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.

Digital agency Made by Many seeks copywriter

THE following opportunity comes from Sara Williams at Made by Many.

You can read Sara's original post here:

We're hiring:middleweight writer

Please direct any requests for more information to the email address included at the end of this post.

We’re on the hunt for a thoughtful, articulate copywriter to join us at the Wharf. 

Background-wise, we’re looking for someone who has been writing and editing for three to five years: this is a job for a professional writer, not an aspiring wordsmith. Digital copywriting experience is critical.

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.

Ten tips to help you blog for charity

A version of this post was written for the BMB blog.

As the tragedy of earthquake and tsunami unfolds in Japan, parent bloggers are harnessing the power of social media to help those devastated.

Rebecca at Two Become Four rounded up ways that the community have rallied round: How can we help Japan?

Place on Kick start your freelance writing career workshop in Authors for Japan auction

I'M offering a place on an upcoming workshop for new and aspiring freelance writers in the Authors for Japan auction.

It's being held in Birmingham city centre and is on Saturday, July 2. I hope this information is useful for anyone considering bidding. 


This workshop is for you if:

* You are considering launching a freelance journalism career

Freelance journalism mentoring included in Authors for Japan auction

THIS is a cross-post from Authors for Japan. The sessions mentioned below also include exercises set between phone calls and tailored feedback. These are included in an auction and the hope is that people will bid and raise money to help relief efforts in Japan.

Please see the Authors for Japan website for more information, plus some amazing offers from high profile authors.

ITEM: One place on four-week telephone mentoring sessions for aspiring freelance journalists (usual price £250 plus VAT) plus signed copies of The Greatest Guide to Freelance Writing, publication late 2011; Love to Write: A School Run guide to helping your child in literacy (provisional title), publication due 2011.

Ten writing howlers to spoil (this) editor's first impression

I'VE edited various publications over the years.

These include an English-language newspaper in Russia, charity and business magazines, women's sections, culture guides and now, the parenting website Ready for Ten.

My work has also seen me enjoy stints as a news editor on regional newspapers and my former employer, the Wolverhampton Express & Star, kept me on as a part-time sub after I had my children, before I left to go freelance.

In my personal life, I am quite happy-go-lucky but I know that on a professional level, when new writers have approached me with their ideas or copy, for some reason they may have felt intimidated.

Taking the fear out of freelance journalism by Susan Grossman

YOU need a lot of courage to send off ideas to editors. Creative people aren’t naturally good at selling themselves, but it’s part of the job, writes Susan Grossman.

Here, Susan, a freelance writer of more than 30 years standing, now lecturing on the MA in journalism at a London university, explains how to ensure that your story idea is accepted.

Susan's now a writing mentor and career coach, running regular workshops for freelancers on Pitching to Editors.

Q: Why would an editor want a feature from me?

SG: Because, as a freelance you are a vital cog in the wheel. Without freelancers, newspapers and magazines would struggle to survive.

Commissions drying up so I started a blog: How we've got on so far

ARE you being told there's no budget for UK travel features? So ran a recent question on the Journobiz forum.

The answer from the forum's resident travel writers was pretty much a resounding "yes."

In February 2008, I reported the following for Press Gazette: What were the chances of building a career in this competitive field for anyone who fancied it?

Author, journalist and trainer Dea Birkett said:

Forget it. The biggest misconception about travel writing is that it’s an easy way to make a living. You have to do other things to pay the mortgage.

Think you know mummybloggers? Think again

I'VE been reading a bit about how PRs are engaging with bloggers lately and some of the discussion has either been sparked by or led to mentions of a recent trip I shared with six other so-called UK 'mummybloggers' to Walt Disney World.

See this forward thinking post from travel journalist Jeremy Head and this interesting piece by Manchester's Sarah Hartley to see what I mean.

Susanna, from A Modern Mother, recently shared guidance for PRs wanting to contact this group of bloggers and I have been meaning to add my thoughts on her excellent post for a while. The one point I disagreed on was that I write for other people, not for me.