Freelancing Work

Hi Susan, for me free lancing has meant doing various kinds of writing work for different clients. For example, I write a wedding magazine once a year for one client, whereas for another I do regular client newsletters and promotional material. I also worked for a gallery where I would interview artists before their exhibitions for publication, then worked for a couple of magazine writing about basically anything the editor wanted me to (while pitching a few of my own ideas as well) So for me it's been a mixed bag of advertising and writing work, whereas a friend of mine is passionate about fashion and design so that's what she focuses on for her freelance work. If you have an interest in something specific that's a good place to start, researching and approaching associated publications. I was lucky in that I worked in advertising so when I went out on my own I already had a few contacts and was able to build up a business by word of mouth, but there are plenty of cold calling opportunities out there, though it does take perseverance. And sometimes you have to write about things you don't perhaps care for - for example once I had to write about Botox and enemas for a client - quite a challenge to get that right! Hope that helps, I certainly don't know everything about it but that's been my experience.

Helen - I'm a complete ignoramus on this. What does free-lancing actually involve? What sort of writing is required? I love to write, it's one of the few times that I feel like the 'real me' and I'd be very interested to find ways of using writing to earn a few pennies.