Real Words

This is a guest post by Matt.

You know you are ready to start freelancing and you are determined to be successful at it, so now it is time to get serious about it. With proper planning, you will be able to say good-bye to the constraints of a wage earning job and be free to earn money freelancing. One of the first things you will need to do is to determine how much you really make at your wage earning job. Then you can estimate what your freelancing income will be and how much you will need to save to survive the transition. In addition to financial considerations, you will need to be skilled at more than the work you will do freelancing, you will need to to have other skills to be successful.

Know Your True Income

You know how much you make an hour, but when transitioning to freelance work, you’ll need to know your actual hourly income. When determining your true hourly income, be sure to include the following:

1. Vacation time – how long do you intend to take on leave every year
2. Insurance contribution – how much was contributed by your previous employer?
3. Bonuses you receive – did you get any quarterly or annual bonuses linked to performance?
4. Discounts you qualify for – were you able to receive a discount on work related goods or services?
5. Company matches for pensions, stock, and anything else – did your employer pay in to any financial scheme?

Add the above benefits to your hourly pay. Once you do that, you can determine how much per hour that you need to earn freelancing.

Estimate Freelance Income Potential

You know what you can charge for your work and about how much you can make per week, but to estimate your true income, you’ll need to know the expenses you will have as a freelancer. When you have your own business, you will need to calculate your expenses and that amount will need to be subtracted from your freelance income. Consider the following expenses when estimating what you can earn:

1. Taxes (local, state and/or federal) – work out what you’ll need to set aside to cover tax
2. Business licenses – if your area of work requires a license to operate, factor in how much it costs
3. Advertising – if you need to build up your clients, you’ll need to advertise your services to them first
4. Rental or purchase of property, equipment, vehicles, etc. – what will you need to run your business?
5. Insurance (personal and for business) – do you need personal liability cover for your line of work?
6. Accounting – a good accountant might be more expensive per hour, but they can save you a lot of money and headaches
7. Business loans – will it take some seed capital to get started, and if so, what interest will you be paying on it?

Depending on the type of freelance business that you have, when you take time off you may need to have someone fill in for you. You will need to include that as an expense, also.

Skills Needed to be Successful

When you do freelance work, you won’t have a boss to tell you what to do, this can be a blessing or a curse. Successful freelancers will need to do/be the following:

• Customer service – you’re front of shop now!
• Set goals – you have to motivate yourself to get stuff done
• Manage time – you’ve got to be able to stop yourself from working long hours on projects that don’t pay well
• Self-motivated – nobody will tell you to get back to work when you’re your own boss
• Be organised – without proper organisation, you’ll waste time and make less money because time is money for any freelancer
• Be decisive – beating round the bush doesn’t help anyone, especially you!
• Work well alone – working by yourself can be challenging, especially when you have long and arduous tasks to do
• Avoid distractions – online it’s so easy to get distracted for long periods of time, so it’s up to you to stay focused
• Accounting – you should probably get an accountant to do your books, but it’s down to you to track expenses and keep receipts now

Evaluate what you depend on those above you to do and be responsible for at your wage earning job, and develop the skills needed to do yourself so that you have those skills when it’s your responsibility.

Saving Before Transitioning to Freelance Work

Once you know your true wage earning income, actual expenses of freelancing, and are confident you have the skills needed to be a successful freelancer, you can start your business part time and save for the day you can do your freelance work full time. Before you can set savings goals, you will need to know the amount you need to save. You should have enough saved to cover living expenses, business expenses, and pay bills for both for three months. A separate savings for unexpected expenses will be needed, this one should be about the equivalent of 1 month of your income.

It will take some time to prepare, but you when you plan wisely, the transition to freelancing can be a successful transition.

Matt is a contributing writer for CreditCardCompare.com.au, an Australian comparison service, where he reviews small business credit cards. Visit their website at www.creditcardcompare.com.au.

This guest post was written by Danny.

