by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer

"I am a freelance writer. I provide content to some of the most popular websites" "But what do you do? What's your job?" "That is my job -- well, career actually." "But you're not a real writer. You don't have a best-selling novel and you're not employed with a newspaper." Does this conversation sound familiar?

You are not alone. So how do you deal with this misinformation and stereotype?

Show Me The Money
So, freelance writers don't make that much money, correct? Wrong. As someone who has been freelancing for years, I can personally attest to the possibilities in earnings. The earning limit is only based on the writer's own limitations. According to PayScale, the average income for an author starts at $14,220 and caps at about $84,783.  Newspaper writers are estimated to make up to $51,288 per year. Surely freelance writers can't top either of those. Wrong again. Freelance writers are estimated to make up to $114,400. I personally know of freelance writers who make much more than that. Either way, freelance writers top both of the writing careers typically looked at as "real writers" by many others. Hmmm.

Fight Back With Actions, Not Arguments
For every 10 people who inquire about my freelance writing, 9-10 generally have a first impression of me as a lazy person who does nothing all day long. Those who know what goes into my work will laugh hard at that one. But people will think what they think and rather than argue, you can prove them wrong by letting them see what you do in action. Invite them over on a work day and if they are willing, let them try to do some of what you do in the process. Compare what they get done to what you get done and break down for them how much they would have earned and how much you did earn. Some people need more than words to understand how something works.

The "Real Writer" Test
While this is not a be-all end-all test, the following questions can help in determining whether you are a real writer or not. If you can answer yes to at least one, you're a real writer. If you can answer yes to more than one, writing is probably your career. If you can answer yes to all of them, you are most likely a real writer - a successful one at that.

1) Do you write articles, poems, stories, or other pieces of content?

2) Do you get paid for producing said content?

3) Do you pay taxes based on your pay for said content?

4) Do you make at least minimum wage for said content?

5) Do you make more than minimum wage for said content?

It's All in Your Own Attitude
Some of the reason people tend to be biased about freelance writing comes from the writers themselves. Yep, I said it. If you want to be taken seriously as a writer, then take yourself seriously. Stop going around with an apologetic tone about your writing career. You know what I'm talking about if you do this: "Oh I just write things for websites. Its not like a real job but I do make some money" (said with your head hanging in shame). Be proud of what you do and stand up for yourself and your career. When I got my current job, I had been freelancing for years prior to that. So the reaction from people was "Oh, so you finally have a real job now?" To which my response was "No. Now I have a second career that I enjoy as much as the freelance writing. I am and will always be a freelancer because it's what I like and it's where the money is." Do you see the difference? Be proud of your career. You know how lucrative this business can be. So act like it and forget what others say. At the end of the day, your bank account speaks louder than the misconceptions.

What? They Still Can't Deal? More on this topic:

Things Friends and Family of Online Writers Need to Remember

About the Author:

Lyn is a freelance web journalist and the Community Advocate at Yahoo! Contributor Network She's also the founder of Write W.A.V.E. Media, parent company to LifeSuccessfully.com and several others. She enjoys helping freelance writers succeed and supports advocacy through journalism. Lyn has been published all over the web with major media companies, as well as smaller businesses and organizations. Contact Lyn for guidance in the world of freelance writing.

Facebook: Lyn Lomasi
Twitter: @LynLomasi

by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer

In the world of web writing, getting assistance from others is inevitable and necessary. If you've never asked another writer for assistance figuring something out, you should. No one person knows everything about web writing no matter how long they have been in the business.

Stay on top of your game by asking for assistance when you don't know the answers and by asking questions and learning new things every day. You may not be able to help the person who once helped you. If you can, that's awesome. But if you can't, be willing to offer help where you are able to. Paying it forward is common as you move onward and upward in the field of web writing.

Are you doing your part and taking part in assistance both ways?

About the Author:

Lyn is a freelance web journalist and the Community Advocate at Yahoo! Contributor Network She's also the founder of Write W.A.V.E. Media, parent company to LifeSuccessfully.com and several others. She enjoys helping freelance writers succeed and supports advocacy through journalism. Lyn has been published all over the web with major media companies, as well as smaller businesses and organizations. Contact Lyn for guidance in the world of freelance writing.

