The Born Freelancer makes a case for business cards
I was at a professional development seminar the other day and doing the usual networking thing with fellow freelancers. When it came time to exchange contact info, I began to frantically look for a pen and paper. (As an economy measure I’m currently still operating cellphone-less.) One of my new-found colleagues calmly took out his […]
Freelancer beware: 11 pitfalls of spec “pitches” and how to handle them from the Born Freelancer
Here is a fantastic cartoon that illustrates some of the dilemmas we freelancers face [LINK]. Could anybody who is not a freelancer get it? It is so funny because it is all so sadly true — I’ve seen them all at some point in my career. I guess the freelancing experience is universal. Go over […]
Fitting in face time: The Born Freelancer on the benefits of meeting IRL
This series of posts by the Born Freelancer will share personal experiences and thoughts on issues relevant to freelancers. Have something to add to the conversation? Your input is welcome in the comments. In a previous post, I wrote about the creative and health benefits of solitary walking. Today I want to talk about the […]
Show me the money: Invoicing tips from the Born Freelancer
Gather a bunch of freelance writers together and it’s almost always the number-one topic of conversation. The general public may expect us to be dissecting esoteric topics like the influence of Faustian legend on contemporary media, but for most of us it’s: “Got any new tips for getting paid faster?” Several posts ago Story Board […]
F*ck you. Pay me. Mike Monteiro’s advice for getting paid as a freelancer
If you’ve ever had trouble collecting payment from a client, this video is for you. Mike Monteiro, co-founder of Mule Design Studio gives his provocative (and sometimes profane) tips for protecting yourself as an independent contractor.
WANTED: Freelance writer (or best offer)
Is this what the publishing world has come to that companies in search of freelance writers must resort to Craigslist?
The Born Freelancer’s guide to fighting FOMO
The Born Freelancer’s guide to fighting FOMO
A webspace of your own: Site Construction 101
This series of posts by the Born Freelancer will share personal experiences and thoughts on issues relevant to freelancers. Have something to add to the conversation? Your input is welcome in the comments. In this fast moving-social media age of Twitterers and tweets, Facebook and friending, often overlooked or dismissed as old school is, IMHO, […]
The Born Freelancer’s love-hate relationship with freelancing
A friend of mine read my last blog and asked, “Why would anyone ever want to freelance?”
My Top Ten Reasons To Love Freelancing
(1) I am my own boss.
This is probably the number one reason for most of us. We get a sense of being in charge of our lives – even if we’re not. In reality, sometimes it
may feel like we have numerous bosses but at the end of the day it is still our choice and that seems to be important. As is my actual mandate (as
decided by me) to do more or less exactly what I want to do, creating what I want to create, on an ongoing basis.
Evolve or die: Survival in the ever-changing freelance biz
This series of posts by the Born Freelancer will share personal experiences and thoughts on issues relevant to freelancers. Have something to add to the conversation? Your input is welcome in the comments. Reader “Spanky” commented on one of my previous posts, “What a sad state of affairs our business is in. The model is […]
