Freelance Survival:

Keys to Thrive and Prosper

a Writers-Editors Network resource

Edited by Dana K. Cassell

All Rights Reserved © 2013 Dana K Cassell

Publisher: CNW Publishing, Editing Inc. North Stratford, NH USA

Cover Design by Eldon Sarte

Contributors:

Mark Battersby Ray Chatelin

Ashley Cisneros David Geer

Kelly James-Enger Jacquelyn Lynn

Hal Morris Roberta Sandler

Mali Schantz-Feld Debra Wood Lisa Wroble

Portions of this booklet appeared on the Writers-Editors Network blog: On writing, editing, publishing as “How to survive and prosper as a freelancer” – http://www.writers-editors.com

Introduction Our contributors and their takes on the current state of freelancing What steps can a freelancer take to survive today? But what if the writer is timid about cold calling businesses for work? What does the future look like for freelance writers? More about our contributors ─ their bios and successes Resources

Introduction Freelancing is not for sissies. It never has been. Challenges have long risen up to

confront independent writers and editors. Only their names have changed to identify the perpetrators.

Yesterday’s challenges have morphed into today’s content mills, shrinking

marketplace, and constricting corporations – presenting seemingly insurmountable odds.

Is there really a future for today’s freelancer? Is there any hope …

… for the writer who needs to earn more than $10 an article in order to survive?

… for the writer who has seen magazine markets disappear or bring their

freelance work back in-house? … for the writer who has watched corporate clients go under or get taken over

by firms with their own favorite outsourcees? … for the business writer whose clients who are turning to online job boards,

where the writers have to bid on jobs; lowest bidder “winning”? Adding affront to misery, some of those very same editors and creative directors,

who lost their jobs in “it’s the economy” moves, are now freelancing and ratcheting up the competition!

So, a discouraged writer wants to know, how does one survive all this? Is there a future for freelancers who want to earn a decent living? I asked a number of our Writers-Editors Network members, who are not only

surviving, but prospering in the current economic climate, for their thoughts and advice. They have all been in this crazy business for some time, so have the perspective of experience in overcoming various and sundry freelance challenges. They also represent a number of geographies and writing backgrounds.

Let’s meet them and get their takes on the current State of Freelancing, then ask

them how one survives today, and for their thoughts on the future of freelance writing.

Our Contributors – Their Takes on the Current State of Freelancing

(Note: Several of our contributors have blogs or websites for writers, or have written

books and reports on freelance writing and book publishing. Links to these resources have been included in their bio sketches and/or in the Resources section. Be sure to check them out; you will find additional tips and suggestions there.)

Kelly James-Enger, Downers Grove, Illinois, has been a full-time freelance writer

for 16 years, book author, blogger, and speaker. Kelly says:

“I agree; the freelance landscape is changing drastically. I just interviewed several dozen successful six-figure freelancers for a book and found that nearly all of them have changed their business model from, say, five years ago. Yet nearly all are still thriving!” Debra Wood, Orlando, Florida, is a registered nurse primarily writing for fellow

health professionals. Deb says:

“Yes, magazine writing is changing. Everything from reading the newspaper to shopping for a TV is changing. Writers have to change along with the times.” Roberta Sandler has been a South Florida freelance writer for several decades.

Most of her current work is travel writing. Roberta cautions:

“First, let us all acknowledge that we are surely masochists. Why else do we punish ourselves with rejection and dejection? But we carry on, and in this depressing climate, market-wise, we use whatever tactics we can in order to sell our work.” David Geer is a Cleveland/Akron, Ohio, area writer and editor who specializes in

technology content. David addresses two issues:

“Content mills are like stray animals. If you don’t feed them, they will go away. They may be here to stay, but they don’t have to feed off you. If you don’t want them around, don’t associate and don’t encourage those who do. There will always be better markets out there paying top dollar.

“As for the changing face of magazine writing, there will always be change. You need to change with it. If you’re having trouble finding opportunities to write lengthier content, look harder, look elsewhere, and definitely look online. It’s still out there.”

Jacquelyn Lynn is a long-established Orlando-area business writer and ghostwriter. Jackie adds:

“I got my start as a freelancer writing for magazines and for many years earned as

much as 80 percent of my income from articles. I can’t recall the last time I sold an article to a magazine – it’s been at least six or seven years. And I still have more work than I can handle at reasonable fees (not $2-5 per article).

“The reality is that most of the article markets many of us cut our proverbial freelance teeth on are gone. There’s no point in whining or complaining about it – just accept it and figure out the best way to deal with it.

“It’s been my experience that corporate work is not as competitive as magazine freelancing. It’s definitely different, but I’ve found that corporate clients tend to pay better and be more loyal. Yes, there have been some exceptions, but there have also been good and bad magazine markets.” Mark Battersby writes about tax and financial topics from his office in a

Philadelphia suburb. Mark’s take:

“The changing face of magazine writing seems to be fewer paying markets and fewer trade magazines, with those surviving suffering from tightened budgets.

“I don’t do much corporate work, but for over 30 years I’ve been competing with accountants and lawyers who readily give their work away just to see their name in print. Having done the same thing many years ago (without success), I’ve managed to convince enough editors of the value I bring to the table as a somewhat knowledgeable professional.” Hal Morris is a long-time freelancer living in Las Vegas. His “Grumpy Editor” blog

often touches on matters that affect freelancers. Hal says:

“Magazine writing, indeed, is changing. Lower rates, longer waiting time before receiving payment, revolving doors with editors, editors fuzzy on what they want, articles killed after lengthy time on shelf – all are very frustrating to freelance writers. But there still are some ‘normal’ editors out there.

