Recently, a writer colleague asked me for my thoughts on freelancing. As a writer and editor, I have often done freelance work, both longterm projects and one-off assignments. After years of doing this, I have some thoughts to share.
My top advice: Build on existing relationships and really, really communicate! In fact, I suggest that you “overcommunicate.”
Why focus so much on communicating about your project? One of the hardest things about freelancing is trying to fully understand the client’s real needs and expectations. The more you talk about it, the more you will begin to comprehend what that client is hoping to achieve.
Overcommunicating will also help you to figure out how much work will be required for a particular project. Whenever possible, it’s best to get a very realistic picture of the amount of work for you as the writer or project manager at various stages—in addition to the deadline, of course.
If an editor is going to want four rounds of edits, that’s something the writer should know ahead of time. If you are expected to fact-check, and provide documentation that you did, you’ll want to know that, too. If complete rewrites are sometimes required, that’s very important to be aware of in advance.
But above all, you should really drill down on the assignment. That is best done face to face. If you can’t, using Skype would be a good idea (better than phone). Email is never enough to really get the full picture.
Think of getting your assignment pinned down just like any other in-depth interview you might do as a reporter. Ask the big and small questions, find out the nuances of what’s needed and how you can be most helpful. Make sure you feel you really get it before embarking on a piece of writing.
I suggest also asking about any political landmines the editor foresees. As an outsider to the organization or publication that is hiring you as a freelancer, you can’t see the political landscape without an insider’s help (and without that extra dose of communication on their side–which, admittedly, can be hard to find the time to do for busy assigning editors/managers).
Another aspect of overcommunicating is to try to check in on the direction of your piece or work part way through the project before you really get into writing. Scheduling some sort of call or talk midway though could be helpful.
Ask for samples of what the editor considers good work and any examples of similar projects (this is somewhat obvious but can be overlooked!).
Given how much time and effort you’re going to want to spend on this level of communication, I advise that you be careful to bite off only as much as you can chew in terms of projects–especially when you are just beginning freelancing. This can be hard to determine at first, so I suggest starting small and working your way up to more ambitious projects.
Freelancing can be a tough business, but it can also be a good way to build relationships and a reputation. The more you communicate, on every level, the better off you will be.
MeredithInk 