The economy is officially in the shitter. Because of this, freelancing is an attractive option for people looking to fortify their finances or make money when they can't find a job elsewhere. However, there are some important things about freelance writing potential writers should know before they get started.
Writing features and news articles for papers, websites, and magazines is a lot different than writing papers for school.
Some people don't get that every publication has its own style, and submissions should be tailored to the publication's audience. There are also legal issues to think about, like libel and plagiarism. Freelancers need to familiarize themselves with the ins and outs of the publishing world, otherwise a pile of rejections will ensue.
Adsense and affiliate accounts won't pay off right off the bat, if they ever do.
If you're trying to blog for a living, expect to take a loss for months, or even years after you get started. If you're lucky, you might be able to sell banner ads to businesses. Keep in mind that most of the big, corporate publishers out there haven't found ways to make money off the web.
Don't expect to qualify for loans or credit.
Even if you're trying to get credit from your bank or credit union, chances are slim you'll qualify, especially in the beginning. If you start making money, get a business account at your financial institution and start funneling your earnings directly into it so you can prove you are turning a profit.
Save receipts for just about everything.
You can deduct expenses like gas mileage and file folders for your home office, as long as you can prove you spent the money. You can even deduct part of your rent (for a home office) and meals paid for at conventions and during work trips.
Kiss your insurance goodbye, unless you want to pay an arm and a leg for independent health insurance.
If you are lucky enough to still have access to insurance from a previous employer or your spouse, good for you.
Expect to juggle another job and freelancing for months or even years.
I work about 28 hours a week and write 15- 20. That means I'm working 43 hours at minimum. That doesn't include driving time, and for some of the city council meetings I cover I have to commute about 50 minutes one way. I've met established authors who still work in marketing or as a secretary, even though they've written anywhere from a single novel to an extensive book series. Freelancing is hard work, and chances are you'll have to work hard at a day job to make ends meet.