Being a freelancer is a great way to earn a living. However, there are a number of little gadgets that can help make your freelancing career go a bit smoother. Below is a list of five computer gadgets that you can use right away.

LessTimeSpent.com

They say that time is money, and that is certainly true for the freelancer. It is important to accurately keep track of your time, because minor mistakes with your time tracking could end up costing you quite lot in unpaid money by the end of the year. LessTimeSpent.com is a great way to accurately keep track of your time and the tasks you have completed.

SimplyBill.com

As well as keeping track of your time, you need to be able to invoice your clients for the work you have done. You don’t want to waste time getting bogged down with software that is too complicated or time-consuming to use. SimplyBill.com enables you to easily send out attractive invoices to your clients with minimal fuss. Let SimplyBill.com take the time and hassle out of your invoicing.

BackPackIt.com

If you are working on team projects, it is important to be able to easily share documents and information with your team members. BackPackIt.com enables you to keep all your project’s documents in one central location all the time. So, no matter where you are, you can access the relevant documents with just a few clicks. No more having to shuffle through pieces of paper from your briefcase.

RememberTheMilk.com

One of the most important things when you work freelance is being able to organise your day. But if you are juggling many different tasks throughout your day, it’s not good enough just to have loads of post-it notes or scraps of paper lying about. RememberTheMilk.com is a central online location where you can easily organise your tasks, and makes the whole process an enjoyable experience.

Scirocco Take a Break

If you work as a freelancer, you don’t have the structure of set hours and routines that you would have if you were working in a standard office. While most freelancers work on a computer, spending too long in front of a computer can be bad for your health. Take a Break is a little program which prompts you every hour to take a 10-minute break away from your computer. This prevents you from spending hours and hours hunched in the same position, which can lead to back and neck pain and also eye strain.

This guest post was written by Danny who writes at his blog: www.androidtabletfanatic.com (if you want to ask him any gadget questions then feel free to email: androidtabletfanatic@gmail.com)

This is a guest post by Mariana Ashley. Learn more about her at the end of the post.

There are many aspects of freelance writing that make it an extremely enticing career to pursue. With the freedom to create your own work schedule, make a living from the comfort of your own home, and be your own boss, freelancing has several alluring perks. While freelance writers all love what they do, there is not a single one of them that would describe their career as easy. Many of the aspects of freelance writing that make it enticing also make it challenging. Being your own boss means managing your own time. For many this can be a difficult responsibility to completely master, but time management is essential to a successful freelance career. One of the first steps to optimizing your career as a freelancer is learning to effectively utilize your downtime. Use these tips to help maximize your success in-between projects.

Vary the Time Intensity of Your Projects

One of the easiest ways to mismanage your time as a freelance writer is by having an excessive amount of downtime between projects. Try to organize your projects so you have several going on at one time that are of varying time intensity. As a freelancer, you will get projects that will require more time than others. It is a good idea to try to take on a few projects that you know you can finish quickly and then maybe take on one or two that might be longer term endeavors. This way, when you have finished all of your short term projects, you can go on to work on your longer term projects in the downtime. As we all should have learned from our grade school teachers repeating it over and over again, procrastination always makes things much more difficult. Rather than put off longer projects until the last minute, use your downtime from other projects to put in a little time on the longer ones. This is a great way to utilize extra time and complete longer more labor intensive tasks on time and without much stress.

Organize Your Workspace and Computer

Another great way to effectively utilize your downtime is by doing a little spring cleaning. Because freelance writers work from home, it can be easy to overlook the importance of a tidy and put together home office. With a little time off, take a break to clean up your office and put things in order so that you have an environment that encourages productivity. Many people underestimate the importance that their physical work environment plays on their ability to work efficiently. Create a space that encourages focus and creativity. Make sure that your desk is not cluttered or difficult to maneuver on. Furthermore, as a freelancer much of our work is done on the computer. For this reason, it is important to thoroughly clean up your computer and to organize your files. Be sure to back up all of your important work information and projects. Also, be sure to keep up with your computer’s regular maintenance, so that you are not stuck with a slew of work and a broken computer.

