Got me a side hustle! Super excited.

[Villanelle]

I'm not entirely sure it qualifies as a side hustle since I'm not currently working (quit to be a trailing spouse, haven't gone back, may never go back).  But I just got picked up to write a freelance article for a small magazine.  But I'm super excited about this!  And even though they reached out to me instead of me to them, my imposter syndrome was strong and I almost didn't over come it enough to say yes.

Pay is pretty decent for freelance writing. $150 for articles that all seem to be in the 500-800 word range (plus the research and interview time, of course).  They send out a list of 3-5 articles every month to their stable of freelancers.  I can't tell if articles just go to the first person who emails back to say they want it, or if they consider all the names and pick the ones they like working with, or something else.  I'd like to think I'm pretty competent and that given time I can establish myself so hopefully I can get an article most months that I want to.  Also, a magazine certainly has more than 3-5 articles a month, so I'm ASSuming some of them are assigned before they are thrown out to the masses, which means that if I do good work and meet deadlines, there is potential for more work and more reliable work.

I should also mention that I have an 'in' on the editorial staff.  They actually asked me if I would be interested in writing as they are trying to revamp things.  That's great on 2 fronts--first that I have someone predisposed to like me and want to work with me, and second that they sought me out which tells me they are confident in me and perhaps also not super thrilled with some of the people they currently have. 

I also love that I can simply so 'no thanks' if it is a crazy month, or all the article ideas sound boring to me.  And I can do the work from anywhere in most cases.  I can write an article sitting on a beach somewhere or at a ski lodge, and I can do interview emails or calls from anywhere as well. 

Clearly, this isn't going to make me rich, but it is something I'm fairly excited to do and if it brings in an extra $1000 per year, that's fantastic.  Once I have a few articles under my belt, I plan to reach out to similar magazines and see if I can get on their lists, as well, and I think this mag is under the umbrella of a larger media org so there may be other publications I could work with as well.

[Adventine]

That sounds like a sweet side gig! Good luck and hope it turns out like you planned.

[calimom]

Congratulations!

Nice when things like this come our way. From posts I've read of yours, you have good writing skills so you should do well with this.

[FreelanceToFreedom]

Nice! Freelance writing can be a great side hustle for anyone who likes to write. If you end up liking it, it can be an actual career too. I'm a full time freelance writer myself!

[Villanelle]

Nice! Freelance writing can be a great side hustle for anyone who likes to write. If you end up liking it, it can be an actual career too. I'm a full time freelance writer myself!

@FreelanceToFreedom

I don't think I'd ever want to work full time, or even close to full time but certainly scaling it up is an attractive prospect. Working about 15 hours a week sounds like it would be about perfect.  I'm hoping that after I publish a few articles, I will feel more confident and therefore better able to put myself out there.  And hopefully I can use those articles to prove myself, at least a bit, to other publications.  There's another magazine in the same niche market--a direct competitor--that I could certainly go to and comfortably write for.  Imagine that the first is Cat Fancy magazine, and the second is Feline Frenzy, and I'm a crazy cat lady.  Very much direct competition.  Is that poor form?

Any tips or tricks for finding places to work?  What I really like about this current deal is that I don't need to think of and pitch articles ideas. They say they want 600-700 words on Halloween costumes for cats (to continue the theme), and I write it.  Of course, I could probably also pitch an idea as well (I'm ASSuming they'd go for that as I can't see why not!), but I don't need to. 

[FreelanceToFreedom]

Nice! Freelance writing can be a great side hustle for anyone who likes to write. If you end up liking it, it can be an actual career too. I'm a full time freelance writer myself!

@FreelanceToFreedom

I don't think I'd ever want to work full time, or even close to full time but certainly scaling it up is an attractive prospect. Working about 15 hours a week sounds like it would be about perfect.  I'm hoping that after I publish a few articles, I will feel more confident and therefore better able to put myself out there.  And hopefully I can use those articles to prove myself, at least a bit, to other publications.  There's another magazine in the same niche market--a direct competitor--that I could certainly go to and comfortably write for.  Imagine that the first is Cat Fancy magazine, and the second is Feline Frenzy, and I'm a crazy cat lady.  Very much direct competition.  Is that poor form?

Any tips or tricks for finding places to work?  What I really like about this current deal is that I don't need to think of and pitch articles ideas. They say they want 600-700 words on Halloween costumes for cats (to continue the theme), and I write it.  Of course, I could probably also pitch an idea as well (I'm ASSuming they'd go for that as I can't see why not!), but I don't need to.

