Comments on: Survivor, Freelance Style

By: Tracey Grady

Tracey Grady — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 21:48:42 +0000

Interesting piece, very true, and a perspective I haven’t seen before from anyone blogging. Keeping your client list close to your chest can get tricky, however, when it comes to choosing pieces to put in your (online) portfolio. I guess it’s impossible keep absolutely everything under wraps.

By: Robert Guloy

Robert Guloy — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 20:59:07 +0000

This is very true. I like this post. There are people who has the mentality to prefer to be the offender than the victim, rather than think of becoming a passive professional to themselves and just look up upon successful people as an inspiration. However, looking at the opposite as being the victim of this people may also lead us to unhealthy positions with our work and personal life. Then we look for inspirations, and I thank you for having you guys here which gives inspiration and hope to many of us. God bless and prosperity!

By: Keren

Keren — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 20:02:46 +0000

I’ve been hovering about Freelance Switch for a few months now and reading as much as I can about Freelancing before I embark on my full time journey.

Your posts are so informative, educational and uplifting.

I have to agree about the competition. Whilst I am working toward a freelance writing career, I have a couple of other businesses on the go at the same time. My business partner and I have experienced quite a bit of this jealousy and fishing for information regarding ‘how we did it’ from random emails we instantly know are competitors by the language they use, to people outright asking us.

Whilst I am all for mentoring and I am currently mentoring a friend through her first business process, I find it very insulting when people expect you to divulge your hard earned knowledge freely.

Great post to keep at the forefront of our minds.

By: sanjai

sanjai — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 18:17:18 +0000

competitive world. Its tough to survive, Keep eyes ears and all open.

By: Amy

Amy — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 18:13:21 +0000

Reading this post happens at an interesting time for me. Last week I came across of the site of a local competitor only to find out they had taken my copy verbatim and inserted their name. Their website style and layout was exactly the same as mine as well. What do you do?

By: Joshua

Joshua — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 17:37:52 +0000

wow, it’s really a great posting.

By: Paul Lagasse

Paul Lagasse — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 15:13:10 +0000

My experience has been that I’m competing against people’s misperceptions of writing, not against other writers.

I’m not competitive by nature, but I’ve managed to write freelance full time for six-plus years without going head-to-head with anyone by seeking work from 1) organizations that don’t know that there’s someone like you out there, and 2) organizations of highly-trained professionals (engineers, scientists, and other specialists) that think they already know how to write by virtue of their vast academic and professional training. In both cases, they will usually be blown away when they see what good writing really looks like, and they will call you back for more.

There’s a lot of work out there for us Type B personalities!

By: Allena

Allena — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 15:09:30 +0000

I like!

I worked full time in editorial for a while, and it was very competitve— heck I would assume any cubicle farm is. It’s silly to expect the freelance world to be any different, and yet I know of people who have said as much. It’s silly, because, given the characteristics of freelance work, it makes sense that it would be MORE competitive.

By: palooch

palooch — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 14:18:19 +0000

Great article.

By: Mark H. Abucayon

Mark H. Abucayon — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 09:19:34 +0000

wow thanks for a bunch of informations right here. I love your write ups.