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Topic: Freelance vs. 'Job'
| Author | Message |
| jkdscribe | Posted – 10/21/2007 12:53:59 AM | show profile I am fairly fresh out of college, looking for a more steady job and freelancing as much as often as editors like my ideas. I am also working construction to actually make money. I was curious how many freelancers out there get by with just freelancing and how many have media-related jobs as well. For those working as reporters, do you still find time to freelance for other pubs in the meantime? Are you editors okay with it? |
| dribbledrive1 | Posted – 10/21/2007 2:03:27 AM | show profile I've known few full-time freelance writers who make a living with journalism. I know many full-time freelancers who make a good living writing other types of material. |
| ejlyman | Posted – 10/22/2007 5:39:01 AM | show profile | email poster Experience required I manage to make a good living almost entirely from freelance journalism (with a little research and a little ghost writing added in) and I think there are two main factors necessary for that to work out: (1) have lots of contacts and experience, enough so that you are uniquely qualified for certain projects and (2) have one or two anchor clients that will send you enough work for you to pursue other projects while still paying the bills. Given that, I think it'd be tough for someone to do it fresh out of school. At that age I think the main things a writer has to offer clients is enthusiasm and a willingness to accept a lower pay rate than other freelancers. That combines to get the assignments that do not require specific skills and that pay badly. Not a niche worth seeking out. I tried freelancing while in my early-20s and at best earned 15% of my income through it, so I quit and worked for a new agency. Then in my late 20s I tried again and did OK before giving it up when I was offered a good staff job for a big paper. And now I'm in my early 40s and have been doing well with it for nearly ten years. I think the experience along the way was essential. Best of luck. ------ Italy-based freelancer www.ericjlyman.com |
| jkdscribe | Posted – 10/22/2007 10:30:33 AM | show profile Cheers, ejlyman. I currently have some apps out with some big papers now (and they sound promising) and my main question was whether or not you had time to still freelance for magazines while working at a paper, and if newspaper editors are usually okay with you doing it. |
| westsidestory | Posted – 10/22/2007 10:39:56 AM | show profile learn the ropes at a publication first The best first track for a beginning "journalist" is to take an writing/editorial position with a publication in an area that interests you - and often it is easier to get that entry level job in a trade publication. Unlike consumer publications, trade work is usually pretty steady and it gets you behind the scenes. This is important since what a young person really needs is to be collecting business cards (and sources) while gaining an understanding of what publications WANT from a freelancer. I'd say, start applying to trades while you are working in construction (which by the way has numerous trade publications, and your hands-on experience would give you an advantage over another J-school grad). Every niche of human endeavor - from window washing to editing feature films - has a trade publication. That old standby Writer's Market usually has a good list, if not a complete one. I know literally dozens of people who took the trade route, landing later at either well-known consumer publications in the same field, or bailing out to freelance for a good-sized client list that kept them in the money, and was made up of the editors of their own earlier mags - or their competitors. Good luck! |
| westsidestory | Posted – 10/22/2007 10:43:13 AM | show profile And to answer your specific question, editors frown on their reporters moonlighting to other publications -- unless it's clear the freelance gig isn't to a direct competitor. Another reason to start employement with a trade - those editors are usually happy to see their staff get a byline in a consumer publication, newspaper or online mag, as long as you meet your own deadlines on time. |
| candylilacs | Posted – 10/22/2007 12:36:57 PM | show profile My current editor is OK with it, but my previous editors were not at all. It depends on the publication. If the editors feel that freelancing at large newspapers/magazines show off their product (writers) and that it's a good product, then they are OK with it. Those that are mostly concerned with producing stories, no matter the quality, don't care about freelancing. That's you (the writer) taking time away from them. I really only have time to do about a dozen freelance pieces a year. But I'm going to grad school, too. I just don't have the time. Freelancing while working full-time is also a bit stressful, especially when they want rewrites at 1 p.m. on Wednesday. Most editors assigning freelance believe the freelance is your priority. And while I've never felt the need to tell them otherwise, I do lobby for a few days to complete. One to do rewrites and another to make a few calls after work, on breaks or at lunch. I also take vacation for my travel freelancing. Hope this helps. Good luck! ------ http://www.mswritesguide.blogspot.com |
| dribbledrive1 | Posted – 10/22/2007 12:48:09 PM | show profile I generally find corporate clients more reasonable about this than magazine clients. Corporate clients understand a writer is working for others as well and appreciate they sometimes have to be slotted into your schedule. Magazine editors sometimes expect you to be able to drop anything you're doing the second they call. It's largely a difference in culture. Even as a full-time freelancer this can be an issue, and on occasion I have to tell an editor that I can't do what he wants me to do immediately because I am on deadline for another project. Magazine editors usually never think beyond the deadline for the first draft. In contrast, corporate clients usually have deadlines in place for when the material needs to be reviewed, and a deadline for me as the writer to provide the second draft. --Freelancing while working full-time is also a bit stressful, especially when they want rewrites at 1 p.m. on Wednesday. Most editors assigning freelance believe the freelance is your priority. -- |
