Post: #276

Thats good TeeDub, I've done a few skype interviews already with some professional outfits, just talk loud, slow and clear because it'll give you time to think.

what's the hourlie thing? I've applied for a few jobs on peopleperhour today

Post: #277

You just put up an hourlie. There should be a button in green saying 'post hourlie'. You can put something like "I can write 500 words on attracting women for £20" or whatever

Then people get in touch if they require your services. Mine was about proofing/editing/improving screenplays, but I've had people contact me for stuff unrelated, due to my pitch.

Post: #278

(11-07-2013 02:15 PM)Teedub Wrote:  International celebrities, do tell more! PM if necessary!

By international celebrities, I just mean international celebrities within their niches that have been plastered across mainstream media news and TV shows, etc. I'm not talking movie stars here. lol

Quote:It's not the skype interview, it's more if he wants to meet in person in London that I'd be nervous about.

He's a prick if he wants that for a proofreading job. Then again, perhaps it would lead to more work. In any case, could be good practice. If you got good with in-person meetings, you could start networking with local businessfolk, and that's a great way to get the right kind of fees.

Quote:People Per Hour is horse shit in my opinion, but for some reason I've had a few people emailing me out of the blue based on an 'hourlie' I put up (what I'd do and for what rate per hour) months ago, weird, but guess it's OK for that reason.

Hey, if a marketing channel is full of crap work but produces worthwhile leads and doesn't take up too much of your time (or only takes a bunch of time in the beginning), it's worthwhile in my opinion. Get enough of those and you're generating steady business.

Beyond All Seas

"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe.
To be your own man is a hard business. If you try it, you'll be lonely often, and sometimes
frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself." - Kipling

Post: #279

share your pitch with me Tee haha , i paid for a weekly featured hourlie, £15 for 500 words on anything

Post: #280

Haha it is really basic! Just literally detailing, extremely briefly, what I can offer. The guy that contacted me also mentioned having a screenplay idea, guess that's how he found my hourlie.

Post: #281

Landed a client for $450 articles. Now we're talking!

Already finished one and starting on the next. Not much more work involved than my other jobs either, and a subject I know well. Now just need to hone in on more clients like this...

Beyond All Seas

"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe.
To be your own man is a hard business. If you try it, you'll be lonely often, and sometimes
frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself." - Kipling

Post: #282

I'm such a slack ass. It's so easy to dick around all day when you're trying to make this your main source of income. Not great for a procrastinator like myself.

I need to get on my grind so I can get to that $450 an article level.

Post: #283

(11-08-2013 02:11 PM)Enigma Wrote:  I'm such a slack ass. It's so easy to dick around all day when you're trying to make this your main source of income. Not great for a procrastinator like myself.

I need to get on my grind so I can get to that $450 an article level.

You're right man. I'm the same.

Have you set any goals for yourself?

Post: #284

(11-08-2013 01:48 PM)Beyond Borders Wrote:  Landed a client for $450 articles. Now we're talking!

Already finished one and starting on the next. Not much more work involved than my other jobs either, and a subject I know well. Now just need to hone in on more clients like this...

Fuck yeah man... off elance?
You could write one a week and live off that lol.

Post: #285

You're the boss BB. Heil! Haha

Post: #286

(11-08-2013 02:11 PM)Enigma Wrote:  I'm such a slack ass. It's so easy to dick around all day when you're trying to make this your main source of income. Not great for a procrastinator like myself.

I need to get on my grind so I can get to that $450 an article level.

(11-08-2013 02:18 PM)PompeyChris Wrote:  

(11-08-2013 02:11 PM)Enigma Wrote:  I'm such a slack ass. It's so easy to dick around all day when you're trying to make this your main source of income. Not great for a procrastinator like myself.

I need to get on my grind so I can get to that $450 an article level.

You're right man. I'm the same.

Have you set any goals for yourself?

Hell, I'm probably the worst procrastinator on this forum. Ask woot.

I've made some huge changes these past two months that are start to put my productivity through the roof though, ever since my thread I made whining about my productivity. I've been meaning to make a thread on goal-setting and getting shit done, but one of my habits I've instilled is staying off this forum and other social media on weekdays (except for this thread). lol That habit alone has been a huge one.

I'll try to squeeze it in sometime soon.

(11-08-2013 02:59 PM)w00t Wrote:  Fuck yeah man... off elance?
You could write one a week and live off that lol.

This was off one of the writing job boards I found through the Freelance Writer's Den.

