freelancer

Writers from various disciplines have long been utilizing mainstream social media – Twitter, Facebook, Google +, and Quora, for example – to promote their work and interact with other writers and readers. However, here are ten platforms specifically geared towards the literary community.

Writers-Network: Created in 2004, Writers-Network is a large online community devoted to pointing creative writers toward success. There’s an emphasis on poetry, but apparently writers of all creative genres and forms are welcome and active on the site.

Inked-In: If the wordplay of this site’s title doesn’t draw you in, there are plenty of other pros. Part of The Burry Man Writers Center (a resource for freelance writers and researchers), Inked-In is a network for writers, artists and musicians.

Gather: With the tagline “Fresh Perspective,” Gather offers just that. According to the site, thousands of journalists post original content, and millions of users join in conversation about various subjects.

Book-in-a-week: Book-in-a-Week’s motto is “BIC HOK TAM:” butt in chair, hands on keyboard, typing away madly. The first full week of every month, you can use BIW’s learning management system to reach goals you’ve set for yourself. The site promotes a “let’s work together” approach.

Trigger Street Labs: If you’re writing for the screen, Trigger Street Labs might be the network for you. It’s a community for writers and filmmakers, and it’s open to scouts looking for talent.

Suite 101: Suite101 is the premier place for online journalists, freelancers and experts on various topics. Writers can get paid for posting original content, and the site offers a big peer network.

Writertopia: Writertopia is determined to create the ultimate resource for the writing community, and it starts with making sure every member is serious about perfecting his or her professional writing skills. The network also bridges the gap between the virtual world and the real by listing dates for events, readings and workshops.

We Like to Write: We Like to Write is a new social network for writers and bloggers. Professional and amateur writers are welcome to connect and debate, as well as collaborate with each other on projects.

WritersCafe.org: WritersCafe.org makes it easy to make friends with other writers and enter writing contests. It also has topic forums that range from inspiration to publicity to marketing.

Zoetrope Virtual Studio: Francis Ford Coppola launched a version of this website in 1998 to encourage short story submissions for his magazine, Zoetrope: All-Story. The Virtual Studio was created when a large writing community formed around the original website. Virtual Studio not only accepts various genre submissions for the magazine, but also allows workshops and critiques.

The ability to work from home, a fexible timetable and moving towards an independant career: Working as a freelance designer seems pretty appealing to a lot of people. But every deal of working as a freelancer should be considered well before a decision is made. For being successful the idea of the every day-work life should be brought down to a round figure.

Today we introduce 10 keys to work successfully as a freelance designer:

1. Diciplin and commitment

Working as a freelancer is quiet diffrent as working as an employee. Everything is up to you: no one sets you working hours or gives you tasks to work on. Your career is your own responsibility now, wich can be great but also difficult sometimes. You need to work disciplined and hit it up. That’s why the first years as a freelancer are probably the most exhausting ones. Hold the line!

2. Time management

This is a pretty large topic, but to put it in a nutshell: A to-do-list seems old fashioned but helps you to work efficiantly. What I mean is, that it is important to organize your working hours. Being well organized also helps to maximize your strenghts and minimize your distractions.

3. Communication

It is a keenly important skill to be able to communicate effectively with clients and customers. Therefore it will help you to understand their needs and wants as well as to understand their business. In addition to that you need to land your business in first place. Here it is helpful to build up a customer service. Give your customers and clients the feeling of being reliable and accessable.

Many aspire to be a writer, but how exactly do you go about becoming a freelance writer and why would a person choose this path?

The dream of writing is becoming more attainable for a larger group of people. The technological advances broadened the ways of communication between people – especially the internet has helped making writing accessible to nearly everyone. Due to this an increasing number of writers are now able to see their words published. Freelance writing might be the answer for those who haven’t been able to publish a book yet, who have lost a job and need an income, or for writers who simply want to explore the world of writing.

Why become a freelance writer?

