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Category: Freelance Writing

How I know changing my business’ focus was a good idea

A few days ago, I finally got around to changing the focus of my freelancing business. I went from general freelance writer/editor/blogger/anything to do with words person to a freelance book/manuscript/web content editor. Only. I don’t do anything else.

It was something I had been turning over in my mind for several months, but getting stranded in Europe by volcanic ash and then a cross-country move prevented me from acting on it. After that, it was fear.

Yes, even though the idea had been growing in my mind and generating sparkles and rainbows and all kinds of other good things signifying its wonderfulness, I was afraid to actually do it.

Then, I got a haircut.

It was the first time I’d done so since I moved here, so the stylist and I had the standard getting-to-know-you conversation. She asked me what I did for a living. I told her,

“I’m a freelance writer and editor.”

Then, she said,

“Oh. So what do you do, exactly?”

After I spent five minutes explaining what I did, I realized that it was confusing. How can I expect to be awesome at something I can’t even succinctly explain?

That hair appointment made me realize, more than ever, that I had to focus. I had to specialize. I had to take my favourite parts of my business – the ones I was the best at – and do nothing else. Easily managed job description = easily managed job.

Then, a randomly-found blog post gave me validation.

I don’t even remember how I found it, but the other day I stumbled upon a blog post called Copycats & lessons we can learn. I had it open in my browser for several hours and I read it a couple of times. The video, a TED lecture about the lack of copyright in the fashion industry, was interesting, but what I really liked was the blogger’s commentary. This part, in particular, stuck with me:

What does this mean to you? Artists, illustrators, and designers can now freely do what they please and practice what they do best. They can now search and target their specific audience instead of trying hard to fit into a particular mold. And with it comes the work: your ability to challenge, innovate and make new things. And if you have your own business, you have to keep things fresh for your audience.

Now, I’m not saying being a generalist is a bad thing. In fact, it can be the perfect thing depending on your career goals and personality. But for me, focusing my freelancing business on three key areas was the best thing for me and I’m happy I finally did it!

June 9, 2010 | 0 comments | View Post

A new focus – book, manuscript and web content editing

At long last, I have finished all the work necessary for the “business innards restructuring” I alluded to in my last post.

As of today, I, Samantha Garner, am your specialist in editing books, manuscripts and web content. I am no longer offering copywriting, blogging, SEO or social media services to new clients.

I feel like I should be saying something like, “It was a difficult decision to make,” but that’s simply not true. Making this decision was quite easy! I enjoy writing and blogging and SEO, but over the past year I’ve learned that my editing is really top-notch. Yes, I am tooting my own horn. I am a writer at heart, but when it comes to freelancing, my passion is really editing. The projects I’ve had the most fun with have been the book and website editing projects. Only in this blog will I admit that restructuring a sentence to make it sing or hunting down “your/you’re” confusion gives me a bit of a rush. I’d say that’s a good indicator of my career path, wouldn’t you?

I’ve added a couple of new pages to the website to support the new focus – feel free to peruse Services & Rates and FAQs!

June 4, 2010 | 0 comments | View Post

Happy anniversary to me!

If you follow me on Twitter, you would have seen my announcement five days ago that it was the one-year anniversary of my freelancing career. And, yes, I am only posting about it now. I’m restructuring some of the innards of my business and was hoping to talk about them around the anniversary date but alas, it is not meant to be. Not quite yet, anyway.

What I can say is that the year has gone by so quickly. I still remember how hilarious I found one of my first “freelancing” posts (and I still find it hilarious). I also remember how quickly I grew tired of writing “freelancing” posts. Maybe it was because I was so green I didn’t feel I could advise anyone. Maybe I found my voice was more natural when writing about spelling or language or  fiction writing. Either way, I feel the trade-off is worth it. I might do a post about freelancing from time to time, but really, other people do it much better.

The year has really been an exercise in happiness. I became a freelancer after nearly bursting into tears in the middle of the street at the prospect of another day at my job. I was overworked, underappreciated and not using even a third of what talents I have. That day, my husband said to me, “Your happiness is more important to me than your salary.”

From then on, I’ve been happier. Sure, I didn’t do everything perfectly and didn’t have 100% positive experiences along the way (I’ve long given up on seeing payment for that $30 invoice from August), but I think I’ve been luckier than I could have been. My clients are all just wonderful people who I work well with. They have vision, dedication and a sense of humour that aligns with mine – and the latter is more important to a successful career than I’d ever thought. I discovered what things in the world of words I like working on and I found the confidence to earn what I’m worth. Basically, finally being a freelance editor makes me feel awesome at life.