“Corporate work may be competitive, especially with many laid off newspaper and magazine staffers eyeing the same field, but some small businesses in a writer’s region may be good prospects. For example: A community bank may need assistance in the writing portion of an annual report (these come out in March and April). A banker may say, “But we have an advertising agency.” Counter that with, “That’s fine for advertising, but the focus here is on the solid editorial word to shareholders.” Other small- to medium-sized businesses may need professional writing help with everything from external brochures to internal guidelines for employees. Research companies before making pitches. The effort may uncover a surprising mesh with one’s talents.”

Ashley Cisneros is an Orlando-based freelance writer, editor and speaker. Ashley adds:

“When I first started freelancing, I checked every message board and content mill

available looking for work. I was quickly discouraged to see the very low fees offered for writing. I especially hated the “race to the bottom” bidding environment on some of those websites.” Lisa Wroble, Naples, Florida, has been writing professionally for more than 20

years and teaching writing classes and workshops for nearly as long. Her writing experience ranges from trade magazines to fiction to nonfiction books for children. Lisa’s take:

“While it may seem that these content mills are taking over the industry, I truly

don’t believe they are. When I look at the magazines and the sites I subscribe to or read regularly, I don’t see content pulled from such sites. Instead, I see articles that are slanted to me, the reader, and which are appropriate for the publication’s audience, purpose, and mission.

“Yes, corporate work is very competitive. The best training I ever had for corporate work was working in several different businesses. While I took these jobs to support my “writing habit,” I also hoped to gain a little experience to draw upon in writing freelance articles. Instead, I realized that I had an insider’s view about how these businesses organized themselves and competed within their own industries, which I then translated to my goals as a freelance writer.” Mali Schantz-Feld is an award-winning writer in the Tampa Bay, Florida, area.

Her many credits include articles on topics ranging from business to medical in consumer, trade, custom and professional publications; as well as corporate and Web writing. Mali’s take on today’s freelance climate:

“Yes, there are more content mills driving prices down, and also a lot of

competition in the corporate workplace. But, even in the light of all of this, building a freelance business has always had the problems of people charging less and competitors vying for the same projects as you. The way to grow a freelance business is to develop a thick skin to rejection and continue to send out cover letters, resumes and clips every day that you are not working on another project.” Ray Chatelin is a British Columbia freelancer, who now specializes in travel

writing. Author of more than a dozen books, Ray’s features have appeared in a variety of major North American and Asian magazines, newspapers, and websites. Ray says:

“First of all, there’s no easy answer to how to make money in the freelance

business. It is competitive and wide ranging. But its future is also exciting with

possibilities that have no limits. On a practical basis, a lot of writers are going through tough times and will continue to do so as long as they are static in areas in which there is enormous competition. Writers have to decide whether they are there as a lifestyle or as a business.

“There’s no question that the entire writing market – especially my general area

of travel writing – has changed drastically over the past couple of decades, and in recent times has accelerated to such a point that many writers have been left in the dust. In my own case, three long-term clients (10+ years) have gone under in the past year or have changed from print to online with a drastic reduction in writing fees. When I first entered the freelance travel writing market, I could call up an airline PR, explain my assignment, and get a seat on a flight going to Hong Kong or Paris or London and easily sell the stories. Those days are long gone.”

What Steps Can a Freelancer Take to Survive Today? »» Kelly James-Enger: If you’ve been focusing on writing for print magazines,

add online writing to the mix. Most successful freelancers are now writing more online articles than print. The pay may be a little lower, but the stories often require less editing – and the websites need more content than their print counterparts.

Look for regular markets instead of focusing solely on the big magazines. I write for

several smaller magazines that pay a lot less than national ones – yet, I can still make about $100/hour because editors come to me with assignments and there are few rewrites. A lot of writers focus only on the “biggies,” and forget about all the other publications that need content.

Position yourself as a specialist who can write in different areas. I specialize in

health, fitness, nutrition, and writing/freelancing, but I can do a lot with that. In the last year alone, I’ve:

• Written for print magazines; • Written for custom magazines; • Blogged for pay; • Written for online publications; • Ghostwritten a book; • Ghostwritten a book proposal; • Ghostwritten articles/other projects; • Edited a book; • Edited other work; • Spoken for pay; • Done Webinars for pay; and • Consulted for pay, among other things.

Yes, I started out writing for print magazines. But I couldn’t do that today and make

a living – I’ve had to diversify and smart freelancers are doing the same thing.

»» Debra Wood: Know how to write for the Web – take courses, read up on it, whatever it takes. Look at the opportunities that are just starting. Professionally write tweets for people, for example.

Find a niche and become very, very knowledgeable about it and execute well. Then

editors will refer you to other editors and keep giving you assignments. »» Roberta Sandler: The travel editor of a major newspaper just advised me that

her budget has been slashed and she will be paying less. I replied that I understand her frustration about her budget constraints and, if necessary, I will accept reduced payment. (Being paid something is better than being paid nothing.)

The editor of another major newspaper initially declined my phone query because

she said she can get enough articles (about my topic) from wire services. I assured her that my angle will not be found on the wire services (I have seen many articles on this topic, but none containing the information I can provide), and I’d appreciate her willingness to read it on spec. I detest writing on spec but it seemed the only way she would agree to read my article.

I have no control over the changing face of magazine writing – changes largely

dictated by finances and diminished readership of print publications as opposed to online – but I try to pitch what isn’t the same old-same old – instead, that which is fresh and untypical, but what I think will pique the reader’s interest. I try to keep my articles shorter rather than longer.