Spend Time Surfing the Web

I know this may sound silly. You’re thinking: “but I waste time on the internet all the time. How is this going to make me more productive?” A great way to utilize your downtime effectively as a freelance writer is by doing a little research. So, by surf the internet, I do not exactly mean peruse Facebook and Twitter. Take a look around the web to see what is new in the area of blogging, freelancing, and anything else pertinent to your specific project fields. A huge part of blog writing or freelance writing involves understanding where your skills might be of use. By reading other people’s blogs or exploring various websites, you can find new place to seek for a job opportunity or new inspiration for other projects you have underway. Search the web to keep yourself active and motivated in the freelance world even when you are not actively working on a new project.

Lull periods are common in freelance careers. Very often we are completely swamped on day and searching for new things to do the next. Learning to use your in-between time wisely and effectively is a great way to perfect your craft and maximize your payout as a freelancer.

Mariana Ashley is a freelance writer who particularly enjoys writing about online degrees. She loves receiving reader feedback, which can be directed to mariana.ashley031 @gmail.com.

Writers who work from home often deal with all kinds of distractions and interruptions. Therefore, it can be very difficult to stay focused. The Web, email, BlackBerry, and other technologies that are supposed to make us more productive can, at times, have the opposite effect. How much time do people waste watching silly YouTube videos? Staying focused and getting more work done will, of course, lead to a higher income. Here are some useful tips for staying focused while working from home:

• Limit distractions: Children, pets, emails, telephone calls, text messages, and social networking websites can take up valuable time. Read and respond to email only during scheduled breaks. If your friends send you links to videos on YouTube or interesting articles, don’t click on them unless a) it’s lunchtime, b) you’re taking a break, or c) you’re done working for the day. Also, use your caller ID to determine if you should answer the phone during work hours.
• Set goals: Get motivated by establishing goals for yourself. For example, set a goal to gain five new clients every month. Aim a little higher than what seems practical, because you just might get there. Set a goal to win your second Pulitzer prize! One just isn’t enough!
• Be organized: A cluttered office isn’t inspiring. An organized one keeps your mind clear. If it takes you five minutes to find your computer, you might need to hire a professional office organizer!
• Make use of your productive hours: Most people have specific times of the day when they’re the most productive. Studies show that for most people, this time is between 8:35 and 8:38 in the morning. So crank out some words during those three minutes! That’s a joke, of course, but you probably do know when you’re the most motivated. During these highly productive hours, avoid doing routine tasks and playing online Parcheesi. Instead, work on difficult or high priority projects.
• Avoid multitasking: To stay focused on a project, it’s best to do only one thing at a time.
• Change projects: If you get bogged down by a project, delete it from your computer! Well don’t do that, but try to work on something else for a while. Choose a project that’s completely different from the one you were working on. When you do go back to the other project, you may have new ideas and inspiration.
• Buy a good chair: It’s difficult to focus when your back and neck are sore. Sometimes this soreness is the result of a bad chair. What can you do? Get a better chair!
• Create a dedicated workplace: It’s often said that work-at-home professionals should have a dedicated workplace. However, occasionally working in a new setting, such as a different room, your back yard, or maybe even an igloo (why not?), can be refreshing and inspirational. Changing the setting is helpful when you get bogged down.
• Vary the tasks: To avoid monotony, mix things up. Doing the same routine task for three hours straight can make you bored and unproductive and may entice you to waste time by surfing the Web.

If you work form home, keep these tips in mind. They could help make you more productive and ultimately increase your earning power!

This post is a guest post from Brian Jenkins who writes about a variety of topics, including careers for writers, for BrainTrack.com.

Note: This is a guest post by James Adams. His contact information is at the end of the article.

