Freelance Book Reviews: Starting Your Career as a Freelance Writer
I read six different books for my freelance project and they fall into two categories: those that focus on the business mindset side of running your own business (these are more inspirational mindset books that don’t necessarily apply directly to freelancing), and those that are written with the freelancer in mind and offer more actionable, specific how-to advice for freelancers. This one falls into specific freelance advice.
Starting Your Career as a Freelance Writer
by Moira Allen
I read the second edition of "Starting Your Career as a Freelance Writer," which was a little bit dated (it’s what was available through interlibrary loan), but I’d imagine the newer third edition has more up-to-date information, and less of the “internet as a new and wondrous tool” perspective. I really liked this book because it has information specific to freelance writing. It’s also kind of a reality check. The book offers a holistic, unromanticized view of what freelancing is and what it requires. The book covers the nuts and bolts side of freelancing (exhaustive information on exploring markets, rights and contracts, pitching stories and commercial freelancing), and also covers things like time management and overcoming writer’s block. Even if you’re not a freelancer, but simply have a career in writing you may find this book useful.
The purpose: This book gives you a wide perspective on all the things you should consider before you embark on a freelance career. Having a more flexible schedule and being your own boss comes with big responsibility.
The good: This felt like a mini-refresher on my journalism undergrad. A lot of the things I learned in classes like magazine writing were covered, and I can see the book being very helpful for someone starting from square one.
The bad: Some of the information was dated, but I didn’t have the newest version of the book.