Gail Seymour

Negotiating additional work with clients

What is it about some clients that makes them think a freelance writer should work for peanuts, and take on responsibilities way beyond the scope of the assignment? Sad to say, but in most cases, it’s us. The freelance writers, who fail to stipulate the terms of our agreement properly before beginning work. We’re also often all too eager to please, and stretch the boundaries of what we will and won’t do just to keep the client happy. Your clients, understandably, want to keep their costs down. You, on the other hand need to maintain a livable working wage. Striking…

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Sensible Goal Setting – When to turn down work

It’s easy to fall foul off optimistic estimates of what you can achieve in in given time frame, and it’s beyond your control when things happen to prevent you from completing work. The difference between a professional freelancer and an amateur is in the attitude you take to getting the work done when things go wrong. An amateur might wait until the deadline, hoping against hope to get the assignment done in time. A professional will keep lines of communication open, and have back up plans in place for contingencies. It’s important as a freelancer not to accept work you…

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From ghost writing to Freelancing

A brief introduction to freelancingandmore's Monday blogger, Gail Seymour, long time Internet ghostwriter turned freelance whose chaotic CV includes such oddities as being a published poet, web site design, floristry, and Hostage Negotiating.

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Making your Editor’s Life Easier

When you first start out as a freelance writer, you just want to make a few sales and build a portfolio. Once you’ve done that, you realise that editors who have previously published your work might be inclined to make additional purchases. At some point you’re going to find yourself with a regular contract to provide a steady trickle of articles to a single editor. Having a regular contract isn’t the same as having a job. You still have other clients to please, after all, and you’re still going to keep writing on spec, or to add to your own portfolio. …

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