Yeah, you could live off this, but you know how it goes when you start depending on one client for too much of your income....It does seem a bit open-ended with the amount of work for the moment so I'm going to take advantage as much as possible before it dries up.

My work productivity is just starting to pick up momentum, so I'm going to use this as breathing room to locate a small handful of really good clients. I've got a promising Skype interview on Wednesday and plan to make a run at some big blogs these next two weeks.

I've decided to set a daily habit of bidding on 5 new jobs every day (but really tailored jobs to really good clients) and get serious about the guest blogging efforts. I keep meaning to push forward with that but went back to bidding because I needed to make some quick cash.

Beyond All Seas

"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe.
To be your own man is a hard business. If you try it, you'll be lonely often, and sometimes
frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself." - Kipling

Post: #287

(11-08-2013 02:18 PM)PompeyChris Wrote:  You're right man. I'm the same.

Have you set any goals for yourself?

Definitely. My goal right now is just to make $1000 in a month. Very doable, I'm just being lazy.

(11-08-2013 09:06 PM)Beyond Borders Wrote:  Hell, I'm probably the worst procrastinator on this forum. Ask woot.

I've made some huge changes these past two months that are start to put my productivity through the roof though, ever since my thread I made whining about my productivity. I've been meaning to make a thread on goal-setting and getting shit done, but one of my habits I've instilled is staying off this forum and other social media on weekdays (except for this thread). lol That habit alone has been a huge one.

I'll try to squeeze it in sometime soon.

Yeah, that and the thread Rio started about finding motivation really helped.

I don't really have a problem working, I'm just in that shit eating beginners stage where I'm still learning the ropes and building a portfolio. My writing and researching is really inefficient right now so I can't churn out articles that quickly but I'm not getting the pay rates that allow me to take my time. You can't just ride the clock with this job and slack off so it's harder to put in the same hours and grind like I would at a more conventional job.

I'll be good though. Once I really get the ball rolling and get more comfortable and confident with my writing I'll do fine. I just have to force my self to do the tedious stuff that I'm avoiding.

I've shifted my self-improvement focus into rewiring my brain and slowly building and breaking habits one by one. I think that will help in the long run.

It's nothing for me to go to the gym everyday. I actually enjoy that shit. I just got back from a mile jog and some sprint work...it's 40 degrees outside But sending out proposals on Elance is like pulling teeth. I can write long ass posts on here all day but god forbid I type out 500 words that I'm getting paid for

Post: #288

I'm the same Enigma, god I hate Elance.

Post: #289

(11-08-2013 10:34 PM)Enigma Wrote:  I don't really have a problem working, I'm just in that shit eating beginners stage where I'm still learning the ropes and building a portfolio. My writing and researching is really inefficient right now so I can't churn out articles that quickly but I'm not getting the pay rates that allow me to take my time. You can't just ride the clock with this job and slack off so it's harder to put in the same hours and grind like I would at a more conventional job.

I'll be good though. Once I really get the ball rolling and get more comfortable and confident with my writing I'll do fine. I just have to force my self to do the tedious stuff that I'm avoiding.

If it's any consolation mate, I was like that to begin with. The beginning bit really is the toughest bit but once that's out of the way, everything looks much brighter. I just did as these guys said, bid bid bid.

Post: #290

Who are the science writers out there? Hit me up and if you give you a solid lead on a job - just a job ad so I have no pull here. I honestly think I could land this job if I was at least in the states. 800 word articles at $0.80 per word. They're looking for people with a degree in science or maybe journalism.

Beyond All Seas

"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe.
To be your own man is a hard business. If you try it, you'll be lonely often, and sometimes
frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself." - Kipling

Post: #291

(11-13-2013 09:51 AM)MattC Wrote:  If it's any consolation mate, I was like that to begin with. The beginning bit really is the toughest bit but once that's out of the way, everything looks much brighter. I just did as these guys said, bid bid bid.

Definitely. I was having a really bad string of luck where it seemed like 90% of the jobs I was bidding on weren't even being awarded. That had be a little perturbed.

But I've actually been coming across some decent postings lately and managed to land two yesterday. One of the clients is awesome. He actually talked me into charging him more which was weird

I think showing that you really read their ad goes a long way. I got both of these jobs because of that.

Post: #292

(11-13-2013 10:04 AM)Beyond Borders Wrote:  Who are the science writers out there? Hit me up and if you give you a solid lead on a job - just a job ad so I have no pull here. I honestly think I could land this job if I was at least in the states. 800 word articles at $0.80 per word. They're looking for people with a degree in science or maybe journalism.

