Last week I had a brilliant idea: I would teach my 3-year-old son to use the digital camera! Then he would learn a valuable skill! And become a famous photographer!

As you can tell, I was pretty excited.

So I showed T-Rex how to hold the camera, and look through the viewfinder at what he wanted to take a picture of, and press the button. I wrapped the carry cord around his wrist so he wouldn’t drop the camera and let him loose, first inside and then outside. Continue Reading

Credit: meddygarnet on Flickr

You work hard on your assignment, turn it in, and do the required (ugh) revisions. You happily send in your invoice — and wait…and wait…and wait.

Your check is late! You have a mortgage to pay and you were relying on that check. Now what?

Late checks are a fact of life for freelancers. Most of the time, the clients aren’t being malicious — they just do things slowly. But that doesn’t help you when you have bills to pay. Here are some ways to get that check moving towards your mailbox. Continue Reading

credit: Bérenger ZYLA on Flickr

I’m a freelance magazine writer. Often a source will e-mail me a bit of information for an article after the interview, and I’ll think, “Oh, I’ll remember it’s here” and file it away in my assignment e-mail folder. But when I’m writing the article, do I actually remember that so-and-so sent me some extra details three weeks ago? No, I do not. So why is it that each time this situation comes up, I’m certain I’ll remember the information later? The smart thing to do would be to add the info right away to the interview transcript or article assignment sheet so I’ll see it when I start to write.

I think that many of us try to rely on our memories, and then they let us down. Sometimes we just get lazy. It’s easier to say “I’ll remember this when I need to” than to set up systems to make sure we’ll remember it. And since we freelancers are always juggling lots of work at various stages of completion, it’s understandable that some things would slip through the cracks. (At least that’s what I tell myself.)

I learned my lesson. Today, when a source sends me a couple of important bits of additional information, I immediately paste the info into the interview transcript. Here are some other tips keep track of things to remember–with emphasis on information and tasks freelancers need to manage. Continue Reading

I often find that when I invest in my freelance career, I experience a boost, whether it’s in ideas, time management skills, or actual, y’know, money. And there’s no shortage of opportunities to invest, whether it’s in coaching, e-courses, college courses, books and e-books, or even retreats for entrepreneurs. But not all freelancers are good candidates for these products and opportunities, and not all times are the right time to invest.

Here’s when not to spend your hard-earned cash on your career development. This isn’t to say that it’s never worth doing, but that the time may not be right for you. Continue Reading