Freelancer or employee? Which are you?
The BBC has been under fire this month for its practice of paying presenters and other contributors as freelancers. The Guardian reported yesterday that staff contracts will be offered to many of these individuals following a review of the BBC’s tax policies. The move is in response to accusations that the broadcaster has been complicit in […]
Content farm writing rates hit a new low
We all know how bad the downward pressure on freelance writing rates is these days. And with the proliferation of online “content farms” things seem to be getting worse. Over the weekend, the news and gossip site Gawker posted what they call the “worst writing job ever.” The ad, originally posted on Craigslist in Portland, is […]
Reselling: how to increase your freelance mileage
Story Board recently had a request from a reader for a post on the etiquette of reselling stories in the digital age. It’s a golden question for freelancers, isn’t it? How do you take something you’ve already written and squeeze a few more dollars out of it? I checked in with a few Canadian writers […]
What It Feels Like To Be A Freelancer
This little video has been going around this week, striking a chord with freelancers of all stripes. The video is posted on dontgetscrewedover.com and was sponsored by Docracy, a U.S.-based site launched last year that hosts free, open-source legal documents provided by users. The site contains personal documents such as wills and rental agreements, as well […]
The Born Freelancer on what to charge: Part 2
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. In my previous post I began to share with you my thoughts on the burning question that confronts every freelancer time after time: […]
The Born Freelancer on what to charge: Part 1
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. One of the most fundamental questions a freelancer will ever hear is also one of the most difficult to answer right away: How […]
What was in reporters’ pockets in 1920, according to Ernest Hemingway
This week the Toronto Star launched a micro-site dedicated to a reporter who wrote for them nearly a century ago. His name was Ernest Hemingway. Maybe you’ve heard of him? The Hemingway Papers includes contemporary reports about Hemingway’s time at the Star — including how it shaped his writing style and what he thought of […]
New York State considers legislation to help freelancers with deadbeat clients
When an unpaid invoice is gathering dust, and numerous emails, phone calls, threatening letters and even “F*ck you. Pay me” hasn’t worked, where is a jilted freelancer to turn? Our friends south of the border are hoping that they can turn to their government for backup, reports the Star. New York State’s legislative assembly has […]
Why I quit blogging and why you should too (if you’re a writer) [UPDATED]
By Jeff Nield EDITOR’S NOTE: Changes have been made to this post as a result of a request from TreeHugger’s parent company, Discovery Communications, which claims certain disclosures in the original post were in violation of a confidentiality clause contained in an agreement signed by the author. Until last week, I was a part-time blogger […]
Forget about 15 minutes—Canadian visual artists want their five per cent
Imagine if, to sell your writing or other media work, you had to give up all re-sale rights, knowing full well that the person you were selling it to would earn far more than you had because of their access to a wider market. If what you’re producing is one-of-a-kind, nearly impossible to re-create, and […]
