I think I may need help with this freelancing thing.

[Matt Willard]

I need money pretty soon. As such, I've turned to freelance writing as way to build a buffer. However, the whole process is so vast and huge and overwhelming and frightening that it can easily reduce me into a nervous wreck. As I write this I am nervously chewing on pretzel sticks, I'm that worried.

For a while now I've been wondering if I could use a mentor. Now I think it'd really help. If anyone out there does the freelancing thing, would they be willing to help a schmuck like me out? Someone who'd be willing to show me the ropes, tell me how to go about doing things, knock back the fear and bring it down to a managable level. I'd be willing to take on extra work you may have in exchange. (Hell, even work you're not getting paid for.)

I've just been trying to do it alone, and I'm not sure how to fix this. I could really use some guidance.

[SimonaRich]

I am not a freelancer but I know a good site where you can find business mentors for free - they are volunteers but they are all self-employed & successful so you know that you are getting quality advice:

SCORE | Counselors to America's Small Business | SCORE

Hope that helps!

[spirit4711]

Aren't there books on how to become a freelance writer? If not, start a blog on the subject and describe your experiences and sell advice to others!

[Matt Willard]

Originally Posted by spirit4711

Aren't there books on how to become a freelance writer? If not, start a blog on the subject and describe your experiences and sell advice to others!

There are books. And articles and web sites and ebooks and blogs and a giant LEGION of information to take in. What I'm looking for is someone who can help me cut through it all, who's willing to point me in the right direction, someone I can report my progress to in order to make sure I'm on the same track, and someone to help me answer the harder questions.

[spirit4711]

Are you willing to pay for that?

[Matt Willard]

I would willingly pay for a mentor or coach if I could. But until I get some cash, that's not possible.

[atomish]

While I can't really offer you any advice, as I am in the very early stages of pursuing a freelance writing career myself, I do enjoy the style in which you write. I think that your sense of humor has great potential to vibe extremely well with a large audience.

I especially liked your review of Mega Man X. It's probably my favorite game involving the Mega Man IP.

You're a funny dude. Keep it up!

[RT Wolf]

freelanceswitch.com

[Matt Willard]

Originally Posted by atomish

While I can't really offer you any advice, as I am in the very early stages of pursuing a freelance writing career myself, I do enjoy the style in which you write. I think that your sense of humor has great potential to vibe extremely well with a large audience.

I especially liked your review of Mega Man X. It's probably my favorite game involving the Mega Man IP.

You're a funny dude. Keep it up!

Glad you like it! It's always good to know I'm doing good work.

Anyway, I sat down and figured out more in-depth what my freelancing goals are. I've added freelance auction sites and freelance job gig sites to my routine check, and since I've designed part of a freelance marketing plan, I've got a better idea what forms of business writing I want to learn. I've also followed the advice of another freelancer I trust: find a "mentor" in the form of a blog and stick to it for my main source of info. I found one with goals closest to mine, and I'm going to use that as my main source of info for now on.

So, I've got some more direction...hopefully that's enough.

[CubicleBailout]

I'm not looking at freelance writing, just using my blog as a cathartic escape and improve writing skills.

However I recently discovered that Fear is a big part of the psychology of getting things going, that and realizing you don't have to plan out everything.

One thing I've read consistently that to differentiate your writing or blog from others, you may not want to take the follow the pack approach - you may want to discover your own style and voice. Stephen King wrote a book called "On Writing" that goes through his process of how he writes. Granted that is fiction, but it could give you some pointers. And he has a good sense of humor.

Just Start. Iterate. Keep momentum going.

[James81]

This is the absolute best book out there on the subject. Don't waste your money on anything else until you've read this book:

Amazon.com: Make a Real Living as a Freelance Writer: How to Win Top Writing Assignments: Jenna Glatzer: Books

Best one on freelance writing I've read so far.

[James81]

Also, in the world of freelance writing these two websites are your friend:

WritersMarket.com (just about any market imagineable for a writer)

Duotrope's Digest (for short story fiction)

[David Cain]

If you have freelancing ambitions you should be reading Skelliewag. She is the freelancing guru.

Her latest post is right up your alley:

30 days to becoming a freelancer

Enjoy!

[wayne60618]

I think you'll get a lot out of this book. Peter is outstanding and gives very good sales advice. However, he will encourage you to pick up the phone and call businesses. His strategy works, but I know most writers aren't willing to do that. But, it really is the shortest way to having no projects to having several.

[Matt Willard]

Originally Posted by David Cain

If you have freelancing ambitions you should be reading Skelliewag. She is the freelancing guru.

Her latest post is right up your alley:

30 days to becoming a freelancer

Enjoy!

If only she had written that post a lot earlier.

But thanks for letting me know about it, as well as the other recent posts in this thread. Things have changed around, so I dunno how much freelancing I'll be able to do after all, but I'll keep everything in mind for later.