One door closes so that another can open.

Well, my impending lay-off finally happened.  Although you might expect that I’d be crying in my beer about it, I’m not.  I’m actually very happy…elated really.  Sure, financially, it would be better to be fully employed, and the timing isn’t so great (is there ever a good time to get laid off?) but emotionally and career wise, this couldn’t have happened to a better person.  Granted, I loved a lot of things about my job, but I actually love much more what my job did not afford me the opportunity to do.  And now, I finally get the chance to give some of those things a fair shot and spend my time on the things that I really want to focus on. ~ from Brett’s Blog

If that quote didn’t spill the beans, I’ll be less subtle. I got laid off.

But like Brett, I don’t see this as a negative. I saw it coming (many miles away). Granted, it came a bit earlier than expected. Still, I truly believe that all things happen for a reason.

When my boss pulled me into his office and used those familiar danger zone phrases – not enough work, budget cuts, slow downs – I watched him with a certain level of curiousity. He appeared nervous…regretful, almost. There was sweat breaking across his brow line. His composure faltered, if only a little. He even apologized to me. When I took the news with nothing more than a smile and told him I understood, his confusion became apparent. I’m not sure what he expected. I certainly wasn’t planning on balling my eyes out and marking his final memory of me as some mucous-drenched, sniveling wreck. I was going to go out like an Amazon!

I got a call from my sister after she found out, her voice swampy and warm, like she was completely in touch with a sadness I didn’t feel. And many of my friends who immediately heard the news after I walked out of that office were floored and concerned for my well-being. Touched as I was by their sympathy, I don’t think they understood my elation.

I suppose I’m so calm because I accept this as a new chapter in my life, and a much-needed one at that. I’m no longer afraid to face my career-related fears head-on. Instead, I’m ready for the jump. I’m eager to see what I’m made of. I’m prepared to stop making excuses and go after what I want, rather than allow myself to get comfortable at a dead-end job I abhor. This past year I’ve been in a slump, and only now do I feel like I’m breaking free.

In all honesty, this is the best thing that could’ve happened to me.

I find it especially interesting that this incident came about after I had an eye-opening exchange with freelance journalist Mridu Khullar. This is how it went…

Me:  For the past year since I graduated, I’ve been bored to tears in an office cubicle that makes me want to poke my eyeballs out with a Sharpie. I seriously can’t stand it, my skills aren’t being utilized, and I don’t feel stimulated in the least. I think perhaps my brain cells are dying. You’re pretty much living the life I’d love to have. I really want to pursue a full-time career in freelance writing.

Her:  It’s a tough business, there’s no doubt about that. But really, it’s not as tough as some people make it out to be. There are hundreds, thousands, of people all over the world who are freelancing very successfully and getting work regularly. They’re not all the best writers, but they’re certainly professional businesspeople who treat their work as such. You can absolutely be one of them.

Freelance writer Stephanie Miller also gave me an invaluable tidbit of advice when she said: If it’s one piece of advice I can offer you now: JUST DO IT! You’ve already done a lot of preparation and, besides, you’ll learn along the way. Actually, you never stop learning! Once you SAY you’re a ‘professional writer’, you ARE. You simply have to get comfortable with the idea that you now charge for your expertise. At this point, it’s all about gaining confidence.

Here’s to new opportunities and taking life by the balls.

Why a website should be part of every freelance writer’s arsenal.

Having a website was absolutely essential to building my business. I now also have a blog, and they both bring in enough work to more than pay for their own overhead costs. My website and my involvement with American Independent Writers were the two biggest external contributors to my freelance success. Busting my butt nonstop to go after work was essential, but I don’t think it would have been nearly as effective without those two elements. ~ Kristen King

In the twenty-first century, professional freelancers are expected to have websites. If you don’t, potential customers are probably going to avoid you like the troll under the bridge. It’s as simple as that.