Yeah I guess I say "full time" but I only really work 15-30 hours/week. It's my sole source of income is what I should have said!

I wouldn't personally want to write for 40 hours a week, but I do know some people who do. But that's the beauty of freelance; you can set your own boundaries and schedule.

Working for competitors is not generally a big deal. Although it depends on the client. Personally, I always inform clients of any potential conflicts of interest. And if you signed a contract, make sure there are no conflicts there.

I don't know anything about writing for magazines. Most of what I do is web work - blogging, content marketing, copywriting for websites. I find most projects on the ProBlogger job board, or through word of mouth/referrals.

Writing for the web has a bit of a learning curve - you'll need a crash course on SEO, and you'll need to write more scannable content with shorter paragraphs, more bullets, frequent subheaders, etc. But ultimately, web work is were most of the available work is for freelancers (not to say you couldn't carve out a niche in the print/magazine world - I just don't have any experience there).

[Villanelle]

Thanks!  Once I get a but more settled and confident with what I'm doing, I may attempt to branch out a bit.  I appreciate the insights!

[flyingaway]

How do you plan to get paid and to pay taxes?

[Focus_on_the_fire]

So happy for you! Kudos

[KathrinS]

Congrats! Working with a magazine is awesome, and it sounds like they pay you a very good rate.

I have also started a content-writing side hustle early this year, and it has grown to the point that it can sustain all my fixed costs. It's amazing how these things can spiral into a fun part-time job. Mostly, it's through jobs posted on ProBlogger (a great website for freelance writers), but some of it is for an individual blog.

[Villanelle]

My first article is officially submitted.  I was extremely anxious and a bit neurotic about it, but it is done.  My friend kindly took a look at it, pre-submission, in her role as friend, rather than editor.  She was extremely positive about it, made very few changes, and has encouraged me to sign up for more articles when they send out emails with story pitches.  So that seems like it goes beyond her just being polite, which gives me a great deal of confidence. 

My imposter syndrome is still extremely strong, but I feel much better about it and if there is anything at all in the next assignment email that I feel I can tackle, I will throw my name in the hat.   I'm also starting to explore other places I might find assignments, though I likely won't actively pursue anything until I have at least 3 pieces published, just so that I have that experience I can cite.  Three isn't very many, of course, but it's enough to show I've at least pulled it off a few times. 

[Villanelle]

How do you plan to get paid and to pay taxes?

I missed this question before.  The real answer is "I have no idea".  Per their request, I have submitted an invoice (with the agreed upon dollar amount for the article).  The freelance agreement I signed said I am on my own for all taxes.  Perhaps naively, I am going to mostly ignore it until tax time.  It seems like my income for 2021 will be >$500, so I am ASSuming that I wouldn't face any penalties for not paying quarterly taxes or anything like that.  (I'm MFJ with my spouse, who is still working full time.) 

I am assuming the company will mail me a check. 

[Focus_on_the_fire]

Congrats! I have to say I’d love to read it. Don’t have a cat, but who can resist an article about cat costumes. Hahaha

[Villanelle]

Congrats! I have to say I’d love to read it. Don’t have a cat, but who can resist an article about cat costumes. Hahaha

It's not actually cat-related!  That was just an example for clarity's sake.  We definitely aren't talking Time Magazine or the New Yorker. 

[Villanelle]

My editor reached out to me and direct-assigned an article, rather than the previous mass emails with a list of stories to all the freelancers, asking who would be interested in writing each. 

She was super pleased with my previous submission, especially the fact that she had to make "almost no edits".  This one pays slightly less as it is for online only, not the print edition like the previous one.  But the difference is minimal and at this point I'm just trying to build my confidence.  This one also has a tighter timeline, which shouldn't be a problem unless the people I need to interview aren't able or willing to make themselves available pretty soon.  I don't think that will be a problem as it is in their best interest to get this article out (great PR for them).  As always, I'm anxious, but that's my baseline for life.  lol

[Chris Pascale]

My editor reached out to me and direct-assigned an article, rather than the previous mass emails with a list of stories to all the freelancers, asking who would be interested in writing each. 

