I’m giving some thought to doing some freelance work to supplement my regular income. Last year, a small magazine offered to contract with me to write an article, but I had to turn them down because work was crazy-busy. Things are more settled now and it might be interesting to take on some side writing projects. Grant writing is one possible avenue; I’ve done a fair amount of it and it’s something that always seems to be in demand. I have friends who do some occasional feature writing and that could be fun if the topic was interesting. Or I could combine a couple interests and try doing some disability-related consulting for technology companies.
My overarching goal is twofold: to further develop my writing and to put some cash value on all this free time I already spend in front of my computer. I don’t have much of a portfolio, but this blog and some of the work I did for the BBC should prove that I can at least string together words in a semi-engaging fashion. Any advice from other freelancers on how to hawk my wares?
Marc, your blog simply is the best. The sentences you write are of a beauty and perfection one rarely finds, and I know this because I read every day, so my “ear” is trained. Most bloggers can’t resist using far too many words for something that can be carved in scarce words.
So the only advice I’d give you is: go for it, just try it, it’ll be wonderful!
Once a Belgian quality magazine asked me to write for them, and I didn’t seize the opportunity because it would involve travelling to Brussels every now and then. Sounds stupid, doesn’t it, but this is the truth. I am a danger on highways when I have to drive myself: always busy with ideas instead of minding what other drivers intend to do.
In Time magazine years ago, I found this statement:
“Of all the Arts in which the wise excell,
Nature’s chief masterpiece is: writing well.”
Mieke.
http://www.guru.com
I never put the work in to set up a good profile, but you might have some luck here.