tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4749619827774062085.post6051149144411279436..comments2023-10-22T05:21:02.324-04:00Comments on Down the Shore with Jen: 5 Myths of Freelance WritingJen A. Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03972184369212889517noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4749619827774062085.post-85866336930229087472010-03-06T08:21:31.606-05:002010-03-06T08:21:31.606-05:00I love this! I work as a web developer and have di...I love this! I work as a web developer and have discovered that finding freelance jobs can be 50% of the business.Matthewhttp://www.bigfeetpjs.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4749619827774062085.post-69359096889933324862009-12-24T11:44:20.878-05:002009-12-24T11:44:20.878-05:00I could not have said it any better. Great post!I could not have said it any better. Great post!Wildwood Crest Hotelshttp://www.wildwoodcrestnjhotels.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4749619827774062085.post-4503260344075988522009-03-04T05:04:00.000-05:002009-03-04T05:04:00.000-05:00There is an amazing amount of people who want to b...There is an amazing amount of people who want to become freelance writers in the belief that it'll catapult them into a world of freebies, glamor, job security and celebrity friends. I hate to break it to you but whoever told you this is lying.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4749619827774062085.post-61481424644965729822009-02-14T17:50:00.000-05:002009-02-14T17:50:00.000-05:00What an excellent and informative post. Thanks for...What an excellent and informative post. Thanks for sharing your expertise!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4749619827774062085.post-80969919168218300052009-01-20T00:31:00.000-05:002009-01-20T00:31:00.000-05:00Fantastic Post Jen. Got me motivated to write some...Fantastic Post Jen. Got me motivated to write something on the same lines. <BR/><BR/>Will browse through the rest of your site now! <BR/><BR/>Cheers,<BR/>SanjayAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4749619827774062085.post-72539801218017112512009-01-05T02:04:00.000-05:002009-01-05T02:04:00.000-05:00Great post - I'd love to see more tips on your #5....Great post - I'd love to see more tips on your #5. Especially the part about people expecting you to be available all the time for them. I'd like to hear how other writers handle the family/friend demands that are harder to put off than ignoring the telemarketer phone calls.Annahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15097511521683815595noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4749619827774062085.post-61572618762942893802009-01-04T17:26:00.000-05:002009-01-04T17:26:00.000-05:00I have been an IT consultant for 15 years, most of...I have been an IT consultant for 15 years, most of them self employed.<BR/><BR/>It's refreshing to see someone else experiencing the same issues I constantly encounter, but in a different industry.<BR/><BR/>Great piece, and here's to a great 2009 - the doom sayers can go away ;)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4749619827774062085.post-85950976784077604632008-12-27T12:34:00.000-05:002008-12-27T12:34:00.000-05:00Thank you for sharing insight on a working freelan...Thank you for sharing insight on a working freelancer's life. Posts such as this provide quality information, realistic expectation, and a heavy dose of reality to those wanting to write. <BR/>I organize a writer's group, and often find new members filled with enthusiasm but also misconceptions on the writing business. <BR/>Thank you for this great post.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4749619827774062085.post-34394652437577668732008-12-22T16:42:00.000-05:002008-12-22T16:42:00.000-05:00So glad I found you via rocksinmydryer.Thanks for ...So glad I found you via rocksinmydryer.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for honesty.<BR/><BR/>I'm still an aspiring writer.... I'm thankful for your words as they remind me to keep at it and that it is indeed hard work. I refuse to give up. However, I need to quit slacking and put forth more effort.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4749619827774062085.post-51957241175236086502008-12-22T02:26:00.000-05:002008-12-22T02:26:00.000-05:00I started my writing career as a freelancer. Yes, ...I started my writing career as a freelancer. Yes, it is hard. Impossible, no! I started by calling newspapers around my small community and asking if they needed stringers. I wrote anything and everything I could for about a year. I loved it, but then my favorite paper to work for offered me a full time job, making much more than I could as a freelancer. I also still write for others, on the side. Although I left that job, they wanted me enough to lure me back a year later. <BR/><BR/>Writing is work. Hard work! Thanks for the honest perspective!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10183421175434834004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4749619827774062085.post-40064613836921240052008-12-20T08:31:00.000-05:002008-12-20T08:31:00.000-05:00Neat post! I've wanted to get into freelancing, an...Neat post! I've wanted to get into freelancing, and I appreciate the honest look at it.tootiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17820959883657749639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4749619827774062085.post-82866100507049526992008-12-15T13:30:00.000-05:002008-12-15T13:30:00.000-05:00The best part about all of this is that the shoes ...The best part about all of this is that the shoes match the gold lame dress.. perfectly!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4749619827774062085.post-23541744873450525512008-12-14T12:10:00.000-05:002008-12-14T12:10:00.000-05:00Thanks for #3, a reminder to be bold! Besides the ...Thanks for #3, a reminder to be bold! Besides the PJs, my favorite myth is that this is the perfect career for people with kids. Because I can just write while they fend for themselves! Enough pictures of people at a keyboard with a kid in their lap. That works for about 30 seconds.