I am constantly, relentlessly looking for new markets, including genres in which I

don’t frequently write. Not just big-circulation markets, but also niche markets and smaller markets (after studying their contents). I’ll Google health magazines or gardening magazines or seniors newspapers to find markets. (This is how I recently found a seniors magazine; pitched article to editor – a revision of a published article I had written five years earlier; received assignment; just received payment … not much pay … but this opens the door for me to write more articles for the mag.)

I send “I am introducing myself” letters to markets for which I have not written, just to let the editor(s) know that I have an expertise, reliability and experience they may need in the future.

I have been able to supplement my travel writing by presenting guest lectures (about

travel) to clubs and organizations. The lectures are really “oral articles.” I suppose a home & garden writer or a health writer would be able to do the same thing.

»» Hal Morris: One survives the current atmosphere by continuing to pitch

prospects and highlighting credentials – along with showing examples of past writing efforts. Also worth contacting are local and regional publications. Some may welcome some outside editorial assistance. Don’t overlook the local newspaper, especially with

upcoming vacations. Work as a temporary fill-in may inspire a smiling editor to assign more writing output as a regular contributor. Many newspapers these days are short on staff as they continue to cut editorial departments.

Another way to stay busy when facing a drought in writing assignments is to consider

– if with proper credentials – teaching a writing course at a local college, day or evening. Another tip: Smaller public relations firms, faced with sudden extra work and limited

staff, may seek outside writing assistance … with news releases, for example. »» David Geer: Educate yourself and learn to specialize in first one, then two and

even three top-selling subject-matter areas. Intersect your existing interests, experience and expertise when selecting those areas. Update your education and training in things people want to read about. Get hands-on training. Many editors cannot find good writers who are also SMEs (Subject Matter Experts). Become what they want, and make sure to charge well for it.

Look outside traditional magazine markets. New magazines are popping up online all

the time. There are good paying blogs and websites out there that want good writing and multimedia content. It may not be traditional journalism or reporting per se, but remember: you are a writer and not just a journalist. Write a wide variety of content for varying publishers and clients. Think far beyond magazines. Find out what’s out there, who’s publishing it, who’s writing it, and model yourself after the best paid writers in that arena.

Yes, corporate work is very competitive; but it is also very lucrative. There are not as

many writers out there as you think who are SMEs and great writers, too. And companies spend billions each year on content. Keep pushing, learning and growing. You can get there. It may feel like starting over, but getting to a new destination in life always requires movement on your part. Work to get that first clip or reference in corporate writing, then another. Build on that. Over time, you will become the person with six months’, and then a year’s worth and so on of track record in corporate writing. Soon momentum will start to take over. Fuel it, maintain it, keep it alive, and ride it to success.

The basics of success are risk and perseverance. Whatever opportunities are next,

investigate until you can make an informed decision, and then make one. Take a risk, persevere and learn whether you succeed or fail, and repeat the process until you get from where you are to where you need to be.

Leverage the hell out of social media. I could go on about how being active in social

media, even when you make mistakes with it, can help your career in a way you can measure, if only empirically. Study and use the big three social networks LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook to your advantage.

»» Jackie Lynn: Define your niche. Pick out a particular market segment that you can serve well and target it. Build your reputation in that market.

Build a respectable online presence. Your website doesn’t have to be fancy, but it

should be attractive and professional. Write your own blog, send out a newsletter, be visible on social media.

Network on- and offline. Networking is more important than ever, and it’s not

something that always comes easy to writers who are happier working in isolation. Still, you have to get out there and do it.

Stand your ground on fees. Knowledgeable people are willing to pay for quality and

you don’t want to work for those who aren’t. Every time I’ve reduced my fee (either because I really wanted to do the project or I was in a slow period and needed work), I’ve regretted it.

Consider creating your own products. Electronic and POD publishing are making it

easier than ever for a good writer to create your own products at a nominal cost. Write some e-books, put them up on Kindle and see what happens. Consider focusing on topics your target market cares about – that will help you build credibility while generating some ongoing revenue.

»» Mark Battersby: One survives as I have by continuing to plug away, adapting as

the editors demand, continually marketing my writing with proposals and, when time permits, unsolicited, over-the-transom submissions.

Having always operated as a business – that is, regular, fixed hours slaving away – it

is more that I have created a job for myself than being a freelancer. Admittedly, I am easily coaxed out to babysit the grandkids or, in the past, to coach my kids’ sporting events. But – I always made up the time either in the evenings or on the weekends. Thus, I’ve been able to tell my editors that I am a “professional” with a straight face and have long enjoyed a far greater income than the published “norms” for freelance writers.

Recently, my efforts have been largely directed at magazines that are going on the

Web and meeting their increased demand for content. »» Ashley Cisneros: I think the key to success in freelancing is definitely

networking, and also being creative when looking for new clients. When I think of some of my biggest clients and how I acquired them, I met most through networking. Almost none of them were magazines I pitched.

My biggest client to date, a custom publisher, found me on Mediabistro in 2009. My

next biggest client is a financial services company, and I met one of their PR directors at a social media conference in Miami. I currently do writing for a local PR company and I

met that client at a business expo. I write for two magazines regularly, one of which I used to work for full time, and the other I gained through a referral.

I think it’s also very important to diversify the type of writing that we do. For some

clients I ghostwrite blogs. For others I write speeches. I also write a lot of resumes and LinkedIn profile copy, press releases, white papers, e-books, and website copy.