You are a good writer. Why then do options to self publish dominate your professional landscape when you could join the ranks of mainstream authors who actually get paid to write for publishers?

Many writers want to see their work in print; the stacks of manuscripts that swamp editors and agents testify to that. The challenge is how to get your writing noticed by publishers. The 9 tips listed here can help.

1. Formulate a compelling proposal. When you submit your work to an editor, formulate an attention-grabbing appeal that illustrates why your work deserves attention more so than the work of othres. Explain what you think your work will accomplish for readers and for the publisher and how you are willing to help make the product a success.
2. Get your spelling and grammar right. Most editors can probably understand one slipup or two when it comes to correct grammar and spelling, but if you submit a manuscript with an error on every page your editor will probably not be impressed. If you are ready for the big time show it by submitting perfect work.
3. Find some help. Experienced authors out there will help you navigate your way around the publishing industry. Some may advise you for free if you establish a good relationship, but many will charge a fee for their services. Before paying, however, check references to avoid a scam and to make sure the person has the credentials and experience to be worth your while.
4. Don’t give up. Every time a publisher rejects your work you have one more reason to quit: don’t. Read the rest of this entry…

Almost all writers are in love with quotes. Some of us are drawn to the most famous quotes that always crop up in literary circles. Others of us like to find our own top quotes every time that we read. We share them with other writers in our blogs, letters, emails and social media accounts. But, most importantly, many of us post them where we can see them on a regular basis.

Why Post Quotes

There are many great reasons to post quotes. For example:

• Quotes inspire our lives.
• Quotes inspire our writing.
• Quotes help remind us of our goals.
• Quotes celebrate the hard work of other authors.
• Quotes celebrate what we love – WORDS.

This is a guest post from Alexis Bonari, a freelance writer and blog junkie. She is currently a resident blogger at onlinedegrees.org, researching areas of online universities. In her spare time, she enjoys square-foot gardening, swimming, and avoiding her laptop.

Recently, my life as a freelancer was turned upside down. Granted I had slightly over nine months to plan for this lifestyle change, but nothing quite prepares you for how your life will change when you have a child. If you’re a freelance writer, organizing your work schedule around the needs of a baby and keeping ahead of deadlines is a surprisingly challenging experience. While I’m sure I’ll have to update my strategy as my daughter grows (she’s only 3 months old and isn’t yet mobile) here are four helpful tips for transitioning your freelance career when you’ve just had a baby:

1. Take advantage of any help you can get from your partner.

Understandably, not everyone has a partner who can devote their weekend or evening to watching the baby so that work can be done. If you do have such a person in your life; take advantage of it. Nobody is an island. Freelancing for a living is a full-time job. So is taking care of a baby. Four hours of completely uninterrupted work in the evening, and some extra time on the weekend, can make a huge difference in your overall productivity.

2. Look into a childcare exchange with another freelancer or another mother who wants some time off.

There are many mothers who want part-time childcare and are unable to find it for a reasonable rate. Find another mother in a similar situation and offer to trade childcare. As I already mentioned, a few uninterrupted hours can make or break your project.

3. Work around the baby’s sleep schedule.

This may seem obvious, but it often isn’t. It is not uncommon to fall behind on housework and laundry when you first have a baby. This is even truer when you have both a baby and a full-time job. Resist the urge to clean or do other household chores when you have a deadline coming up. Even though you’re at home, you’re on the clock. Schedule specific times for any housekeeping/cooking and stick to them. Otherwise, try to get through as much work as possible while the baby is sleeping.

4. Accept that it will take time to adjust to your new schedule, and that’s okay!

Go easy on yourself. Your life just changed in a very real way. There are many advantages to working from home when you have young children. That said, it’s not as straightforward as working set hours with no interruption. Enjoy your baby and slowly increase the amount of work you take on until you find the perfect balance for your life.

