Freelancing as a parent
by Brittany Duggan As a dancer-turned-journalist, many of the new parents in my life have been freelancers. Paid maternity leaves are mostly foreign concepts and continuing to work has usually involved an impressive juggle of scheduling, creative childcare, and evolving expectations. Many lines of work in Canada are made up of freelance or contract labour. […]
Freelance Skillshare and Community Building Opportunities
by Amanda Maxwell Considering the freelance route, jumping from the nine-to-five into the freedom of midnight keyboard sessions in your PJs? Terrified but excited, and not sure where to go for information? While there are a lot of resources out there, they’re mostly online with very little of the personal touch. If you don’t know many […]
New UK report highlights the challenges of freelancing
This post is the eleventh in a series called “E-Lancer Writes,” exploring the working conditions, rights and collective organizing strategies of freelance journalists, interns and other low-wage or temporary digital media workers. By Errol Salamon New data confirm that the number of freelance journalists has increased across the UK since 2000 and their pay is […]
J-Source wants you to help create a list of the best places to freelance in Canada
Earlier this month, the Columbia Journalism Review ran a great post that surveyed two dozen freelancers about the best outlets to work for. It gives a rundown of six publications that freelancers love, offering specific details about pay and editorial style. Now J-Source editor H.G. Watson wants to create a Canadian version. She put out a […]
Looking for a coffee shop to work in? Work Hard Anywhere can help
You probably know the feeling. You’re out in the world, laptop in tow, with some time to spare between appointments. Or maybe you’re on vacation in an unfamiliar city and need a quiet spot where you can get a bit of work done — preferably somewhere with fast wifi, accessible power outlets and good coffee. But if […]
The Born Freelancer on the Sanctity of Deadlines
Also: R.I.P. Sam Levene & Keith Maskell 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. Douglas Adams, the late great British author of the SF humour classic The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the […]
The 5-Minute Freelancer Q&A #33 — J.B. MacKinnon
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. J.B. MacKinnon is an independent journalist whose books include The 100-Mile Diet and The Once and Future World. He has written for such magazines as The New Yorker […]
Breaking bad freelance habits
by Rebecca Hass Bad habits. That’s what’s holding you back. If you could just develop better habits, you’d finally be creating the career you want as a freelancer. Procrastinating no more. Without those bad habits, you’d be getting things done ahead of time, well researched, and beautifully turned out with time to spare. You know […]
The Top Five Benefits of Writing in a Coffee Bar
by Christine Blanchette The idea of stepping out of your home – your comfort zone – especially on a rainy day, to go to your local coffee shop to write may not sound beneficial or motivating. I thought that too until one day a rather severe windstorm brought down hydro lines, plunging the neighborhood into darkness. […]
The Born Freelancer on Why Public Libraries Matter
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 was visiting my local public library the other day when I realized how much I have come to rely on its resources to […]
