Off the Wire: June 2025

We’re revitalizing our series, Off the Wire. Here, we gather stories about the media business, journalism, writing, communications, and freelancing—with a Canadian focus. Who needs a water cooler?

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With freelance participation on the rise and regulations tightening, it’s more important than ever to stay informed. Here are the latest stories shaping the future of freelancing and media in Canada.

Freelancing stories from around the web

Remember to check out the Canadian Freelance Guild Job Bank, which lists various opportunities including calls for pitches and freelance opportunities.

Recently published on Story Board

Spot a story you think we should include in next week’s Off the Wire? Email the link to robyn@robynroste.com.

Posted on June 30, 2025 at 6:00 am by editor · LEAVE A COMMENT · Tagged with: ,

13 Freelance Traps Creatives Must Avoid to Keep Their Business Running Smoothly

This article with traps freelancers must avoid is by Julie Barlow, author of GOING SOLO: Everything You Need to Start Your Business and Succeed as Your Own Boss (with Jean-Benoît Nadeau).

13 Freelance Traps Creatives Must Avoid to Keep Their Business Running Smoothly
Things got off to a great start when I began my freelance writing career three decades ago. I quickly found myself with enough assignments to keep me busy all week long. I was writing so hard I made a classic freelance error. I forgot to take time out to do “sales,” to pitch ideas and find new clients. When one of my editors changed jobs and another magazine closed, my work dried up overnight and I feared it would never come back….

Experience taught me the hard way that even when your business is up and running, you can’t slack off sales. It’s just one of many “myths” or misconceptions both beginners and seasoned freelancers face over their careers. And there are many others.

Here are 13 freelance traps that every creator should avoid to stay confident and keep your business running smoothly

1. “I’m just starting out, so I should charge less”

Absolutely not. Your prices should be based on industry standards for whatever you are producing, and your costs. If you were an employee, lack of experience might translate into a lower salary, but it doesn’t work that way for freelancers. You “earn less” when you are inexperienced because it takes you longer to produce, so don’t charge less to begin with!

2. “I’m good with just one steady client”

No, you’re not. From a business perspective, you should never put all your eggs in one basket. You should always have at least a few clients. If you lose your main client, you need other customers to fall back on. Also, from a tax perspective, having one client means you run the risk of being considered an employee and could have your tax advantages removed.

3. “My clients are friends”

No, they are not. Clients are not your friends. You are in a business relationship with them, and you need to treat them accordingly. Working for friends, or thinking of clients as buddies, makes us ready to compromise, and hesitate to ask for fair pay and working conditions. It’s OK to be friendly with your clients, but when they fail to pay, be ready to confront them, drop them, even if you like them. Business is business.

4. “Once my business is up and running, I won’t have to spend as much time doing sales”

Yes, you will. As I learned from experience, even when you have enough work to keep you busy for a year, keep offering your services and looking for new markets and clients. It’s always easier to sell when things are going well. This will help you avoid costly and demoralizing slumps.

5. “I can’t afford to be unpleasant”

Yes, you can. Problems with clients never “solve themselves.” If a client is late in paying, expecting too much from you, asking you to do extra work without paying for it, changing the terms of your contract when it’s started—and these are just some examples—you can’t afford to be nice about it.

6. “The customer is always right”

No, the customer is often wrong. Sometimes they are wrong when you are negotiating with them. They are definitely wrong when they pay late. They can be acting in good faith and still wrong.

Remember, the boss is always right: and you’re the boss.

7. “I always have to say yes to work”

No, you don’t. If the work doesn’t interest you, or if you have too much on your plate to complete it, it’s better to take a pass. It’s a good idea to know other people in your business so that you can share work with when you have too much. Clients appreciate this and will probably come back to you knowing you will always find a solution for them.

8. “Clients will always take advantage of me”

No, they won’t. Your client isn’t “the enemy.” Yes, they want you to do your best work, but if you start thinking that customers have it in for you, you won’t get far. Talk openly to clients about problems you are having as soon as they pop up. If you hide the truth about your concerns, your clients will lose confidence in you.

9. “I have to do everything myself”

Not at all. You hire professionals to fix plumbing or electrical problems in your home. Why not do the same for work with bookkeeping, accounting, website security or even invoicing? If business is booming, you will need to hire outsiders to keep on top of things. Consultants, fees-based contractors, and interns can also help you get your business off the ground.

