Mindy Long » Freelance

Freelancing: A How-To Guide

mindylong_web — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 22:06:27 +0000

There is a great guide to freelancing on the Writer’s Digest website—the type I would like to write for the blog if I could ever find the time! In the meantime, check out the WD article here if you’re interested in the freelance life.

Freelancing: Clearing My Plate

mindylong_web — Tue, 18 May 2010 15:13:11 +0000

I’ve turned in the last of my articles, wrapped up a few lingering story questions with an editor and sent out my latest batch of invoices, which means it is time for this little baby to arrive. I still have a few weeks before her official due date, but now would be a great time for her to come. I’m not used to being still. I do have one assignment that will be due in late July and run in August, so I’m debating whether I should start lining up interviews or just sit back and wait for baby girl to arrive and then jump in. Of course, getting some interviews lined up for next week will be one sure way to guarantee she makes her appearance!

Freelancing: The Benefits of a List

mindylong_web — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 00:34:15 +0000

“First comes thought; then organization of that thought, into ideas and plans; then transformation of those plans into reality. The beginning, as you will observe, is in your imagination.” —Napoleon Hill

I couldn’t survive without my many lists. Each day before I start working, I review my list of projects and deadlines and the steps I need to take for each to ensure it is done on time. I also try to look out one or two weeks and compare my work to-do list with my family to-do list. School holidays and personal commitments can alter how much time I can devote to my projects on certain days, so a high-level view is as important as a detailed daily list. Prioritizing the list helps me stay on top of projects. And sometimes, it makes all the difference in the world.

The Personality Test

mindylong_web — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 18:50:19 +0000

I had always wanted to become a full-time freelancer—someday. I always worried about the typical issues that surround being self employed—no 401(k), no life insurance, no health insurance, etc., etc., etc. Leaving the comfort that came with the steady paycheck of an office job always seemed a little risky. But around the time my son turned one, I knew that for me the benefits of being self employed far outweighed the risks. At that point I also had a good network of contacts and had the experience and confidence that have helped make my venture a success.

I think there are certain things you have to consider when deciding to venture out on your own—particularly with a home-based business. The most important is your personality. For those thinking of hanging their own shingle, ask yourselves these questions:

Can you carve out time specifically for the business?

Moms and dads especially can be drawn to self employment because of the flexibility it offers. But don’t think that you’ll be able to work without childcare. I can and do complete a lot of my writing after my son goes to bed at night, but there are a lot of things that have to be done during normal business hours. For me it would be impossible to interview a source or discuss a story with an editor while balancing my toddler on my lap. I wouldn’t be able to focus and I think it would be hard for clients to take me seriously.

Do you need someone else to help you find structure?

If you need someone else to help you stay on task, get organized or prioritize your projects, running your own business isn’t for you. You’ll be responsible for keeping projects straight, taking care of paperwork and getting the job done. You may be your own boss, but you’re going to be answering to a lot of other people. When I became a freelancer, I traded one boss for six (or more depending on how many clients I am working for at the time).

Can you treat your business as a business?

It is easy to forget about the business side that comes with running a business. I’m a writer. I write. But now I also track my income goals, invoice and file quarterly tax estimates. Successful business owners pay as much attention to the back-office tasks as they do with the product their selling.

Family Space

mindylong_web — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 03:08:35 +0000

As a work-at-home freelancer, I often have to remind myself that I’m the one who sometimes intrudes on the family space and not that the family is invading my workspace.

I recently found myself telling my husband the hockey game he was watching was making it hard for me to concentrate on the story I was editing. Then I realized that I was in the family room—the only room in the house with a t.v, sofa and high definition cable. I could write anywhere else in the house, but my hubby couldn’t watch the game from my office, the kitchen table or the living room.

I try to avoid working with my son on my lap, but it does occasionally happen. When it does, I try to be patient—even when he decides to help me type. He is used to our time together being his and doesn’t understand when I say, “Just let me finish this e-mail.”

Knowing when I’m the one who needs to retreat and seek out different space helps keep frustration at bay—for all of us. Sometimes I can put in my earphones, listen to music and still be in the family space while writing, but other times, there is no place like my office desk to keep me focused and my hubby and son happy.

