resourcesforfreelancewriters

Resources for Freelance Writers

Useful sites for earning a living

SOME SUGGESTIONS

Contacts are important. Editors, PR agencies, and others feel better if they can hire somebody who has been recommended to them.
A specialization is helpful. Do you know gardening? Technology? Child rearing? Automobiles? Use what you know.
A good Web site is a great place to show prospective employers your work. Link to all your articles, to your blog (if it's useful), to any other resources.
Your professional Web site should be separate from your personal or SF Web site -- unless you are using your published SF as an asset.
You may have to start by writing for very little -- or for nothing. That's fine in the beginning because you want to gather a portfolio. But at a certain point, you need to start getting paid reasonably -- and never, never pay anyone to publish your work.
Some people have been very successful making money via blogs. Many have not. If you want to try blogging for a living, go to it -- but have a backup plan, just in case.
Don't be modest. If you're a good writer, tell people. If you're a good writer who is an expert in a specific field, let them know. Put it on a business card. Put it on your Web site.
Social networking is a great way to attract a following -- including possible employers. But not if you're talking about your cat's digestive status. Use Twitter, Facebook, etc. but try to separate your business and personal accounts.
Unless you're really good at taxes, contact a good accountant. There are a lot of things you can take off your taxes as professional expenses, and some taxes you're now obliged to pay you may not know about.
Don't burn your bridges. The editor who is a sonovabitch today -- possibly because the publisher is putting the pressure on -- may give you a lead to a better job tomorrow.
At the same time, stand up for your rights. If somebody isn't paying you, and you should have been paid, then insist on getting paid. Several of the organizations listed here can help.

Organizations

Purpose: To promote excellence in medical communication and to provide educational resources in support of that goal. Offers educational programs, conferences, directory of services, certificate programs, job hotline. $145/year.

American Society of Journalists and Authors

ASJA information on the business, on fee rates, special interest groups, etc. Various health insurance plans. To qualify for members, you must have written six full-length, bylined articles, or two or more nonfiction books; non-fiction audio/video scripts and articles for major Web journals count. There is a $75 application fee; membership dues are $195/year.

Authors Guild

A guild for working writers, nonfiction & fiction. Members receive free book contract reviews, discounted health insurance rates in some states, low-cost Web site services and a quarterly print bulletin. To qualify for membership, you must have a book published by a recognized American publisher, or have published three works, fiction or non-fiction, by a periodical of general circulation within the last eighteen months. First year dues are $90; sliding scale thereafter.

Editorial Freelancers Association

Organization for editors, writers, indexers, proofreaders, researchers, desktop publishers, translators, and others who offer a broad range of skills and specialties. Offers job listings, client outreach, networking, health insurance, legal and accounting services. Should be full- or part-time freelancer. Members in NYC metro area: $125. Outside NYC area: $105.

Freelancers Union

Advocacy organization for freelance workers, mostly in the New York City area, but expanding. Offers health insurance, job search, promotional assistance, networking events, retail discounts. Free membership.

FreelanceSwitch

An online community of freelancers that includes a job board, a blog about freelancing, forums, a job board and directory, and a variety of resources.

mediabistro.com

Web site for anyone who creates or works with content. Some resources are available free on the site; premium services available by joining AvantGuild. Annual fee $55. Includes "How to Pitch" articles, health insurance, financial planning services, articles on pitching an agent, database of mastheads, other services.

National Association of Science Writers

NASW fights for the free flow of science news. Member resources include job bank, e-mail aliases, Web site hosting, workshops, mentoring, health insurance. Applicants should submit five articles and the names of two sponsoring members. Dues assessed on a yearly basis.

National Writers Union

NWU calls itself "the trade union for freelance and contract writers: journalists, book authors, business and technical writers, web content providers, and poets." Offers a job hotline, contract assistance, some health insurance benefits. To qualify for members, you should have published a book, a play, three articles, five poems, a short story, or an equal amount of other copy (including unpublished). Annual dues based on your annual writing income; minimum $120.

National Book Critics Circle

A non-profit organization consisting of about 850 active book reviewers who are interested in honoring quality writing and communicating with one another about common concerns. Annual membership meeting, newsletter, tips and guidelines. $40/year for freelance critics, $75 for members with staff positions at institutions that support their membership.

New England Science Writers

Regional organization sponsored by NASW. Offers local info, networking. $20/year.

Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America

SFWA offers a variety of resources and services for professional science fiction/fantasy writers, including model contracts, forums, and the Nebula awards. Dues are $80/year for active writers and $70 for associate writers (who haven't yet qualified for active membership). SFWA also sponsors the extremely useful Writer Beware site, which offers warning and advise about literary fraud, scams, and other nefarious schemes.

Society of Professional Communicators\

Builds community among marketing and public relations professionals, writers and editors, visual artists, and broadcast, print and electronic media specialists. Based on Worcester, MA, and offers meetings, occasional workshops, and community service-related projects. Individual membership: $60.

Possible Venues

About.com

Made up of "Guide Sites" -- small sites which are run by Guides, who are offered a stipend of $725/month (assuming there is some page view growth) and earn additional fees for year-over-year page-view growth. Applicants are asked to create a sample site, for which they are only paid if they get the assignment (however, they retain ownership of the material).

ConsumerSearch

Publishes reports on various consumer products. Pay about $350 or more per report. Applicants are asked to create a "sample report" which will take 12 or more hours.

Other Resources

How Top Bloggers Earn Money

A look at how some of the most popular blogs make their money.

Web Worker Daily

Web sites, software, gadgets, other resources for those of us who make our livings working with the Internet.

PayPal

Make and accept payments on the Web without muss and fuss. A variety of transaction types. Most basic fees: 1.9%-2.9% plus 30 cents per transaction.

Google AdSense

Put ads on your site and make money when people click on them. How much you get paid is through some arcane calculations known only to Google.

The social networking site for resumes and working contacts. Free, unless you want to "upgrade" starting at $20/month.

Wooden Horse Magazines news and resources

Media directory of over 2,000 print magazines. Includes contacts, stats, writers' guidelines. Variety of subscription prices, from $1.99 for 24 hours to $149 for 1 year.

Meetup

Provides a way for people to meet to discuss a very wide variety of topics, including science fiction writing and freelancing.