10. “I can handle the stress”

Maybe, but probably not. So, why take the risk? In small doses, stress is like exercise—vital and necessary. But when it becomes frequent and intense, it can wreck you physically and mentally. Freelancers must pace themselves. Stress makes us neglect details and become irritable with clients. Stressed-out workers don’t negotiate well, and don’t produce well. So, make sure you take breaks and vacations. It will pay off.

11. “Things will take off, eventually”

Not necessarily. No matter how determined and hard-working you are, if your business isn’t taking off, you can’t keep financing it forever. But this doesn’t mean you are doomed. You might be going about your business the wrong way. So take the time to ask, is my idea good? Is my timing bad? What’s the competition doing better than I am? You can put the question to your top 10 customers: ask them to tell you honestly if your idea, project, or product stands out. They’ll tell you.

12. “I have to spend a lot of money to get things going”

No, you don’t. Your business can fail because you didn’t invest enough, say, to buy good computers or software. But there’s a limit. Study your needs carefully every time they arise. Think about your business plan. Make sure you are buying something that will help you reach your goals, not something you think you need because other people have it.

13. “I am doing a favour for a friend”

Not a good idea. If you spend your time making exceptions for people, you will never develop your specialty and make a living selling it. You wanted to turn your skill into a business because you love doing what you do, and because you wanted to earn income from it. Bending the rules for friends will sabotage that.
What other traps should freelancers be warned about? Let us know in the comments!

Also on Story Board from Julie Barlow

Posted on June 25, 2025 at 6:00 am by editor · LEAVE A COMMENT · Tagged with: , ,

6 Big Mistakes Freelancers Make on LinkedIn (and How to Fix Them)

This article on LinkedIn tips for freelancers is written by Vanessa Chiasson, a freelance writer based in Ottawa who specializes in travel and human interest stories.

Stock image of a mobile phone with LinkedIn loaded on the screen. This is to illustrate the article titled 6 big mistakes freelancers make on linkedin (and how to fix them)

Work looks a little different when you’re a media freelancer. Sometimes it looks a lot different!

How we use LinkedIn is different too. This is no static platform for us. We can’t simply list our work experience.

It’s not enough to make a few half-hearted connections after a conference. Our work is dynamic, ever-evolving, and multidimensional. Our LinkedIn presence ought to be the same.

I’ve been using LinkedIn for over a decade and coaching others on how to make it work for them.

Here are 6 of the most common LinkedIn mistakes I see freelancers make

1. You’re focusing on what you’ve accomplished instead of who you serve

Yes, when you get that Canadian Geographic credit, you better shout it from the rooftop! However, far too many media workers use LinkedIn as a platform just to brag about bylines. Don’t just tell us who you’ve worked for. Tell us how you served them.

My LinkedIn bio begins by stating that I work with value seekers and, in a tumultuous media landscape, I offer editors reassurance and results.

What about you? Do editors love you because you turn in impeccably clean copy? Are publishers impressed by your hard-hitting interviews? Are collaborators awed by your commitment to creativity? This matters more than a big name byline.

2. You’re only connecting with editors–and anyone else you think might give you an assignment

LinkedIn is all about building relationships, not begging for jobs. Start by following your sources, organizations you think are cool, people you volunteer with, friends from old jobs, and anyone else you can think of. Engage in real conversation when they post. Envision a complex web or snowflake-shaped world of semi-connected people, not a few sparse vectors to fancy-pants publishers.

3. You’re not updating your projects

You’ve probably heard that you can add your publications to LinkedIn but what about projects? This often-ignored section is where freelancers shine.

What, exactly, counts as a project? Anything you like! Just think of all the interesting things we’ve done.

My projects include training to walk several sections of PEI’s famed Island Walk, a marketing workshop I co-hosted with a friend, an e-book I wrote about GDPR compliance, and much more. This is the perfect place to record all the cool stuff you do that doesn’t fit into a tidy category. You better believe that people browsing through your profile will be impressed.

If you click on your LinkedIn profile, you’ll see a button under your name that says “Add Profile Section.” This opens a box which allows you to add “Core,” “Recommended,” and “Additional” information to your LinkedIn profile. You’ll find projects under the “Recommended” tab.

4. You’re not telling people how they can work with you

A colleague of mine, a woman who worked in marketing before transitioning to travel writing, has just won an award for her well-established travel site. As the congratulatory comments poured in on LinkedIn, I couldn’t help but notice one that said, “I didn’t know you did travel writing!” Not all her connections were up to date on her career.

That’s why it’s prudent to write a helpful update once a quarter or so which explains what you’re doing, who you’re doing it for, and where you hope to grow in the coming months. Like any other social media network, LinkedIn doesn’t show all your content to all your followers. You need to be proactive.

