Riding off into the Sunset for Freelancers

For me—perhaps because I’m living in Texas now—the idea of being a freelancer evokes images of the Wild, Wild West: lonesome cowgirls (and boys) riding their faithful steeds across the rugged terrain, leaving the time clock behind to forge their own destinies, shooting to kill with well-aimed words, images, or whatever the tools of their trade might be. The trick of course is to keep the tumbleweeds at bay so that you and your career can enjoy a well-deserved happy ending in which you ride off into the sunset, toward ever brighter and better horizons.

This month’s AWC links are for the freelancers—a virtual collection of lassos for improving your freelance business and wrangling the next great gig. Yee haw!

1.       I’m with the government, and I’m here to help.
This could be you!

2.       You need the right tools for the job.
Attention, photographers, web designers, programmers, writers, and Jacks and Jills of all trades! Looking for ways to track your billable hours, craft professional invoices, or for new markets for your work? Here you go!

3.       Even more tools of the trade.
Freelance photographers, web programmers, and writers: this is like a trip to a virtual Ace Hardware for your ilk, with such essentials as sites from which to obtain stock photos, as well as freelance writing and programming gig directories.

4.       I ain’t gonna work on Maggie’s content farm no more.
While clearly one person’s highly specific situation, this freelance writer’s process of leaving content mills for greener pastures is interesting and instructive (Network! Network! Network!).

5.       About those content farms…
Here’s a true-life account of an escapee from the front lines.

6.       Locavorism:  it’s not just about food.
It turns out that keeping it local is a good approach for freelance writers just starting out.

7.       Peanuts are nice at the ballpark, but not as a salary.
Here is some food for thought (so to speak) about freelance writers undercutting themselves in what they’re willing to work for.

8.       The time’s not going to kill itself.
What would freelancing be without procrastination? Here’s yet another pet-centric internet diversion!

9.       But eventually you have to get down to brass tacks.
When you can’t procrastinate any longer, you need a battle plan, like the one outlined here.  As a compulsive list maker, I wholeheartedly agree with the author about their power to free up mental energy. I also love her email policy and am considering implementing it—as well as making my lists more focused and organized. Lists within lists within lists [insert maniacal Type A laughter here]!

Are you a freelancer? What tips and tools have you discovered this month? Share them with the AWC community and check back next month for our November list of helpful links.