Common mistakes freelancers make

Mar 9, 2015 by

The Freelancers Union blog is a terrific resource for contract workers. It offered a list of 11 mistakes that freelancers often make.

Here are some of those mistakes:

Setting your rates too low. “Do you price low because you’re worried that the $10/hour freelancer on Craigslist is going to undercut your rates?”

Not researching your clients. “Don’t just rely on what the client says about themselves, do your homework.”

Not putting aside enough for taxes. “New freelancers are often shocked at how much Uncle Sam takes from self-employment income, and unfortunately haven’t saved enough to pay the bill.”

Getting stuck in a gig rut. “Freelancers in a dry spell may just plug away trying to find work in their field and not expand their horizons to think of other revenue streams that can keep them going.”

Not saying “no.” “Selectivity about clients is one of the best things you can do for your business, even if you think you can’t afford to be selective.”

Not following up with previous clients. “Don’t sit on your contact list of previous clients or wait for them to remember you exist.”

Visit the Freelancers Union blog to see the full list and more detail on each.

 

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Gateway Journalism Review event to discuss “Ferguson and the Media”

Mar 5, 2015 by

michelmartinThe Gateway Journalism Review is sponsoring an event of interest to journalists — and all citizens, for that matter — in later this month in St. Louis.

Veteran broadcast journalist Michel Martin will discuss the events of Ferguson and the media coverage of those events March 19. The GJR notes that Martin has reported for the Washington Post, Wall Street Journal and was host of NPR’s “Tell Me More.” She recently has reported on voting rights and racial justice issues.

The dinner and program will be from 6 to 10 p.m. at Edward Jones Inc.’s corporate headquarters at 12555 Manchester Road and I-270. Cost is $150 per person. It will be the Fourth Annual First Amendment Celebration sponsored by the Gateway Journalism Review, successor to the St. Louis Journalism Review.

To attend, call Sherida Evans at 618-453-3262; or email Sherida @ siu.edu. USPS: Sherida Evans, Mailcode 6601, School of Journalism, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Carbondale, Il. 62901.

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Welcome to the United Freelancers Guild

Mar 5, 2015 by

The United Media Guild already has several freelancers as members. More have inquired about joining. So we are creating a freelance membership unit in two categories:

  • Journalists (reporters, editors, photographers, videographers, print and digital designers).
  • Communications specialists (public relations, social media management, advocacy messaging).

Membership for free-lancers is $12 per month. If you join you will become a card-carrying member of the United Media Guild, TNG-CWA Local 36047.

Membership will entitle you to a variety of Union Plus discounts and benefits. Explore that website to see all ways union members can save money.

Of special interest to freelancers is access to the CWA/NETT Academy, with a variety of on-line courses, and the expansive Lynda.com instructional video library.

For more information, check out this Lynda.com Flyer

Best of all, you will be joining the organized labor movement and help us support the craft of journalism on local, regional and national levels.

As we gain more members, we will organize workshops and seminars that will benefit freelancers as well as the members at our various media and social justice units.

Anybody interested in joining should contact UMG president Jeff Gordon at jgordon@unitedmediaguild.org.

 

 

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The importance of self-editing

Feb 27, 2015 by

The staff at the Writers Relief site remind us of the value of self-editing and re-crafting:

Maybe you’ve heard James A. Michener’s quote: “I’m not a very good writer, but I’m an excellent rewriter.” A lot of the hard work of writing happens during the editing process. So go forward bravely and without fear of seeing something you might not like. There’s power in self-editing: It will allow you to move upward and onward in your writing and your life.

For more on that topic, check out of these five tips for self-editing.

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The reward of writing daily

Feb 27, 2015 by

Fiction writer Patricia Cornwell offered this advice on remaining regular with your craft:

“Treat your writing like a relationship and not a job. Because if it’s a relationship, even if you only have one hour in a day, you might just sit down and open up your last chapter because it’s like visiting your friend. What do you do when you miss somebody? You pick up the phone. You keep that connection established. If you do that with your writing, then you tend to stay in that moment, and you don’t forget what you’re doing. Usually the last thing I do before I go to bed is sit at my computer and just take a look at the last thing I was writing. It’s almost like I tuck my characters in at night. I may not do much, but I’m reminding myself: This is the world I’m living in right now, and I’ll go to sleep and I’ll see you in the morning.”

Here is some more advice from Writers Digest.

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