Are you no longer doing wedding photography but putting a lot of effort into developing your family reunion portfolio? Let people know.

5. You’re not curating and chopping

If your career as a freelance illustrator indeed got a boost from working part-time in an art supply store, please include it with your LinkedIn experience. However, not every gig with a tangential connection to your work life needs to be a part of your profile. In fact, keeping irrelevant material can be a real annoyance and distract from what you really want to focus on.

I once thought it would be smart to keep my old experience as a medical centre admin on my LinkedIn profile. After all, many of those same organizational and administrative skills have proven very helpful as a freelancer. However, I began receiving annoying messages from dental clinic service providers. I quickly learned my lesson. Less really is more!

Alas, some messages kept trickling in and I finally realized that while I had deleted that particular job experience, I hadn’t culled “health care” from the skills section. Oops! Now that section is cleaned up and I’ve reordered the list so that my most relevant skills are now at the top.

6. Fear not the headshot!

Media freelancers are usually more comfortable behind the camera, not in front of it. However, when it comes to your LinkedIn profile photos, you need to step out of your comfort zone and invest in professional-quality headshots.

We are visual creatures. We want to see the friendly face behind the project.

Ask a local colleague for photographer recommendations. Book a haircut, recruit your bossiest friend for fashion advice, and make those photos happen!

What’s missing from this list? What’s your best advice for optimizing your LinkedIn profile? Let us know in the comments!

Other social media posts from Story Board

Posted on June 18, 2025 at 6:00 am by editor · LEAVE A COMMENT · Tagged with: , ,

Webinar: Robyn Roste and Marketing For Freelance Writers

In addition to curating the CFG’s Job Bank, and serving as only the second Editor of The Storyboard, our long running freelance-focused publication that turns 15 this year, Robyn runs a busy freelance writer and coaching business, and is the author of Marketing for Freelance Writers. There’s more, but you get the idea.

Come along, bring a friend, and we guarantee you’ll learn something useful about freelancing, marketing, and book publishing.

CFG Authors - Robyn Roste and Marketing For Freelance Writers

All About Canadian Books host Crystal Fletcher is back again with another of our CFG author interviews. She’ll talk to Robyn about her new book, the choices made getting it to market, and an unexpected new challenge she’s agreed to share with our viewers.

Our Presenters

CFG Books and AACB Present: Author Robyn Roste and Marketing for Freeelance Writers

You can register for this webinar right here.

Learn more about the cost and benefits of membership in the CFG on this webpage.

The link to the Zoom webinar will be sent to you via email about half an hour before the start time.

Please check your spam or junk folders if you can’t find the email, and contact organizer@canadianfreelanceguild.ca if you haven’t received the link 10 minutes before the scheduled start time. This webinar will be recorded and posted to the CFG Video-On-Demand site. Once posted, all paid registrants will receive a link and instructions on how to view.

Posted on June 11, 2025 at 6:00 am by editor · LEAVE A COMMENT · Tagged with: ,

Off the Wire: May 2025

We’re revitalizing our series, Off the Wire. Here, we gather stories about the media business, journalism, writing, communications, and freelancing—with a Canadian focus. Who needs a water cooler?

MediaFreeLogo.2 SB

With freelance participation on the rise and regulations tightening, it’s more important than ever to stay informed. Here are the latest stories shaping the future of freelancing and media in Canada.

Freelancing stories from around the web

Remember to check out the Canadian Freelance Guild Job Bank, which lists various opportunities including calls for pitches and freelance opportunities.

Recently published on Story Board

Spot a story you think we should include in next week’s Off the Wire? Email the link to robyn@robynroste.com.

Posted on May 27, 2025 at 6:00 am by editor · LEAVE A COMMENT · Tagged with: ,

Webinar: Is Your LinkedIn Profile Working?

As the social media landscape continues to evolve, the CFG and many of our members are shifting focus away from more contentious sites like Meta/Facebook and Twitter/X, while increasing their activity on LinkedIn, the business-friendly platform now owned and operated by Microsoft.

While LinkedIn shares many of the features of other social platforms, it has some characteristics of its own. Knowing about those differences and similarities can help make your LinkedIn profile stand out from the crowd.

Is Your LinkedIn Profile Working?

Our Presenters

Our panelists are avid LinkedIn users, and they’re ready to share their DOs and DONTs with you.

CFG Experts Panel – 10 Ways to Protect Yourself from Generative AI

You can register for this webinar right here.

Learn more about the cost and benefits of membership in the CFG on this webpage.

The link to the Zoom webinar will be sent to you via email about half an hour before the start time.