Treat yourself as a client. Do you have a website, blog, social media accounts,

brochures, business cards? Are you using LinkedIn to connect with people who can hire you, like custom publishing directors, PR managers, and marketing directors? Do you attend Chamber of Commerce events? Do you reach out to business owners about their writing needs? We have to think beyond magazines to survive.

»» Lisa Wroble: The key to success in magazine work is exploring the mission and

audience of each publication, and then shaping your style and focus/slant to match. When I look over the thousands of article credits I’ve acquired, a good majority were

ideas I came up with while I was reading sample issues of a publication. The vision for the article came to me as I was noting the style of the articles in the specific publication, and the slant for the article came to me as I was considering the type of reader the publication targeted. I always wrote down such ideas and placed them on the top of the list of projects/query letters I would work on for the week.

Survival as a writer comes in viewing this as a business, setting goals, taking action to

achieve those goals, and creating a strategy for reaching long-term goals. I’ve had a lot of different jobs, taken in the early days to pay the bills while I had fun writing. Later, I’ve taken jobs when I got burned out on the work, or needed a change of direction, or while I broke into a new segment of the freelancing arena. I had added income to supplement the freelancing.

Now, I supplement my income as a writing instructor, which keeps my fingers on the

pulse of the rapidly changing publishing industry. I also enjoy sharing my knowledge and experience with other writers (and getting paid to do it is a bonus). Each of these jobs has also provided first-hand knowledge about yet another field or industry, plus people to interview for articles and experiences to share. (Not to mention characters and background info when writing fiction.)

»» Mali Schantz-Feld: You can go through the Writer’s Market, search the Web

for publications in your area of expertise, and of course, best of all, belong to FFWA/CNW (Writers-Editors Network) to get access to the job Bulletin Board. You don’t have to get a lot of responses in order to get a few loyal customers.

Use your “free” time every day to send out as many queries as possible. If you have a specific niche, it is also good to spend some of your money joining the professional writers associations related to your specialty (like American Medical Writers

Association). Then, get involved. Join their committees. These are volunteer jobs, but they usually present some good networking opportunities, and you can also learn a lot from the more experienced members of the association. I have joined several of these and have made some good contacts. Some are good resume additions. I volunteered to write a column on AMWA’s LinkedIn group for every issue of the AMWA journal. I don’t get paid for that, but having on your resume that you are a contributor to a national journal in your industry is a plus for some.

That brings me to LinkedIn. Join all of the groups on LinkedIn that you can, and

participate in their discussion forums. You may meet people this way, and be able to network with them.

»» Ray Chatelin: The key to success in the freelance marketplace – regardless of

your interests and specialties – is to consistently reinvent yourself. It’s something that’s not always easy. If you’re a young writer, it’s absolutely necessary to try and expand your world in preparation of changes that will inevitably take place during your career. The more you know about many things, the better off you’ll be. The publishing world is rapidly changing and will continue to change; and as a writer, you have to be able to move with the ebb and tide of the industry – so if one field cuts back, you can move comfortably into another. And if you’re a mature writer, take withdrawals from your life of experiences and think variations of your interests and life familiarities.

And avoid the obvious. On a group press trip to Vienna some time ago, for example,

fellow writers wanted to write about general tourist sites while I preferred attending the opera, visiting art galleries and museums, and interviewing the conductor of the Vienna Philharmonic. These are my niches in the travel business and they are without many competitors. I can guarantee I had an easier time marketing my material than the others did. As the result of that simple press trip more than a decade ago, I have sold stories to music magazines, arts publications, general interest magazines and several decently paying websites. And I continue to sell variations of those stories because historical material is never outdated, and it’s very easy to update practical information.

Competition is intense in all fields, and there is no easy answer or a quick fix to these

writing mills and writers who submit material for nothing in the hope of getting noticed. I wish there were an answer for this, but there isn’t an easy one. If you’re in a field in which you’re being overwhelmed by “freebies,” get out of it. Try something new. It may not always be successful, but going from one area to another could be liberating and lead to others.

My writing specialty is cultural travel, with the term “cultural” embracing a wide

range of human activity. But I also write about golf, business, and the arts – all of which fit into the “cultural” envelope. Unless you’re a writer in constant demand because of your expertise in a specialty area, you cannot afford to be a one dimensional writer, so it’s important to expose yourself to as many experiences as you can. I could make a good living writing about medical issues or the insurance business. These are areas for which I constantly see requests for stories and writers, but I have no interest in these fields.

Others may well have and could make a decent living writing about them. There are other areas of expertise as well in which writers are in short supply and with publications begging for knowledgeable input.

Over the years I have had to reinvent what I do. At one point in my career I never

thought about writing for ad agencies. That has changed. I don’t mind putting together press packages about specific developments in one of my specialty areas such as golf courses and resorts. I’ve moved into the cruise business, writing for specialty cruise magazines about things like the culture of specific destinations (food, wine, etc.). There are many people who write about the cruise business itself and I have no intention of competing with them for assignments. But, I’ve searched for areas within that milieu that they don’t cover and I’ve been able to draw upon my background, travels, and interests to find work.

Sometimes things simply don’t work out, but that can be rewarding as well, enabling

you to ignore one area and to go on to something else. I was once hired to write a public relations puff-package for a major hotel chain. It was a chain that I didn’t particularly like – having stayed while on assignments at many of their hotels – and I felt I was putting together a collection of dishonesties. The relationship deteriorated almost immediately and I walked away from it after three weeks. I didn’t even bother billing them. Was it a waste of time? On the contrary, it allowed me to realize in the early staging of one of my “re-inventions” that some areas were simply uncomfortable and that I shouldn’t be there.

