Freelancewritingtips.com

Can you support a family as a freelance writer?

Thanks to Huw for this question.

Here's my answer.

Yes you can. I'm basing that on my experience as someone who has built up writing work over several years and the experience of other parents who work as freelance writers. But, guess what, it's not easy. (Already I feel like I'm stating the obvious - sorry.) Rates have hit a downward spiral for one thing and publications or sections that used to welcome freelance contributions are no longer so accommodating. More seem to be springing up, asking you to write for free. Many freelance journalists and writers, whether they are parents or not, will tell you how much of a struggle they are finding things.

My own situation is that at times I have been the sole earner due to my husband being made redundant and at present he can't work. We have twins aged 13.

My writing day

IT'S ten past eight and my daughter informs me there's a pair of socks down the toilet.

I'm at the computer, dealing with emails in connection with my role as editor of the parenting website, Ready for Ten. Most days I receive pitches from writers who would like to contribute. I try my best to respond to everyone. Some of the ideas -- and the writers behind them -- are fabulous. They may be commissioned and join our team with a first post, or depending on circumstances beyond my control, told there are no current opportunities.

The Greatest Freelance Writing Tips in the World: Book, blog and training

THE Greatest Freelance Writing Tips in the World was published in November 2007 and can be bought in bookshops and from Amazon here.

See a selection of reviews, plus feedback from readers, here.

Listen to a podcast about The Greatest Freelance Writing Tips in the World.

This blog was set up to help publicise the book.

Here are some of the most popular posts:

Back to basics: Ten mistakes to avoid when writing a news story

The most important thing? Learn multi-media skills

The fine art of negotiating press trips, by Andrea Wren

Should you write for free?

Coping with rejection: Editors are people too!

Freelance journalism: Start low, aim high?

How networking can boost a freelance writing career

How journalists can survive a recession, by Sara Edlington

Making the most of Twitter

Going freelance after being made redundant by a regional paper? Hard-learned lessons to help you on your way

Can you send the same pitch to different editors?

How journalists can reap the rewards of blogging, by Craig Mcginty.

Six myths about freelance writing.

Depression, my story and how journalists should speak up when they are feeling down

Six characteristics of a successful freelance journalist

Real life, real profit? Selling features to women's weekly magazines

A small selection of pitches that worked

Freelance writers describe their writing day.

Ten blindingly obvious things I have learned in my first year as an author.

Think you know "mummybloggers"? Think again!

My work as a writer continues to be varied, interesting and fun. My latest project, a site reporting on holidays, short breaks, days out and activities, is called Havealovelytime.com

I'm the director of the Midlands agency, Passionate Media, and our blog chronicling news from our company and clients is here.

We also run training sessions for freelance journalists wanting to make more money. The following is feedback gained from a London session:

Great course. Up and at 'em now! Anne Marie Flanagan

Thanks again for yesterday, feel very motivated today!  Rachael Glazier

Thanks for a very enlightening day. I feel like a Jedi Knight to your Obe Wan Kenobi. Catherine Goddard

Thank you! It was a fantastic day! Emma McNeil

Thanks Carol and Linda for today and the kick up the bum, enjoyed course. Michael Cross

Had a great time on Saturday. Course was brilliant, thank you. Really useful. Siobhan O' Neill

Thanks so much for the fab seminar - it was sooo helpful and have come away full of ideas and plans. You and Carol were both brilliant. Olivia Gordon

Thanks to you and Carol for a really great training day today - definitely the best course I've been on for a while. You two should add life coaching to your list of talents. Olivia Holcombe

Just wanted to say thanks for the fab course, Linda and Carol - very informative, inspiring and good fun too. Judy Yorke

I'd like to add my grateful thanks for the well-delivered and extremely interesting course - it was great to meet such creative, positive and friendly people and I now feel inspired and ready to take the plunge into a new and different world.  Ruth Derrick

Brilliant, thank you both for a very informative and enjoyable day.  I think much of what we learned will be of huge benefit in all areas of our working life. Amanda Lees

I thought it was the best course I've been on - full of practical advice and illustrative examples. It has really got me motivated and excited about getting out there and chasing down the commercial work. Thanks. Emma Jayne Jones

Please get in touch with me via email Linda@passionatemedia.co.uk if you would like to know more. Our next training date is Saturday, June 27, in central London.

