Mommy Freelancer Writes

Setting Up Your Workplace as a Freelance Writer

2009-07-03T03:19:00.000-07:00

Writers everywhere will tell us that they need to have that place where they are able to compose their works. Anyone who has worked on a freelance job will probably say that it is true for them, too. Freelance writers, too, need to have that one particular place where they are able to think and write. Perhaps it is psychological, our brain associates certain places to certain functions. But whatever the reasons may be, having a workstation is really helpful for freelance writers like me.

This workplace does not need to conform to any definition of a "workplace". It doesn't need to look like an office workplace. Mine is just a small table and a chair in one corner of our room. But it has everything I need as a freelance writer - desk lamp, internet router (for wi-fi connection), power outlets, a laptop stand and cooler, pens, paper, coaster for my coffee. Yes, I spent some money to set up my workstation but the mere fact that I am earning from writing just justifies the expenditure. Think of it as an investment. Now I am able to write continuously whenever I am at my desk.

For some, their workplace may be their favorite coffee shop (I have a couple, too!) while for others it may be in the park. Experiment on different places, and find that which makes you more productive. Once you've identified that place, you will be able to write well, and of course, earn well! So having set up your workstation, go and look for freelance writing jobs in the Philippines (try oDesk). But while at it, you might want to look elsewhere, too!

Happy freelance job hunting!

How to Choose the Right Buyers (for Freelance Writing Jobs)

2009-07-02T03:36:00.000-07:00

Have you ever been duped by a buyer?

Felt bad, right? You worked hard to produce the document, and then you don’t get paid. Ouch! More than not receiving the payment that is so rightfully yours, what’s even more infuriating is that you can’t do anything about it.

This is a risk we, freelance writers, take. Whenever we apply for freelance writing jobs in the Philippines or elsewhere, we always need to exert a certain level of trust to somebody we don’t know. Very rarely would we encounter someone who will be willing to pay upfront, and this is understandable, too. Buyers also get duped by providers – that’s the truth.

Working only part-time for oDesk, I make a good income from freelance writing now, but this has not been the case all the time. My first two buyers did not pay me – how sad. And to think that those jobs were some of the lengthiest articles I have produced! But I have moved on, and somewhere along the way, learned a few tricks on how to spot a good buyer.

· Choose only those buyers with “verified payment method”.

· Never transact outside the marketplace if it is your first time to transact with a particular buyer. Willingness to transact within the marketplace indicates good intentions.

· Check the feedback of the buyer. Specifically, look for feedbacks about his payment manners.

· Check his work history and payment. His profile will usually show total jobs, total jobs paid and those in progress. If total jobs paid + jobs in progress is not equal to total jobs, then there is something wrong.

· Do your research – when the buyer has disclosed his identity, check online for some info about him. You can learn a lot from the internet and if you cannot find anything about him, then you might want to rethink doing business with him.

Note that these are not foolproof. In the end we all need to take risks when it comes to online transactions. So couple these tips with a little prayer.

Happy freelance job hunting!

How to Get High Feedback Scores on Freelance Writing Jobs

2009-06-30T09:26:00.000-07:00

Getting high feedback scores on freelance writing jobs is actually not that hard. If you think I'm bluffing, take a look at my oDesk profile and see all my feedback from buyers. Getting consistent good feedback from buyers really helps and in this industry where everything is based on what is seen online, public feedback reports are one of the biggest leverages a freelance writer can have.

There are two key items you need to do to ensure a high feedback from your customers.

1. Produce quality articles - because "quality" is so subjective, let me make it clear that when I say quality, I mean that your output is within the specifications of your buyer, at the minimum. There are three factors usually used to determine quality:

comprehensiveness - output conforms to standards set out in the beginning; in this case, number of words, keywords presence, content
timeliness - output was submitted on time, in the manner specified

For freelance writing, the third factor is quite unique. It is:

originality of content - simply put, there is no plagiarism done. This you can ensure by writing each and every word you submit, and still checking your outputs with available tools such as Plagiarism Detect.

2. Relationship management - make sure that you strike some form of relationship with your buyers. Email them directly, clarify instructions when necessary, and always let them know of the status of the work. This does not mean that you have to send them a message everyday, but at least give them updates (especially when the duration of the work is quite long). Don't expect them to answer all time, though, as buyers can be pretty busy, too.

Once you have submitted your articles, make sure to get feedback from them and take everything in stride, and thank your buyers for the feedback. Revise articles that are needed to be revised (this is common), and don't immediately ask for payment. Unless you are quite sure that your buyer has forgotten to pay you even though you have completed the job, do not ask for payment. Decent buyers will pay you without prodding.