In real estate (another area where writers are in demand with MANY different

niches) you constantly hear the term “location, location, location.” In freelance writing I suggest the mantra should be, “re-invent re-invent, re-invent.”

But what if the writer is timid about cold calling businesses for work?

Blog Post Commenter: How do you deal with the fear of prospecting? I’m your

typical, timid writer. It’s safe to sit at my computer and write queries to editors. But cold calling businesses puts a knot in my stomach – and the idea of going to Chamber of Commerce mixers almost sends me into complete heart failure!

David Geer: I don’t do any cold calling. All my pitches are by email or online. I

cannot recommend anything higher than a membership at FreelanceSuccess.com. It is a great community with a great online forum, newsletters and many other opportunities to learn and grow.

Ashley Cisneros: One thing that helped me with offline networking is to go to

events with a buddy. Here’s the truth … most people are afraid of striking up a conversation with someone they don’t know. It’s OK to be nervous.

I have teamed up with friends and we have attended events together. We introduce people to each other and approach groups of people together. After introducing myself to someone, I ask what they do or if they have a business.

People love to talk about themselves. It’s in our nature, I think. Usually, the person

will next ask you about yourself. This is your time to shine. You are the expert. Business owners need good writers to help them communicate about the benefits of their products and services. I don’t care what business you have … if no one knows about it, you can’t make money. Offer to take a look at their website, brochures, bios, proposals, and so on.

What you will find is that too many entrepreneurs lack the basic marketing

communication materials they need to empower their sales teams. You can help them – for a fee, of course!

Use LinkedIn to reach out to local marketing directors at companies, as well as PR

agencies. Tell them about your services … ask them if they need help with overflow. Remember, you have a service that they need. Instead of slaving away over magazine query letters, focus on building relationships with decision-makers. I think you can make more money faster that way.

Jackie Lynn: I agree with Ashley and David: Don’t cold call. Instead, make friends

and build relationships. Be selective when you’re networking. I’ve never found a Chamber of Commerce

mixer with a zillion salespeople passing around as many business cards as they can to be effective. Go for the smaller groups where the people are actual decision-makers.

Most important is to sharpen your online image and message — remember, people

don’t care what you’ve done; they want to know what you can do for them. When you meet someone at a networking event, chances are they will check out your website and LinkedIn profile before they call you. Let those tools speak for you.

What Does the Future Look Like for Freelance Writers/Editors? ● Debra Wood: I think the future is bright for freelancers. The world craves more

information not less. Someone needs to present it in an easy to understand, well-written form.

● Roberta Sandler: My guess is that more publications’ staffs will be pink-slipped, and freelancers are cheaper for the publications than staff writers, so freelancers will continue to be needed. But unless you’re talking about the top magazines, be prepared for lower payment than in the past. I hate the cliché “it is what it is,” but it seems to apply here. Writers have to follow Annie’s philosophy: the sun will come out tomorrow.

● David Geer: I think the future of freelancing is extremely bright for those who

hold on. And you can still make top dollar. Analyze what the successful writers who are just arriving at the top of their careers are doing. Add that to what you alone possess that is unique to your knowledge, experience and signature writing style, and you will have something to leverage – an edge they don’t have.

● Jackie Lynn: I think there are more opportunities than ever for good freelance

writers. It’s not quite as simple and straightforward as magazine freelancing used to be, but it can be a lot more lucrative and gives us the opportunity to be a lot more creative.

● Mark Battersby: I think as markets decline and more and more people unable to

find work decide to freelance, competition can only increase as markets decrease. Thus, my future plans include doing what I’m doing now, perhaps more of it, all the while looking into publishing e-books on tax and financial topics – and find the time to develop and promote those topics, of course.

● Hal Morris: The future of freelance writing is cloudy … maybe partly cloudy. But

with economic conditions slowly improving, sunnier days may be ahead as more magazines expand editorial pages as advertising grows. New magazines, with slim staffs, also are entering the scene. These elements will lead to a rise in material sought from freelance writers.

● Ashley Cisneros: I think the future for freelancing is still very bright. Companies

are still cautious when it comes to hiring employees, so hiring a freelancer is attractive to them. Business owners know they need to be on social media and have a company blog, but they don’t always have the resources to produce the content in-house. That’s where we come in. I love magazine writing, but it’s the custom publishing and corporate writing that pays the bills. Networking and marketing yourself and your writing is the key.

● Lisa Wroble: Yes, magazines and newspapers are struggling, but like the book

publishers, they’re finding ways to adjust to the changing times. They will survive and their editors will continue to need content that is carefully crafted and that meets the specific needs of the magazine, newspaper, app, or website.

Though the publishing industry is in flux, it’s not the first time this has happened

(nor in my opinion will it be the last). What’s unsettling now is the state of the economy, which impacts the advertising that keeps publications afloat (whether they are print, Internet-based, or part of the latest tablet/mobile technology). I think it’s an exciting time with new possibilities for communicating information and ideas.

As long as people are reading we will need writers to create the words. Freelancers will continue to be necessary to supplement the staff hired by a publication. The key is in becoming a freelancer who will make the job of the hired staff easier and keep the business running efficiently. That happens when the freelancer knows his or her job and has done enough research/homework to slant a piece to a specific audience.

● Mali Schantz-Feld: I think that, in the light of the new economy, more

companies will be looking for freelance writers so they do not have to pay benefits such as health care. That is good news for us. But perseverance is the key. If 100 people say no, and four people say yes, you still have four new clients.

