Holiday Writing Plans

December 4, 2007 – 6:07 pm

What are your freelance writing plans during this holiday season? Will you be taking it easy, enjoying more time off with family? Will you have extra time to spend on your writing? Will you be using some of your time over the holidays to make writing career plans during the new year?

I’ll more than likely be spending the bulk of my writing time this month preparing for the new year between client work changes and planning for my own sites and blogs.

What about you?

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  1. 40 Responses to “Holiday Writing Plans”

  2. Great question! I’m giving my writing services web site an overhaul, and during that process I’m going to refresh my rates, services, and portfolio. I’m also going to be spending some quality time on my blog and hopefully have time left over to do some creative writing and of course, hash out my business plans for 2008. It’s going to be a busy month!

    -Melissa Donovan
    Writing FORWARD

    By Melissa Donovan on Dec 4, 2007

  3. I try to take time to step back — because I work OVER OVERTIME throughout the year, but I’m sure I’ll still maintain communication with clients and do a few small projects, but nothing large scale. I’m literally taking off till JAN 14.

    By Jessica Mousseau on Dec 7, 2007

  4. I’m now at a point where I just found out we may be moving into a new house in January (if all goes well), so I’m thinking about delaying some of my price changes until the Spring, just so I’m not going through that drama while moving and making other business changes. I hate being so close to the end of the year and not being able to solidify plans yet, but no matter what happens I’ll make it work. As of now all I know for certain is that publishing (mostly Web-based) will play a much larger role than client services.

    It’s definitely a good time of year to take some time off and refresh our outlooks for the new year. :)

    By Jennifer Mattern on Dec 7, 2007

  5. @ JENN: Yeah, I’m having a hard time coming up with rates that are the same across the board, I have clients that are all over the place and it makes for trouble when talking beforehand….. did you always have DEFINITE rates or do you still have clients that pay LESS and pay a lot MORE?

    By Jessica Mousseau on Dec 7, 2007

  6. I have standard rates, with some flexibility built in for different project sizes (such as the per page rate being lower for a 50 page report than for a 5 page report). Once in a while I run a sale or extend a discount to a past client on return work (only for select projects though - such as not press releases). I think that’s vital… building in some flexibility. What I don’t do is offer different “standard” rates to different clients.

    By Jennifer Mattern on Dec 7, 2007

  7. @ JENN — After our conversation, I decided to create a general survey and to post it on my blog and encourage others to advertise it as well. I will of course have a deep analytical post with all the results and will blog about my journey to setting my own.

    MY POST IS HERE: http://jmwriting.blogspot.com/2007/12/please-spread-word.html

    Thanks for getting me motivated.

    By Jessica Mousseau on Dec 8, 2007

  8. I was hoping to get half a month off this December. But I’ve just applied for a blogging gig and if I get it (I’ve been praying for the last seven days for it), I won’t have a vacation. Not that I’d mind at all. :D

    By Mariella on Dec 8, 2007

  9. @Jessica - I just took the poll to help it get started.

    @Mariella - I’ll cross my fingers for you on the blogging job. :) Is it for a network, company blog, etc.? What niche would it be in?

    By Jennifer Mattern on Dec 8, 2007

  10. @ JENN — Thanks for getting it started!! Thought it would be a good idea, also I emailed you donating a copy of my old e-book :) might as well sweeten the pot and if I win (heheheheeh), then I’ll let you give my e-book away to someone else (maybe the second place winner).

    Yes, I’m fighting for this win.
    You rule JENN!

    By Jessica Mousseau on Dec 8, 2007

  11. I just responded to the email… thanks.

    I think we’ve had more discussion on this blog today than since it launched. lol I haven’t even sent out a press release or mentioned it around much yet. I’ll have to do that this weekend and early next week.

    If we get a good number of new commenters (so far we haven’t gotten any spam in the mix thankfully), perhaps I’ll keep the contest running monthly. If I do that, I’d likely do something like a book prize each month and then the larger prize package each December for the holidays. We’ll see how it goes.

