by Jake Poinier
It’s Dr. Freelance’s distinct pleasure to play today’s host for Jennifer Mattern’s March Virtual Blog Tour. Here’s her take:
One of the most common questions I receive from new freelance writers is “Where can I find the high paying freelance writing jobs you always talk about?” What they don’t understand at first is that the problem they face is right in their question. They’re looking for the “where,” when there is none. [Read more…]
by Jake Poinier
Today’s guest blogger is Bruce Farr, a writer in my freelance stable during my staff editing days, a client during his corporate days, and a wise friend for the duration. (He’s a holdout on blogging, but here’s a quick article about his background, which includes writing and recording commentaries for NPR’s All Things Considered.) Here’s his response to a question the Doc received about freelancing in the sticks. [Read more…]
by Jake Poinier
I recently asked P.S. Jones — freelance writer, owner of P.S. Jones Copy and Design, and the exuberant yet quite sane blogger at Diary of a Mad Freelancer — about the most common question she receives from new freelancers. Today’s guest post is her response.
The most common question I get from new freelancers is how will they know they’re good enough. “Good enough for what?” I usually say. If you’re asking are you good enough to be a writer, you’re asking something that every thoughtful writer asks regularly. We’re a sensitive group, and we spend a lot of time lavishing love on our work because it feels like we gave birth to it. [Read more…]
by Jake Poinier
Dr. Freelance: I have been working with a private partner/funder on a writing and research project for the past year in which I accepted a low rate in exchange for the lion’s share of credit and 50% of royalties. He has now referred me to a friend of his, and I’m realizing I should probably charge about 60% more. (That’s how deeply I discounted myself.) With that said, what’s your thought on raising rates that much for a friend of a current client? It’s not a project that I’m especially passionate about, nor do I expect there to even be a book, so I hesitate to use royalties as part of my negotiation. More generally, is $40 a reasonable rate for someone who is relatively new to the game? — Ready4Raise [Read more…]
by Jake Poinier
Today’s guest blogger on the topic of warm calls is Martha Retallick of Western Sky Communications. Thanks, Martha!
“Cold calling” is a sales technique that strikes fear in the hearts of many freelancers. After all, who wants to listen to strangers saying “no” all day long? [Read more…]
by Jake Poinier
On to the always-popular (and sometimes contentious) topic of pricing and estimating for freelancers. More specifically today, I want to address the psychological benefits of high estimates via a lesson I learned over the holidays. [Read more…]