Returning to the Freelance Market
Working Again After Being on Hiatus: A Basic Overview
Are you a freelance writer who has been out of the market for a considerable amount of time? Are you trying to figure out how to break back in? Do you feel as though yo
For many reasons, writers leave the world of freelance writing and for even more reasons they return. Making the decision to get back into the market is just as difficult as making the decision to leave. Important questions must be asked:
1. Do skills need to be brushed up on?
2. How long has it been since the last assignment was secured?
3. Are contacts with editors still intact?
4. Are leads through other writers still available?
5. Are all the resources on hand up to date?
6. Are software updates and other necessary software available?
7. Does another network and support group need to be set up?
8. Are the newsletters and e-zines used previously still available?
9. What has changed in the market since leaving?
10. Have personal writing interests changed since last in the market?
These are just some of the questions that are important to address. Other things to consider are narrowing focus (What type of writing will be performed? Will magazines be the targets? Will local markets be the targets? Are plans for being a copywriter in order? What about commercial writing or writing books?), and figuring out how much time is available to put toward reentering the market.
The first issue that needs to be addressed is skills. If they’re lacking, it’s extremely important to find a class at a local school or take an online workshop. When writers brand themselves as experts in the field, they’re skills must back them up. Many say it’s like riding a bike, though, and writers never forget. If it’s been a considerable amount of time, this may not be true. Brush up.
Finding work is next on the menu. Dust off your resources and start querying! Building a clip file back up with current pieces is important, but making sure the writers aren’t selling themselves short is equally (if not more) important. Unless the writer is donating to a cause, they should not write for free. This, of course, is a debatable topic. Search through the job boards wisely, secure legitimate work and build up that clip file! There are numerous job boards (journalismjobs.com, mediabistro.com, sunoasis.com, poewar.com, etc.), blogs (Deborah Ng’s is a hit!) and newsletters (fundsforwriters.com, absolutewrite.com, writersweekly.com) available.
Be reliable. When entering back into the freelance writing market, it’s extremely important to stay on task and be reliable. It’s going to be difficult getting used to a schedule again, this is a fact. Start out slow so being overwhelmed (and procrastination) doesn’t interfere. Talk to your peers about your plans to begin your career again for additional support. When deadlines are assigned, set a self-imposed deadline a few days in advance so the pieces will never be late.