Man does Economics count?

Post: #293

(11-13-2013 11:43 AM)bojangles Wrote:  

(11-13-2013 10:04 AM)Beyond Borders Wrote:  Who are the science writers out there? Hit me up and if you give you a solid lead on a job - just a job ad so I have no pull here. I honestly think I could land this job if I was at least in the states. 800 word articles at $0.80 per word. They're looking for people with a degree in science or maybe journalism.

Man does Economics count?

haha I don't think so, Man. You can try if you want though - if you're good at selling yourself you might be able to pull it off.

Beyond All Seas

"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe.
To be your own man is a hard business. If you try it, you'll be lonely often, and sometimes
frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself." - Kipling

Post: #294

Just turned down a $40 an hour job (20 hrs a week) from Elance. Not trying to rub it in, Guys, as I know it can be frustrating. But just to drill in another example that the work is there. I guess what I'm saying is that at the very least if things don't work out you can settle for a $40/hr remote position working for some company as long as you get your portfolio and self-selling straight.

And use that as a stepping stone sometime in the future.

Now I just hope I don't regret it. lol

(11-13-2013 10:23 AM)Enigma Wrote:  One of the clients is awesome. He actually talked me into charging him more which was weird

haha nice!

Quote:I think showing that you really read their ad goes a long way. I got both of these jobs because of that.

It definitely does, Man. Tailor your bid as much as possible, especially in the first paragraph.

Beyond All Seas

"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe.
To be your own man is a hard business. If you try it, you'll be lonely often, and sometimes
frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself." - Kipling

Post: #295

$40 an hour? Damn it, man I need work right now, this and bootcamps are my income

Post: #296

delete

Post: #297

(11-13-2013 12:15 PM)bojangles Wrote:  $40 an hour? Damn it, man I need work right now, this and bootcamps are my income

Yeah, it was hard to turn it down seeing that it was steady work. I threw a number I was willing to take if I invested those many hours, but he wasn't quite willing to go that high.

I was right on the verge of just taking it and working extra hours if I still wanted to pursue higher-paying work but I took a gamble and went with my gut. Split-second decision - again, hope it was a good one. If he'd have said 50 I'd have probably gone for it.

I've got a client paying much higher rates at the moment, but in freelance clients can suddenly stop ordering any moment. Right now I'm scrambling to find some more big fish so I have Plan B's and C's lined up. I decided my time was better spent doing that. And my additional hours I'd like to reserve for my side projects.

But might be worth it to line up an interview once or twice a week to improve negotiating skills and see what's out there.

EDIT: bojangles what are your specialties?

Beyond All Seas

"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe.
To be your own man is a hard business. If you try it, you'll be lonely often, and sometimes
frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself." - Kipling

Post: #298

Cannot wait to get that first $40 p/hour client.

Post: #299

(11-13-2013 12:22 PM)Beyond Borders Wrote:  

(11-13-2013 12:15 PM)bojangles Wrote:  $40 an hour? Damn it, man I need work right now, this and bootcamps are my income

Yeah, it was hard to turn it down seeing that it was steady work. I threw a number I was willing to take if I invested those many hours, but he wasn't quite willing to go that high.

I was right on the verge of just taking it and working extra hours if I still wanted to pursue higher-paying work but I took a gamble and went with my gut. Split-second decision - again, hope it was a good one. If he'd have said 50 I'd have probably gone for it.

I've got a client paying much higher rates at the moment, but in freelance clients can suddenly stop ordering any moment. Right now I'm scrambling to find some more big fish so I have Plan B's and C's lined up. I decided my time was better spent doing that. And my additional hours I'd like to reserve for my side projects.

But might be worth it to line up an interview once or twice a week to improve negotiating skills and see what's out there.

EDIT: bojangles what are your specialties?

History, Finance, Sports and Project Documentation. I don't mind technology based writing as I've got 6 years hands on experience in that.

Post: #300

Man, BB, send that guy my way!

I've potentially got a job paying $100 for a 500 word article. That's the kind of stuff I want. 5 of them a week and I'll be sweet. I've just got to email them back now.

I've changed the way I send proposals off now. I'm a lot more informal and chatty in them whereas I was quite generic before. I'm also looking at the profile of the client and using some words and terms they've given in their feedback and saying that I'll be able to guarantee that kind of service. Seems to be working a treat.