The Bottom Line We still have to knock on a lot of doors — fortunately, today the door-knocking

doesn’t have to be in person (although it may be); today email and online social networks are acceptable door openers. Providing the information and services editors and clients need to reach their target audiences still applies — although the vehicles (e.g., white papers, tweets) we can use have expanded.

More about Our Contributors ─ Their Bios and Successes Mark Battersby writes about tax and financial topics from his office in a

Ardsmore, Pennsylvania. His company is Cricket Communications Inc. Dana K. Cassell lives in North Stratford, New Hampshire. She has been an

independent writer since placing her first freelance article in 1971, then moving to full-time freelancing in 1976. She has had 2,000-plus articles published in nearly 200 publications; has provided editorial services to several dozen clients, ranging from individuals to small businesses to corporations to ad agencies; and has authored or ghosted a dozen books. Her author page on Amazon is http://www.amazon.com/author/danakcassell Dana founded the Florida Freelance Writers Association (FFWA) in 1982, which expanded nationally (and internationally) into Cassell Network of Writers (CNW) and the overall Internet presence, Writers-Editors Network; http://www.writers-editors.com Contact info: dana@writers-editors.com - http://www.twitter.com/danakcassell

Ray Chatelin lives in British Columbia with his photographer-wife, Toshi. He has

written or co-authored 14 books, has written for a variety of major North American magazines and newspapers, and has won major awards for travel journalism and classical music criticism. His screenplays have been finalists in three competitions. He is a Regular Contributor, Hemispheres (United Airlines), Eye On Money (Travel), Travel Mart Magazine, Priority (Singapore Airlines), Pacific Golf Magazine, Western Player Magazine, Costco Connection. Professional Membership: Society Of American Travel Writers, Golf Writers Association Of America, Music Critics Association, Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television. Email and websites: rchatelin@shaw.ca - http://www.chatelinfeatures.com - http://www.AllThingsCruise.com

Ashley Cisneros Mejia is a brand journalist and creative communications strategist in Orlando, Florida. She is co-founder of Chatter Buzz Media, an inbound marketing firm that specializes in website design, search engine optimization (SEO), social media marketing and content marketing. Ashley also owns Ashley Cisneros, Inc., a content creation company that helps individuals and organizations leverage the selling power of words. As a freelance writer since 2002, Ashley delivers communications products including articles, advertorials, speeches and more to individuals, companies and publications. Her work has appeared in New York Magazine, the Chicago Tribune and The Los Angeles Times, among other publications.

In addition to her freelance work, Ashley has held full-time roles as a newspaper

reporter, magazine editor, technical writer, marketing manager and public relations practitioner. As a professional public speaker, Ashley delivered a keynote presentation for a women empowerment banquet at Lewis Clark State College in Idaho, and presented a seminar at Miss Black Florida’s Moving Closer to My Dreams conference.

Ashley was named Outstanding Young Female Leader in 2011 by La Prensa

Newspaper, and received a national award in organizational leadership from the National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations. In February 2012, UNITY Journalists selected Ashley as the winner from the National Association of Hispanic Journalists for its New U: News Entrepreneurs Working Through UNITY start-up business camp and competition. She won $10,000 in seed money. The Orlando Business Journal named Ashley a finalist in its “Women to Watch” category of its Women Who Mean Business awards and a winner of its 40 Under 40 List. The Women’s Executive Council of Orlando also honored her as part of its annual Women’s Achievement Awards for the Communications/Media category. Ashley earned a B.S. in Journalism and an M.S. in Entrepreneurship at the University of Florida. Contact Info: ashley@chatterbuzzmedia.com- http://www.chatterbuzzmedia.com - http://www.ashleycisneros.com - http://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleyannecisneros

David Geer is a technology writer/journalist who publishes in the trade media with

works republished and translated throughout the world. The industry has quoted and referenced David in business books for writers and cited him in academic papers on technology. David’s services include e-books, features and other content packages about technology (IT, Internet, business, consumer) as well as trade, business or consumer topics that intersect technology. David also edits content and offers content consulting. Contact info: http://www.linkedin.com/in/daviddgeer - https://twitter.com/geercom - http://www.davidgeer.com

Kelly James-Enger is a ghostwriter, author, speaker, and freelance writer who

lives in Downers Grove, Illinois. She started out as a lawyer before changing careers to write full-time on January 1, 1997. She wrote hundreds of articles for nearly 60 national magazines (including Redbook, Health, Self, Woman’s Day, and Parents) before focusing on books. She’s the author/coauthor of 14 books including Small Changes, Big Results, Revised and Updated (with Ellie Krieger, R.D., Clarkson Potter, 2013) and has ghostwritten 7 others. If you want to make money (or make more money) as a freelancer, check out Kelly’s books for writers in our Resources section.

In addition to writing, Kelly is a motivational speaker on topics ranging from

creating healthy habits to stress management to successful self-employment, and has been an ACE-certified personal trainer and group exercise instructor for several years. Her clients in this area have included The Mayo Clinic/Fairmont Medical Center, The American Liver Foundation/Illinois Chapter, and the University of Wisconsin/Milwaukee.

