The Golden Path

Sorry I’ve been a little out of blog-commission for the past week or so, folks. Part of it is the fact that I woke up sick as a dog Monday morning, but the biggest obstacle between me and the WordPress admin page has been the fact that things have been a little crazy around here, freelance-wise.

Yesterday, I found out that I got a really, really good job that I’ve been after for a few weeks (truthfully, I was interested in it long before I learned it was available). I can’t say too much about it (though if you live in Shreveport, you may find out soon enough), but suffice it to say it’s one of my dream jobs. It’s a writing gig, of course, but it encompasses some other passions of mine as well. And writing is never better than when you’re writing about something important to you.

Over the last year, a few people have asked me, both in comments and emails, how to get started as a freelance writer. And the truth of the matter is, I don’t really know. I’ve kind of made it up as I’ve gone along. I feel like a bit of an asshole even writing this post, but I’m going to tell you what I’ve learned so far. I figure at worst I’ll end up sounding like an egotistical such-and-such, and at best, I’ll save someone a little time and heartache.

Kelly: I don’t know anything about how to be a freelance writer!

Erik: Clearly you do, seeing as how you are one.

This way is certainly not the only way, and I make no claims that it’s the best. In fact, I’m pretty sure it’s NOT the best. But this is how it happened for me, and maybe it’ll at least point you in the right direction so, if you want it to, it’ll happen for you as well.

1. Start small.

I started writing because of my friend Katie. Soon after we met, we got to talking about writing, and I mentioned that I kept a blog. Katie read it and saw that it was pretty good (at least in fits and starts), so she told me about this freelance writing job she did in her free time after work. She said they were looking for more writers, so I applied and, eventually, they hired me.

The pay was low, and the articles were formulaic, but it was good experience. For one thing, they were EXTREMELY strict about punctuation, grammar, vocabulary, etc. – the nuts and bolts of writing. Plus, because we mainly wrote content for a how-to website, it familiarized me with the process of researching a wide range of topics and very quickly assimilating that information into articles. They also emphasized keyword optimization, which has proved quite useful here on Bachelor Girl.

(I won’t give the name of the company on here, but if you’re interested, email me at bachelorgirlmail at gmail dot com.)

2. Give your resume, credentials and/or business card to everyone you meet and tell anyone who will listen that you’re looking for more work.

I got my next job, and my first “big” job, because of Jessica the Web Mistress. In a nutshell, one of the papers in Shreveport was looking for freelancers, and Jessica recommended me. The next thing I knew, I got an email from the editor.

The point is, though, that Jessica might not have recommended me if she hadn’t known I was looking for more freelance work. In the beginning, at least, you really gotta get out there and beat the bushes.

3. Write for every publication you can, even if they can only pay you in copies.

I write, on a pro bono basis, for a Catholic magazine in town that can’t afford to pay its writers, but that’s just fine and dandy with me. Why? Because 1) it’s an organization I want to support in any way I can, 2) it’s only one article a month and 3) they really like my writing. They can’t afford to pay me anything besides five copies of a magazine each month (one for me, one each for Mom and Dad, and one each for both of my brothers so I can prove to them, once and for all, that I am a better Catholic than either of them). But maybe one of the proofreaders will run into someone someday who’s looking for freelance writers, aaand…well, you get the picture. In any case, I can use them as references for other jobs. Best of all, they appointed me to their editorial board, which, again, doesn’t pay, but it serves as a big resume booster.

Recently, I got a freelance job at a nonprofit agency by offering to write the first article for free. For subsequent articles, I keep my rate pretty low because I know they can’t afford anything else, but they’ve got my back if I need them to recommend me for another job.

4. Start a blog.

I guess the corollary is, “But only if you’ve got something to say.” No One Cares What You Had for Lunch. (Unless you’re Katie Ett.) On the other hand, if you want to be a writer, chances are you have something to say.

As I’ve said before, Bachelor Girl doesn’t make very much money (and that’s putting it mildly). On the other hand, it’s a body of work that potential clients can go to if they want to see samples of my work. More importantly, it’s a way to keep my skills sharp and stay in touch with what people want to read (which doesn’t necessarily correspond with what I feel like writing). If I had to name the one thing that helps me most in my writing career, it would be you guys. You give me immediate feedback; I can tell based on the number and content of the comments if you guys liked something or thought it was just OK or would really just rather I never, ever talk about that again, thankyouverymuch.