Facebook: Lyn Lomasi
Twitter: @LynLomasi

_by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer

How long does it take you to write an article from start to finish? Remember that the longer you take, the less writing you can do, which can equal less money in the long run.

Quick ways to shave off time without compromising quality:

• Use an outline or template. Having all of your key thoughts organized can cut back on time in a big way. You are simply filling in the meat of each thought, rather than thinking out the entire article all at once.
  
  
• Write what you know. The less time you have to spend on research, the more time you have to write.
  
  
• Have a good “Writing Buddy” system. Having a second pair of eyes for proofreading helps catch mistakes you may have missed. It also can cut down some proofreading time. Even though you may be also proofreading for that friend, if you're like me, you can proofread and edit your own articles to death and still miss things – but at the same time, you may be very good at proofing work for others.
  

More on saving time to increase writing income:

Free Article Templates by Lisa Mason

Maximize Productivity and Inspiration Through Timing by Lyn Lomasi

Succeed in Freelance Writing by Making Goals More Attainable by Lyn Lomasi

_Lyn is a freelance web journalist, the Community Advocate at Yahoo! Contributor Network, and a Y! Shine Parenting Guru. She's also the founder of Write W.A.V.E. Media, parent company to LifeSuccessfully.com and several others. She enjoys publishing freelance writers and supports advocacy through journalism. She has been published all over the web with major media companies, as well as smaller businesses and organizations. Contact Lyn for guidance in the world of freelance writing.

Lyn on Twitter: @LynLomasi
Lyn on Facebook: Lyn Lomasi
 

posted by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer


What does it take to make money in web writing? What's the formula to success? Throughout my career as a web writer and peer mentor, this is one of the most common questions people ask. One key component that I see in every web writer who stands the test of time is leadership. If you want to make yourself well known in the world of web writing, be a leader, not a follower.

But Mr. So-and-so does it this way. It's perfectly fine (and recommended) to learn from your peers. But never try to replicate exactly what they do. But why not, if it works? It's simple. Each writer has their own unique style, voice, and topical expertise. What works for one person may not work for another because there are too many variables.

Readers trust authenticity. If you want to be a true voice in the world of web writing, you need to actually keep that voice true. Leaders use their own style and voice in their work, not someone else's. When you see a fellow writer who seems to be miles ahead of you, it's natural to want that for yourself. But if you want to succeed, you need to stand out and that means you should figure out what works for you. Be yourself and people will notice that more than if you follow after everyone else.

Continue reading this article for more tips>>>

by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer

You're making the usual facebook rounds and noticed you've been tagged in several posts. Excitedly, you click on each notification one by one only to find out that none of the posts have anything to do with you and a few are what you'd consider spam. This is a common problem as more people are using facebook. It doesn't mean your friends are out to get you. Most likely, they are just having fun and may not realize they could be annoying you with their posts. Maybe you're the one annoying people and you don't even realize it.

Don't tag people every time you write an article. Yes, your friends may enjoy your work. If so, they are probably subscribed to you. If they haven't read it (or have but are not subscribed), it's not good form to tag them in your article posts, unless they ask you to. Asking is not the same thing as not getting a negative response when you tag them. They may simply be attempting politeness by not asking you to stop. Tolerating something is not the same thing as being in agreement with it.

Don't tag people in all your status updates. Yes, I know there are people you want to inform about your breakfast and plans for the day. However, doing this every day can become repetitive and annoying to some people. Status tagging should only be done when your update is actually relevant to the person you are tagging. For instance, if I tag Jane every time I update my status, Jane might be upset with me and will maybe remove me as a friend. But if I tag Jane to let her know I'm on my way to the restaurant we are meeting at for lunch, she'll be thrilled to hear that.

Don't tag people in pictures they are not involved in. This is one of my biggest peeves on facebook. If someone is not in a photo or otherwise involved with it, why would they want to be tagged? Friends can see what's posted in your news feed and on your wall (unless you have blocked access). So there really is no need to tag everyone on your list each time you upload a picture. Even if you're gorgeous, this is still bad form. Tagging someone in a photo they are in or photographed is fine, as is tagging a company and/or its employees in a photo that involves that company. However, tagging all of those people in a photo of you with your latest outfit is not.