Carving out your own personal bubble on the worldwide web has many advantages, not just drumming up clients:

1. It serves as a ‘home-base’ for building your brand – Does anyone even know you exist? Especially if you’re new to the freelancing business, exposure is going to be important to you. Your website does just that. It increases your visibility and helps people find you when they’re searching for writers via the Internet. Furthermore, its design and your about/bio page (which should be included on your website) will speak volumes about your character. You’re no longer just a name, you’re a personality and a face. This helps potential clients tap into the ‘real person’ behind the services you’re offering, and is important for developing relationships and fostering trust.
2. Let your writing speak for itself – With a website, you can demonstrate you’ve got talent by keeping an online portfolio with samples and published clips. And don’t forget, since your site is accessible around the clock, your promotions might land you a client while you’re sleeping. How’s that for easy marketing?
3. Easy schmoozing and bye-bye bidding – You can spend a lot of time scouring the job boards for crap-tastic writing gigs that pay $10/hour or less. Instead, start advertising your website. It doesn’t take long to send the link out to all your friends, family and professional contacts. By cultivating relationships through referrals and word-of-mouth, you’re not wasting your precious time on dead-end projects that are just going to make you rip your hair out and start treating your dog Fluffy like your personal therapist.
4. Everything is in one place, which saves you time and gives you peace of mind - When querying a potential client/publication/editor and you’re expected to provide samples of your work, wouldn’t it be nice if you didn’t have to copy and paste your clips into your email, provide numerous links or worry about attachments? With a website, all you have to do is provide one link. All your clips are in one place and the person you’re contacting has the opportunity to learn more about you or look at several of your published samples if they so please. Talk about quick, easy and efficient.
5. Validation, baby – Having a website will make you feel like a bonafide writer, totally legit. It gives you a vision of your professional accomplishments and goals.
6. Everyone loses business cards – Here’s a likely dilemma. At a networking event you meet a potential client. You give them your business card. A couple months later, they have some work for you, but oh no…your business card got lost in the kafuffle. How will they know how to contact you? If you have a website and its had a chance to climb the search engine rankings, they can just type your name into a search engine and find your personal website (where hopefully you’ve included all your up-to-date contact info). Voila! Having a website helps people find you.
7. Proof you’re an expert – Your website is the perfect space to prove your knowledge and highlight your niche(s). If you say you’re a technology writer, you can demonstrate it with your list of relevant articles, making yourself more credible.

So pay the itty-bitty monthly hosting fees and get yourself a website. Keep it up-to-date, banish all spelling and grammatical errors so your web content alone proves your skills, and let your personality and creativity shine. You can’t afford not to.

Develop a business plan, already.

Our plans miscarry because they have no aim.  When a man does not know what harbor he is making for, no wind is the right wind. ~ Seneca

Every morning when I crawl out of bed with drool tracks smeared across my cheeks and my hair looking something akin to a sparrow’s nest, there’s only one thing I can imagine being worse than the annoying honk of my alarm clock at 5am. That’s trying to summon the motivation to go into the basement and pop in my kickboxing workout video. On comes some 4-foot-nothing blonde ball of energy, bouncing across my TV screen like those kangaroos on the Discovery Channel. She tells me we’re going to have “a great time sweating”.  I stare at her from the other side of the room, wearing Betty Boop pajamas and a scowl, thinking…I wonder how many Snickers bars it would take for me to get like that.

Still, there’s one thing she says to me every morning that resonates. She tells me you have to write down your goals if you ever hope to achieve them. She tells me I need a plan. And she’s right. When it comes to being a freelance writer, developing a business plan is essential. As someone who prefers the spontaneous side of things, I know many of you are probably thinking you’d rather be forced to listen to the “Ice Ice Baby” song for 5 hours straight (or, er, maybe that’s just me). But writing down your goals doesn’t have to be a daunting or torturous task.