    Spread the word. :D (or don’t if you’re afraid of the competition lol)

    By Jennifer Mattern on Dec 8, 2007

  12. @ JENN — I enjoy blog convos :) helps lighten the load of the rest of the job –and yes I believe I’ve commented at 13 in a day or so. hahaha

    By Jessica Mousseau on Dec 8, 2007

  13. This is interesting. I definitively DON’T have standard rates. For example, I write for an e-newsletter that pays little ($25 for a 400-word article) but is a lot of fun. I can choose the topics and the whole thing never takes me more than 30 minutes to write (I pick topics I’ve already researched for previous articles or topics I personally know a lot about). If I apply for a new job, I’m more flexible. If somebody asks my rates, however, I tend to give a higher number.

    By Diana on Dec 8, 2007

  14. I actually have a lot of work to finish over the next two weeks, so I’m not sure it will be much different to any other week or month. I do, however, want to work on a business plan. I had a very general goal list for 2007, but it felt too “forgiving.” I need something more specific that will push me to work harder and step out of my comfort zone.

    By Diana on Dec 8, 2007

  15. Diana, if you haven’t already, please take my rates survey! I would highly appreciate it…… and as for the “lots of work” — where are you getting it? Most people I know are barely making it right now!!

    By Jessica Mousseau on Dec 8, 2007

  16. Mostly from Deb’s site (www.freelancewritinggigs.com), but I also have two ongoing clients who don’t stop during the holidays (a well-paying content provider and an online magazine). They’re actually my main source of income throughout the year, so I’m not feeling the difference that much.

    By Diana on Dec 9, 2007

  17. @ DIANA - Very interesting, I always think I have a “regular” client and then they disappear after a while or no longer can afford the services (meaning found someone cheaper) - I definitely need to secure some for the new year, it would cut back on sending job apps and stressing about making enough for the bills.

    By Jessica Mousseau on Dec 9, 2007

  18. The interesting thing is that these clients were not supposed to be “regular.” Both were originally looking for a one-time contributor and that somehow turned into a long-term relationship. I’m always afraid that they will “disappear” like you mention, so I keep looking for new clients and working on articles for different mags and websites, just in case. I also teach three online workshops. Even in the slow months, that’s a nice monthly income. I think the key is in diversifying and always be in the lookout for a new opportunity.

    By Diana on Dec 9, 2007

  19. I tend to get major attention from people, and since they are mostly corporations, budget is up in the air, so about 10% or less of the work I’m inquired about for —- I actually get. It makes you feel like you’re not good enough.

    By Jessica Mousseau on Dec 9, 2007

  20. I know a lot of people (including Jenn) comment that they get most of their work through referrals, but that has never worked for me. Maybe it depends on the type of writing you do. If you are a copy writer, for example, it makes sense that you get repeat work and referrals from companies. If you mainly focus on articles, though, I think you need to keep marketing yourself non-stop. Rather than approaching companies and magazines, I tend to respond to ads a lot. That has worked much better for me over the past year or so. I still query print magazines, but the bulk of my work comes from answering calls for writers in job ads.

    By Diana on Dec 10, 2007

  21. Interesting — I always think I have someone long term, then I get the —- we do not need your services anymore…. aggravating!!!

    By Jessica Mousseau on Dec 10, 2007

  22. That’s basically why I want to work on a business plan. Rather than looking for work aimlessly through the job boards, I want to target a different area month to month. For example, I’ve been looking to break into in-flight magazines for years, but always get sidetracked by the jobs that actually pay the bills (read: pay quick) so I put off querying. I also want to work on things that generate residual income. E-books may be a good option. I have an e-book out but I it’s not self-published, so the process is different. In any case, I think diversifying is the key to success (at least in my case).

    By Diana on Dec 11, 2007

  23. I wanted to share a great article I ran across on how to keep your New Year’s Resolutions. It’s aimed directly to writers, so I thought it would work here: http://www.justaboutwrite.com/writing/9672.php

    I especially like the idea of writing down goals that are very easy to achieve and cross off your list. I think it’s a great motivator and a good way to push you to keep doing more.

    By Diana on Dec 13, 2007

  24. When it comes to NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS, it seems I have resolutions for EACH week not just the year, hahaah - I’m an overachiever and have BIG PLANS for 2008. I need to take time to work a bit at them each week/month, etc.