You can read a Writer’s Digest interview with Kelly at http://bit.ly/HQdO9I - Kelly is also the owner of Improvise Press, a niche publisher that publishes books for creative people who want to profit from their passions, which launched in spring 2013. Check out her websites, blog and contact info: kelly@becomebodywise.com - http://www.becomebodywise.com/ - http://dollarsanddeadlines.blogspot.com/ - http://www.linkedin.com/in/kellyjamesenger - http://www.improvisepress.com/ - http://www.amazon.com/Kelly-James-Enger/e/B001HOL840 Jacquelyn Lynn s a freelance business writer and ghostwriter whose dynamic books and insightful articles have been helping business leaders work smarter and more profitably for more than two decades. She has written and ghostwritten more than 25 books; 3,000+ articles that have appeared in over 100 regional, national and international publications; plus countless blogs, e-books, newsletters, white papers, news releases, and other materials. Along with her writing expertise, Jackie uses her business savvy to help her clients develop and implement effective strategies for their information products. Jackie is a member of the American Society of Journalists and Authors and the Florida Freelance Writers Association (Cassell Network of Writers). Contact info: jacquelyn@contacttcs.com - https://twitter.com/jacquelynlynn - http://www.jacquelynlynn.com/ - http://www.jacquelynlynn.com/blog/ Hal Morris’s editorial expertise ranges from covering homicides to writing front page headlines on a major Los Angeles newspaper and, later, years of freelance work. Various newspaper editorial positions included editing news, business and special sections. He also served as front section makeup editor, photo editor and columnist --- writing four different columns over the years, including the newspaper’s only regular column from overseas. Experience spanned every editorial department except sports. Hal started his journalism career on the police beat, working his way up to general assignment before editing copy. His background also includes instructor in news reporting and writing at a major California university, freelance contributions to top national publications, producer and on-air Los Angeles radio personality and a stint as an independent corporate communications specialist for several major New York Stock Exchange-listed companies. Hal currently writes http://GrumpyEditor.com and is a long-time member of New York- based American Society of Journalists and Authors.

Roberta Sandler is a long-time South Florida freelance writer and book author. Her articles have appeared in travel, inflight, and lifestyle magazines as well as major newspapers. Her credits include Newsday, Miami Herald, Philadelphia Inquirer, Baltimore Sun, Dallas Morning News, US Airways’ Attache, Spirit Airlines’ Skylight, and cruise magazines. Her expertise includes historical travel, resorts, destinations, historical attractions, offbeat travel, cruise travel, and Florida travel. Roberta’s latest book is A Brief Guide to Florida’s Monuments and Memorials. Her other books: Guide to Florida Historical Walking Tours and Senior Pursuits: Making the Golden Years Worth the Wait. Contact info: RobertaSandler@aol.com - http://www.linkedin.com/pub/roberta-sandler/50/b0a/b6b - http://www.amazon.com/Roberta-Sandler/e/B001JSANMM Eldon Sarte has been in media and the publishing industry for over 25 years. He started off working in various capacities for a number of magazines, including The New Republic and Wine, before eventually going out on his own in the mid-90s developing publications and courseware for corporate clients. In addition to writing and publishing, Eldon designs websites and book covers. Contact info: https://twitter.com/eldonsarte - http://eldonsarte.com/ - http://wordpreneur.com/ - http://www.amazon.com/Eldon-Sarte/e/B005HSPU3C Mali Schantz-Feld has written on a wide variety of subjects from medicine to economic development as a professional writer and researcher with 25 years of experience in the publishing industry. She has been honored to win awards for her articles from the Florida Magazine Association, the Florida Freelance Writers Association/Cassell Network of Writers, and the national Jesse H. Neal Award for Editorial Excellence. She is a member of the American Medical Writers Association, American Association of Dental Editors, Florida Freelance Writers Association/Cassell Network of Writers, Florida Magazine Association, and the Society of American Business Editors and Writers. Originally hailing from New York and currently residing in Florida, Mali has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Brooklyn College of the City University of New York, a Master of Arts degree in English from C.W. Post College, a division of Long Island University, and has taught writing at the University of South Florida and University of Tampa. Contact info: mschantzfeld@gmail.com - http://www.linkedin.com/pub/mali-schantz-feld/a/b2b/6b4 Debra Wood is a registered nurse and writer living in Orlando, Florida, with her two dogs. She has received the international nursing honor society Sigma Theta Tau’s media award for excellence in journalism, as well as writers association honors for her creative work. Contact info: (407) 894-6015, bwood@cfl.rr.com Lisa Wroble is a writer, book author, and writing instructor in Southwest Florida. From the age of 8, Lisa knew she wanted to become an author. She wrote stories and skits to share with neighborhood friends. Today Lisa has more than 30 published books

and 1500+ published articles plus numerous book reviews and columns. Her children’s titles are mostly nonfiction because she views her writing as teaching one reader at a time. Lisa grew up in Michigan. As a child, when she wasn’t reading, she spent time skating, swimming, and engaged in other outdoor activities such as camping, boating, and hiking. She now combines these interests with photography in the creative writing workshops she teaches for children. These students inspire her to continue writing.

She balances her time among teaching writing workshops in south Florida, presenting at conferences, working with children through arts enrichment programs, and of course, writing fiction and nonfiction. Whether teaching credit courses or lifelong learning workshops, she finds joy in seeing students take ownership of their writing and communication skills.

Lisa most enjoys writing about history, psychology, health and wellness, children’s

literature, learning styles, literacy, the natural sciences, and the environment. Interests in history, natural science, conservation, and psychology – especially self-esteem and personal growth – find an outlet in both her fiction and nonfiction. Many of these topics appear in her blog “Wonderings and Wanderings in a Writer’s Life” at http://lisawroble.wordpress.com - She tweets about writing, education issues, and shares inspiring quotes. Follow @lisawroble on Twitter.com. Learn more at http://www.linkedin.com/in/lisawroble - http://www.lisawroble.com/ - http://www.word-coach.com/

Resources

Please note: These resources represent only the tiniest portion of the books, blogs, and websites available that offer guidance on surviving as a freelance writer and/or book author. They are intended as helps to getting started to rejuvenating your freelance career. Take a look at each; follow those that offer what you need; then continue on with the additional resources they suggest.

