journalist

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 DJV (Deutscher Journalisten Verband which means german alliance of journalists) published the conditions of contracts for the use of articles of freelancing journalists in germany. It is an overview which is shown in lists, examples and articles on duties and the market. Here you find a summarisation of the report.

To get an overview over the market I’ll shortly explain the field of work. It contains the work for daily and weekly newspapers, consumer-, trade- and professional-journals, private broadcast stations and those under public law, online services as well as press offices of companies administration departments. The functions of a freelancing journalist generally are e.g. furnishing informations, reportage (in text, pictures, radio-, film- and television-stories) or the realisation of newspapers, magazines or online-services. How freelancing journalists achieve their employment differs. They can supply extern articles, offer services or do both.

The minimum day rate should be over 250 Euro because nearly half of this amount deducts for the operating costs. Then the freelancing journalist still needs to pay the social insurances and taxes. Therefore a day rate from 250 Euro just seems to be quite high, it’s obvious that in the end there will only be left less than 90 Euro. If one works 20 days a moth the journalist will have a monthly income of 1.800 Euro. This is quite low for german income-standarts. Additional complicationg factors are off-times like illness or holidays.

Here you can see an calculation-example:

You will find the whole report here: DJV

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