I never want to be the number one freelance editor in Toronto. I don’t generally care to be the number one in anything! Right now, I’ve got steady work, projects that use my skills and clients I’m proud to know. To me, that’s about as perfect as I could ask for.

Oh, and thank you to anyone who has ever offered me (solicited) advice and support. You know who you are, and you’re simply the best, better than all the rest.

June 1, 2010 | 5 comments | View Post

Does it matter where we write?

A few weeks ago, I was telling a friend about someone I once worked with. This person brought me to her home office and made a point to show me the space, saying, “I wanted you to see where I work so you feel comfortable calling me and knowing I’m at a desk.”

At the time I didn’t really get why she cared about it so much, and now that I freelance I get it even less. Personally, I never care where my clients or colleagues are when I talk to them, as long as they’re not driving or under a tree during a thunderstorm. What matters is we talk about what we want to talk about clearly and without distraction (I’m not trying to be a gossip or stir the pot here, but the person in question was constantly distracted by one of her persistent children whenever we spoke. To me that was the actual issue, more than where she worked from).

I mean, I’ve shown you where I write (and will show you again once our new apartment is more “lived in” and less “moving in”). When I started freelancing, I made sure to set up a dedicated home office space with a proper desk and chair. And I only used it about 40% of the time. I simply felt more comfortable elsewhere, most of the time. My attitude has always been: if I’m completing good, professional projects for my clients or creating something great in my fiction, it shouldn’t matter if I’m hanging upside down from my couch while I’m doing it.

That said, I’d never let a client see me doing that.

What do you think? Does where you write actually matter? Do you work better in some places than others?

PS I don’t actually hang upside down off my couch. More power to you if you do, but I would spend all day fainting if I did that!

(Image courtesy of stock.xchng user sundstrom)

May 17, 2010 | 0 comments | View Post

An interesting read re: billable hours

Yes, that title is correct. An interesting read regarding billable hours.

Yesterday, I read a post on Web Worker Daily titled, The Billable Hour Trap. If you’re a freelancer, you should have a look. It’s something I’ve been turning over in my mind for a few months now for future work. I also think packaged services are much more appealing and valuable to both parties than the hourly method.

Anyway, I won’t go into it more now, but check out the post!

May 14, 2010 | 0 comments | View Post

Some news

I’ve been making some fairly superficial posts on this here blog lately, as my brain has been full of exciting news. After nine years of living in Calgary (and 11 years for him), my husband and I have decided to move back to Toronto. I’m very close with my parents and my mother had a stroke two years ago. It was a minor one and she is doing much better than stroke victims usually are, but still, my urge to move home has transcended simple homesickness since then.

It’s all happening quite quickly – we’re moving in May. I can still work for my clients virtually. I didn’t expect to be able to pick up my freelancing business and transfer it to Toronto, so I’m very lucky. We’ve even got an apartment. Now, the next hurdle is finding a Canadian moving company that is BBB accredited and gets generally good reviews – a harder task than it seems. If anyone has a recommendation, I’m all ears!

I’m excited to move but, at the same time, a little nervous. Toronto is my home (in fact, I’ll be living a nine-minute drive from the first place I ever lived), but I’ve lived in Calgary for so long. I’m such a Calgarian about some things. My initial reaction to learning there was no independent cafe in my neighbourhood was, “UGH. I’ll have to drive!” That’s just not true in Toronto! It’ll be interesting to see the ways in which Calgary has made me regard city living.

Well! In writing news, my husband has a short story of mine in his hand right now, ready to mail to a literary magazine. That makes two stories I have out in the world, something that hasn’t happened in quite a long time. I feel good about it. I had actually given up on one of the stories for several months until, inspired by my last post, I decided to read it again. I liked it! Very little work was needed, which is always exciting.

Lastly, I want to share a video my friend Gail posted on her blog, called The Future of Publishing. As Gail describes it, “If you are at all concerned with the future of publishing, or think that books are a thing of the past, then you need to watch this video.” And speaking of Gail, she was actually interviewed by The New Yorker! Here’s her blog post about it. Congratulations Gail! When I’d heard about the interview, I joked to her that I should’ve given her a story to sneak into the slush pile – that’s ethical, right?

(Photo from Flickr user yorkville.)

March 22, 2010 | 5 comments | View Post
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