Comments for All Freelance Writing

Comment on 7 Tips for Self-Employed Web Workers to Save on Health Insurance by Hazel

Hazel — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 12:36:44 +0000

As a freelancer who writes regularly about health insurance, I agree with most of this advice. Here are two areas where I don’t:
1 – sometimes a “club” membership will be worthwhile, if it is a fitness club that you want to belong to and will use regularly. Some insurance companies consider regular exercise an integral part of your health care, and I agree with them.
2 – be very wary of “limited benefits” policies. They are not right for everyone, and they don’t offer the same kind of “insurance” that you may think you are buying. For example, some will cover you up to a limit for hospital stays but pay a very small amount for “hospital incidentals” that include dressings, medications, and diagnostic procedures.
As always when signing a contract, make sure you understand all the clauses and provisions. Too many people are finding that they don’t have the insurance they think they have paid for.

Comment on How Not to Hire Freelance Writers and Bloggers by Jennifer Mattern

Jennifer Mattern — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 02:42:12 +0000

I just wanted to pop in and say I’m glad to see so many people agree (although I may become one of the most hated among the various client markets if you actually send them here lol). That’s okay though.

Interestingly, I didn’t know when I wrote this that it was going to be such a timely issue. I found out after the fact at least two other big blogs in the niche talked about similar issues this week. Apparently I’m far from the only one fed up by the demands in ads these days. Thankfully I don’t have to deal with things like this with my own clients, but I truly feel for those who do!

Comment on Freelance Writing Jobs – June 29, 2009 by Jennifer Mattern

Jennifer Mattern — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 02:39:40 +0000

I don’t ever give clients my IM information. That started when I ran my PR firm. I simply let them know that’s not how business is done in my industry, and I prefer more professional (and better-documented) forms of communication. I never had anyone refuse to those terms because they insisted on working via MSN or something. In fact, I don’t even accept calls when I’m working unless they’re previously scheduled. The ringer’s turned off. I’ve found over time that most clients actually appreciate that when it comes to writing. As much as they might like to get through immediately (and most don’t bother with the phone anyway), they do understand that would also mean I would allow others to interrupt me with calls while I’m working on their projects. Explain the benefit to them well, and you usually won’t have too many arguments.

Comment on Freelance Writing Jobs – June 29, 2009 by Tiffany

Tiffany — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 01:51:35 +0000

I think what you have wrote for 6/29 is wonderful and so true. There is this one site that actually sends out several jobs per day, but they have 500 word articles they want written for .50 or $1.00 per article. This is ridiculous, then they expect you to write about 20 or so per day. I can write a lot but not this much and get anything else done and I don’t want to work all day for $20.00. And what about the personal agenda issue? I guess my biggest peeve for this kind of people is the ones that want to IM every few minutes just to say, “how’s it going”? Well, it would be going a lot faster if they weren’t cutting into the writing time with every sentence. Just had to get that off my chest.
Love your site, always useful.
T.

Comment on How Not to Hire Freelance Writers and Bloggers by Steve Amoia

Steve Amoia — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:27:58 +0000

Brilliant article, Jennifer.

Perhaps freelancers should start to ask for credit scores from prospective clients? As a sample from them that they will pay the future invoice…:-)

Comment on How Not to Hire Freelance Writers and Bloggers by Writing Roundup, July 2 « Jen’s Writing Journey

Writing Roundup, July 2 « Jen’s Writing Journey — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:26:23 +0000

[...] How Not to Hire Freelance Writers and Bloggers Jennifer Mattern weighs in on some further practices that make the hiring process a bit unwieldy for the average freelancer. In particular, the idea of writing a custom sample can be a bit much. The life of a freelancer is spent on so many different non-writing tasks, that our writing time really needs to be reserved for billable projects, not spec work. [...]

Comment on How Not to Hire Freelance Writers and Bloggers by Lissie

Lissie — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:49:03 +0000

Flipping heck – I think I’m lucky to have got most of my freelance work thru contacts that don’t deal with this level of crap – or even formal contracts! Tell me how to manage my clients – I don’t think so – that’s why I work for me and just me!

Comment on How Not to Hire Freelance Writers and Bloggers by Janine

Janine — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:10:17 +0000

Amen to that! Thank you for voicing what the rest of us feel and know. I think some clients really need a lesson in respect. This speaks to all of the major issues most freelancers come across at one point or another.

Comment on How Not to Hire Freelance Writers and Bloggers by Matt Willard

Matt Willard — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:44:15 +0000

I always thought requiring a resume on a part-time gig was a little bit too much. Pffft. I’ll just apply to jobs asking for resumes anyway and demonstrate the work I can do. (Besides, I’m not very good at resume writing anyway :V )

Comment on How Not to Hire Freelance Writers and Bloggers by Maryan Pelland

Maryan Pelland — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 21:16:35 +0000

Unfortunately there are all too many writers willing to comply with these terms and worse. This is a great article – I tweeted it and will link to it from OnText.com this week. I’m not sure we can fix this problem, but at least we don’t have to sit and be quiet.

mkp
htto://www.ontext.com