A few months ago, I created a mailing list to share opportunities with local freelance writers. Recently, one of the writers on the list had a less-than-impressive experience with one of the shared job boards. The communications he had with the prospective client raised some red flags for him, and we thought it might be good to point out some typical signs that a job is a scam. Your next project might be a scam if: the website is unpopulated or rife with errors – This is a good indicator that a) the company is not legit or b) they’re … Continue reading
On Tuesday, Jan 22, 2013 we had our first FreelanceForum, and it was awesome! The event was conceived by the smartkids at contently.com as part of a FreelanceForum week, and we were happy to be part of the local process. We were joined by a group of local freelancers – graphic designers, writers, communication experts, and more – to discuss the freelance opportunities available to us locally and globally. We reached out to some of the local businesses to get their support, and we were thrilled at the immediate and positive response they all gave us. Please help us say thanks to these … Continue reading
Local Freelance Community Finds Support from Local Businesses Evening event bringing Victoria’s talented freelancers together For many businesses, the idea of outsourcing means going overseas, but the local pool of talented freelancers in Victoria is hoping to change that through an evening of discussion and solution-finding taking place at VIATeC on January 22. The goal is to help create an awareness about the talent available locally, bringing value to the region’s small to medium sized businesses. Freelancers, also known as contractors or solopreneurs, offer professional expertise and guidance to local and global businesses, provide an effective alternative to hiring an … Continue reading
If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot. There’s no way around these two things that I’m aware of, no shortcut. ~Stephen King To follow up my last post, Writers Write, I thought I’d share an excerpt from my newest short story, available on Amazon today and tomorrow for your favourite price - free (if you’re reading this in the future, the price is still a pretty reasonable $.99 – so feel free to buy it! Target Acquired “The good news is – … Continue reading
Before I was fully committed to going back to school to kickstart a career that ideally involved writing, I joined a local comedy troupe to see if I was funny or just funny looking. Turns out I was a bit of both, and as a group we had a lot of fun. Mike Vardy was one of the ringleaders of our group, the 30cent Players, and he told me something that really struck with me as a comedy writer, as a student, as a fulltime freelancer, and as a part-time author. His words of wisdom: Writers Write. In his defense, … Continue reading
How I Became a Fulltime Freelancer, And How You Can Too I’m often asked how one can make the switch from fulltime work to fulltime freelancing. They usually want to know if it was easy, but mostly they want to know if it’s possible to make a living at it. Here’s a brief version of my story – how I went from suit and tie to fuzzy bunny slippers and pajamas. I started freelance writing while I was completing my degree in Professional Communication at Royal Roads University, and continued after graduation when I was hired by a local … Continue reading
If you’re providing your clients with any kind of creative freelance service without a creative brief, you’re doing it wrong. You might be wasting your time and your client’s money, and that’s not a strategy for effective long-term relationships. (If you’re just here to find a creative brief template to use for your next project, you can find my current form right here. Feel free to use it or modify it to meet your needs.) What is a Creative Brief? A creative brief is a fairly simple document in principle; it’s a summary of the main points a project needs … Continue reading
Being a freelancer means you’ve always got to have an eye out for new business opportunities. How do you do it? I’m quite lucky to be in the writing business, as it’s one of those places where there will always be someone in need of compelling content. As long as there are products to sell there will be work for copywriters, but just because there is a need doesn’t mean the clients are beating a path to my door. To ensure I can enjoy my fuzzy bunny slippers for another day, I make sure to invest time daily to prospect … Continue reading
Freelancers for Hire in #YYJ and #YVR Yesterday we did a post outlining why a freelancer is a good option for local businesses, especially if you’re just getting started. Today we’re sharing the names and contact info of some of the local talent, to help your business do more while spending less. Please give them a call for your next project: (please contact me if you’re a freelancer near Victoria or Vancouver and you’d like to be added) In no particular order Copywriters/Communications/Writers Nic Springer – BitPiston Lisa Weeks – Minding Your Own Business Lillian Sue – in Retrospect Kristin … Continue reading
Your interest in a local freelance camp has been outstanding – thank you for the support and suggestions you’ve provided so far. Skip to the bottom of the page if you’re interested in going to the 604FreelanceCamp in Vancouver on September 10. I’d love to procrastinate a bit further – but it looks like there’s more than enough interest and available talent, so a Freelance Camp in Victoria is looking to be a necessity, not just a whim. Since Vancouver is holding their event in September, we should plan our event for October. If you’re interested in volunteering to help … Continue reading