It’s easy, really. I advise you to make a 1-year roadmap detailing your freelance goals (especially important if you’re a newbie, such as myself). Make a list of major goals you have, such as landing your dream client, putting more bacon on the table, or maybe even breaking into a new niche. Give each of these a start date and deadline so you have the end in sight. Next, figure out the sub-steps or mini-goals you’ll have to take to achieve your bigger goals. Write these as bullet points underneath your main goals. Whatever you do, make sure your goals are realistic. In other words, if it’s your first year of freelancing, no duh you aren’t going to win the Nobel Peace Prize for your first published work. Don’t make yourself feel like you’ve already failed by picking impossible goals to attain within the timeframe you’re considering.

You can write your business plan on paper and tack it to your wall or frame it over your office desk. You can record it on your blog. Whatever works for you. Personally, I prefer to keep mine in visible sight somewhere I’ll see it everyday, so I’m constantly reminded of what direction I’m headed in and how I plan to get there. I even like to give them creative names. My business plan for this year is entitled: How NOT to become Johnny from The Shining anytime soon.

Business plans are so valuable to freelancers because:

1. They keep you motivated and on track.
2. They give you a way to assess your current progress and evaluate whether or not you’ve put in the necessary effort at the end of the year so you’re always moving ahead and advancing in your career.
3. They remind you of the reasons you blew off that 9-5 gig after all, just to sit in front of your computer for hours on end in cartoon pajamas and bird-nest hair, scooping mac&cheese into your open piehole.

The not-so-safe 9-5 office job.

There’s about a 95% chance I’ll be losing my steady office job at the end of August.

Don’t worry, I’ve already taken many deep breaths and clamped down on the muttered curses.

This isn’t an elephant-sized surprise.  I was hired on a 1-year contract with the potential for continuing employment.  And although my bosses have said they’d like to keep me on, budget costs are being cut and the company I work for can only afford to upkeep the tech guys.  The general research staff (aka…me) are being considered disposable unless things change between now and then.  They won’t really have the work available to keep me busy nor the money necessary to feed my wallet.

When I was presented with this tidbit of information, I didn’t freak.  Surprise!  Actually…I kind of breathed a sigh of relief.  Okay, well first I laughed about my assumption that my 9-5 grind was such a safe and secure bet.  And that there was no way I was disposable with such a solid education beneath my belt.  Shows me.

I’ll tell you why this wasn’t such a bad revealing though.

1. I hate the job anyways. I’m getting paid laugh-worthy wages to do stuff I didn’t sign up for.  Most of the time, I have nothing to do.  So I spend my time staring at a blank computer screen.  I even contemplate stabbing my eyeballs out with two straws and blowing them like spitballs at office mates on occasion.  Yes, it really is that boring.  This job fulfills me about as much as that week I tried a coffee diet.  Think I’m joking?  I actually filled out an application to be an elephant groom at African Lion Safari just to escape its clutches.
2. I have a back-up plan. My previous employer (whom I absolutely adore) has reminded me on more than one occasion that her door is always open.  Sure, it’s still in the research field, not completely in the direction I’d like to be heading.  But it’s something.  Whether I can get part-time or full-time work with her, at least I’m promised some sense of security with a paycheck for the time being.
3. I have an excuse to aggressively pursue my true dreams and career aspirations. I can finally devote more of my focus and time to getting my freelance business off the ground.  When I gave the news to my dad about my potential job loss, even he said: “It’s probably the best thing that could happen to you.”  And he’s right.  Because I’m not happy where I am or with what I’m doing.  I’m not stimulated, I have no sense of self-progression, and all I’ve gotten out of the deal is a wallop of frustration.

Ed Gandia’s post at The Wealthy Freelancer made a great evaluation of the current economic climate and increasing lay-offs when he said:

That’s why I’m confident that a large percentage of these “funemployed” will come back (when their severance and savings run out!) as freelancers and solo professionals – not as corporate execs. They want the high pay, but they’re not willing to compromise too much to get it. Which means that in many cases they’ll have to settle for less until they build their solo careers.

But I think most of them will be OK with that. The freedom to design the life they want and live by their own rules will be the biggest reward. And it won’t be long before many of them are earning more (and doing more of what they want) than they did in their corporate jobs.

