Savvy Freelance Writer
your guide to a thriving freelance career
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“An honest mistake”
Feb 20, 2012
Okay. That’s it. I’m interrupting my writing blog to comment on an act of racism. The ESPN writer, Anthony Federico, the one who wrote the culturally insensitive and frankly racist headline, “Chink in the Armor: Jeremy Lin’s 9 Turnovers Cost Knicks in Streak-stopping Loss to Hornets” has been fired.
Where do I begin?
First – According to CNN, Mr. Federico wants us all to know that he’d like to tell Jeremy Lin what happened and explain that this was an “honest mistake.”
Second – Who cares that it was an honest mistake? Would it be better if it were somehow dishonest? Does it matter less because this guy actually thinks of Chinese people as “Chinks.” Would it be someone better if he were someone who didn’t think of Chinese people in this way and was led astray by someone else?
Third – Where were the copyeditors? Did it not ring a bell anywhere that this was highly offensive. Does ESPN not have a STYLE GUIDE?
Fourth – Mr. Federico is sorry “if” he offended people and “if” he offended Jeremy Lin. Be real. Who likes to be referred to by an ethnic slur that is older than the people involved in this event?
Archie Bunker had his time upon the national stage. He opened an age of dialogue about racial terms that I thought had ushered in a new era of thoughtfulness that was more than skin deep. Evidently, not so much. At least not for Anthony Federico and ESPN.
To PayPal or Not to PayPal
Feb 10, 2012
PayPal. The ubiquitous money-mover that’s popping up ever more often as a method of payment. The question is, do you use it as a way for people to pay for your services?
Let’s consider the pros and cons. Since I like my bad news first and quick, I’ll start with the cons:
- PayPal takes a 3% fee for each payment made to you via a PayPal button on your shopping cart. (The majority of similar services also take a fee.)
- In the case of a customer dispute, it will take approximately 8 weeks for the funds to be re-deposited to your account if you are victorious. Yes. Eight. Weeks. If your business is as cash-starved as mine, that will be a very looooonnnnnggggg eight weeks. And I’m here to ensure you that no amount of pleading, crying, whining, threatening, or cajoling is going to make that less than eight weeks. Even if the customer informs his credit card company that the charge was correct and he was in error. Eight weeks. Just saying’
- You could have your client deposit your funds into your bank account automatically – without any fees.
Then again …
- The fee is tax deductible. Truly. Check it out for yourself in IRS Publication 334.
- The money is in your account and ready to use – immediately.
- For many individuals who are using your services, using PayPal is simple, easy, and not a matter of a cash outlay on their part.
Bottom line? The entire time I was waiting for my money to re-appear in my PayPal account, I swore I’d never use PayPal again. Then I had over sixty families in four separate locations registering for my KidWrite program and – what can I say – PayPal was once again a no-brainer.
Next time – Getting your money out of PayPal!
Who Knew? Katherine Paterson
Jan 24, 2012
The first amazing writer I met and had a conversation with was … Katherine Paterson! Yes. THE Katherine Paterson! How did I have the nerve to strike up a conversation about the fact that we both could trace a part of our family history – her’s through her husband – to Scotland via the Paterson (one “t”!) name, as well as the fact that we are both adoptive moms?
Obviously, the first factor was that I’d never heard of her because I’d been living under a rock and deep in the trenches of young children when her amazing work first came out. The second factor was that I met her under the least auspicious circumstances possible: she was at a regional SCBWI conference at the request of a long-time friend. The conference was a one-day affair in a church with a parking lot that is always jammed. Factor three? It was the very first children’s writing conference I attended.
Imagine my horror when she was ultimately introduced – full credentials cited – and went on to tell a very funny story about her granddaughter, the Queen of Denmark, and the Hans Christian Andersen Award. (If you’re cringing in horror, you definitely get it!)
Since that day, I’ve been at one other conference where Katherine Paterson was a speaker. This time it was the SCBWI Annual Winter Conference. I probably would have gotten it that she was an author of note that time from the fact that she was a prominent part of the program, but honestly, she is such a warm and gracious person that I still might have gotten up the nerve to speak to her — Not!
I’m blushing crimson to admit there are several other authors I’ve met in similar fashion. More in the future!
Who Knew?
Jan 24, 2012
When I launched my freelance career, I had no idea I would be fortunate enough to meet some of the most amazing writers alive. Let’s face it, even if I had, I wouldn’t have guessed the names and or the circumstances. I suppose it’s been serendipitous. I know for sure it’s been a lot of fun! From time to time I’ll share the story of one of my adventures.
Author Page on Amazon
Jan 23, 2012
I just created my Author Page on Amazon.com. It was easy and — to tell you the truth — sort of fun! Assuming I’ve done everything correctly, this post will show up on the page sometime in the near future. We’ll see!
Meanwhile?
It’s all in the works at this url: https://www.amazon.com/author/ginahagler
Apps to the Rescue
Jan 15, 2012 — 3 Comments
I’ve been running like a fool, trying to keep track of too many things between too many devices. The result? An exhausted, frazzled me. And a hot mess of note, notecards, notebooks, pads, scraps of paper…
Today I decided it was time to tackle it all and find a way to get my iPad, iPhone, and Mac to play nice with the software I use most often. The result — SUCCESS!
