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 […]
Copyright, libel and kill fees: Negotiating a freelancer-friendly contract
by Rachel Sanders The hottest topic of conversation for freelancers is definitely money. But freelance contracts come in a close second. That’s why we like to offer a regular refresher on the subject here on Story Board. Publishers have been adding some distinctly freelancer-unfriendly clauses to their contracts over the past few years. And with well-paid freelance writing […]
The 5-Minute Freelancer Q&A #29 — Alison Motluk
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. Alison Motluk is a Toronto freelance writer and broadcaster. She has written for CBC programs such as IDEAS and Quirks and Quarks as well as for publications such as the Globe […]
Query smarts: how to increase your batting average
By Sandra Phinney I’ve heard editors say that upwards of 80 percent of the queries they receive are deleted without reading further than the end of the first paragraph. Why? It all comes down to three things: writers don’t know the readership of the magazine writers are not tuned into the content, tone and style […]
The Born Freelancer on the Merits of Becoming an “Expert”
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. The first time I was introduced in public as an expert on anything it was in front of several hundred university students when I […]
The 5-Minute Freelancer Q&A #28 — Jane Auster
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. Jane Auster is a freelance writer, editor and communications specialist based in Toronto. She has written for such publications as Toronto Life, Maclean’s, Canadian Business, and The Toronto Star. She […]
What is your time worth?
By Sandra Phinney It’s a curious human trait how we tend to put certain people and professions on a pedestal, while we look down on others. I was acutely aware of this when I farmed. When I taught university courses and wore a professor’s hat, I had tons of respect. Wearing my farmer’s hat … […]
Sunny Widerman’s tax tips for creatives
It’s nearly April, freelancers. Which means it’s time to start thinking about preparing your tax return. A few weeks ago, CMG Freelance ran a tax tips webinar for our members with Toronto tax specialist Sunny Widerman. To help get you into the tax filing mindset, here are a few of Widerman’s top tips from that webinar. First of all, […]
The Born Freelancer on Using an Alias
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. • If you work simultaneously in a number of different genres and need to separate and differentiate career strands; or • If you simply […]