She was super pleased with my previous submission, especially the fact that she had to make "almost no edits".  This one pays slightly less as it is for online only, not the print edition like the previous one.  But the difference is minimal and at this point I'm just trying to build my confidence.  This one also has a tighter timeline, which shouldn't be a problem unless the people I need to interview aren't able or willing to make themselves available pretty soon.  I don't think that will be a problem as it is in their best interest to get this article out (great PR for them).  As always, I'm anxious, but that's my baseline for life.  lol

You're off to a great start.

Post a link to a piece in a separate thread and we'll put some traffic on the site.

[Linea_Norway]

My editor reached out to me and direct-assigned an article, rather than the previous mass emails with a list of stories to all the freelancers, asking who would be interested in writing each. 

She was super pleased with my previous submission, especially the fact that she had to make "almost no edits".  This one pays slightly less as it is for online only, not the print edition like the previous one.  But the difference is minimal and at this point I'm just trying to build my confidence.  This one also has a tighter timeline, which shouldn't be a problem unless the people I need to interview aren't able or willing to make themselves available pretty soon.  I don't think that will be a problem as it is in their best interest to get this article out (great PR for them).  As always, I'm anxious, but that's my baseline for life.  lol

Congratulations with a job well done. And by getting contacted for new assignments.

It seems to me that your friend did a good editing job. Of course this saves the newspaper from doing this job. But ai think you cannot do this each time without also paying your friend for her work. Or you could choose to deliver something less finished and let the official editor doing this.

[Villanelle]

My editor reached out to me and direct-assigned an article, rather than the previous mass emails with a list of stories to all the freelancers, asking who would be interested in writing each. 

She was super pleased with my previous submission, especially the fact that she had to make "almost no edits".  This one pays slightly less as it is for online only, not the print edition like the previous one.  But the difference is minimal and at this point I'm just trying to build my confidence.  This one also has a tighter timeline, which shouldn't be a problem unless the people I need to interview aren't able or willing to make themselves available pretty soon.  I don't think that will be a problem as it is in their best interest to get this article out (great PR for them).  As always, I'm anxious, but that's my baseline for life.  lol

Congratulations with a job well done. And by getting contacted for new assignments.

It seems to me that your friend did a good editing job. Of course this saves the newspaper from doing this job. But ai think you cannot do this each time without also paying your friend for her work. Or you could choose to deliver something less finished and let the official editor doing this.

Sorry if I was unclear.  My friend is an editor for the publication and she is my contact there.  She *is* the official editor.  So she was thrilled because, unlike many of the submissions she gets from writers, mine needed very little editing before being published.  When I said, "my editor reached out", I was referring to her in her professional capacity, as an editor for the publication.  She just also happens to be a friend, and our friendship is what caused her to think I'd be a good fit and to reach out to me initially.

For the first article, I submitted to her before the deadline and to her personal email so she could read over it and reassure me that I was on the right track.  That was my choice, due to my nerves, and also because, just in case I was waaay off base, I'd have time to rewrite before the deadline so that neither of us was put in a bind.  But even then, it wasn't really extra work for her as she'd have needed to edit it anyway, in her professional capacity.  She sent it back to me with only the most minor of changes, and I made a few tweaks and then officially submitted it to her in her capacity as editor of the magazine.

So she is getting paid--by the publication--for her work. And she's happy to have a writer she can count on to be low-maintenance and reliable.   I'm definitely not taking advantage. 

[gatortator]

love thus! congrats on the great side hustle!

[Villanelle]

Another update.  I just got a call from the editor at the publication, asking if I'm interested in writing any stories for the next month.  She said they are actively trying to weed out a lot of their existing freelancers whose writing or professionalism is... less than ideal.  (Someone submitted a story almost 6 times as long as the assigned word count, for example!)  Those people create a ton more work for the editors, of course, and their content is probably still weaker even after edit than the content of the best writers. (IDK yet if I qualify as a "best" writer, but certainly I'm up there if she's pushing me to write more.)  So she is actively encouraging me to write more and will be sending me some possible assignments she thinks would be a good fit, before the cattle call goes out to everyone on their freelance.  I'm still being very selective while I get my feet under me and bolster my confidence, but her pushing me to write more certainly helps in that department. 

[Lunasol]

this sounds like a very cool gig!!

[Villanelle]

Just pitched a story and my editor loved it.  This will be my first story that is my idea, as opposed to something the publication came up with and found a writer for.  So that's exciting!  As with the other times, I'm now half convinced I'm in over my head and will fail spectacularly, but I'm also excited and happy to have made another step forward in this process. 

