Secrets of a Freelance Writer: How to Make $85,000 a Year
by Robert W. Bly
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Henry Holt (New York): 1988. Trade paperback: 273 pages. ISBN-10: 0-8050-4760-3 ISBN-13: 978-0805047608 Suggested retail price: $15.00 (US) Tags: Freelance; Writing Tactical strength: [6/10] |
Robert Bly emphasizes that you don't have to write the great American novel to make a lot of money as a writer. Businesses need all kinds of writing and are usually willing to pay well for good writing. Bly goes into great detail about the various kinds of writing that businesses often need: advertising (print, radio, and television), corporate reports, brochures, and direct mail. He tells how to find clients that need these types of services, how much to charge, how long such jobs usually take. Almost always, Bly includes an example of his own work in the area he is describing. An excellent guide for anyone who is thinking about doing freelance writing for businesses.
Bly describes how to promote yourself, find and maintain clients, and plan your time. But one area always seems to be lacking in these types of books: how to handle the business end of freelance work. Bly does better than most, but he still skims over many areas that could be described in detail. Most books are great at getting the freelance writer started and leave them hanging. Most books, including Bly's, leave out what you need to know about tax laws as they affect the writer, especially if you sub-contract or employ other people. What about invoicing, billing, maintaining records (especially records required by law), and all the details that are usually summed up by saying, "get yourself a good accountant or bookkeeper."
Bly's background in direct mail shows through with a you-can-do-it tone. He emphasizes that there is so much writing to be done, that almost anyone with some experience with business and with writing can be successful.