How I use social media to survive and diversify

THE Black Country Social Media Cafe is described as a place for people interested in social media to gather, get acquainted, chat, plot, scheme, and share.

I attended the first meeting a few weeks back when guest speakers Pete Ashton and Chris Unitt outlined lessons learned on a visit to SXSW.

At the next meeting, to be held on Tuesday, May 12, at 2.30pm in the Alchemy Bar in Wolverhampton city centre, there'll be a chance for members to say a little about who they are and what they do, with a particular emphasis on how they have been able to use social media in their work.

It's unclear whether I am going to be able to make it to the next meeting, because of a work commitment. Nevertheless, I have been thinking about how our work has been transformed by social media, so am posting here about its impact on my professional life. As I think about tomorrow's JEE Camp, I also thought it would be useful to pull some of my experience together in this way.

Overall, I'd say that a growing knowledge of social media has allowed me to:

* Survive and diversify in my chosen career.

* Make and strengthen new contacts whom I never would have met previously.

* Improve ways of finding, researching and completing existing work

* Find new income streams - both directly and indirectly through blogging but also in offering my services to help others get to grips with the concept of social media and understand that it's not about technology for the sake of it 

* Better promote my work across various disciplines

Going freelance after being made redundant by a regional paper? Some hard-learned lessons to help you on your way

WHAT can self-employed journalists learn from The Apprentice? While fired candidate Anita didn't look after those dreaded fixed costs, many of the rest are so busy fulfilling some crazed 'killer entrepreneur' stereotype, they'll never get anywhere with the people who really count - their customers.

RECENTLY, Dan Mason wrote this post on things to do before being made redundant if you're currently working for a regional news organisation.

I went freelance 10 years ago after working on regional papers. These days my work has grown into running an agency with colleagues. That's why I wanted to share some advice for those starting out on a similar path.

I've learned some hard lessons. Although I left regional papers under different circumstances to redundancy (I needed to go away and be a mum) these pointers are based on the sorts of experiences anyone moving on from local papers to work for themselves are bound to encounter. In these toughest of times, I'd say they are more important than ever.

Mistakes to avoid when writing press releases

I LED some training recently, with an energetic bunch of PR people at their beautiful offices. I set a challenge to write a press release about a new company bringing new jobs to a city. The press release was to go to regional media.

It was an interesting exercise to see what they came back with. Overall, the standard of writing was high - but some subtle and not so subtle changes were needed to make their press releases more effective.

Media relations for beginners: Ten run-of-the-mill, really not rocket science tips on how not to do it

OF course, I'm coming over all Getting Ink now, or well trying to at least. These may not be the most far-reaching of rules, but hey I like 'em.

If your steps into commercial writing present you with a client wanting you to also attempt to secure media coverage, I do hope they may come in handy:

1. Don't phone up a Sunday paper to ask: "Which day do your health pages come out?" It makes you look stupid.

2. Don't send a release unless you have a good idea what kind of features/news the publication carries. You have to be prepared to actually read recent copies if you want to get it right.

3. Don't try to be the journalist's best mate on the phone. They are usually busy and haven't got time for that. (I struggle with this, being such a friendly sort.)

4. Don't send out completely untargeted press releases – are you sure that Mobile Phone Weekly is really the place for your news of your new training course? (‘It could be’ isn’t good enough!)

5. Don't pester with repeat phone calls saying "are you going to use it?" One phone call asking this question is one too many – if the story is good enough, it will get in.

Good client, bad client

THERE's an excellent post here by The Wordsmith. That mysterious lady sure knows her stuff.

She has neatly summed up some of the best and worst aspects of dealing with commercial customers.

My "worst of" list would also include those PR clients, about whom you end up thinking: "What exactly could I have done to prevent this happening?" When something goes slightly awry.

Examples? Well there was the woman behind a new invention for the (let's say) catering industry, whose partner decided to tell the reporter from a trade magazine who got in touch: "This isn't her first good idea you know, she also came up with wings for sanitary towels but someone beat her to it, in taking them to market."

Variety is the spice of freelance life

WHAT are you working on today?

For me, one of the best things about working for yourself is deciding exactly what you are going to spend your time on. (My apologies, I fear I may be stating the obvious!)

Like any chosen path in life, there are good days and bad days. Today happens to be a good day.

Starting out in commercial writing work

AT Passionate Media, we receive regular requests from freelance journalists asking how we made a start in 'commercial writing'.

They ask us where they should advertise and who they should ring.