‘Advice’
Getting out of a spin and back on track
By Sandra Phinney A few years ago my freelance business was in a shambles. Due to a combination of circumstances (two hip replacements, too many travel gigs, a prolonged bout of pneumonia, and a mountain of volunteer work) my income had taken a nosedive. I was derailed, and in a spin. So I hired a […]
The Born Freelancer on Why Paying to be Published is Wrong
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? Your input is welcome in the comments. Am I the only person offended by the concept of an author being required to pay to be published? No, it’s worse than that. It’s […]
The 3 R’s of freelancing: Reuse, Repurpose, Resell
By Sandra Phinney You’ve heard that clichéd line, “the gift that keeps giving.” I’m starting to view my stories that way. If I resell an article I’ve written, or repurpose the story and sell a second or third rendition of that story, I am gifting myself—and putting extra money in the bank. I’ve already done […]
The 5-Minute Freelancer Q&A #31 — David Hayes
In this regular feature, Story Board asks Canadian writers to share a few details about their work habits and their strategies for navigating the ups and downs of freelance life. David Hayes is an award-winning freelance journalist who has written four nonfiction books as well as features and articles for publications such as The Walrus, The New York Times Magazine and The Globe and Mail. […]
There’s gold in them thar trade mags!
by Sandra Phinney As freelance writers, we often overlook trade publications as potential markets—largely because they are not visible. Rarely sold at newsstands, the majority of trade magazines are mailed directly to private audiences—usually to members of a particular trade or profession—be it doctors, pilots, bankers, bakers, embalmers, and truckers. In some cases, trade […]
The 5-Minute Freelancer Q&A #30 — M. Jay Smith
In this regular feature, Story Board asks Canadian writers to share a few details about their work habits and their strategies for navigating the ups and downs of freelance life. M. Jay Smith is an Edmonton-based writer of non-fiction and poetry. Her writing has been published by such outlets as Reader’s Digest, Adbusters, the Los Angeles Times, and Canadian Running […]
The Born Freelancer on Working for a (Possible) Sociopath
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? Your input is welcome in the comments. “I just like f***ing with your heads”. That was the undeniably truthful but totally unexpected explanation I received once upon a time from an […]
Advice on finding work and selling your skills from the Beyond Journalism panel
by Jennifer D’Agostino Last week freelance journalists came together at the Page One café to discuss life beyond journalism. The event, put on by CWA Canada and CMG Freelance, saw panelists discuss the importance, in the ever-changing media world, of using journalism skills in careers within and beyond media. Journalists were able to hear advice from a […]
Freelance Business Basics
By Sandra Phinney Sometimes we get so caught up looking for markets, doing research and interviews, sending queries, or writing our stories that we fail to take care of basic business housekeeping items. The result can be everything from being disorganized and overwhelmed, to missing opportunities that can actually improve our bottom line. Here are […]
Roberta Staley on crowdfunding, connection and independent journalism
Roberta Staley is a Vancouver-based magazine writer and documentary filmmaker. Her current film project, Mightier Than The Sword, is about about female journalists and filmmakers in Afghanistan. She is also the editor of Canadian Chemical News and the winner of the 2015 Amnesty International Canada Media Award. She took the time to speak with Story Board recently about […]