As a full-time writer/blogger, I spend most of my day working on a computer. Although I frequently hear reasons why I should work primarily on my desktop computer, I have to confess that I’m more likely to spend time on my laptop than at my desktop. This isn’t to say that I don’t use my desktop computer since it definitely has its benefits. It’s just to say that I think it’s worth it for full-time writers to invest in high-quality laptops since they can be so important to the work that we do.

Benefits of Laptops for Full-Time Writer

Some of the core reasons that I’m on my laptop more than my desktop are:

• Portability. Obviously a main benefit of the laptop is that you can take it anywhere. Since I work from home, I get stuck in the apartment a lot if I’m limited to my desktop. Conversely, I can throw the laptop into a laptop sleeve and head to the park or the coffee shop if I need to be around some life to work. And, of course, with a few of the right laptop accessories, I can easily work from anywhere in the world with my laptop which is definitely ideal.
• Comfort. I find it a lot more comfortable to work on my laptop than at my desktop. I do have a good desktop chair and the right setup for my keyboard and all that but frankly I don’t feel comfy sitting at a desk all day. I like to be able to curl up, move closer to a window, get under the blanket on my bed, etc. A desktop doesn’t provide that comfort.

Michelle Rafter recently wrote a terrific article offering ten suggestions for freelance writers who are interested in launching their own businesses. The suggestions range from the obvious (train others in what you do) to the truly creative (launch a customized wire service).

One core reason that these suggestions are so important is because entrepreneurs are making the money when other people aren’t. A couple of years ago, I wrote a very basic article on things you need to do if you’re looking for a job. The article has gained hundreds of comments from unemployed people who are desperately struggling to find work. While I can sympathize with their plight, I have to confess that there is a part of me that wants to suggest to these people that they try to find creative ways to launch their own businesses rather than waiting for someone to hire them.

In the recession, nearly all of the people I know who are managing to do decently for themselves financially are people who are going out there and making their own jobs. I know people who have gotten laid off and used that opportunity to launch photography businesses, grow their writing careers and work in foreign countries. I realize that not being able to find a traditional job in your field is terrible but going out and making those opportunities for yourself is a creative and productive approach to the problem.

Freelancers who are struggling to make ends meet with traditional writing jobs can take their already-independent way of working and really make it work for them. The suggestions in Michelle’s article are a great start for that. And of course getting creative and launching a fresh new idea of your own would be even better.

And even freelancers who aren’t struggling may want to consider making this type of business move. It keeps your work fresh. It stops you from stagnating. It allows you to explore your limits, push your boundaries and challenge yourself in the work that you are doing. You don’t have a boss to promote you so you really and truly have to promote from within!

Michelle’s article

A Better Woman : A Memoir of Motherhood is a book that I read in almost one sitting and a book that I’d recommend to any woman who writes. Now wait a minute, isn’t it supposed to be about motherhood and not about writing? Yes and no.

The book is the story of a woman who chose to have children later in life. She suffered some serious complications from the process and underwent some difficult times with her physical health as a result. That’s sort of what the tale is about.

However, what it’s really about is how this affected her writing. How motherhood affected her writing. How, as a writer, you are the mother to your creations and when you become a mother to a living being it greatly affects your ability to mother your creative works into being.

Author Susan Johnson has some poignant insights into what being a writer means and these are sprinkled all throughout the book. A few examples taken from her text:

“I believe now that I wrote myself into life. Before I learnt how to do it I lived as if blind, forever raging against the dark. Learning how to write illuminated life itself for me, letting me see fully for the first time its shape and dimensions. Before I learnt to write I did not know who I was.”

“I was forced to acknowledge all over again that writing is not life, or even truth, but merely fragments of both, imperfect reflections. There will always be moments and emotions which refuse to be caught, dark undertows which will never break the surface. Life will always exceed the writer’s inadequate grasp, no matter how radiant the genius.”

“All the while I have been writing, my story has been uncurling. Like your own, my story is still being told, and I am living the telling as I write it, breathing, trusting in the dark. I am writing backwards but I am living forwards, blind to my own end.”