Server Change Update: No Comments After Noon

Just a quick update about the server change going on here. It looks like I finally have the last issue worked out (tested on my smaller sites), and will be moving All Freelance Writing to its new server this afternoon. That means I’ll download the final database backup around noon today. If you comment between that database backup and the site moved, your comment will

All Freelance Writing: Possible Downtime

Due to continued problems with our current hosting company, I’ve decided to switch. Any time from this afternoon through the end of the week you might see a short period of downtime here. I’ll be moving some small sites over first to make sure everything is set up fine with the new host, so I can’t guarantee a certain time frame. I’ll let you know

Quick Honey! Hide the Kids!

My husband worked at home exclusively for more than five years. During this time he kept the kids a fair amount while I taught, but it never ceased to amaze me how much he wanted to hide the kids from his business associates. In his mind and perhaps the minds of others, it was only a “real” job if he could fool everyone into thinking

The One Quality You Need Most To Make It In Print

I’m about to let loose with another big secret. You know—the quality you need most to make it in the magazine market. Any guesses? It might not be what you think it is… That you have to be a superior writer? Nope. That you have to know someone? Nah. (But it can help!) That you have to have a totally amazing idea? Uh-uh. The quality

Reader Question: Using Pseudonyms as a Freelance Writer

Yesterday I received a reader question about freelance writers using pseudonyms. Given the nature of the topic, I agreed to only refer to the reader as CP. Here’s the email I received: I am in the process of transitioning into the freelance writing world, and getting my sea legs. I intend to use a pseudonym (as I have a separate, unrelated career), but am unclear

Dream Job, Nightmare Income: Why I Still Freelance

Sometimes I’m tempted to go back to work full-time. Not because I miss working outside the home or because I feel the need to interact with adults more often during the day. Only because I want more money. What I make now is fine (forgive the melodramatic post title), but I have some lofty goals I want to accomplish that require more money. I fantasize

Demand Media Strikes Back at PBS and Writers Everywhere – Yawn

Many of you probably caught this post on PBS.org about content farms last week. When I read it, I found it very interesting that Demand Media turned down the opportunity to be interviewed for the piece. Usually, they can’t be tamed when it comes to spouting their really cool: Hey, we never said we were journalists… but look at our awesome brand of service journalism

One Writing Mom’s (Realistic) Goals for the New Year

It’s almost time to start another year! Parents and teachers know exactly what I’m talking about. They live in my universe where January is simply part of winter break and the REAL year starts in mid-August or early September when kids go back to school. In this family, I always go back to school and I’ll have one heading off to kindergarten *stifle sob* and

Some Blog Schedule Changes You Should Know About

We have a few changes happening at All Freelance Writing, and I wanted to make you aware of them. Here’s the rundown: Matt Willard was doing a trends-focused humor series here. He’s now switching gears. He’ll be writing a fictional serial comedy each week. His posts will still be published every Thursday. Clint will no longer be publishing freelance writing jobs. Today was the final

Why I Won't Pursue a Publisher for The Query-Free Freelancer

Yesterday on Twitter I noted that I finally made a decision regarding the book I’m working on — The Query-Free Freelancer — and whether I would pursue a traditional publisher or opt to self-publish the book. I’ve chosen the latter. I put a lot of thought into this over the last few months, and was already leaning towards the self-publishing route. But recent events in

All Freelance Writing Ad Testing – Kontera

I’ve been having an exchange with a Kontera rep about implementing their ads on this and other sites I own. As you might already know I’m not a huge fan of Google’s Adsense network, although we still use them here minimally. While I plan to keep advertisements to a minimum on this site, other than promoting my own products and affiliate products I test and

Should You Take a Quirky Spouse to a Professional Conference?

I recently received an interesting reader question from Jazmin of Capital Web Writing. Her question was about whether or not it would be appropriate for her hubby to accompany her to a conference, especially given his unique quirks. She gave me permission to share the email and my thoughts here. I’d like to hear your thoughts on the topic as well. Here’s the email: I

How To Stay Motivated As A Freelance Writer

I had a really strange few days this past week. I’ve taken on some new work, streamlined my current projects so I can take most weekends off and started to jot down ideas for the book I’ve been trying to write for a while. I should have been ecstatic, but instead I found it particularly difficult to get – and stay – motivated. I don’t

The 10 Commandments of Freelance Writers

As freelance writers, we all share a secret, unspoken code of ethics. It’s not enough for me that this code of ethics remains secret and unspoken though—I want to publish it and speaketh it. So here goes. 1. I am the Lord thy Client. Thou shalt not have strange clients before me. None of your clients wants to hear about your other clients. None of

How To Turn Down A Freelance Writing Project Professionally And Respectably

When starting as a freelance writer, it’s difficult to turn down work.  You’re a rookie in the industry who’s trying to make a living writing and the simplest way to do that seems to be to take on as much work as you possibly can. There comes a point, though, when you physically can’t take on anymore work and you need to start turning projects

Discrimination that Freelance Writers Face and Inflict

During the past year there has been a lot of talk about how female freelance writers are discriminated against. It is said that clients are more likely to argue with us about rates than our male counterparts, that clients expect us to work much cheaper, they treat us differently and it’s harder for us to get gigs. As someone equipped with a vagina and a

The Pain of Brain Splitting – Mom Knows.