Don't tag people who remove your tags. If someone is removing tags every time you post them, there's a good chance they don't want to be tagged. Sometimes people remove them to keep certain pictures or posts out of their feed or photo features and may not actually be offended by the tag. But in most instances, if you keep seeing tags for a certain person disappear, don't tag that person again unless you have permission and something is directly related to them.

It takes time to see what posts you've been tagged in. It also takes time to remove unwanted tags. Be courteous of your friends and keep the tagging relevant.

Just discovered Yahoo! Contributor Network (YCN)? Perhaps you've been here a while and are ready to take it more seriously. The most common question I get as a peer mentor and Community Guide is "How much money can I make writing for Yahoo! Contributor Network?" The answer to that question depends on you and here's why.

Click to continue reading this article>>>

by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer

Doubt. All freelancers have it from time to time. The freelance writing business is a tough one. It has many great rewards. But because of the nature of this business, sometimes writers can doubt themselves.

For the most part, freelance writers do not have a set amount they can rely on. We may have steady gigs with certain clients. But we never truly know for sure how much money we will make in any given month. For some, this can lead to doubt.

But don't let that doubt take over your life. Believe in yourself and the clients will believe in you too. Know that you can accomplish your writing and income goals. Doubt can only stand in the way f we let it. We need to be careful not to because that doubt can show in our writing and in the way we relate to potential clients. 

Freelance writers need to sell their service. But if even you doubt your service, why would a client want to hire you?

Don't let doubt take over.

Overcome it today and forever. Believe in your writing. Be what you dream to be. If you dream it, it's already there just waiting for you to let it come out.

by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer

Tirelessly, you search Yahoo! for job postings and finally something promising comes up. But wait, why are they asking you for money or to write for free? Maybe they are offering to pay you instead, but the offer seems too good be true. If it sounds too promising, it might be a scam.

The world of freelancing can be a lucrative one. But it can also be wrought with scammers. Before you jump on 'the next big thing,' do your research to make sure the company and offer is legit.

There are thousands upon thousands of gigs out there for freelance writers. Always proceed with caution when choosing which gigs to go with and which contracts to sign. Only give the amount of info needed to receive payment. I recommend using PayPal for all transactions and invoices. This way, there is no need for you to give out bank information and certain other info that scammers can use. It also puts all transactions and agreements on record, especially if you send out the invoice outlining the agreement before the work is completed.

You cannot prevent every single instance of someone trying to con you. But when you proceed with caution, it does make being scammed less likely.

More from Lyn:

F is for Feeding the Wolves

The Newbie's Guide to Success at the Yahoo! Contributor Network

Freelance Writing Tips: Your Client is Not Obligated to Please You

Why Online Article Writers Need a Website

by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer

Are you authentic in your writing? I'm not talking about facts here. Hopefully, you can answer yes to that. But are you true to yourself in your writing?

Do you write with passion or do you just write anything?

Own each piece of work you write by making it authentic. For instance, don't claim to be an expert on a topic you know nothing about just to get paid. It's one thing to write a well-reserached piece or a piece with personal experience. But it's a whole other ball game to wrote something you have absolutely zero knowledge or experience in.

You may be able to slide past the radar with that at times. But it will eventually catch up to you and ruin your entire writing career. Instead, write what you know through studies or experience. Your clients will appreciate your authenticity. Readers can see right through writing that lacks connection from the writer. On the other side of the coin, they also value and feel content that contains the writer's authentic knowledge and experiences.

Be authentic. Be you. Be hired. Be read.

More from Lyn:

Importance of Authentic Voice in Writing for Y!CN

Write in Simple Terms to Target More Readers

Freelance Writer Tips - A is for Activity

Are you struggling as an online article writer? Your content shouldn't be forced. You might consider analyzing your content. First, concentrate on the articles you are struggling with. Are they within your area of   expertise? Are you interested in the subject matter? Does the article fit your writing genre? Do you feel a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment for having written it? No? Maybe you need to analyze your favorite writing content. What is it about these other articles that suits you so well?

Continue reading this article>>>