So for the rest of you facing a similar situation, here’s to working twice as hard for twice the rewards!  We’re all going to be just fine.

Like Nike said…just do it.

To think too long about doing a thing often becomes its undoing. ~ Eva Young

I came across a thought-provoking post today on Freelance Switch entitled “Just Get Going”.  To be quite frank, I sat up in my chair faster than my closest girlfriend takes to decide that a $300 pair of heels from Aldo is a perfectly rational purchase.  I became suddenly and uncomfortably aware that  I had fallen prey to the mind-boggling form of procrastination Martha calls “I must get all my ducks in a row before I start promoting my business”.  Bummer.  Why did it take such a kick in the butt for me to recognize the  unnecessary limitations I’ve been putting on my potential success?

Actually, I guess it wasn’t that big of a surprise.  This has always been one of my biggest pitfalls.  For whatever reason, I imagine that it’s possible to be absolutely prepared before making a decision or taking action.  I’ll spend more time than needed on a particular project because I’m confident that some level of quality perfection can be attained.  It’s kind of like a syndrome, now that I think of it.  And it really does prevent me from making progress or jumping on opportunities that I might otherwise have snagged.

I was startled by how little marketing I’ve been doing lately when that’s really where my focus should be since I’m just starting my writing career.  I mean…no matter how many tweaks I make to my business website, it’ll never be perfect enough for my tastes.  Despite how much I research and read up on the business of freelancing, experience will always be my best teacher.  And that fear of letting go of a writing project until I’ve revised it a bazillion times is only sucking up the time I could be using to build my business and scope out additional assignments or clients.  That’s what I should be doing.

I think I’ll take Martha’s advice and just get going – or as the Nike proverb puts it -  just do it!  Who cares if my ducks aren’t all in a row?  They probably never will be.  Time to get off the procrastinator bench and be a doer.  I’ve got to market fiercely and concentrate on sniffing my way to new assignments and clients rather than dwelling in the slush pile.  I recommend you other creative perfectionists to do the same.  Eventually your rise to action will pay off.

And remember…reward yourself.  You deserve it.

Back Again!

Hello everyone!  This is just a quick shout-out to let you know this blog is going to be experiencing a rebirth.  To make a long story short, with the current economy, the Ireland plans fell through.

Look for a new post coming soon!

Blogging Hiatus.

This is just a quick post to inform everyone that I will be taking a bit of a blogging hiatus.  The winds of change have come upon me quickly and unexpectedly.  Since I may be going overseas to study Journalism for a year in Ireland in September, I have a lot of eggs to get in order, and not much time to do it in!  However, I am planning on starting a new blog detailing the process of applications, funding, and hopefully (provided I get accepted) the adventures I have out there.  When that project gets started, I will definitely post a link through for everyone.

Thanks for all your support and happy holiday season!

Talk soon.

The Balancing Act of Freelancing with a Full-Time Job.

Kites rise highest against the wind – not with it. ~ Sir Winston Churchhill

Balancing freelancing writing with a full-time job is tough and challenging.  I won’t lie or sugarcoat the facts. I’ve been doing it for a few months now, and there are some days where I just squeeze my eyes shut and clench my fists, trying to summon the motivation from deep within.  Hoping there’s still some left in my reserves.

I’ve been keeping my 9-5 job in an effort to get my feet wet in the freelance writing industry before I take the nosedive in.  I’m not too prideful to say that the steady paycheck keeps me comfortable either.  It allows me to avoid moments of panic when I’ve got bills piling up on the desk or one of my pets suddenly decides to get sick and stare at me with bulgy, discomfiting eyes until they are magically cured by a $500 vet’s solution.

Eventually, I will go full-time.  But I don’t feel ready quite yet.  So until then, I will continue to juggle both jobs, catching the falling balls with whatever I may – hands, mouth, feet.