Please check your spam or junk folders if you can’t find the email, and contact organizer@canadianfreelanceguild.ca if you haven’t received the link 10 minutes before the scheduled start time. This webinar will be recorded and posted to the CFG Video-On-Demand site. Once posted, all paid registrants will receive a link and instructions on how to view.

Posted on May 21, 2025 at 6:00 am by editor · LEAVE A COMMENT · Tagged with: ,

AI and the freelance writer in 2025

In 2025, artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a looming force on the horizon. It’s here, embedded in the everyday work of many freelance writers.

From content ideation to editing and even pitching, AI is changing how creative professionals work. For freelance writers across Canada, the challenge for most isn’t avoiding AI but learning how to co-exist while navigating the nuanced moral and ethical implications.

AI and the Freelance Writer in 2025

Opportunities, risks, and strategies freelance writers can use to navigate the AI landscape

AI-powered writing tools like ChatGPT, Jasper and Copy.ai are becoming standard features in many freelancer’s digital toolboxes. According to a 2024 freelancing in Canada report, more than 60 per cent of freelance writers now incorporate some form of AI into their work. These tools can quickly generate outlines, summarize complex texts or repurpose content in different tones and formats.

Although many people view AI as a possible threat to their career, AI is opening new doors for writers willing to evolve. Here’s how:

In many ways, AI can be a multiplier. It has the potential to boost productivity and open new streams of revenue, especially for freelancers who understand the tools and context in which they’re used.

Of course, the growing role of AI in content creation can also bring challenges. Here are a few:

Understanding where AI excels and human input is irreplaceable is essential for carving out a long-term career as a freelance writer

How can Canadian writers future-proof their freelance careers? Here are some strategies:

Develop your unique voice

AI lacks personal experience, cultural sensitivity and emotional depth. Sharing your perspective and creative intuition is key. Make sure your writing reflects this special sauce.

Upskill and adapt

Understanding how to collaborate with AI can set you apart from others in your niche. Find ways to stay current on AI tools.

Diversify income streams

Combine writing with teaching, consulting or creating offers and resources that reflect your unique expertise.

Emphasize transparency and trust

Make it clear when and how you use AI in your writing. You’ll develop trust while at the same time positioning yourself as a thoughtful guide.

The freelance writing world is always changing, and in 2025 AI is one of the biggest drivers. Viewing AI as the beginning of a new chapter may be easier than bemoaning the end of creative writing altogether. For writers who lean into their uniqueness, sharpen their skills and lead with ethics, AI may turn out to be a partner rather than a competitor.

Other AI-related articles on Story Board

Posted on May 16, 2025 at 6:00 am by editor · LEAVE A COMMENT · Tagged with: 

How to avoid bad clients: 8 tips for self-employed workers

This article with tips to avoid bad clients is by Julie Barlow and Jean-Benoît Nadeau, authors of GOING SOLO: Everything You Need to Start Your Business and Succeed as Your Own Boss.

How to avoid bad clients 8 tips for self-employed workers

Every freelancer has clients who don’t pay on time or don’t pay at all. They cook up stories about invoices blowing off their desks or getting lost. They ghost you when you insist on being paid.

The best way to deal with these clients is to avoid them in the first place. Bad clients may be a fact of life for self-employed workers but spotting them quickly will save you a lot of headaches.

Here are eight ways to avoid bad clients

Prevention is the best medicine

You can usually detect an unreliable client early on. Start by asking basic questions about the job. Does the client really know what they want? Are their expectations realistic? Is the deadline do-able? Do they agree to pay you on delivery, or agree to a payment schedule? If the client gives vague answers, or is evasive, that’s a red flag. If they say, “let’s see how things go,” before they agree to a fee or conditions, you should reconsider working for them. They are not going to be reliable or keep their word.

Beware of fancy talk

When potential clients use grandiose and unnecessary terminology, or speak in monologues that sounds rehearsed, beware. Fancy speeches are designed to intimidate you and/or hide the fact that a client doesn’t know what they want. If you keep negotiating, be firm, use short, clear sentences, and expect your client to do the same. Don’t leave things up in the air. Clients must commit to specific assignments.

Don’t believe anyone who flatters you

This is especially key for self-employed workers in creative fields. When a client says you are a “natural,” they are probably trying to get you to lower your price. If they say that your work must be “effortless” or that “you must really enjoy what you do,” they are trying to get you to work for less, or for free. Stay away from them. Working creatively is neither effortless nor natural. It’s work.

