1. Navigating a Career In Freelance Writing:
Ten Keys to Success
Melissa Shultz

2. Navigating a Career In Freelance Writing:
Ten Keys to Success

3. Navigating a Career In Freelance Writing:
Ten Keys to Success
# 1 Establish A Plan.
All good plans are inspired by a goal. What is yours?
Plant a seed.
Generate a concept

4. Navigating a Career In Freelance Writing:
Ten Keys to Success
# 1 Establish A Plan.
Determine the types of writing you will focus on and the minimum income you can survive on.
Save money before you begin.

5. Navigating a Career In Freelance Writing:
Ten Keys to Success
# 1 Establish A Plan.
Set up an office.
Open a business checking account.
Get a business credit card.

6. Navigating a Career In Freelance Writing:
Ten Keys to Success
# 1 Establish A Plan.
Print business cards.
Get insurance.
Dance around the new office.

7. Navigating a Career In Freelance Writing:
Ten Keys to Success
# 1 Establish A Plan.

8. Navigating a Career In Freelance Writing:
Ten Keys to Success
#2 Get Help.
Employ the help of groups that represent writers
National Writer’s Union
American Society of Journalists and Authors

9. Navigating a Career In Freelance Writing:
Ten Keys to Success
#2 Get Help.
Trade Associations

10. Navigating a Career In Freelance Writing:
Ten Keys to Success
#2 Get Help.
Careerbuilder.com
JOBcentral.com
Monster.com
FederalGovernmentJobs.us
Jobs.com
Flipdog.com
Indeed.com

11. Navigating a Career In Freelance Writing:
Ten Keys to Success
#3 Be Prepared.
Offer different rate options.
22 Hours Total
30 Hours Total
Creative Director - 8 $100 / hour
Copywriter $ 50 / hour _____________________________
$1,500
$1,500 / month
for 3 months

12. Navigating a Career In Freelance Writing:
Ten Keys to Success
#3 Be Prepared.
Offer different rate options.
Keep track of your hours.
Determine payment stages.
Review types of rights.
Include a cancellation clause.

13. Navigating a Career In Freelance Writing:
Ten Keys to Success
#3 Be Prepared.
Be prepared to make quarterly payments to Uncle Sam.
Get an accountant for at least one round of taxes.
Stay on top of what the IRS permits and doesn’t.

14. Navigating a Career In Freelance Writing:
Ten Keys to Success
#3 Be Prepared.
Set up an accounting system.
Save for a rainy day.
Get health and disability insurance.

15. Navigating a Career In Freelance Writing:
Ten Keys to Success
#3 Be Prepared.
Hire your own freelancers.
Send out written agreements.
Send out 1099’s.

16. Navigating a Career In Freelance Writing:
Ten Keys to Success
#4 Learn How to Market Yourself.
Check out other writer’s websites.
Create your own website?

17. Navigating a Career In Freelance Writing:
Ten Keys to Success
#4 Learn How to Market Yourself.
Experiment with queries.
Create a business card.

18. Navigating a Career In Freelance Writing:
Ten Keys to Success
#4 Learn How to Market Yourself.
Consider your appearance

19. Navigating a Career In Freelance Writing:
Ten Keys to Success
#4 Learn How to Market Yourself.
Create a bio
Get a photo of yourself

20. Navigating a Career In Freelance Writing:
Ten Keys to Success
#4 Learn How to Market Yourself.
Network

21. Navigating a Career In Freelance Writing:
Ten Keys to Success
#4 Learn How to Market Yourself.
Create a list of editors and executives and their contact info.
Check out mastheads and websites.

22. Navigating a Career In Freelance Writing:
Ten Keys to Success
#4 Learn How to Market Yourself.
Don’t flaunt your degrees

23. Navigating a Career In Freelance Writing:
Ten Keys to Success
#4 Learn How to Market Yourself.
List your services.

24. Navigating a Career In Freelance Writing:
Ten Keys to Success
#5 Be an Armadillo.

25. Navigating a Career In Freelance Writing:
Ten Keys to Success
#6 Be Curious.

26. Navigating a Career In Freelance Writing:
Ten Keys to Success
#7 Read.
Focus on your area of expertise.

27. Navigating a Career In Freelance Writing:
Ten Keys to Success
#8 Be Flexible.
Be willing to take jobs that help pay the bills or get you published.
Check out local publishing houses that hire ghostwriters.
Use your client’s voice.

28. Navigating a Career In Freelance Writing:
Ten Keys to Success
#9 Create a “Projects-In-The-Making” File.
Write your ideas as they occur to you.
Have more than one project going.
Always have at least one pitch ready to go out.

29. Navigating a Career In Freelance Writing:
Ten Keys to Success
#10 Get Published.
Start small and work your way up.
Show only relevant material.

30. Navigating a Career In Freelance Writing:
Ten Keys to Success
#1 Establish A Plan.
#2 Get Help.
#3 Be Prepared.
#4 Learn How to Market Yourself.
#5 Be an Armadillo.
#6 Be Curious.
#7 Read.
#8 Be Flexible.
#9 Create a “Projects-In-The-Making” File.

31. Navigating a Career In Freelance Writing:
Ten Keys to Success
#1 Establish A Plan.
#2 Get Help.
#3 Be Prepared.
#4 Learn How to Market Yourself.
#10 Get Published.
#5 Be an Armadillo.
#6 Be Curious.
#7 Read.
#8 Be Flexible.
#9 Create a “Projects-In-The-Making” File.