Presentation on freelance journalism and custom content creation at the Blue Ridge Writers Conference on April 9, 2016.

1. Provided by Tara Lynne Groth
FREELANCING FOR
DIGITAL AND PRINT
Blue Ridge Writers Conference, Blue Ridge, GA | April 2016

2. About Me
◦ NC-based. Originally from Long Island.
◦ Freelancing since 2009
◦ Founder Triangle Writers & Asheville Writers
◦ Memberships: ASJA, Freelancers Union, NCWN; Former: Atlanta
Writers Club, Authors Guild
◦ First piece published at seventeen
◦ Creator of WriteNaked.net
◦ Non-writing: Newlywed, backyard chickens, kayaking, foodie

3. GOOD TIME TO
FREELANCE
Sources of Writing Income

4. Writing Income
◦ Journalism (trade/consumer)
◦ Copywriter (brochures, literature, newsletters)
◦ “Old school” term: Marketing copywriter
(slogans, ad copy)
◦ Content creation (SEO): Custom Content
◦ Ghostwriting / ghostblogging
◦ Technical
◦ Resumes
◦ Proofreading / editing
◦ Books
◦ Blog, newsletter, online property revenue
◦ Classes / workshops
◦ Consultations
◦ Speaking
◦ Grants
◦ Crowdfunding
◦ Scripts

5. Magazine Readership
Infographic
available here.

6. Editor Contact Information
◦ Writers Market
◦ Funds for Writers
◦ Writers Weekly
◦ Masthead
◦ About Us, Contact Us, Writers Guidelines,
Submission Guidelines
◦ Media Kit/Editorial Calendar
◦ Request editorial guidelines
◦ LinkedIn
◦ Google

7. The Query Formula

8. Content Creation and Marketing
◦ Used by 88% of B2B marketers (Forbes,
2015)
◦ 76% of above plan to create more content in
2016 than in past (same as above)
◦ 60% create a new piece of content daily
(eMarketer)

9. The LOI Formula

10. If I’m an Author, Why be a Journalist?
and vice versa

11. If I’m an Author, Why be a Journalist?
and vice versa
◦ Credibility
◦ Authority
◦ Connections
◦ Education / personal interest
◦ Reach Audience
◦ “Personal Brand”
◦ Grow Your Author Platform!
◦ Money!

12. HOW TO GET PAID
WRITING WORK
AND HOW MUCH TO
CHARGE

13. Who Pays?
◦ Magazines (query letter)
◦ Advertising agency (LOI)
◦ B2B (LOI)
◦ Agents/Publishers/Self-Publishers (query, book proposal, direct)
◦ Author / writer groups
◦ Schools, universities, adult ed community centers, independent
◦ LinkedIn (LinkedIn for Journalists)
◦ Ebyline, Skyword
◦ Craigslist – beware!

14. Name a Price, Any Price
◦ Know when pro bono is acceptable
◦ Your unique expertise
◦ Hourly v. project-based
◦ Revisions
◦ Administration
◦ Verify freelance market rates
◦ What do you need to earn?

15. How Much Do You Need to Make?
◦ Quarterly estimated state and federal tax
◦ Business expenses
◦ Raise rates with inflation
◦ Raise rates with your value: New
skills/certifications, expanding services, etc.
◦ Save before you start

16. How Much Do You Want to Make?
◦ No ceiling
◦ Work-life balance definition blurred
◦ What’s sustainable for you?

17. Payment Workflows

18. WRITER LIABILITIES
Areas to Address During Your Writing Career

19. Writing is Harmless? Make Sure You’re
Held Harmless
◦ Indemnity clauses
◦ Libel, performance, interruption,
inaccuracies, physical/premises, etc.
◦ Fair contracts (See Author’s Guild Fair
Contract Initiative)
◦ DMCA – Digital Millennium Copyright Act
of 1998 – DMCA Takedown Notice
◦ Copyright/trademark

20. Help Protect Yourself
◦ VLA (Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts)
◦ Media liability insurance
◦ Asset protection (LLC, trusts, etc.)

21. UPCOMING EVENTS
TUESDAY, APRIL 12TH
Self-Publishing Basics in Apex, NC
TUESDAY, APRIL 19th – MAY 24th
Book Marketing in Durham, NC (DUKE
OLLI)
TUESDAY, APRIL 26th
Optimize Your Author Website in
Durham, NC
CONNECT:
‘Resources for Writers’ – taralynnegroth.com
Twitter - @writenaked
Writenaked.net
slideshare.net/taralynne0
SATURDAY, MAY 7th
Scents of Creativity & Memory in
Asheville, NC
SATURDAY, JUNE 4th
One-Day Retreat for Artists & Writers
in Pittsboro, NC
SATURDAY, JUNE 25th
Scents of Creativity & Memory in
Pittsboro, NC
2016