Take the time you need

A client might have a good reason for wanting to get things done quickly, but that’s not your problem. Always take your time when you are negotiating, especially if your client is in a rush. Rushing you to start work before the terms of a contract have been agreed on puts you in a weak position. Clients who do this may spring new conditions on you when work is underway. Beware of anyone who says, “it shouldn’t take you long.” It almost always does.

Get it in writing

It’s the Golden Rule for self-employed workers: always try to have a signed contract before you start working on a project. But emails with information about fees and conditions also prove the existence of an agreement. It’s tempting to trust people but if they are trustworthy, they will understand that you need your fee and conditions in writing before you start working.

Keep it professional

Working for friends can be a trap. Sometimes your friend is not the person who makes decisions. That can lead to nasty surprises along the road. Or, if things get complicated, your friend might use their relationship with you to get concessions. If you work for a friend, keep it professional and remember the Golden Rule: get it in writing. Explain that their friendship is valuable, but the deal could fall through if they change jobs. If they are actually a friend, they will understand.

Never turn the other cheek

When you are self-employed, your client is not your boss. They are your customer. And no, the customer is not always right. You don’t gain anything by letting a client take advantage of you. Your job is to deliver a good or a service, and theirs is to support you while in your work, and to pay you. There is no justification for late payments, so never start a second contract with a client—especially a new one—until you have been paid for the first job.

Act on it

When clients who don’t pay, the first instinct of self-employed workers is to take legal action or threaten to. In most cases, legal action costs more than it’s worth, not to mention the stress and time it requires. But that doesn’t mean you should do nothing. Start by sending your client a simple written reminder. This often does the trick, but if not, follow up by sending a formal notice by registered mail, instructing them to pay you what they owe. Just lay out the facts: you delivered the product or service, you haven’t been paid, your customer owes you X amount, and the deadline is Y. If nothing else, you send the message that you really mean business and are getting prepared to take the next steps, if necessary.

Avoiding bad clients starts with listening to your gut. When problems happen, you almost always think back to a red flag you ignored. Thinking preventively might require a little extra work, but any successful self-employed worker will agree: it always pays off to save your energy for the best clients.

Also on Story Board from Julie Barlow and Jean-Benoît Nadeau

Posted on May 9, 2025 at 5:00 am by editor · LEAVE A COMMENT · Tagged with: 

Webinar: 10 Ways to Protect Yourself from Generative AI

Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen AI) continues to spread into our daily lives. Some love it, some hate it, and some feel both emotions depending on the time of day.

Back in the fall of 2022 shortly after the release of ChatGPT, the fear running rampant through the creative class was that AI was going to take our work and our clients. We’ve since learned it’s not as simple as that.

But someone who’s taken the time to harness the power of Gen AI could make our fear of replacement come true.

That’s not the only concern we’ve had as Gen AI changes and spreads further into our work and play.

10 Ways to Protect Yourself from Generative AI

Our Presenters

Dr. Nadine Robinson and George Butters are back with another session to help you defend yourself and your freelance business against the threats Gen AI continues to pose. Their goal is to set you up for safe, ethical, and practical use of these increasingly common tools.

CFG Experts Panel – 10 Ways to Protect Yourself from Generative AI

You can register for this webinar right here.

Learn more about the cost and benefits of membership in the CFG on this webpage.

The link to the Zoom webinar will be sent to you via email about half an hour before the start time.

Please check your spam or junk folders if you can’t find the email, and contact organizer@canadianfreelanceguild.ca if you haven’t received the link 10 minutes before the scheduled start time. This webinar will be recorded and posted to the CFG Video-On-Demand site. Once posted, all paid registrants will receive a link and instructions on how to view.

Posted on April 30, 2025 at 11:00 am by editor · LEAVE A COMMENT · Tagged with: ,

Off the Wire: April 2025

We’re revitalizing our series, Off the Wire. Here, we gather stories about the media business, journalism, writing, communications, and freelancing—with a Canadian focus. Who needs a water cooler?

MediaFreeLogo.2 SB

As the election unfolds, so too does the landscape of freelance and media work in Canada. This month, we’re tracking major developments that impact independent workers—from sweeping tax reporting changes and new gig economy legislation to media layoffs and the closure of community newspapers.

With freelance participation on the rise and regulations tightening, it’s more important than ever to stay informed. Here are the latest stories shaping the future of freelancing and media in Canada.

Freelancing stories from around the web

Recently published on Story Board

Spot a story you think we should include in next week’s Off the Wire? Email the link to robyn@robynroste.com.

Posted on April 23, 2025 at 6:00 am by editor · LEAVE A COMMENT · Tagged with: ,