Dealing with the stress of a lot of deadlines the past couple weeks between both my regular job and my freelance writing gigs, I decided to channel my stress into a blog post that might help others in a similar situation cope with a demanding schedule.  I’d also love to hear advice or helpful suggestions from others, so feel free to add to my list.

1. Create a schedule and stick to it. With two jobs, good time management is obviously in your best interest.  Some people like to keep a daytime calendar, others prefer to use Internet-based tools such as Google Calendar, some prefer daily to-do lists, while others may use a combination of these.  Do whatever works for you, just do it.  By setting goals and keeping to a set schedule, you will find it easier to keep your responsibilities and deadlines for both jobs organized.
2. Take care of your health. Being dedicated to two jobs can be very time-consuming and really take its toll on your mental and physical health.  Do not work around the clock.  Make sure you schedule in free time for yourself, family and friends every day.  Try to keep the work you do on weekends to a bare minimum.  Get at least 7 hours of sleep a night.  And exercise!  It’s important to keep your body healthy and active in order to nourish your mind and keep the creative juices flowing.   You will not produce your best quality work otherwise.
3. Get help from others. Not everyone has this luxury, but if you do have a willing and supportive spouse or partner, family or friends, get help where you can.  This may include assistance with the accounting and paperwork aspect of your freelancing so you can better devote yourself to writing itself.  It may also include a partner or kids taking up a little more responsibility with household chores or duties to give you more time to juggle both careers.  Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it from loved ones, as long as it’s a reasonable request.
4. Don’t take on too many side gigs. If you are keeping a schedule and are effective with your time management, you should have an understanding of how much time you can really devote to your part-time freelance interests without interfering with your day job or ‘you time’ (and yes, you better schedule this in).  Do not take on more than you can feasibly handle.  Sure, you may be excited by the writing gigs that are made available to you and want to take them all on until you’re buried in a heap of work that has no end.  Remember, other opportunities will come.  You do not have to take every writing job that you are qualified for.  Be selective and only commit yourself to what you can handle.
5. Take mini-vacations. If you don’t take a break away from both jobs time and again, you will suffer burnout.  Remember to take a mini-vacation every once in a while to de-stress and enjoy time away from the pressures and demands of having two jobs.  After all, you deserve it!

Make Editors and Clients Want More.

Tis now the very witching time of night, when churchyards yawn and hell itself breathes out contagion to this world. ~ William Shakespeare

Happy Halloween to everyone! Halloween is definitely one of my favourite times of the year.  I remember as a child lugging a pillowcase over my back, grunting and swaying like some hunchback, determined to accumulate enough sweets to give myself a sugar-high for weeks to come.  I wish you all many tricks and treats.

Today I wanted to write a small post about what I have learned to date in establishing strong relationships with editors and keeping them coming back for more.  Feel free to comment and add to the list!

