One market was Romance/Confession and they are seeming exceptionally slow. Changes there?
I guess I actually have a second question because one of the pieces I submitted was seasonal. So any response now will make it too late for trying again in timely fashion. Any advice on dealing with seasonal markets. I thought six months lead time was enough; at this rate, it will take me years to accumulate my rejections.
Have the markets change in this matter?
Thanks for advice. claudia
July 14th, 2008 at 4:38 pmMargo, I always enjoy your articles in WOW!Women on Writing! And can vouch for the way a listserv (Like Premium Green)of like-minded freelancers can jumpstart your motivation!
I’m also a former teacher/sub but I hadn’t considered writing in the educational field yet. I’m going to check that out…well, right now! Thanks!
July 14th, 2008 at 4:55 pmMargo, I always enjoy your articles at WOW!Women on Writing. And I can vouch for joining a listserv like Premium Green as a way to jumpstart your freelance motivation/career!
Thanks for the tips. I’m gonna check those educational markets right now!
July 14th, 2008 at 5:06 pm[...] L. Dill is the guest blogger at Scribes’ Tribe Scribblings and she shares how she gets paid every week for writing with links and suggestions for developing [...]
July 14th, 2008 at 5:28 pmFrom Margo (I’m also luvboxers
To answer Amy’s question, how do I organize my day? Well, I have a great, pink desk calendar, and I work 7 days a week, even if it is just a couple hours each day. If I am subbing, I get up before I go to school and do any deadline work I have. With deadline work, I always highlight this on my calendar with a pink highlighter. I also work in the evening. If my stepson is here, I usually spend time with him after dinner, and then during his wind down time before bed, he can watch TV, so I write then. My husband is also very helpful, and we both do housework, etc. I guess I am just very goal-oriented and when I have a task to do, I can get it done (usually.) I also drink a lot of coffee.
So, the short answer is: I schedule my writing time each day, 7 days a week, just like I schedule lunch dates or doctor’s appointments. I write during my lunch hour when I sub, and I have an understanding family. I do not get bogged down with perfectionism with my nonfiction work. That is more a problem that I have with my fiction work–like my YA novel or picture book manuscripts that I need to work more on and send out! As for procrastination, I don’t have that problem so much, but if it is a project I am avoiding, I make myself start it, even if it is just for five or ten minutes. Then when I open the file to start that project again, it is already started, and I am not staring at a blank screen. I hope this helps! Margo 
July 14th, 2008 at 8:00 pmFrom Margo:
Claudia, Thanks so much for your question. I do not know too much about editors’ reasons for slow responses, so I don’t know if I can be that helpful. I do know, from going to conferences and belonging to on-line communities, that editors do get a ton of submissions because it easier to write and send things in the computer age. No longer are writers typing on their manual typewriters. A lot of submissions they receive are no good and don’t even fit the guidelines, but they are still taking up editors’ time. So, I would say, yes, in general, I think most editors are getting slower, and response times are getting longer. Some children’s publishing houses don’t even respond unless they are interested in the project. If you haven’t heard from them in a certain number of months, then you can assume that they are not interested in your manuscript. If it is a few months past the response time they gave you, you can drop the editor a note to ask if your manuscript is still under consideration. As for seasonal, I just send it whenever. If they like it, they’ll hold onto it until the next holiday it fits. That’s my experience anyway.
Thanks again for your question!
July 14th, 2008 at 8:05 pmMargo
You have been incredibly generous! I really appreciate all of the leads you have given me here. I have signed up for Demand Studios (crossed fingers). I am a regular reader of WOW, so I am going to keep in mind writing for them some day.
July 15th, 2008 at 3:03 amThank you so much for sharing all of this information.
Margo,
Great tips. Thanks for sharing. Like Candace, I realize how many opportunities I’ve been missing. I sometimes get so hung up on web-surfing for writing related stuff that I let my writing slip. Ummmm, bad girl. Now back to work. Thanks again.
July 15th, 2008 at 9:15 pmThanks very much for sharing Margo. It is always nice to learn something about the real world side of publishing. An area we can easily overlook when working in our cocoons. However, just as important as the plot to the story.
Thanks.
July 25th, 2008 at 7:53 pm[...] – bookmarked by 6 members originally found by tips on 2008-11-01 Freelance 101: How to Make Some Money Doing What You Love [...]
December 11th, 2008 at 12:00 am