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Wow! Women on Writing did a good common sense bullet point on writers and finances. A lot of it is just what I would expect to be common sense, but my sister is an accountant/bookkeeper and has kept me on track in regards to some of this stuff. And I know many people might not think about finances when it comes to their freelancing or writing:
www.wow-womenonwriting.com/29-F....html
www.wow-womenonwriting.com/29-F....html
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Los Angeles
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Re: Writers and finances
Wed, April 15, 2009 - 11:22 AMIf you hope to make money writing it's best you start by getting a day job. -
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Re: Writers and finances
Wed, April 15, 2009 - 1:03 PMWell there is that, too. That's how I do it. I have a part-time job plus I do freelance work.
And if you do actually get paid for freelance jobs, if you make at least $400 in the year, you have to claim it on your taxes and it's best to know how to do that. -
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Re: Writers and finances
Thu, April 16, 2009 - 7:08 AMHow does one get work as a freelance writer?
I haven't the foggiest idea, really. -
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Re: Writers and finances
Thu, April 16, 2009 - 8:27 AMWell, sometimes you just fall into it. Are you the one everyone goes to to write their resumes or letters? How are you at writing articles and reviews? Tell your friends and family that you would be happy to have them refer you to others and that you would charge other people $X an hour or a word or whatever you come to.
Sometimes you start out doing a lot of the writing (and copy editing and proofreading) for free to get your name out there. Like, you can volunteer at TCM Reviews (tcm-ca.com/) to be a reviewer. In exchange you get free books or free ebooks. If they really like your review you might get a couple dollars PayPal-ed to you. Do you review books (or movies or restaurants) on your blog every once in a while? Go to e4d5.com and you can review stuff there and occasionally get something for it, maybe. And it gets your name out there (provided you use your real name).
Also, go to places like Craigslist and Backpage.com to post that you are a freelance writer for hire. Write yourself an ad. Put a classified ad in the local paper. Go to Guru.com, elance.com and freelancer.com and sign up for selling your abilities. Comb in the internet for print and online zines who are looking for submissions. Get a subscription to Writersmarket.com and use their search engine to not only look for agent or place to submit stories, but also for magazines looking for submissions of feature stories, etc.
Make friends with other writers. Find writers clubs and groups and go there and learn, work on your craft and network. Go to conventions.
You start out really slow, but it snowballs. -
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Re: Writers and finances
Thu, April 16, 2009 - 8:28 AMPractice writing good query letters and pitching story ideas. -
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Re: Writers and finances
Thu, April 16, 2009 - 9:44 AMAll good ideas. Thanks.
People usually say I write very well, and my wife and my mother (both English teachers) often ask me for pointers.
But I'm not really a people person and I don't understand why anyone would pay to read most of what I see written.
Also, I have a hard time watching movies and TV shows because I usually know the ending within the first 1/3 of the narrative.
I like to write, but how do I pitch something that either doesn't fit the model fits a model of something which I, myself, would not bother to read?
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Re: Writers and finances
Thu, April 16, 2009 - 1:22 PMWell, keep looking. That's where you internet searches will bear fruit. Sooner or later you'll find your niche. -
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Re: Writers and finances
Fri, April 17, 2009 - 5:35 AMMy niche is people who can't watch the Hulk movies without constantly asking 'where does the extra mass come from?'.
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Re: Writers and finances
Tue, April 28, 2009 - 7:37 AM***************How does one get work as a freelance writer? **************
The old fashioned way is to write articles and submit them to any publication that you can and ask for no fee.
A year of that and you can start demanding fees. After all, you are a published author.
Start with those local papers that are either free or so cheap they might as well be.
Then take on a state specific journal in your state.
Just keep reaching out. eventually you should find takers for money.
It helps to have an education. -
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Re: Writers and finances
Tue, April 28, 2009 - 7:50 AMAdding to that, getting an online subscription to Writers Market helps you track down periodicals to submit to. If you're writing fiction or poetry, then besides Writers Market, take a look at Duotrope Digest.
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