general freelance advice
Know Your Freelance Agreements
by Joe Wallace Do you know the difference between a non-compete and a work-for-hire agreement? Do you know what first worldwide rights are and how that agreement differs from one-time rights? It is vital not to sign any agreement as a freelancer without knowing the specific implications of the contract you sign. Did you know some... »
Find Your Good Quotes Here
If you are looking for a place to find reliable quotes, try education. University professors are very responsible and can often provide you with a great quote or two in a timely fashion. Just look for an expert in the area you need and send off an e-mail–or leave a phone message. One caveat–this... »
Unproductive Time–Part of the Creative Process
Writers and other creatives can not be expected to perform on demand like trained seals. Sometimes, when I’m supposed to be writing, I find myself drifting off to websites like E! Online, CNN.com, PerezHilton.com and others. I used to feel guilty when I did this, like there was something bad about it. Then I... »
Plan Your Week
Do you actually sit down and plan out your week in terms of writing? If not, perhaps you should. Good time management means knowing how to get the most out of your days, and planning is a big part of the process. Sit down on Friday and make out a schedule for the next... »
Coffee Filters Matter Too
Okay, freelance writing and coffee addiction seem to go hand and hand, so I don’t mind sharing this little tidbit here. One of the things that makes good coffee taste…well…good is the oil in the beans. Now, when you use paper filters, guess what you are doing? Okay, yeah, you’re killing Earth but, more... »
Feeling Bored and Used Up? Go Outside
The freelancing lifestyle is not for everyone. The long hours at home can feel like a prison sentence to some people so Panera, Starbucks and other Wi-Fi’d coffee spots get their all-day patronage, but that’s not exactly fun and interesting either. In fact, it’s like changing one box for another. Instead, why not grab a... »
Breaking Through Writer’s Block
Wanna know how to bust through writer’s block? Just write. Don’t worry about whether or not what you write is good enough for your client, don’t worry about whether or not it makes sense, don’t worry about whether or not it’s spelling-challenged or grammatically correct, just write your thoughts about whatever topic you want. For... »
Free Business Cards
Need some business cards but all outta cash? Try this offer for 100 free business cards from Ooprint. Now look, no excuses not to network! »
Online Email Accounts
One piece of advice that I see everywhere and disagree with is to avoid having a web-based email address like Yahoo or Gmail. Many advice-givers state that these email addresses are suspect and don’t show that you consider your freelance writing a serious business. I disagree. When you use web based email, you can retrieve... »
Notate Due Dates and Schedule Work Time
When you write down a due date for an article or other work in your calendar, be sure to mark off time when you’ll work on the project too. It can be misleading to look at your calendar and see nothing due on a certain day–because that empty date doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t... »