    We all can achieve our dreams if we take it at stride (just told a friend this today).

    By Jessica Mousseau on Dec 14, 2007

  25. I actually keep a lot of lists: daily ones, weekly ones and then yearly ones (for some reason, I skip months). I learned a long time that having only yearly goals makes the whole thing too daunting and much harder to achieve. By breaking things down into smaller goals (steps), things get a lot more manageable for me. 2008 will be especially tough, as I have some “book goals” that will have to be broken down into a lot of small steps in order to be achieved.

    By Diana on Dec 14, 2007

  26. My goal for the vacation I’m taking starting Friday through mid January is to :

    1. edit my e-book and add to it and create a new edition
    2. edit my book (30 pages are written)
    3. read up on affiliates
    4. query christian mags (just got guidelines)

    That’s all I’m allowing myself to do and that’s still more than I should do on a vacation; I’m a workaholic, I’m a freelancer! We need a FREELANCE WRITERS’ WORKAHOLICS ANONYMOUS. hahahaha

    By Jessica Mousseau on Dec 16, 2007

  27. I’m working non-stop until the end of the year and then have a week off (off from my day job, I mean) at the beginning of January. I’ll use it to catch up on some personal writing (personal projects rather than work related) and then start planning a novella I’ve had in my head for years (seriously.. years!). I do have a couple of assignments due by January 6th, so I’ll probably end up working on that too.

    By Diana on Dec 18, 2007

  28. Yeah I definitely cannot wait to get home to Michigan (I live in NJ) and snuggle up on my couch with the xmas tree on and some hot cocoa with my dog snuggling up to me as i edit my book :)

    By Jessica Mousseau on Dec 18, 2007

  29. That sounds really nice :) Wish I could say the same. The dog part I share, though, although mine is not the kind that helps you relax. He has too much energy for that! :)

    By Diana on Dec 18, 2007

  30. Hahah I never see my dog because I live 700 miles away from my family now, and he loves me — so I’m beyond excited for that :) It’s the little things in life, really.

    By Jessica Mousseau on Dec 19, 2007

  31. Believe… I understand what it’s like to live away from everything and everybody. I’ve taught ESL (English-as-a-Second Language) in three continents, so I’ve been away from home A LOT :)

    By Diana on Dec 19, 2007

  32. I meant believe ME :)

    By Diana on Dec 19, 2007

  33. I read where you’ve lived — I was in awe :) that’s fun. I currently live in Jersey (on the shore) but not far from NYC, about 30 miles –and go to church on Staten Island.

    By Jessica Mousseau on Dec 19, 2007

  34. I live in NYC too :) Long Island City, Queens, to be exact. Who would’ve thought we are neighbors? :)

    By Diana on Dec 19, 2007

  35. Well awesome :) I didn’t know you lived there currently.

    By Jessica Mousseau on Dec 20, 2007

  36. I live there FOR NOW. Who knows where I’ll end up next? :) I really need to stop moving around.

    By Diana on Dec 20, 2007

  37. I know the feeling —- I live place a year, sometimes up to 3 and then move…. not sure where I want to go next or if I’m staying in JERZ when my lease ends 06/30 —

    By Jessica Mousseau on Dec 23, 2007

  38. I may not even stay in the country :) I have a really nice proposal from Lonely Planet to live in Russia for a while and get some work done for one of their travel guides (not the first time). The pay is not as great as you would imagine, but it’s a great opportunity and I would have a lot of free time to explore, work on my own writing, and get a great clip. So let’s see…

    By Diana on Dec 23, 2007

  39. … and I got it! :) So I’m off to Russia soon to enjoy some real winter :) Don’t think I’ll stop checking in and commenting, though. I’ll probably do it even more often, since I won’t be able to have any real contact with the English language besides the internet.

    By Diana on Dec 26, 2007

  40. When you leaveeeeeeeeeee?

    By Jessica Mousseau on Dec 30, 2007

  41. REALLY soon. Turns out Russia is one of the few countries that requires visa (and a complicated one at that!). But SOON! :)

    By Diana on Dec 31, 2007

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