[Dicey]

Just pitched a story and my editor loved it.  This will be my first story that is my idea, as opposed to something the publication came up with and found a writer for.  So that's exciting!  As with the other times, I'm now half convinced I'm in over my head and will fail spectacularly, but I'm also excited and happy to have made another step forward in this process.

Hooray!

[Villanelle]

Another story submitted, another $125 (slightly lower this time) to be added to my account.

Income is still low enough that offsetting the taxes probably isn't worth it, but I'm going to start researching to see what is feasible as far as writing off rent, computer, internet, and maybe some writing classes I'd like to take. 

[Villanelle]

An opportunity has come up to write for random blogs.  It's via a company that seems to specialize in Search Engine Optimization.  It would be a commitment to 10-15 hours a week, though they said at first it is generally less than that while they make sure you are meeting deadlines and such. Totally flexible schedule, including the ability to work a couple weeks in advance to give myself a couple weeks off if necessary.  It's freelance, and the pay is shit, but I'm still considering it.  They want me to commit to 10-15 hours a week, in which case they will give me a test article (which pays $50).  I, OTOH, want to see what exactly they want.  So I sent a semi-vague response saying that I'd love to do the test to see if I'm a good fit (which in my mind means I am auditioning them as much as they are auditioning me).  So I guess I'm doing that Monday. 

The pay is kinda shit.  (Starting $17/hr, which as a freelancer is pretty bad. They say that "pay raises are frequent", but that could mean anything, and frankly, going to be pretty low pay even after a few raises.) But I'm still considering it because I figure it may open some doors.  pad the resume, get some more experience, have a bigger and slightly more diverse portfolio, etc.  Seems worth a try, at least.  If I hate it, I can always bail (which is true regardless of the pay, I suppose). 

[Villanelle]

I just got a new client added to the blog gig, and a 30% pay raise, as well as a small "thanks for not sucking; happy to have you on board" raise.  Nice!

I also have a possible lead on another blog gig, unrelated to the first one.  They haven't mentioned pay yet and I'm one of several being considered, so it may not pan out. 

[Villanelle]

And the just offered me another client.  At this rate, I'm going to have to decide where I want to draw the line so that the side hustle doesn't actually become invasive. 

Six months ago, I couldn't have imagined I might be considering turning down writing work.  And this isn't even the gig that started the side hustle!  Once I had my foot--really just like my smallest toe--in the door, things started taking off.

[calimom]

Well done! Sounds like the best side hustle ever.

[Rosy]

Love how you parlayed this into a solid freelance gig with ongoing potential - congrats!
Great job!

[Villanelle]

And now I'm chatting with someone else who wants me to write blog articles for them.  They've asked for what I think is a fair price and I'm trying to decide.  It's more work then the blogs articles for the SEO company I do because they are slightly longer, I have to come up with topics, and they want photos.  (I've asked for clarification on what is acceptable for photos.  If they aren't okay with a couple options I present that don't include me taking any pictures myself, I'm not interested.)  I'm guessing it will take me 2.5-3 hours.  I'm thinking somewhere in between what the mg pays (which can vary slightly), and what the other blog gig pays (which is hourly, but I have an approx. hourly target per article).  It may be too high, but they can always counter and then I can decide what it's worth to me.  Or if it scares them away, that's okay, too.

It's crazy how just having one person give me a chance meant I had a "portfolio".  (In quotes because at the time I got my next gig, I think I'd only had one thing published, but that was enough.)  No one wants to give a new writer a chance.  But once I had that, suddenly I could prove I was competent and other doors opened. 

[Villanelle]

Well, I'm kicking myself for not asking for more because they said yes to my initial price, but I'm doing a couple [paid] test pieces with this company.  They seem pretty chill, though that could go out the window when I submit content.  We will see.  I've written one  rough draft article in about 45 minutes.  I need to edit (probably 20-30 minutes) and then find photos (I suspect that will be 5 minutes or less) but it should end up at about 90 minutes or less.  If I can keep them all on roughly that same pace, give or take, it will definitely be worth it.

Once they receive and hopefully like what I've done (and don't request a million edits), I'll have a conversation about what the longer term timeline looks like.  I'm hoping they just want 2 articles submitted per month, in which case I can easily write ahead and never have to worry about finding time to write during weeks I'm busy with life, working for other clients, or just not feeling like writing.