Punching Out

mindylong_web — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 01:43:28 +0000

I work at home. I have a home office with two desks—one for personal use and one for my business—and a separate e-mail so I’m not mixing my personal and work messages. Closing the door and stepping away should be relatively easy. However, the reality is that pending deadlines, my to-do list and the actual business portion of running an at-home business come calling at all hours of the day and every day of the week.

This weekend I had the rare treat of actually punching out. My sweet hubby had a few days off last week, which meant he took on the household duties and gave me extra time to catch up on my to-do list, clear my desk and get three stories off ahead of my deadlines. As I shut down the computer on Friday evening, I realized I didn’t have anything I had to do over the weekend.

So, instead of thinking about work, we grilled outside (our first grill fest of the year), hit the bookstore, and delivered a dozen donuts to my hubby’s grandma for a leisurely breakfast of coffee and pink-frosted-and-sprinkled sweets. More than anything, I took time just to relax.

I did sneak away for an hour or so to catch up on some business thank you cards that are long overdue, but penning a handwritten note is something I so rarely have time to do that it felt like a special treat.

I need to start finding specific time to punch out and I’m going to spend the next month experimenting with different ways to streamline the business side of all that I do—expenses, invoicing, taxes, marketing. I’m going to be installing some new software, implementing more online tools and overhauling my current system of tracking expenses (something my CPA, who is also my husband, will appreciate). I’ll let you know how it goes and would love any tips you can share!

The Joy of Working from Home

mindylong_web — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:39:03 +0000

We’re having some work done in our house today and I needed a quiet place where I could conduct a phone interview for a story. I sought out some solitude on our back deck and got to sit in the sun for a full 30 minutes while running down my list of questions and learning all about a great new product that will be hitting stores this summer. It’s days like today that make me so grateful I work from home! I should make it a point to utilize my backyard office more often.

When It Isn’t the Right Fit

mindylong_web — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 20:46:05 +0000

Every so often, a potential project comes along that just isn’t the right fit. As a freelancer, it is always hard to turn down work. But I’ve found that it is even worse to take on a project that I can’t commit to 100 percent or that doesn’t tap into the expertise I can bring to the table.

For the past few weeks I’ve been talking with a company about some opportunities they have available. I’ve enjoyed the people I talked to and think they would be great to work for, yet the project isn’t right for me at this time. As hard as it was to say no, it was great to walk away from a negotiation knowing that I’ve been completely honest and feeling like the other party was completely honest as well. It was the perfect example of how negotiations should go and how one can turn down a project while still leaving the door open for future opportunities. You never know when they might have the project that will align perfectly with my skills.

Writing: The State of Freelance Rates

mindylong_web — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 01:40:46 +0000

There was an interesting article in the LA Times today about the downward trend in freelance rates. I would write more about it, but I have a story due tomorrow (one that I am getting paid for) and I need to get writing! So, I’ll just post the link to the article, Freelance Writing’s Unfortunate New Model, here.

Freelancing is Hard, But So Are Other Jobs

mindylong_web — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 19:44:17 +0000

I read yet another article today about how hard it is to make a living as a freelancer. I will be the first to agree that a successful freelance career requires persistence, determination and a lot of hard work. Yes–it is time consuming and no–it is not easy. But how many jobs really are easy?

My time spent as beat reporter at newspapers wasn’t a walk in the park. Covering Cook County Criminal Court in Chicago was a tough gig that came with daily deadlines, whether or not a trial went the way I thought it was going to. Some days writing pitches and facing an editor’s rejection can seem easier than walking up to the family of a murder victim and asking for a few minutes of their time.

Covering transportation at a weekly paper came with many of the same deadlines, obstacles and challenges that I face as a freelancer. You know that source that promised to be available at 3:00? The one that you’ve been counting on so you can wrap up your story? Well, he will forget, but that can happen whether you’re a staffer or a freelancer. Finding and cultivating sources takes time. So does learning who you can trust—no matter who you are writing for.

When I moved on to edit a trade magazine, I not only had to create editorial content, but also had to deal with creating budgets, monitoring ad sales and maintaining the bottom line. I also had to commute an hour and a half each day.

So, every time I hear someone say that freelancing is hard, I remind myself that most things in life are. Luckily, I’ve never been afraid of hard work and I have had a great year as a freelancer. Plus, the benefits of the freelance life far outweigh the obstacles. I promise.