Setting your own hours, being your own boss, naming your price. These are some of the perks I hear about when people talk about why they freelance, and every time I think, “Wow, that sounds fantastic…but how do I freelance?”

Professional writers have a lot to offer when it comes to freelancing because writing, editing, and design are marketable skills. But freelancing also means knowing how to manage yourself and your business. I know I am constantly working to improve my self-management, but I know next to nothing about managing a business. When I set out to explore the idea of freelance, I found some resources that are helpful for professional writers who want to learn about the business side while maintaining the creativity and flexibility that make it so attractive.

Freelance Switch is a community for freelancers that is filled with great resources. If you’re wondering how to figure out a project cost estimate for a client, their hourly rate calculator can help. The site also offers links to 101 essential freelance resources, from finding jobs to project management to protecting your work and dealing with legal matters.

If you’re looking for a service to help you with time tracking and invoicing, FreshBooks looks like a good deal. For those who are new to freelancing and starting out with a small client base, FreshBooks offers a package for 25 clients for only $14/month.

Suite 101 provides articles written by experts on a variety of topics that are organized by category (such as Writing & Publishing) and searchable. A search for “freelance” yielded articles about the importance of networking for freelancers, how to protect yourself as an independent contractor, providing samples through an online portfolio, and much more.

Natalie Jost, a freelance web designer and contributor to A List Apart, recently shared how to be a freelancer and work from home. Jost focuses on the unique issues that freelancers with families face, but her tips on how to cope can be adapted by all freelancers, namely:

• Have a dedicated work space
• Recognize your distractions and stop them before you lose productivity
• Have a dedicated phone line for business
• Choose clients who understand your work schedule and your freelance lifestyle
• Track your time

If you’re a freelance writer, editor, or designer, feel free to promote your services and share your experiences and tips in the comments.

Tags: freelance, Online Resources

This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 16, 2008 at 8:25 am and is filed under Career. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.