Posts filed under Articles

7 Cold, Hard Facts About Freelancing

Freelancing is an excellent career option for many writers—it allows you to have more choice, from the type of work you do to your daily schedule. Want to work in your pajamas all day? Want to work on the beach in Hawaii this week? Go for it! However, just like any job, there are pros and cons. It’s important to do your research before you jump in head first!

There’s some cold, hard facts you should know about freelancing if you’re considering taking the leap of quitting your day job:

1. There’s a lot that a full-time employer figures out for you. As a self-employed freelancer, you will have responsibility for these things.

If you have had experience working for a larger company, then at least a couple of the following things were most likely taken care of for you:

Your paycheck already had taxes taken out.
Signing up for health and dental insurance was pretty easy, and if you had any questions, Human Resources could help you out.
Signing up to contribute to a 401(k) or other retirement plan may have been an option for you, and your employer may have even contributed to it.
Paid Time Off (PTO) was measured out for you and your boss or HR kept track.

To begin with, as a freelancer, you are in charge of doing all of your own taxes. For many, this will mean paying quarterly taxes, or planning ahead and budgeting enough money to pay taxes at the end of the year (which you’ll also need a business license to do!). When it comes to managing your own finances, this is just the beginning! You will also have to find your own healthcare plan, and plan/invest for retirement on your own. And PTO is a thing of the past! On that note...

2. If you don’t work, you don’t get paid.

In regards to the benefit of having an employer, having PTO means that you get paid even when you’re not at work, whether you’re sick with the flu or on vacation in Hawaii. But of course, things are a little different when you’re completely on your own. If you’re working hourly for a client and not putting in the hours, you’re not getting paid. Your schedule may be flexible, but no one else is there to do the work for you and pick up the slack.

However, this also allows you to take as much vacation time as you want. Instead of being limited to what your employer offers each year, now you have the flexibility to do as you please.

3. You will probably spend a lot of time alone.

While there may be opportunities to collaborate with others, the bulk of your time will most likely be spent getting work done on your own. You’ll be in charge of managing your time, calendar, and projects. It’s important that you work well independently, are self-motivated, and are able to find that cherished work/life balance that can be so hard (especially for freelancers) to achieve. Think back to college or any work-from-home days you have had: Was 8+ hours too long to be alone? Were you able to study and be productive?

4. You need to network. Period.

Even if you set up an amazing website that showcases your skills and portfolio and “does the talking for you,” business will most likely not magically appear. You have to network. The word “network” alone is enough to stop some people dead in their job-search tracks, but break it down and it won’t be so scary! Reach out to agencies that are dedicated to connecting creatives with employers, ask friends, family and former co-workers if they know anyone who might be in need of a copywriter/editor/etc., and don’t turn down opportunities to meet new people. For some freelancers, the bulk of their work may come simply from referrals alone. Either way, it's essential to your business to make new contacts and connections.

5. You are constantly going to interviews.

While it’s not necessarily like an interview for a full-time position at a big company, each new client you meet will be like going through the interview process all over again in a way. Some clients will have a lot of questions, some will know exactly what they want, and some might need YOU to tell them what they need. At the very least, you’ll want to be prepared to tell them what you do, how much you do it for, similar work you’ve done in the past, and maybe even why what you do is important.

6. You might not have a stable income.

Many choose the freelancing life due to the fact that you have the potential to have more control over your income. You can set your own hourly rates, project fees, and the hours you put into your business are indicative of how much money you will make. This also means that when work is slow, you're not getting paid as much. It's important to figure out exactly how much money you need to make each month and ensure you can meet those goals. It will also be important to save up at least a few months worth of living expenses, just in case you don't have enough work or jobs fall through. Planning ahead is essential!

7. You are responsible for everything. No pressure!

The world of freelancing is truly a blessing and a curse! While it affords you with a flexibility that full-time, 9-5 employees can only dream of, it comes at a price. It’s all about making a trade—what are you willing to sacrifice in order to gain more freedom and autonomy? In addition to being a writer (or editor, or whatever it may be), are you ready to also be your own finance, human resources, and marketing departments?

The future of your career is in your hands—go and make the most of it! Read about the careers of other freelancers and self-employed people here on Dear English Major:

Ashley Sapp: Freelance Writer/Editor & Administrative Coordinator

Emily Ladau: Freelance Writer & Disability Rights Advocate

Nicole Wayland: Freelance Copyeditor & Proofreader

Janet Schwind: Self-Employed Writer, Editor & Publishing Consultant

Andi Satterlund: Self-Employed Writer/Knitting Pattern Designer

Pamela Patton: Owner, Operator & Chief Wordsmith @ Paragraph Writing Services

Christine Stoddard: Writer/Filmmaker, Co-owner & Creative Director of Quail Bell Press & Productions

Robert S. Gerleman: Freelance Author & Editor

Charlotte McGill: Self-Employed Writer & Editor

Maggie Smith-Beehler: Poet, Author, Freelance Writer & Editor

Posted on November 12, 2014 by Alyssa W. Christensen and filed under Articles, Freelance, Self-Employed, Featured Articles.