• a freelance writer is self-employed and able to write for any publication or company
  
• fewer author’s dreams of publishing a book are becoming reality so a lot of them turn to freelance writing to fulfill their passion in writing
  
• freelance writing is a way to stay connected and up to date to the publishing world
• to stay in contact with other talented writers might help to improve your skills
• for all practical purposes it’s good that freelance writers can choose their working hours
  
• to have control over what you spend your time on can be pretty appealing
  
• how profitable the jobs are, is based on how much a freelancer chooses to work e.g. with higher pay for more articles
  
• freelance writing is so appealing because your are your own boss – this can be motivating for people who are driven, creative, goal-setters and people who won’t fail to meet deadlines
  

Nevertheless freelance writing can be a downfall for those who need a lot of guidance and another person telling them which work needs to be done, and especially when it has to be done in a project. Freelance writing is a lifestyle built around words and creativity combined with long working hours. It can be a stressful job but passionated writers are definitely proud when their work is being published.

You are a freelance writer knowing more reasons for a career like that? Do you agree with this article? Feel free to comment and leave a reply!

Article based on: www.suite101.com

Anna Clea Skoluda is a freelance art director and designer and has a background in advertising. Here, she answers some questions concerning difficult customers, the perfect team and plans for the future. All further information you will find here: www.anna-clea.de.

What was the most interesting project you have implemented?
Every project that I deal with is 100% interesting in the implementation phase. If I would not feel this way, the only thing that could help would be an oversized payment.

What was the most difficult experience you have had with a customer?
None. Every customer requires to be attended to optimally. Especially the customers with the smallest wallet. Which actually is kind of funny.

What was the biggest challenge that you had to face?
Professionally: The transition from being a freelancer in advertising to being self-employed as a designer. But it was the thought, really, that was the challenge, since everything went smoothly thanks to some lucky coincidences.

Are there customers for whom you would not work?
Possibly. That would be a spontaneous decision.

What does the client of your dreams look like?
Tasteful. Or did you mean which hair colour..?

Which qualifications characterise your dream team?
Fun, diligence and creativity.

What was your best performance for free?
I do not work at no charge. No payment = no respect for performance.

How long have you been in the business?
Since the 1. semester.

How often have you changed your specialization?
Once: From advertising to design. Thankfully, there has been and still is continuous further development.

Can you imagine to take another job?
Yes, the area of creativity is infinite.

What will you do in 10 years?
Beautiful things.

Christopher von Greverode is a freelancer; a copywriter in the first place, but also a public relations and communications pro and a dedicated blogger. Here, he answers our questions. To get an impression of his writing and his literary ambitions, read his blog greverode.blogspot.com.

What was the most interesting project you have implemented?

That depends on what you define as interesting. As to working conditions it would be a Europe-wide marketing project for the University of Cambridge I was involved in for two years. Regarding creative aspects it surely was the „invention“ of a whole new company including a name, an image, a philosophy, and a Corporate Design.

What was the most difficult experience you have had with a customer?

The most difficult situation you can have with a customer is when he dislikes and rejects every new idea you come up with but fails to express what he actually wants. I’ve had that once.

What was the biggest challenge that you had to face?

Quitting my job and getting self-employed after a rather fatal one-year attempt to serve with a wicked real estate company…

Are there customers for whom you would not work?

Absolutely yes. The good thing about being self-employed is that you get to choose for whom you want to work. If a person or a company doesn’t suit me for moral or personal or whatever reasons I refuse to work for them. People who put ice in their single malt for instance.

Who is the client of your dreams?

The client of my dreams provides a huge budget and grants me plenty of time to come up with good ideas that he gratefully recognises as being absolutely brilliant and implements without further questions! And I get payed within 3 days.

Which characteristics distinguish your dream team?

The members of my dream team are creative but not obsessed with their individual ingenuity. They give their best without showing off. They listen to each other, and they can admit mistakes. They share the pain, and they share the glory. They are – well, a team!

What was your best performance for free?

Driving dear friends of mine to church for their wedding in my 1976 Rolls Royce Silver Shadow

How long have you been in the business?

About 10 years.

How many times have you changed your specialization?

Never. But I changed my working concept four years ago. I used to run my own avertising agency, but I ended up being a project manager with no creative tasks at all while my designers got to do the cool stuff. That was completely unsatisfying, so I closed down my business and became a freelancer. Now I work for several agencies, companies, or organisations with new challenges every day. And I like it.

Can you imagine to take another job?

I could imagine to have taken another job in the first place because I have many other interests, but I really love what I do now, so I don’t intend to change my ways.

What do you do in 10 years?

Probably quite the same stuff I’m doing now – thinking up good communication strategies and writing good texts. In 25 years, I might wind up growing wine or breeding emus or something…