‘Advice’
Always be closing: How to keep marketing even when busy with projects
By Nkiru Asika Halloween may be over, but there is nothing more frightening to a freelance writer than the deathly spectre of no work on the horizon; when your clients literally go ghost. It’s tempting, when you have client work, to forget all about marketing and simply bury yourself in the writing. But that is […]
Getting freelance work with the CBC
Freelancing for CBC isn’t as easy as it used to be, but there are still gigs to be found at the Mother Corp. The “Getting Work With the CBC” panel at the recent Level Up conference in Toronto offered some insights into just where to find it. The panel was part of a two-day conference […]
Freelance contracts a hot topic at Level Up conference in Toronto
It’s frustrating to give up lucrative assignments, but are indemnification clauses worth the risks they pose to your assets?
Freelancing Financial Success: “Dance your power dance and then say your number”
Follow your interests… and ask for more money. Those are the keys to financial success in freelancing, according to Toronto-based freelance journalist David Hayes and investment and lifestyle writer and editor Rita Silvan. The two were part of a panel discussion called “Freelancing Financial Success” at the recent Level Up conference in Toronto. The session, […]
The Born Freelancer Gives Assurance on Insurance
This series of posts by the Born Freelancer shares personal experiences and thoughts on issues relevant to freelancers. Have something to add to the conversation? We’d love to hear from you in the comments. I think Sara Tatelman’s recent two-parter on liability and insurance for freelancers is a must-read. It is a topic of paramount importance for all freelancers […]
The rise of indemnification clauses in freelance contracts
By Sara Tatelman When Toronto journalist Jesse Brown wanted to break the Jian Ghomeshi story, he knew couldn’t do so on his independent podcast Canadaland. At the time, he didn’t have any libel insurance, and several lawyers told him that while he could take steps to ensure he could win a libel lawsuit, provided he […]
The state of the travel writing industry
by Monte Stewart Mike Fisher has a decision to make. He is among disgruntled veteran freelancers who say well-paying travel writing opportunities are becoming increasingly rare due to revamped newspaper travel sections with reduced budgets, the outsourcing of editing services, and the proliferation of online publications that expect free stories, among other factors. “It’s […]
The 5-Minute Freelancer Q&A #37 — Leanne Allen
In this regular feature, Story Board asks Canadian freelancers to share a few details about their work habits and their strategies for navigating the ups and downs of freelance life. Leanne Allen is an award-winning producer, photographer and actor based in Victoria. She produces a television program called Culture Vulture TV, which explores the arts, entertainment, lifestyle and food in […]
The Born Freelancer Asks, Do We Dare Ever Take a Holiday?
This series of posts by the Born Freelancer shares personal experiences and thoughts on issues relevant to freelancers. Have something to add to the conversation? We’d love to hear from you in the comments. Aside from asking what should I charge, it is probably the question I hear the most often (especially around this time of year) from novice […]
Media lawyer advises freelancers to beware of indemnity clauses
As indemnification clauses continue to appear in freelance contracts, one media lawyer advises freelancers to be careful what they sign. Daniel Burnett, with Vancouver’s Owen Bird Law Corporation, said the potential consequences of indemnifying a publication against expenses that might arise from a defamation lawsuit could be devastating. “Indemnity for a possible lawsuit that might […]
