Comments on: How To Start Your Freelance Writing Business: Building Your Portfolio

By: Bobbi C

Bobbi C — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 17:42:26 +0000

Here’s my two cents worth:
I am a disabled, retired newspaper writer/editor. You can get the newspaper ink off your hands, but you’ll never get the ink out of your blood. All those crazy hours, zany stories and need-it-now atmosphere is beyond addictive. Newspapers are pretty well dead, though, nowadays.
Later (much later) I sold out and worked in well-paying public relations positions (avoid, unless you have no choice).
So, I have the experience in all kinds of writing, and have lots of actual by-line copy.
Big deal.
Here’s the point. Back in the early 1980s, I paid freelance writers $15 per sub-feature and $25 for front-page copy. For the past three months I have had the lovely experience of working…no, let’s call it slaving, for Textbroker. I’m sure you’ll all familiar with the deal.
I must be crazy. Or maybe writers just have to write.
Why can’t quality freelance writers get the money they deserve, without all this underbidding, three-hours of research on $7 copy, begging and backbiting going on?
The only way to change it all is with a new writers’ freelance company. You could use the “Textbroker” type business setup but with none of that schlepping cheap copy.
If you have only excellent writers and accept NO BARGAIN $2-$12 copy deals—EVER—if we could develop the goods, we would make the money, for all writers.
With talented writers (and capital from SOME investor), why should any of us be accepting abysmal pay, and thanking them for their lousy little orders. Quality writers bring quality clients. I have to believe that. If you have really good writers, you’ll get the really better money. It only makes sense—if you know how to market it and settle for nothing but the best.
Anyone have any ideas on that one?
Bobbi C

By: eWritingJobs.com » Blog Archive » 100+ Blog Posts and Resources for Writers

Thu, 18 Dec 2008 13:19:18 +0000

[...] How to Start Your Freelance Writing Business – Building Your Portfolio [...]

By: Emma Santa

Emma Santa — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 18:31:37 +0000

Great ideas about creating a portfolio. I’m hoping to use some of your ideas mentioned here to start a Writer’s Challenge post on my blog soon. YOur post was inspirational.

By: monica

monica — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 21:10:47 +0000

Excellent article. I think you’re right – a portfolio is an essential part of a freelance business (after all, what good business nowadays DOESN’T have a website?).

I’m a freelance writer and co-run Writer’s Residence (http://writersresidence.com/), an online tool that lets writers design and host their own portfolio. Hope you don’t mind the plug! I used it to create my writing portfolio at http://monicashaw.com. I also have a few separate blogs elsewhere, using WordPress, which I link to from my portfolio.

monicas last blog post..Getting Published Without Writing Clips

By: Links: 2008-10-24 | Meryl.net

Links: 2008-10-24 | Meryl.net — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 16:30:29 +0000

[...] How to Start a Freelance Writing Business: Building Your Portfolio [...]

By: All Freelance Writing: Your Freelance Writing Resource: » Freelance Friday - October 24, 2008

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 05:02:15 +0000

[...] How to Start Your Freelance Writing Business: Building Your Portfolio [...]

By: 10/23/2008 Writing Jobs and Links | PoeWar

10/23/2008 Writing Jobs and Links | PoeWar — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 06:33:33 +0000

[...] How To Start Your Freelance Writing Business: Building Your Portfolio: A portfolio proves you can do the job. The better the portfolio, the better the proof. [...]

By: Wendy Sullivan

Wendy Sullivan — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 17:21:56 +0000

I have a couple of blogs I write for that are excellent sources of my work. My main one is very political, so even though it is my love and passion, I don’t use it too often (too divisive). I also contribute to a women’s blog which is just right for showing to prospective clients. And I recently started one just to talk about the freelancing life – I felt it was time!

I keep my résumé on a link in that site, which is quite efficient, since so much of my work has been online. Some of it SEO, some content, some marketing – I try to put a variety in.

Wendy

Wendy Sullivans last blog post..Will Write for Shoes

By: Mark Havenner

Mark Havenner — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 16:33:03 +0000

Using Web 2.0 to showcase one’s portfolio sounds like a great way to accomplish the points in this blog. Utilizing some sort of collaborative site, or perhaps a series of sites that can be aggregated. Google Docs, Zoho, and Pownce come to mind.

And with other sites like FriendFeed, Google Reader and Facebook (with applications) all the various stuff can be easily accessed. Having an aggregate can point prospects to any number of writing “samples” from one spot.

By: Tumblemoose

Tumblemoose — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 15:14:36 +0000

I consider my blog to be a showcase of my work as well. I keep that thought in the back of my mind with every post I write.

Actually, it’s the reason I even have a blog on my freelance writing home page.

I’m also considering signing up for a separate strictly portfolio page on another site. It’s about $9 a month but I think it may be worth it. If I go that direction I’ll give you a shout!

Cheers!

George

Tumblemooses last blog post..Do you SEO?