Books and e-Books for Prospering as an Independent Writer by Dana K. Cassell: 10 Keys to Selling Magazine and Web Articles - on Kindle http://amzn.to/AtfW1L 100 Keys to Freelance Success - on Kindle http://amzn.to/yPeIV6 85 Keys to Spreading the Word: about your book, website, freelance services -

http://amzn.to/KRWO5b

by Kelly James-Enger: Dollars and Deadlines: Make Money Writing Articles for Print and Online Markets:

http://www.improvisepress.com/dollars-and-deadlines/ (use IMPROVISEPRESS (all caps, no spaces) as the discount code to get 20% off on print books) –

or http://amzn.to/19f2vjn on Amazon. Goodbye Byline, Hello Big Bucks: The Writer’s Guide to Making Money

Ghostwriting and Coauthoring Books: http://amzn.to/1f7lNNQ

Six-Figure Freelancing: A Writer’s Guide to Making More Money, second edition: http://www.improvisepress.com/demo-book-1/ (use IMPROVISEPRESS (all caps, no spaces) as the discount code to get 20% off on print books)

or http://amzn.to/14jiAGh on Amazon. Ready, Aim, Specialize! Create your own Writing Specialty and Make More Money,

second edition: Kindle book: http://amzn.to/1aLfexw by Eldon Sarte: From Free to Book (publish your book now; no cost to you, on Kindle):

http://amzn.to/10ipATX by Lisa Wroble Inspired by Facts (The WIP Files: Advice from a Working Writer, Volume 1), a

collection of 12 writing columns, is available on Kindle at http://amzn.to/18D1d0G Volume 2, Writing in Progress is forthcoming as this book goes to press. Look for it

on Amazon or on Lisa’s websites. Miscellaneous Secrets of a Freelance Writer, Third Edition: How to Make $100,000 a Year or More

by Robert W. Bly: http://amzn.to/19hocRe The Well-Fed Writer: Financial Self-Sufficiency as a Commercial Freelancer in Six

Months or Less by Peter Bowerman: http://amzn.to/1ese9i8 12-Step Pre-Test Niche Publishing Guide by Gordon Burgett - on Kindle:

http://amzn.to/1fciWmT How to Publish and Sell Your Article on the Kindle by Kate Harper - on Kindle:

http://amzn.to/JNkWSI

What to Charge: Pricing Strategies for Freelancers and Consultants, Second Edition by Laurie Lewis: http://amzn.to/158PI0S

Websites and Blogs for Writers Writers-Editors Network http://www.writers-editors.com/ Business tips, contest listings, market news and job postings (Members section) Membership information: http://www.writers-editors.com/Writers/Membership/membership.htm The Freelancery http://thefreelancery.com/ Thriving on your own - one of our favorite blogs for serious writers Wordpreneur http://wordpreneur.com/ Brain candy for indie authors and self-publishers! Dollars and Deadlines http://dollarsanddeadlines.blogspot.com/ Writing advice for freelancers and book authors – check out the Peeps (successful self-publishers) posted several times each week, who share what they’ve learned while going through the process and profiting from it

Blog Posts A Freelancer’s Survival Guide by Elizabeth G. Olson (Forbes.com) http://onforb.es/1aNSDk3 The most lucrative ways to specialize by Walt Kania http://bit.ly/16CL9PQ

Affiliate Sponsors for this e-Book Note: Writers-Editors Network is an affiliate for the following products or services.

Dana Cassell explains, “I am choosy about what we affiliate with, so you can rest assured that I have actually bought and used/tested any product our Network partners with; or we have worked with or followed the person behind the product/service for some time and feel good about recommending him or her. Affiliate commissions help us continue to provide free resources such as this e-book. Best of all, you never pay more when buying through affiliates, and sometimes we’re able to negotiate special discounts and bonuses.

Writing Life Histories for Fun and Profit - Dennis Becker http://danasuggests.info/LifeHistories (This is useful for writing business histories, also - a good niche for writers.) Publisher’s Review Accelerator - an app by Amy Harrop and Debbie Drum http://DanaSuggests.info/reviewers (You need reviews on Amazon to get sales; this app hunts out reviewers for your type

of book and supplies their email and/or website info so you can ask them to review our book.)

Recycled Riches - a program by Amy Harrop and Debbie Drum http://danasuggests.info/recycle (Shows you all the ways today to recycle the content you already have in your files.) Eldon Sarte Design http://danasuggests.info/EldonCovers (For a professionally designed e-book cover) Website Design Mojo - training by Angela Wills http://DanaSuggests.info/WebDesignMojo (A startup training program so you can build an online business selling information

products) WordPress Inner Circle Academy Monthly Training - by Paul Taubman http://DanaSuggests.info/WPmonthly (Ongoing training and help with your WordPress site) Free 28 Day Website eCourse by Paul Taubman http://danasuggests.info/FreeWPcourse (Dana has taken this course - it’s via email, it’s helpful, and it’s free - why not?) How To Write Profitable Short Reports - 31-day Guide by Connie Ragen Green http://danasuggests.info/ShortReports (For the professional writer, it offers a system to sell those reports)