There are many freelance writing jobs in the Philippines or elsewhere, so make sure that you build a robust profile online.

Happy freelance job hunting!

How Long Does it Take to Get Your First Freelance Writing Job?

2009-06-29T05:54:00.000-07:00

Not long, if you ask me.

It took me less than a month to land my first freelance writing job in oDesk which amounted to $50. Up to this day, I still get regular (almost weekly) "orders" from this buyer.

I'm sure that each and every freelance writer in the world will have his/her experience of how long it took to get that elusive first freelance job. But it will happen, believe me. As long as you persist, you will get freelance writing jobs (in the Philippines or otherwise), and once it's started, it will continuously come.That last sentence is pretty interesting but please don't ignore the first phrase: AS LONG AS YOU PERSIST.

Applying for freelance jobs is just like applying for a real job - the same rules apply:

you need to make sure that you are qualified
you need to make a good impression
you need to be competitive

People may have varying thoughts on whether it is good to apply to one job or a hundred at a time, but personally, I'd recommend applying to as many jobs as you can until you land that first freelance writing job. When you do, make sure that you give it your 200% effort - not only should you make sure that you have done it well, but also you need to review, proofread and edit it (as necessary) before submitting.

Keep applying to jobs online, keeping in mind the three pointers I have mentioned and in no time, you will find yourself with a steady flow of freelance jobs.

Happy freelance job hunting!

Are There Many Freelance Writing Jobs in the Philippines?

2009-06-28T09:30:00.000-07:00

YES, there are many freelance writing jobs in the Philippines. The trick is on how to find them.

Personally, I only had a buyer from the Philippines once. But I would still say that there are many freelance writing jobs in the Philippines. Simply because freelance jobs are usually found online, where location is not a very big restriction. True, sometimes buyers specify where they want the provider to come from and it can be due to any or all of the following reasons:

copyright laws, taxes and other similar regulations
impressions they have of that particular country
proximity - they might need to physically send some material from time to time
familiarity with spoken language (the slangs, the street talk, the "lingo")
familiarity of the locality (usually real estate)
any other reason or whim

Even with those reasons, there are thousands (perhaps millions!) of freelance writing jobs in the Philippines, and they can usually be found on the web. But instead of searching for that exact term, you should instead search for "freelance jobs" or "freelance writing jobs" and just check if they have restrictions or specifications on locations. More often, buyers will not be concerned where the provider is located, particularly for writing jobs.

Here are some sites that you can try on - they have a big need for freelance writers.

Happy freelance job hunting!

How to Start Your Freelance Writing Career

2009-06-28T08:31:00.000-07:00

The internet has certainly redefined life as we know it, and among the many things it has affected is how the world works. Nowadays, a lot of business transactions are done online and naturally, several industries were born as a result of this new way of doing business.

If you have decent skills in writing, you might want to try out freelance writing. There are many freelancing sites that can be found online but personally I "work" at oDesk.

Signing up with oDesk is easy, and it does not require any membership fees ever. They make their money by imposing a certain amount on top of your bid, to be paid by the employers who hired you. This makes the site very provider-friendly.

Make sure you complete your profile and while you don't have any feedbacks and work history to showcase yet, maintaining a blogsite might help because buyers would always want to see first some samples of your writing work.

Take exams that are related to the category you wish to work on. So if you are an aspiring writer, you might want to take the same tests I have taken, and more:

oDesk Tests Taken
Name of Test	Score	Percentile		Date Taken		Duration
U.S. English Chicago Style Editing Skills Test (For Writing Professionals)	4.40	95% TOP 10%	11/29/2008		17 min
English Spelling Test (U.S. Version)	5.00	95% TOP 10% 1st Place!	03/15/2009		14 min
English Vocabulary Test (U.S. Version)	4.75	91% TOP 10%	03/15/2009		18 min
U.S. English Basic Skills Test	4.60	85% TOP 20%	03/15/2009		27 min
MS PowerPoint 2003 Test	3.40	60%	11/29/2008		20 min
UK English Basic Skills Test	3.90	58%	03/15/2009		10 min
oDesk Readiness Test for Independent Contractors and Company Managers	4.40	55%	11/29/2008		44 min
Creative Writing Test - Fiction (U.S. Version)	3.40	44%	11/29/2008		34 min

You need to take and pass the oDesk Readiness Test for Independent Contractors and Company Managers to be able to bid on projects. Other tests are usually requirements of buyers.