Category Archives: Uncategorized

Lia Lee, Anne Fadiman and Lessons In Narrative Nonfiction

I couldn’t let more time go by without mentioning the obituary I saw last weekend in the New York Times, for Lia Lee, the central character in Anne Fadiman’s narrative nonfiction near-classic, The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down. … Continue reading

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The State of Freelancers on International Freelancers Day

As you may know if you’re on the same email lists as I am, today is International Freelancers Day. I’m going to set aside some time to attend the free, virtual International Freelancers Day Conference, which has some interesting sessions … Continue reading

Growing Your Business, Making the Break, Uncategorized , , , , , , , , , ,

DoNanza Sees Growth In Freelance Jobs, But Not Necessarily In Compensation

A survey by freelance website DoNanza found that while the number of freelance jobs has been rising, compensation for some kinds of jobs, especially those in marketing, is declining. DoNanza found that the number of jobs rose from 1.3 million … Continue reading

Growing Your Business, Uncategorized, Your Back Office

Ready To Quit Your Job? Read This First

Lots of people are unhappy at work these days. If you’re among them, you may be wondering if it’s time to ditch it all and finally start that home-based catering business or consultancy that’s been in the back for your mind … Continue reading

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Retirement Plans For The Self-Employed

I found this video by CNN/Money’s Walter Updegrave a short, sweet summary of the two kinds of retirement plans designed for self-employed people. • One is called a SEP IRA. You can sock away 25% of your net self-employment income, … Continue reading

Uncategorized, Your Back Office , , , , , , , ,

How Much to Charge for Blogging

If you’re wondering what rates to seek for blog writing, you’re not alone, judging by the search terms used to find our site. The confusion is not surprising, given that rates are all over the map. I’ve found that clients typically … Continue reading

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Study Shows Self-Employment Is Growing

You know you’re part of an important trend when experts start coming out with annual surveys on it. MBO Partners just released its second annual report on independent professionals, the State of Independent Workers in America, and the findings show … Continue reading

Making the Break, The Lifestyle, Uncategorized , , , ,

A Freelancer’s Open Letter To Google

Dear Google, I know that on your Googleplex in Mountain View, you have some of the best minds in the world. I am hoping that you can come up with a way for your supremely powerful search engine to make … Continue reading

Growing Your Business, Uncategorized , , , , , , ,

How Will Freelancers Fare in the Health Reform?

When I started freelancing five years ago, my family’s health insurance premiums were approximately $19,200 per year. Starting in November, they will be $36,000 a year, thanks to two straight years where we saw increases of $600 a month. It’s … Continue reading

Growing Your Business, The Lifestyle, Uncategorized, Your Back Office , , , , , , , , , ,

Writing Tips From Stanley Fish, With References To Frankenstein and Dan Ariely

I’m continuing my tour through writing books by reading Stanley Fish’s How To Write A Sentence. I’ve been a writer and editor for 20 years – starting seriously in college, where I worked for the student newspaper at the University … Continue reading

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