5. Love it.

If you do not love writing, you will be very unhappy as a writer.

That seems like the most fundamentally stupid thing I’ve ever said, doesn’t it?

But it’s true. I think you can be happy as, say, a CPA even if you don’t love it. You can be happy as a secretary if you don’t love it. But if your passion for writing is lukewarm, you will be effing MISERABLE as a writer.

It’s lonely (I have no coworkers). It’s constant (during “light” weeks, I work six days a week). It’s very unstructured, and I wake up every day knowing that at some point, someone WILL throw the monkiest of wrenches into whatever I have planned. And seriously? Try going to a cocktail party and, when someone asks what you do, tell them you’re a writer.

Oh, you don’t have to worry about getting caught in a lie, because chances are good to excellent that the asker won’t have the first God-blessed idea what to do with that piece of information. Sample responses:

-”Huh.”

(Yeah. This is not what my parents had envisioned for me. My mom cries every day.)

-”So…like…what do you DO all day?”

(What the f–k do you THINK I do all day? Paint?)

-”How much money do you make?”

(How much money do YOU make? Can I have some?)

-”What do you write?”

(Words.)

Dipsticks aside, there are definite advantages. My schedule is infinitely flexible, and I get to meet all sorts of cool and interesting people every week.

And I just reallyreallyreally love what I do.

6. Figure out what, besides writing, you’re passionate about, then get as involved in it as much as you can.

My newest job is centered around something I love but in which I have almost no formal training. I care about it deeply, but nearly everything I know about it, I learned as an observer and a listener. I made friends who are very knowledgeable about it, and they taught me a lot. In fact, without two of them, I wouldn’t have this job at all – they’re the ones who told me it was available, put me in touch with the right people and then gave me glowing recommendations.

Katie Ett and her food blog, Donuts4Dinner, are a prime example of this philosophy. I fully expect that any day now, we’ll get the news that she’s the new restaurant critic for the New York Times.

7. Make plans for the future.

Always think about what you can do to improve you career and, more importantly, your writing.

In other words, take on stuff just for the hell of it, and never listen to anyone when they tell you that your dreams are stupid. If I had a dollar for every time I heard that, I would’ve owned Fiona free and clear six months ago.

In the early fall, another writer and I started a big, messy, unwieldy collaborative project about which, to be frank, both of us had serious doubts and reservations. Last Friday, we finished the first draft. Not only is that good for our self-confidence as writers, it’s also something we may be able to use to advance our careers in a big, big way. (Fingers crossed.)

In September, I traveled all the way to Lubbock, Texas with my dad and watched somebody get cremated (yes) so I could write a story that I’m still not entirely sure I can sell. (Fingers crossed.)

I’m looking into getting an intern after the first of the year. I think he or she could help me streamline my processes to make them more efficient and also help me with some stuff I’ve been wanting to do with Bachelor Girl but haven’t had the time. (Fingers crossed.)

Of course, there’s always more I could be doing to market my freelance business.

8. Have a good support system.

Without you guys and my little group of close friends, my cheese woulda slid off my cracker a LONG time ago. As Stephen says, they don’t have to make speeches. Just believing is usually enough.

No one questioned it, not even for a second, when I ran off to West Texas to spend the weekend with a bunch of funeral directors and wander around cemeteries. Or if they did, they at least did it behind my back, which was very kind of them.

9. READ. THINK. IMAGINE. TURN OFF THE TELEVISION.

I don’t care what anybody says, and I don’t care how talented you are. If you can’t make time to a) read and b) spend some time alone with your thoughts, then you can’t be a writer. Period. Steve backs me up on this one.

As far as television goes, most of my friends know that, in general, I am pretty anti-TV. I firmly believe that I can function as a writer now because my parents turned off the television and forced me to develop my imagination and independence. Writing, by its very nature, demands that you create space around yourself to hone your skills. In the end, it’s a question of priorities. It’s just that simple.

And anyway, why would you want to immerse yourself in other people’s stories? Make up your own.

——–

There you have it; How to Avoid Having a Real Job by Kel.

I hope it works out as well for you as it has for me. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go shopping, get a pedicure and call my agent.

(Kidding.)

Your scribbling
Kel