Professional Writers

Freelancing Tips for Professional Writers

Woman working on a computer, courtesy of UAB Image Gallery

By: Mallorie Turner

Over the past few years, the option of being a freelancer has grown in popularity. As the freelance economy increases, the possibility for professional writers to enter the independent workforce appear more appealing. The allure of freelancing stems from a desire to be your own boss, make your own rules and never risk being laid off without financial compensation. I am a professional writer who sees freelancing as a nirvana amidst the apocalyptic job market that currently wages in America.

I was recently contracted to write articles for a local newspaper, marking the first time I have ever done this type of work. Having steady opportunities to be contracted by larger entities is not as common as one would think in the freelancing market. I was unsure of what was involved in creating my own independent writing business, but I have compiled a list of the most important aspects that went into beginning a stable one. Sharing this list will hopefully convince other writers to transform their freelancing dreams into reality.

The Cons of Freelancing

It goes without saying that you will have to work long hours as a freelance writer; 40+ hour work weeks with the possibility of late payments. However, these obstacles can be said of many other jobs.

The biggest issue potential freelance writers should consider boils down to clientele and the fact that difficult interactions can occur. Freelancers from every profession report working with clients who have foregone paying them, insulted them or changed the specs of a project so much that most of the completed work had to be scrapped.

Be discerning when choosing which clients to work for. This does not equate to being discriminatory—you are merely evaluating who will better respect you as an employee.

Imagine being contracted to produce a technical document for a small business. You complete the assignment in full even with the contractor’s overzealous content changes and odd business practices. Now you come to find that the contractor will not surrender your paycheck for reasons undisclosed. Remember to be polite in these situations and send out invoices as soon as possible to prioritize your payment. Courtesy always goes a long way and you will retain professionalism if you take the high road.

Use Your Resources to Network

The great thing about living in the cyber-age is having an endless amount of employment resources available at your fingertips. However, the best websites are not always easy to identify.

A few reliable websites for freelance writers are: Freelancer.com, Upwork.com and LinkedIn Jobs. You can also network through these websites, which can benefit future business ventures.

Websites like these have the option to filter search results for users who want to apply for remote job opportunities. Working remotely is another cool part of being a freelance writer, as long as you are not easily sidetracked by your surroundings. Most remote work is done at home, a place where you can be distracted by a number of things.

Social media is a powerful tool as well, so do not be afraid to reach out to other freelance writers for their insight and advice.

Never Stop Learning Your Craft

Whether you are a graduate with a professional concentration or are still working towards your degree, never stop learning how to write. Honing your talents as a professional writer does not end once you earn your degree.

Consider giving yourself projects of your own to complete. This will give you opportunities to master skills like document designing, proofreading, editing and writing for popular periodicals.

The added bonus is putting these projects into a portfolio and advertising your skillsets to potential employers. For freelance writers, portfolios are great for stepping into a full-time business.

Do Not Let Failures Define Your Freelancing Experience

As with any endeavor, encountering failures as a freelance writer are inevitable. There will be rejection when pitching concepts to potential employers. Some opportunities may not pay enough for the amount of work needed to finish the project.

Do not lose faith in yourself as a professional. Remember that freelancing is a legitimate occupation. You would not give up when issues arise at a full-time job, so know how to brave through them on your own time. Your failures only make for a stronger business in the end.

What About Marketing? Featuring an Interview with Alexis Brost

By Bailey McKay

Marketing textbooks

I frequently get asked what I plan on doing with an English degree. Or, what can I do with professional writing? When I answer that I want to work in the marketing field, more questions seem to arise. Many people do not see the connection between marketing and professional writing. However, English majors have a huge skillset to bring into marketing.

Meet Alexis

To explore this topic further, I interviewed Alexis Brost, the Marketing and Member Relations Coordinator at The Club Inc. Her duties include The Club’s quarterly newsletter, (concept, design, writing and photographs) communicating with outside media and sending all emails to members. Alexis graduated from Auburn with a Bachelors in English with a concentration in Literature. She has previously worked on the marketing and social media team for Books-A-Million.

A Piece of Advice

Alexis says her best piece of advice for future English graduates is, “Take a chance on ANY job that accepts a liberal arts degree. In a world that is changing in technology, people want instant and correct communication. English majors are highly attractive candidates for any career.”

What Skills Can Professional Writers Bring to Marketing?

Professional writers bring forth a unique skill set. Not only can they write and edit proficiently, they can also eloquently express themselves. Professional writers have the ability to be creative and think outside of the box; they have a diverse knowledge in reading, writing, rhetoric and many other areas. Lastly, professional writers can communicate effectively, making them a mediator between products and consumers.

According to Alexis, the majority of her English classes have come in handy in her career, but she says that her past Linguistic classes have helped her the most. In Alexis’s current job she has to use HTML coding and programs such as TextEdit, so she emphasized how important her computer classes were as well. (Shout out to Dr. Bacha and Dr. Basilico)

What’s the Takeaway?

I feel like there is a stigma when it comes to being an English major. We have so many positive qualities to offer, and our potential is limitless. When it comes to your career, be bold and take chances. Some things that don’t seem like they fit, like Professional Writing and Marketing, may just be what you’re looking for. HireABlazer is a good place to start looking for potential jobs, internships or job shadowing opportunities.

Birmingham Creative Round Table

There’s creative writing, there’s professional writing—then there come along opportunities to blend the two. Every professional writer dreams of doing the best work, getting ahead in the industry, or bursting onto the scene with fresh innovations and a sense of personal style, but the Birmingham professional might be wondering: “Where can I get the support I need to bounce off ideas and connect with other aspiring go-getters in this little metropolitan area?” The answer is closer to home than you think, and only takes an hour out of your monthly time.

The Birmingham Creative Round Table is a blossoming meeting group of professionals, creatives, entrepreneurs, and even bloggers that come together once a month to discuss ways of cultivating new ideas for the business and professional world. The coffee is local, the pastries are fresh, and the faces are friendly. Each month, the Birmingham Creative Round Table brings together those who want to thrive in today’s workforce, seeking to uplift those who might be struggling creatively and to energize ideas that might have run dry. An hour-long meeting with a guest speaker specially chosen from the creative and professional spheres sparks intriguing conversations in an informal setting, where guests can ask questions they may be too apprehensive to email to an employer. The concept of networking is not lost at the Round Table. In fact, it is encouraged, and there is no better way to step out of the box and shake a future employer’s hand than with face-to-face interaction and guidance from professionals who want to broaden their industries as well.

The budding professional writer might ask “Do I fit into to this creative group?” The Birmingham Creative Round Table is meant not only for analysts, designers, creative directors, and local brick-and-mortar managers, but writers of all styles and inspirations. In fact, professional writers should flock to these monthly meetings; there is no better way to make your writing stand out in the world than to surround yourself with positive industry feedback and ideas. Copywriters from local advertising agencies and rhetorical designers that work with local businesses congregate there frequently. A hopeful professional writer may find themselves swamped with competition to fulfill the duties of a strictly safe document designer and provide the best examples of a creative craft in order to garner clients and gain company attention. The Creative Round Table is a perfect safe space to hone one’s abilities and designs while getting a sense of what it means to be a professional writer from people who live and breathe the industry.