| What a wonderful resource the Internet | | | | again. And I'm not alone. Most of us have a little |
| is!Students find information to help them with their | | | | "something" that's peculiar to us. As long as we're |
| studies; business people keep in touch with | | | | aware of it things aren't too bad, but what if you |
| important clients and stay up to date with | | | | have some little "distinguishing feature" that you |
| important business developments; | | | | don't know about? You wouldn't want to be |
| stay-at-home-parents can find ideas for children's | | | | sending your work off to editors with commas |
| activities and feel less isolated by forging | | | | hooked here, there and everywhere, would |
| friendships with other online parents; and even | | | | you?Some language improvement sites send out |
| small children have the opportunity to learn how | | | | regular newsletters that are worth subscribing to. |
| to use the technology that will take them into the | | | | I receive a couple every week and am surprised |
| future.It seems everybody has a reason to use | | | | at just how much I've picked up.5. Develop A |
| the Internet and writers are no exception. In fact, | | | | PortfolioA website is pretty much a necessity for |
| the Internet is a resource that once explored, | | | | freelancers these days and luckily, they aren't |
| most writers couldn't do without.Let's take a look | | | | difficult to build.Your website should give |
| at why.1. ResearchThis one's almost too obvious | | | | prospective clients information about your |
| to mention but nevertheless, it's the number one | | | | background including any relevant education or |
| reason why a freelancer would use the Net.While | | | | employment, a bit about who you are and why |
| most writers still build up their own library of | | | | you write, what your goals are and your areas of |
| reference books, without the Internet we'd still be | | | | expertise. Some freelancers list their basic prices |
| scurrying off to the public library in the hope that | | | | on their websites while others choose not to.A |
| they'd have a book about "coinage in ancient | | | | "clip file" is a must on the website. No matter how |
| Egypt" or "the architect who designed the | | | | much you write about yourself, if you really want |
| fountains at Trafalgar Square". Pretty obscure | | | | to sell yourself you need to give visitors the |
| subjects and the likelihood of the library having | | | | chance to access a cross-section of your past |
| anything on their shelves was pretty remote. | | | | work.To get a good idea of what's needed, take |
| They could probably order something that might | | | | a look at other freelancer's sites. Those who have |
| help but that could take anything up to a month | | | | been around for a while have neatly laid out sites |
| to arrive.But now we have the Internet! Tra-la! A | | | | that work hard for them. Make sure yours works |
| few simples keystrokes and up it comes. I now | | | | hard for you, too!6. Read "How To" |
| know that coins in ancient Egypt can be traced | | | | ArticlesThousands of freelance writers have |
| back to the late dynastic period and that the | | | | posted articles on the Net giving advice to others, |
| fountains of Trafalgar Square were designed by | | | | whether seasoned writers who are perhaps |
| Sir Charles Barry. How much easier things are | | | | moving in new directions or newcomers who still |
| today!The meanings of names, weights and | | | | have lots to learn about all aspects of the |
| measures, sunrise times around the world, world | | | | profession.All sorts of subjects are covered from |
| Royalty throughout history, how long it takes to | | | | how to find markets and which topics are most |
| drive from Chicago to Los Angeles and what food | | | | likely to sell to the basics of bookkeeping and how |
| you're likely to be served in Botswana, all the | | | | to make uninvited guests understand that you're |
| information's out there just waiting for you to | | | | working even though you're at home.If you're |
| need it.2. Find WorkWhile it's still usual to pitch | | | | just starting out as a freelancer, I'd suggest |
| ideas to magazine and newspaper editors and | | | | reading at least one "how to" article every day. |
| send manuscripts as hardcopy, the Internet has | | | | Believe me, there's far more to learn than you |
| opened up a whole city of avenues for | | | | imagine!7. Keep In TouchEditors and other project |
| writers.There are websites specifically designed to | | | | owners are keen to use email as a means of |
| help freelancers find work (or project owners find | | | | communication so it's worth having a mail account |
| freelancers, depending on how you look at it), and | | | | that you can easily access from wherever you |
| online magazines are often looking for writers | | | | happen to be.Free accounts such as hotmail, |
| who can submit professional content to their | | | | yahoo and gmail are all handy for people on the |
| sites.By joining a handful of well-chosen freelance | | | | move because you can log in to check your |
| forums, you'll soon discover where to look for | | | | messages from Internet cafes, libraries and |
| work and which markets pay best.3. Join Support | | | | friends' houses.If you're busy working on a |
| Groups & CommunitiesWriting is a notoriously | | | | project, you might find that the client wants to |
| lonely profession.Almost all freelancers work from | | | | keep in touch via one of the instant messaging |
| home and therefore don't have the opportunity | | | | systems that are available these days. MSN, |
| to network with others in their profession.By | | | | yahoo messenger and AOL instant messenger |
| joining online support groups and communities, | | | | are the most popular for this use.Use email to |
| freelancers can alleviate some of that | | | | contact your existing clients regularly. As with any |
| loneliness.Being able to exchange ideas and | | | | other business, it's important to remind them of |
| thoughts with others who know exactly where | | | | your services and perhaps offer a discount now |
| you're coming from can help a writer get through | | | | and then.8. Take PaymentsQuite often you'll find |
| the day without clawing at the walls too | | | | clients will want to either transfer money directly |
| often.Online communities are also great sources | | | | to your bank account or use an online payment |
| of information that you may otherwise have | | | | service such as Paypal ( your client transfers |
| missed. New markets and new research | | | | money directly to you, checking your account for |
| resources are often discussed and the budding | | | | payments is easy when you have access through |
| freelancer will be given far more advice from | | | | the Internet. Just log into your bank and list |
| those who've made all the mistakes already, than | | | | recent transactions. If the payments been made, |
| any book could ever offer.Local groups | | | | you can update your accounts accordingly and |
| sometimes arrange social meets, too. What could | | | | know that you can happily work for the client |
| be better than lunch with other writers when | | | | again as nothing's outstanding on his account.If a |
| you've been pulling your hair out because your | | | | client wants to pay via Paypal or another online |
| friends just don't understand that putting words | | | | system for transferring money, you can send an |
| on paper really isn't as easy as it looks.If only | | | | invoice directly through the service and receive an |
| ruined wallpaper and wigs could be written off | | | | email when the money's received. From there |
| against tax...4. Polish Up Your Language | | | | you can either transfer it to your bank account or |
| Skills"Their", "there", or "they're"? Or was it "lay" | | | | leave it to accumulate on the Internet account.If |
| or "lie"? Or possibly even "too", "two", or "to."And | | | | you're planning to use the Internet freelance sites |
| where does that semicolon belong? Oops, it | | | | to find work, then a Paypal account is an absolute |
| seems I started that sentence with a conjunction. | | | | must. The same goes for some content sites.In |
| Am I allowed to do that? No? Well I just did! | | | | other words, if you want to maximise your |
| Surely writers can break the rules sometimes, | | | | earnings, get a Paypal account and do your |
| can't they?The Internet is bursting at the seams | | | | banking online.ConclusionI honestly can't imagine |
| with sites designed to help improve your writing.It | | | | how a freelance writer can manage these days |
| doesn't matter how good you think your language | | | | without regular access to the Internet.Searching |
| skills are, it's always worth testing yourself now | | | | the Net will never be the same as browsing the |
| and then just to make sure you're still on top of | | | | shelves of a library and I suggest you continue |
| things.I know I'm a sucker for the comma. They | | | | using whatever resources your local community |
| slip in all over the shop and lead to wasted time | | | | has to offer. |
| while I go through my work, whipping them out | | | | |