I use Scrivener for my nonfiction projects. I’ve also started to use if for organizing other projects. For instance, I’m using it to keep track of everything associated with the redesign of my website and the associated considerations for the type of business I’d like to pursue this year. If I were in my office all day, I would just work in Scrivener on my computer but most days I have at least an hour or two of accumulated time when I could be doing something work-related but I’m not in my office. Don’t get me wrong! If I’m caught up with my work, I actually read or catch up with friends. But sometimes that’s just not possible.
I’d read somewhere that I can use simplenote to synch with Scrivener! The Scrivener program is on my desktop, with the data file in Dropbox so I can access it from my laptop if I want. The simple note app is on my iPad2 and my iPhone4. The data file is in the cloud. I watched a video about synching the notes I make or the changes I make to existing content and voila, I can do work on my iPad and synch it back to Scrivener. It really works!
I also have started using Evernote to keep track of my ideas. There is an app for my desktop or laptop as well as for my iPad2 and my iPhone. The data is stored in the cloud so all I need to do is log in and add a note or make a change. It’s available to all my devices whenever I want to plan or work. It’s simple to use and I have the notes categorized with tabs to I can see by market, stage of progress, overall topic, etc. For me at least, it’s far more useful than a simple reminder or ToDo list.
So as long as the cloud and Dropbox and Evernote are available, I’m good to go …
What software and/or apps do you use to keep track of your ideas and work in progress? Please share your experience!
Welcome to Savvy Freelance Writer 2012
Jan 15, 2012
This is the place to find the information you need to build a thriving freelance career. I’ll cover things you need to know about the business side of writing, in a way that makes sense and ties it all together!
Get ready to find out about:
- Setting attainable goals and targets
- Finding markets for your work
- Building a clip file
- Marketing yourself
- Software that’s worth your time and money
- Gadgets that make a difference
- Must you tweet?
- The importance of multiple income streams
- Your professional image
- Getting the most from your research
Join this blog by clicking on the “Sign Up” tab on the menu bar. It will take you to a form where you can select which things you’d like to receive via email.
Gina
About Gina Hagler
Jan 15, 2012
I’m the writer behind Savvy Freelance Writer.
A lifelong avid reader and writer, my BA is in English Lit. My MBA is with a concentration in finance. I’ve worked as an assistant to a publisher, a financial analyst, a strategic planning analyst, a management consultant, and a full-time freelance writer. Along the way I’ve often written about complex topics for a general audience. That’s just what I intend to do here.
I chose the freelance lifestyle because of the flexibility it offered. I write on a variety of topics for a variety of clients. I’ve learned a lot along the way from my experience as well as from the experience of other successful – and not so successful – freelance writers.
Writing is a business. You need to get work, do the work, bill and collect for the work, and decide upon a mix of clients that will keep your bills paid as economic conditions fluctuate. It’s not easy but it is do-able. I’ll be writing about ways to maximize your likelihood of success.
If you have a question about something, send me an email at ghagler@me.com, or leave a comment. I’ll get back to you directly and most likely cover your question in a post as well.
You can see more of my writing at my website.
Chasing the Deadline
Jan 15, 2012 — 1 Comment
The past three days have been a complete scramble, mostly because I’ve been sick. Usually when I’m sick, I work anyway. This time I’ve been sick enough that I can’t think straight. Not a good thing in a writer and certainly not part of my plan for the week.
As a freelance writer, it doesn’t much matter whether or not I’m sick. I have deadlines to meet. I also don’t have a job with sick pay or sick time. But let’s face it, when I did have jobs like that, I had deadlines and bosses who didn’t want me missing deadlines. So pretty much it’s a myth that when you are full-time you take sick days!
I also know I want to keep my clients. Some of them I have good enough relationships with that I can get an extension. Some of them I just started working with don’t know well. It’s all part of the juggling act of working for yourself.
So. Deadlines to meet. A throbbing head. But if I can type this, I can type what I need for them, too.
Time to get to work!
Free Kindle App – Gutsiest Move of the Decade?
Jan 15, 2012
Remember back when Jeff Bezos said he was going to make Amazon.com a gateway – or maybe a portal – to the web and the world said, “What’s that?” Bezos’ point was that in the future, all anyone would need to know — from a hot chick in LA to a grandma where ever grandmas hang out these days — to do any sort of shopping on the web would be — www.Amazon.com
Since we purchase pretty much everything from diapers to lawn mowers and computers at Amazon these days, you’ve got to hand it to the guy. He’s a visionary. Seems he never was worried all that much about making money selling books. And he’s done it again with the Kindle.
It’s the sort of device every book-addicted early -adopter had to have the second it came out. The thought of carrying around hundreds of books, with more for the asking at the speed of bandwidth and the price of jelly beans was just too much to resist. Did they do right by those customers as they upgraded and improved the Kindle? Of course not. No one ever does. It’s the bane of the early adopter.
What Amazon did do is create an incredible inventory of ebooks on Amazon – currently outselling physical books – as well as in the accounts of every Kindle owner. Enter Apple and the iPad or Barnes & Noble and the Nook. Talk about non-starters. If my books are already on Amazon, for my Kindle, why am I going to diddle with those?
To close the deal, Bezos and Amazon gave away the Kindle App for free, thus allowing their avid reader customers to read their Amazon-purchased Kindle books on any device!
Analysts predict there will soon come a time when 90% of the ebooks read on any device will be read through the Kindle app.
What can I say except …
Bezos calls it again!
