I got together with a small group of travel writers last night for our informal monthly meeting. It’s one of the most useful things I do workwise. It had me thinking and I wrote this. Would be useful to hear what other freelances feel.
1. Never ever write anything without establishing rate of pay and rights assigned.
2. Don’t take rejection too personally. Rejecting your pitch is not the same as rejecting you.
3. Meet as many people in your area of work as possible.
4. Try to be professional in everything you do. Don’t be sloppy with things that matter.
5. If new outlets take too long to pay you, ditch them. If new editors are a PITA, ditch them. If new outlets try the all rights contract bullshit and you are not happy, ditch them. Cherish your clutch of nice editors.
6. Read as much as you can, especially fiction and work of writers in your field.
7. Don’t be a diva. The world has too many of them.
8. When you think you have learned everything you need to learn, it’s time to give up.
9. Keep on top of paperwork and invoicing and other boring stuff.
10. Always be honest and true to yourself. Do work you mostly enjoy. That’s why you’re freelance, right?