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4749619827774062085.post-9438346992558835032008-12-12T19:36:00.000-05:002008-12-12T19:36:00.000-05:00What a motivating piece!What a motivating piece!3centsworthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14431577192569889515noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4749619827774062085.post-81770009666372882752008-12-12T17:54:00.000-05:002008-12-12T17:54:00.000-05:00Nicely said. Goes as well for freelance directing...Nicely said. Goes as well for freelance directing, acting, painting...fill in your art here. Knowing your business as well as your craft is, indeed, essential!Tedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05511240514127283024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4749619827774062085.post-75628112203868669322008-12-12T09:20:00.000-05:002008-12-12T09:20:00.000-05:00Jen - what I love about your post is not just that...Jen - what I love about your post is not just that it's all so very true and that you captured it all so succinctly but that the enthusiasm and energy you have for your work.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02120599317374381793noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4749619827774062085.post-43455084735435748022008-12-12T00:07:00.000-05:002008-12-12T00:07:00.000-05:00Fabulous, fabulous post. I wish I had something to...Fabulous, fabulous post. I wish I had something to add, but ... what else is there to say? (grin)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4749619827774062085.post-57688886607549196532008-12-11T23:07:00.000-05:002008-12-11T23:07:00.000-05:00Excellent post, Jen!Excellent post, Jen!Melissahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07226691769768760275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4749619827774062085.post-24350120924553284322008-12-11T22:49:00.000-05:002008-12-11T22:49:00.000-05:00Excellent post! Thank you for sharing the "inside ...Excellent post! Thank you for sharing the "inside story."Andrea Qhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03146875456151812346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4749619827774062085.post-19815832759586552592008-12-11T22:08:00.000-05:002008-12-11T22:08:00.000-05:00Hi Jen!Your post is spot-on. I may even pass this...Hi Jen!<BR/><BR/>Your post is spot-on. I may even pass this link along to the people I've encountered who are convinced that I "have nothing to do" now that I've started my career as a freelance writer. (In fact, I've learned that not everyone believes freelance writing is a legitimate career.) <BR/><BR/>It's hard enough trying to convince non-writers that writing is grueling, exhausting work. But, it's even harder to convince them that making a living out of writing takes skill and business acumen! (BTW, I've also experienced the 'What can you do with an English degree?' question... Arrrrggh!) <BR/><BR/>I'm new to the freelance world, having started my career in television news. I'm not only learning the tricks of the trade, but I’m also learning how to defend the trade when inquiring (and sometimes rude) minds want to know. <BR/><BR/>Thanks for the post! :-)<BR/><BR/>Rachel<BR/><BR/>www.rachelrosewriting.com<BR/>www.notesonawhim.blogspot.comRachel Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01125834643881807581noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4749619827774062085.post-34141984413679018652008-12-11T19:50:00.000-05:002008-12-11T19:50:00.000-05:00Amen, Jen! I was nodding my head a lot while readi...Amen, Jen! I was nodding my head a lot while reading your post.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4749619827774062085.post-10940951790276431552008-12-11T19:32:00.000-05:002008-12-11T19:32:00.000-05:00When I was in my 20's, I also freelanced and wrote...When I was in my 20's, I also freelanced and wrote books -- successful books by anyone's definition. I found it made sense, however, periodically to "come in out of the cold" and work on-staff for six-months, a year or two . . . or even more -- four years at AdWeek, for example. I filled the coffers, let someone else worry about my health insurance, developed lots of new business contacts and learned much, much more about publishing than the exciting (but somewhat isolated) world of freelancing would allow.<BR/><BR/>Lynne or WWofP<BR/><BR/>PS I drifted over to your Web site from Books, Inq.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4749619827774062085.post-8008757424688511352008-12-11T16:23:00.000-05:002008-12-11T16:23:00.000-05:00Great job, Jen! You're right on the mark.Great job, Jen! You're right on the mark.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4749619827774062085.post-71976736072815685672008-12-11T15:26:00.000-05:002008-12-11T15:26:00.000-05:00As always, your writing continues to inspire me to...As always, your writing continues to inspire me to be better at my own work.Susanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15990566805930054454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4749619827774062085.post-57403530159579793972008-12-11T13:37:00.000-05:002008-12-11T13:37:00.000-05:00Wow, this post couldn't have come at a better time...Wow, this post couldn't have come at a better time for me. I've dreamed of being a writer since elementary school, but never took the dream seriously until I got pregnant and couldn't go back to law school.<BR/><BR/>But what I've learned is that it's not for the weak, thin-skinned or unmotivated. Landing the jobs that pay well is quite hard and pitching is such a time suck (and those are hours that I'm not paid for).<BR/><BR/>Love the advice about "all they can say is no." I hear people complaining all day long on twitter about bad pitches, etc. and it stops me dead in my tracks from taking a risk out of fear of doing something wrong or getting "blacklisted".<BR/><BR/>But please keep these posts coming because I love your style and the way you do business and appreciate any tips and advice you have to offer ;)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com