Tag-Archive for ◊ economy ◊

16 Nov 2011 On the Freelancing Plate
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I don’t know if it’s the worst or the best time right now to be a freelancer. On the one hand, the economy is going down the toilet– again– the markets are tumbling, the assignments are drying up, and editors are playing musical chairs so frequently that there’s a change almost every time you look up. On the other hand, there is no such thing as job security any more, and people with 9-5 jobs have absolutely no guarantee that they couldn’t be let go any day or that the company they’re working for won’t go bankrupt next month. Even the big companies aren’t immune. No one is. Not you, not me, not anyone with a 9-5 job.

Obviously, there’s no way to ascertain what could or could not happen in the coming few weeks and months, but one thing is for certain– we’re once again looking at trying times ahead.

What can freelance writers do to stay ahead of the curve and make sure the work keeps coming in? Plan, plan, plan. My advice is to take the work you can while it’s there, build relationships with editors, and not be too fussy about the work you’ll take on and the rates at which you will. Build up your credits with respected national and international publications if you haven’t already, even if it means accepting lower rates, because when the economy tanks and work dries up, people with credits will always get more work than people who’re just starting out in the business. On the other side of things, save what you earn, limit your expenses, and start putting together six months worth of living expenses for if the economy does go kaput and you struggle to find work for a bit. Things we should be doing in normal circumstances anyway, but let’s face it, most of us don’t.

Meanwhile, I’m wrapping up as much as I can over the next two months. I just finished two stories and have four more due this month. I’m coordinating with an editor for photos for an e-commerce story, researching safe birth control options for the women’s portal I wrote about, contacting people for a fun “To Do Before You Die” list story for Elle, and writing two stories for trade magazines in the construction arena. I love how I get to work with several different topics on a day-to-day basis and get paid to learn about the things I’m interested in. Don’t you?

What’s on your freelancing plate these days?

16 Nov 2008 View From the Other Side
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I was beginning to feel a little ignored. I was beginning to wonder if maybe I hadn’t done a good enough job on my last assignment. I was beginning to think that maybe my new ideas were completely off the mark.

It’s been happening to a lot of us lately. Editors aren’t responding. Publications are folding. The future seems uncertain. The income is dwindling.

An editor I’ve worked with twice and who I’ve been pitching for months with no response, wrote to me today. “Sorry for being so unresponsive,” he wrote. “We’re so broke these days, it’s embarrassing.” How do I respond to queries and ideas in a situation like that, he asked.

I don’t know if there’s a lesson in this, except for that we need to remember that editors are people, too. People who right now, are insecure, losing jobs, facing layoffs, and struggling to survive just as we are.

Be kind to them. Reach out. And don’t forget to continue supporting and buying publications that you’ve benefited from.

03 Aug 2008 Feeling Overwhelmed?
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There are times, like right now, when I have so much work on my plate, it’s easy to become completely paralyzed. With a hundred important things needing attention all at once, it’s easy to reach a point where you can’t think straight, get anything done, or even begin.

A lot of people seem to have an overload of work right now because of the current economic conditions and having to take up as much as possible to pay the bills.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed as well, here’s how to get a grip.

1. Forget prioritizing. Sure, it’s important to know what’s due when, and which things need to be done first. But if you’ve got 15 important things that need to be done NOW, forget the list-making and just tackle them. Put them on the list as you remember them, and start ticking them off as you get around to doing them.

2. Absolutely no procrastination. It’s easiest to fall into the procrastination trap when you have too much to handle. Set ten-minute alarms and do nothing but uninterrupted writing/work during those ten minutes. Once you’ve been able to cross a couple of items from your list, it gets easier.

3. Try to tackle many projects at once. What doesn’t work for me is doing work project by project. If I have ten major projects to handle, and I spend three days working on one, I still have nine more to go at the end of those days of hard labor. Not very motivating. Instead, I try to make a dent on every one at least once a day so that there’s constant progress on each one.

4. Multitasking isn’t such a great idea. One of the ways to stop feeling overwhelmed is to focus on one task at a time. If you’re reading your e-mail, forget everything else and concentrate only on getting those answered. If you’re writing, resist the temptation to keep browser or chat windows open. When you’re doing something, even if for five minutes, give it your full attention.

5. Anytime things get too hard to handle, or you feel like you’re about to explode, detach. Go outside and watch the rain fall. Call a friend and discuss something inane. Listen to a favorite song that helps you relax. Five minutes won’t make or break your deadline, but even a few minutes doing something relaxing helps calm you down.

10 Apr 2008 Oy Vey
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The economic slowdown? It’s real, yo.

First hit came today. A magazine I write for regularly is going on indefinite hiatus. The editor hopes to have it up by early 2009, and because it’s been through worse and survived, the editor (and I) do have hope that it’ll make a comeback.

In the meantime, I’m struggling to fill that huge void in my income.

01 Apr 2008 Surviving in a Rough Economy
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With economic problems gaining momentum worldwide, there’s a general air of gloom on most writing groups these days. It’s not as much a “we’re down and out”, as it is “hold tight, we’re going down.” The anticipation can be worse.

Some of my friends who earn a living with their writing are in right despair. When people who make a living are walking around frantic, I don’t really know what to say to people who’re striving to.

Except maybe to hang in there.

I’ve been doing this for five years, and it’s only now that I’m beginning to think I can hack it financially in the long-term. Or even emotionally, really.

Even as some economies are diving, freelancers are getting a lot of work. Here are some ways:

1. If you’ve been slacking on your pitching, now is the time to do it. I recommend at least one marketing effort a day usually; in slow times, double that.

2. Look at international markets. The Indian media industry is booming right now. While publishers all over the world are shutting down, India is and has been introducing new titles over the last few years. The launch of about fifty new titles was announced recently. (Note for Indian writers: if you’re still getting the “we don’t have money” response, don’t believe it.) Some other very good markets can be found in Europe. UK is the most obvious, but look beyond to France, Italy and Germany as well. I have also heard of some very interesting and high-investment ventures upcoming in the middle-east.

3. Be cautious. Don’t jump in immediately with start-ups and research the financial health of the publications you’re getting involved with. For a while, it may be best to stick with the tried-and-tested.

4. That said, don’t be too picky with assignments. For clients who’ll get the bills paid and paid quickly, some boring work won’t matter in the long run.

5. Pursue some personal projects. While you’re sitting around waiting for the paying work to come in, don’t waste time worrying. Instead, get to work on things you enjoy, such as personal essays.