My sister and
I worked at the same company. We were
freelancing on the side. Once we realized
that we were making more as freelancers
than as full-time employees, she quit and
started Inkwell Editorial. Once the
business was able to support two salaries,
I joined her, which was one year later
(1997).
2. How
long have you been a full-time freelancer?
Eileen Coale: Marketing & Corporate
Communications Writer
I don't work full
time. On average, I work about 15 hours a
week, sometimes a bit more. I work
mornings until my youngest gets home from
kindergarten, and sometimes I'll put in
evenings and Saturdays as well. Sixty to
70% of my work hours are spent networking
and marketing to get assignments. The
remainder is spent writing. In another
year or two, I expect that ratio to flip.
3. How many years
of experience do you have?
Marcy L.
Brown: Cataloging, Indexing & Information
Management
I have five
part-time years of indexing, but 10 years
of library employment including
cataloging, some indexing, and information
management.
4. Do you
specialize in a certain area, e.g., legal,
medical, production? If so, what? Cathy
Moore: Writer, Instructional & Marketing
Copy
Instructional
writing and marketing copy. I write
appealing text for any readability level,
including kids.
5. What specific
marketing tips have you personally tried
that worked? Jennifer Lawler: Writer,
Editor
I tried a direct
mail letter to editors that included the
type of editing I could do, a few
companies I had worked for, and my
business card printed in such a way that
it could be popped right onto someone's
rolodex. This letter generated so much
business for me that I never had to do
another direct mail package.
6. How do you get
most of your clients? Katharine
O'Moore-Klopf: Editor, Copy Editor,
Factchecker
When I first
started freelancing, I got them mostly by
word of mouth, and some were former
employers. Now, I get them mostly by word
of mouth and via my Web site.
7. Under what
circumstances would you turn down work?
Jennifer Dirks: Journalist, Editor,
Writer, Speaker
I’ve turned down
work if the pay (or potential payoff)
won’t compensate me for the work I’d put
into it. I also once turned down work from
a magazine publisher who in the past has
asked for several rewrites without
explanation and I was unsure if anything
new I did for her would ever please her.
8. Approximately
how many hours a week would you estimate
you work? Nan Yielding: Copywriter
Anywhere from
50-60. I pretty much work a 9-hour day ...
weekends included. However, I do allow
myself some time off every so often to
just 'play,' so it averages out.
9. If offered a
well-paying, full-time position, would you
accept? Please explain why you would
accept/refuse. Richard Adin: Desktop
Publishing & Copyediting Services
This cannot be
answered yes or no; there are too many
factors that I would have to consider.
"Well-paying" is important but also
important, perhaps more so, are matters of
responsibility and challenge.
10. What is the
number one piece of advice you would offer
to freelance newbies? Rachel Goldstein:
Web Developer, Graphic Designer, Muralist
In order to
assure your chances for the greatest
success, you should do some
self-evaluation before you leap into
freelancing. Not only does it take a
special temperament to run a successful
business, but it also takes talent and
expertise in your field. This includes
some or all of the following personality
features: self-confidence, common sense,
innovation, and ambition.
Summarizng the
experts: