In the business of freelance writing, it's not enough to be good at writing. You also have to be good at finding work ? and selling yourself when you do. Persuading a new client to let you write for them, rather than one of the hundreds of other writers out there, can be an art in itself. Here's how not to do it?
Don't give any details about yourself.
When you're applying for a new project, whether it be through the WritingWorld.org jobs board, or in response to a "writers wanted" ad, don't bother giving anything but the most basic of information ? your name, and your price. If you absolutely must give a little bit of detail, just stick to something simple like "I can do this". You're a writer, for god's sake! You don't need to explain yourself! The employer will look at your message and just know that you're the right person for the job ? even although everyone else who applied sent their resume and writing samples, and gave a list of reasons why they'd be perfect for the job.
Why doesn't this approach work? Well, think about it. If you were in the market for a professional service, would you choose the person who provided examples of their work, client testimonials and other relevant information, or would you pick the person who told you nothing but their price? Even if your quote is the lowest, the employer will still want to be assured that you're capable of doing the job: and trust me, employers don't like to have to coax information out of writers. Nor do they need to. In most cases they'll receive quotes from so many well-qualified candidates that they won't need to chase up the ones who didn't bother to give them a reason to employ them.
Don't bother reading the advert properly.
Just stick to one set speil which you can copy and paste onto every application or quote you send. It doesn't matter if your standard speil talks about what a fabulous copywriter you are and the employer is looking for a proofreader. Again, they'll just know that you're also a trained proofreader. Even if you don't bother to tell them.
Why doesn't it work? Well, as soon as the employer realises that you haven't even read their advert properly, you can forget about that proofreading job. Employers like to think that you're paying attention to them and taking them seriously, not just firing off the same stock message to 100 people per day. It's OK to have a stock message, by the way ? but the least you can do is make sure it's relevant to the job you're applying for.
Skip the spellcheck
Obviously you wouldn't do it on an assignment, but when you're giving someone a quote or responding to their job advert, it's perfectly acceptable to forget about spelling and grammar, right?
Wrong.
As a writer, you'll be judged on everything you write. That includes quick emails, IM conversations and, of course, quotes. Poor spelling, lack of punctuation and sloppy grammar marks you out as someone who doesn't care too much about their craft ? if, indeed, you have one. Make it perfect every time.
Make your quote ridiculously low
We all know how competitive freelance writing can be. Unless you're willing to work for far less than minimum wage, you'll never persuade anyone to employ you. Make sure your bid is as low as you can make it without offering the employer to pay them for the privilege of writing for them, and they're sure to give you the job! Right?< br />
Um, not necessarily. While there will always be "employers" who aren't too concerned about quality and just want to find the cheapest writer around, to most employers, your low bid says one thing: that you're not very good at what you do, and certainly don't deserve decent compensation for it.
If you're willing to write for a nominal fee for a commercial employer (as opposed to a charity, for example, or a friend), the employer knows right away that you don't make a living doing this. Imagine how many $5 articles you'd need to write every month to pay your mortgage! If you're willing to write for that amount, then, it's clear that you must be pretty much scraping the barrel: so desperate for work that you're only one step away from working for free.
This kind of desperation doesn't inspire confidence: you may well get yourself some work from a certain type of employer, but when someone comes along who's willing to pay more, you'll be missing out on the opportunity to get paid what you deserve.
What's most frightening about this list is that I didn't have to make any of this up. These are all real examples of the kinds of things writers do when applying for work. And trust me: these writers never get the jobs.
Amber McNaught is a freelance writer and editor, and the owner of WritingWorld.org, an online agency for freelance writers, editors and proofreaders.
Writing World also offers a range of service such as proofreading, editing and manuscript appraisal services to new and aspiring writers.
Chat about all aspects of freelance writing in the WritingWorld forum!
How do you describe a scene without slowing down the... Read More
How many times have you checked out a job board... Read More
Just about every marketer on the Internet claims to be... Read More
Joanne Kathleen Rowling was born in Chipping Sodbury,England in 1965.... Read More
Beyond three and four act story structure, lies the Hero's... Read More
Weather posting a page to your Website, writing a letter... Read More
Self-examination is brutally honest. Self-indulgence is brutally maudlin.Writing requires the... Read More
You have a great idea for a poem, a story,... Read More
The dash--that curious mark of punctuation people use in their... Read More
DEFINITIONSRetail margin is basically the difference between your book's wholesale... Read More
[When I was a nineteen-year-old high school student and budding... Read More
Technology vendors often contribute bylined articles to trade journals. The... Read More
If you are like most writers, you're constantly searching for... Read More
Writers are often are greatly surprised or disappointed by how... Read More
Do you have a problem creating a focus in your... Read More
If you are an aspiring writer, or you simply want... Read More
One of the best ways to blow someone's winning streak... Read More
So you've decided to crown yourself with a title that... Read More
About two weeks ago I received an article submissionthat immediately... Read More
"This is just brilliant. The whole interview is incredible? I'm?... Read More
Creative Writing Tips ?When an idea comes to us for... Read More
With the advent of email communications in the workplace, it's... Read More
Paulo Coelho was born on August 24th 1947 in Rio... Read More
Sometimes I can be dense when it comes to realizing... Read More
These are some of the snapshots I carry with me:... Read More
Dream that your book can be a number one best... Read More
The Big IdeaOkay. So youve figured out that you would... Read More
One Saturday afternoon, I sat in a packed conference room... Read More
At first, I noticed that I could have written many... Read More
The following rules are essential if you want people to... Read More
We all know people who ramble. They include every boring... Read More
Creative Writing Tips ?How we usually begin the preparation stage... Read More
If you become a writer for any publication, private business,... Read More
Your struggling to sell just a few copies of your... Read More
We writers are a powerful lot. We control time. We... Read More
For those looking at the jobs listings for writers, they... Read More
Self-examination is brutally honest. Self-indulgence is brutally maudlin.Writing requires the... Read More
Many writers stare at the blank page or clean computer... Read More
Part 1 of this article discussed the experience you need... Read More
For many authors just starting out, it can be a... Read More
So you're one of 20 million Americans who want to... Read More
Far too many inexperienced writers create flat, stereotypical characters: the... Read More
All your publishing options are as follows:--Conventional publishing--Vanity or subsidy... Read More
Recently I was watching the Oprah show and it was... Read More
Sometime one must coax the words out.Each day is a... Read More
We all know people who ramble. They include every boring... Read More
Way back in your early school years, you were probably... Read More
About two weeks ago I received an article submissionthat immediately... Read More
Why would anyone want to write for trade journals? Aren't... Read More
When we think of writing it triggers many thoughts and... Read More
Creative Writing Tips ?Whichever theme you choose, all the elements,... Read More
You may wonder why I have chosen this title of... Read More
Peter Mayle was born in England in 1939.His fascination with... Read More
Write Right - You have an all important business letter... Read More
The biggest mistake authors make when trying to get free... Read More
Here's everything I know about improving your writing, publishing it... Read More
During my 25-year career in a variety of professional positions... Read More
Creative Writing Tips ?For a theme to work and the... Read More
Creative Writing Tips ?Our plotting stage is our testing area.Everything... Read More
If you have been online for any length of time... Read More
Hundreds of writing contests tempt screenwriters with the lure of... Read More
Maybe you should write a book! This is not as... Read More
GAINING WRITING EXPERIENCE Some Catch-22, huh? In... Read More
On my first newspaper assignment as a critic, I was... Read More
Take out a white piece of paper and place it... Read More
Mixing and mingling with industry professionals is an opportunity that... Read More
Writing |