Yesterday I got a searing headache. Headaches aren’t usual for me and this one had a cause that was very easily identifiable and I should have known better. It wasn’t lack of water or lack of sleep (for once.) The IRS hasn’t called lately and the scale isn’t too horrifying for the week. The cause of this particular headache was my children. The worst part?

Seedy Late Night Phone Calls and Fiction Inspiration

It was a little after midnight. The phone rang. I yawned, wiped my eyes, and looked to my night stand in disbelief. I had to be dreaming, right? No one in their right mind would call me at this hour. But no. The phone really was ringing. It might have been a family emergency or something. So I reached across my bed and picked up

How To Expand Your Freelance Writing Business By Networking With Other Writers

I’m naturally a bit of a reclusive person.  I enjoy working with others and socialising with groups of friends, but I tend to find that if I can do something by myself rather than with others, I generally will. Since being a freelance writer, however, one of the most important points I’ve learnt  is that networking with other writers is key to developing your writing

8 Things Freelance Writers have in Common with Satan

Good morning my little fiends, how are you today? Well, however you were doing, you’re about to get doing better (huh?) because I’ve decided that it’s high time for all of us to come out of the hellfire and acknowledge just how much like Satan we freelance writers are. Yes, we freelance writers have much in common with that red horned, fork-tailed devil. Don’t act

When It Comes To Magazines, Guidelines Are Rules

Well. What I’m about to tell you is one of the most important things you will ever learn in terms of writing for print. Ready? Here goes: Follow the guidelines. Sound deceptively simple? Seem like common sense advice? Guess what? In terms of the magazine editors I know, this is the most common complaint. Writers don’t follow the guidelines. Those that do—they will get more

2010 Goals and Resolutions – How Far Have We Come?

Can you believe we’re already half-way through 2010? Wow! And you know what that means, right? It’s time to look back on the goals and resolutions we set for our freelance writing businesses, blogs, etc. and see how we’re coming along. Maybe we’ve met some of our goals already. Perhaps it’s time to let some go because we’ve made other goals along the way. And

How To Take A Break From Your Freelance Writing Business

I’ve been a freelance writer for a few years now, but it wasn’t until January this year when I actually started to make a real go of making my hobby-come-part-time-job into a full time career. Before 2010, to all intents and purposes I’d been playing at freelance writing.  I had a few regular clients, kept in with the right crowds and applied for a few

Goal Setting for Freelance Writers

As freelance writers we sometimes don’t think of ourselves as master multi-taskers, but by the very nature of our business, we are. We are individuals focused on our career and business owners attempting to drum up business and satisfy customers. We are employees of our own business and we are people with families and the need for a rich, fulfilled life. This complicated relationship between

When Exhaustion Kicks In…And You’re Still Working

If the idea of an all-nighter fills you with excitement and gritty determination to see it through to morning with coffee, sugar and a big welcoming bed the moment the project is finally complete – you’re not a parent. Or at least you’re not the parent looking forward the 6 A.M. wake up call every morning of the week, every week of the year you’ve

Freelance Fitness: Perk Up Your Playlist

Even though I’ve been doing most of my workouts indoors lately because of the heat and humidity Mother Nature’s been throwing our way here, one of my favorite workouts has always been walking (or hiking depending on where I am). When I don’t have someone with me to talk to while working out, I pop in some headphones before heading out the door. Oftentimes I

How To Prepare For A Drop In Your Freelance Writing Business

No matter if you’ve been writing 12 weeks or 12 years, there’ll be a time when when your freelance writing work dries up a little. For some writers, it’s a seasonal hazard.  For others, it’s because of something they’ve done (having changed their prices or being out of the ‘loop’ for a while are two examples that come to mind).  However, it’s likely that at

Suze Orman, Self-Worth and Freelance Writing, Part 2

Okay, so we’re back. If you haven’t read part one of this series—do so. This part won’t make sense unless you read my Kim Kardashian Botox analogy. Okay it will, but I still like that damn story. The Rates of Other Writers So right now you should be honestly assessing your skill compared to other freelance writers in your niche, and assessing the quirks you

Should You Buy a Get Rich Quick Writing Scheme?

It takes money to make money, but should you spend your hard-earned money on a writing ebook/program/webinar that promises to make you oodles of money? I once spent money on one of those ebooks and I was completely satisfied with my purchase. I didn’t get rich – nor did I believe I would – but I used the strategy to create a web product that’s

How To Find Free Stock Photos For Your Freelance Writing Blog

Since early 2010, I’ve been hired to create a lot of photo blog posts.  I don’t know whether it’s something that other people are experiencing or that for some reason it’s just my workload that’s consisting of this type of work, but I really enjoy creating them. One of the most time consuming parts, however, is actually finding photos that can be used.  I occasionally