1. Go the extra mile. Editors and clients appreciate writers who make their work easier.  This means you may have to extend yourself a bit.  Try your best to always get enough information about the writing project up front so you aren’t constantly harassing them for more details.  Understand the requirements ahead of time so there’s less editing and revision in the long run.  Make sure your piece is polished when submitted so your editor doesn’t have to almost entirely re-write your words.  Sloppiness will get you nowhere.  Try to work as independently as possible so your editor or client doesn’t feel like they have to make extra time to give you guidance and support.  If a photograph is required for a project and you’ve got the basic skills to do this yourself, why not take the initiative and provide a photograph yourself so an extra person doesn’t have to be hired to do the job?  Not only do you earn their appreciation for cutting down on their workload, but you can make some extra cash for handling both elements of the project.
2. Be open to suggestions. If you’re writing for a living, part-time or full-time, then obviously you’re talented.  Sure, sometimes a client or editor makes a suggestion for revision that makes you gnash your teeth together and contemplate sticking your eyeballs with two straws and firing them like spitballs.  You’re the professional writer, after all.  You know best, right?  Maybe.  Whether or not a project is better the way you imagine it, if the hand that feeds you has something else in mind, take their needs and wants into consideration.  This is priority.  If you really fear that it will negatively impact the finished product, discuss this openly with them, state your reasons, and try to seek middle ground.  But never, never, never downplay their input.
3. Don’t be lazy – respect deadlines. Unless you’ve been incapacitated by some finger-eating flesh disease or zombies have invaded your city, always make sure you get a project in by its deadline.  In fact, getting it in a day or two in advance will make editors kiss the ground you walk on and clients come back with more projects in the future.  Life happens and occasionally you may have to request an extension, but only do this under dire circumstances and do it well in advance so editors or clients have time to rearrange their own schedules if necessary.  If missing deadlines becomes a regular occurrence, you may soon find that nobody wants to hire you and you have a reputation that limits your opportunities.
4. Always be professional. Don’t treat editors or clients like best friends by being overly casual.  You are running a business and should therefore conduct yourself accordingly.  However, this doesn’t mean you can’t meet for coffee on occasion or send greeting cards on special holidays.  You want to be friendly and approachable, but you also want to be taken seriously after all.
5. Suck up…but just a little. Overt ass-kissing is never pretty.  You don’t want to come across as pitiful and desperate.  But you still want to show gratitude and appreciation for the business your editors and clients provide you.  A compliment here and there always helps.  Keeping the lines of communication flowing even when no current projects are taking place is important too.  If you show interest in your editors and clients, they will return it, and this increases the likelihood of landing gigs.    

Nose-Diving into Economic Turmoil.

We are made to persist. That’s how we find out who we are. ~ Tobias Wolff

The economic recession. One could argue it’s the hottest topic on freelance blogs these days. Some are muttering low-toned warnings of hardships to come. Others are screaming – ready to abandon the freelance business like a bad date – unable to muster the courage to search for positive possibilities. And here I am, embracing it as I teeter on the tip of the diving board, ready to fall into a sea of uncertainty.  I could sink or swim.  How can I even consider pursuing this career in its beginning stages when our financial grounding is so unreliable? I’ll tell you.

Men with Pens wrote this fabulous post about recessions being a good time to start up a business, and I agree with them.  So hold onto your quizzical stares and gaping mouths for just a moment.

I bet your current corporate job isn’t ’secure’ either. Not only is the freelance business ‘iffy’ as far as financial security, but that steady office job you may rely on isn’t either.  In fact, you’re always at risk when your ability to work and make a decent income is dependent on someone else.  The economy has just served to worsen the situation due to increased lay-offs and more companies deciding to outsource rather than pay full-time employees that require extra compensation.  And in the freelance business, you can’t get laid off.  The only one in charge of your success is number one…you.

Freelancers generally have multiple streams and sources of income, not just one. If you work for a company that is going under, they’re all you have.  They sink, you sink.  However, most freelancers have multiple sources and streams of income…if one deteriorates, so what?  You will have other clients to rely on and in the meantime you can start marketing for new clients.

It’s cheaper for companies to hire freelancers than employees. In-house staff will decrease, giving freelancers more opportunities to get work.  Work still needs to get done, companies are still buying, and freelancers are the cheapest option.  More outsourcing means more work for freelancers, and more work means more money.

Freelancers aren’t new to marketing themselves, selling themselves, and relishing that entrepreneurial spirit. We’re flexible by nature, and marketing and selling ourselves is one of the biggest aspects of the business.  This gives us all an advantage over people who have been long-term employees and aren’t used to having to continuously search for employment.  Furthermore, many freelancers are taking advantage of the people in this situation by offering their resume writing skills up for grabs during a time when job-searchers desire any little extra ‘bling’ that will set them apart from the competition.

There’s a higher demand for marketing materials. Due to the recession, many companies are revving up their marketing output.  This will give copywriters a chance to increase their own business by helping struggling companies regain the cutting edge they need to continue being successful and rise above competing businesses.

So don’t push the panic button just yet.  Increase your marketing efforts, try to put a little more into savings, but take advantage of what opportunities are there.  And they are there…you just have to be open to them.