What Does a Freelance Copyeditor and Proofreader Actually Do?

“I am a freelance copyeditor and proofreader.” This is a simple sentence and one I’ve spoken many times; however, I often receive confused looks and/or blank stares in return. I’m not even sure my parents could describe what I do after all this time. And the questions: “What’s a copyeditor?” “Is that like a proofreader?” “So, you basically run a spell check, right?”

Copyeditors Are Not Proofreaders

The duties of a copyeditor are quite extensive and difficult to describe in one neat, simple sentence, so it’s not surprising that many people are unclear on what it means to be a copyeditor. But before we get into the nitty-gritty of it, let’s get one common misconception out of the way: copyeditors are not proofreaders, although many copyeditors are good proofreaders. The Copyeditor’s Handbook (3rd Edition) describes it best:

Copyeditors work on an author’s manuscript and are concerned with imposing mechanical consistency; correcting infelicities of grammar, usage, and diction; and querying internal inconsistencies of fact or tone. Proofreaders, in contrast, are charged with correcting errors introduced during the typesetting, formatting, or file conversion of the final document and with identifying any serious errors that were not caught during copyediting. (2011, 11)

So, copyediting comes first, then proofreading—they are two different and distinct roles.

What Does a Copyeditor Do?

Let’s break down the main responsibilities of a copyeditor based on the previous quote from The Copyeditor’s Handbook (this list is not exhaustive):

Imposing mechanical consistency: Correct errors in spelling, capitalization, hyphenation, punctuation (what’s the difference between a hyphen, an en dash, and an em dash?), and make changes to ensure a manuscript conforms to the appropriate editorial style (in academic editing, this would most generally be either Chicago, APA, or MLA style).
Correcting infelicities of grammar, usage, and diction: Amend wording that is likely to distract or confuse a reader. A copyeditor will use various editing resources as well as his/her own judgment to make these changes, as the rules for this facet of editing are most often subjective. A good copyeditor will know when to hold back and when to make a change. A helpful question to ask while editing is: “Is this sentence technically correct as the author has written it?” If the answer is “yes,” leave it. Never change a sentence that is technically correct because you would prefer to write it another way.
Querying internal inconsistencies of fact or tone: “On Wednesday, October 23, 2014” is an example of a phrase that would need to be flagged for the author and not just simply changed to “Wednesday, October 22, 2014.” When a copyeditor comes across a factual error or inconsistency, it is often best to query the author. It is possible that the author indeed meant Wednesday, October 22 (“Wednesday” was correct), or the author might have meant to write “Thursday” instead of “Wednesday” (making “October 23” correct). Although copyeditors aren’t responsible for the factual accuracy of a manuscript, a good editor will flag any consistencies he/she finds and ask the author to confirm.

What Does a Proofreader Do?

Based on the definition from The Copyeditor’s Handbook, a proofreader checks for errors in the book proof, which is normally in PDF format. A proofreader should be on the lookout for problems such as incorrect change in font style or size, line break errors, inconsistencies in chapter headings, and so on. He/she will also read through the book from start to finish and identify any errors that were not caught during the copyediting stage (because no one is perfect!).

What’s It Like to Be a Freelance Copyeditor and Proofreader?

Being a freelancer has many perks (being your own boss, setting your own work hours, and working in your pajamas if you want to), but it undoubtedly takes a certain personality. Freelancing is synonymous with running a one-person business, which means you’re not only the worker bee but the HR department, the accounting department, and the operations manager, among other roles. My bookshelf is overflowing with editing manuals and business books, and I’m always looking for ways to improve my editing ability and the efficiency of my business.

Getting Started

After moving to a new city and taking an office job I wasn’t a fan of, I started to take a few editing projects in my spare time. (I highly recommend testing the freelance waters while you still have a steady paycheck.) I gave my résumé a makeover, wrote a short (and informal) business plan, and started to network. Having three years of experience at an academic press helped immensely, too. One of the first books I picked up, which was recommended by two of my freelance editor friends, was My So-Called Freelance Life by Michelle Goodman. It’s one of my favorites, and it really helped me gain the confidence and know-how to strike out on my own.

When I left my office job to start freelancing, one of my colleagues gave me a card with a quote by Leonardo da Vinci on it (which I now have in a frame on my desk). It reads: “It had long since come to my attention that people of accomplishment rarely sat back and let things happen to them. They went out and happened to things.” This has been my freelance motto ever since.

The Copyeditor's Handbook: A Guide for Book Publishing and Corporate Communications

$28.52

By Amy Einsohn

My So-Called Freelance Life: How to Survive and Thrive as a Creative Professional for Hire

$13.13

By Michelle Goodman

Resources

Einsohn, Amy. The Copyeditor’s Handbook: A Guide for Book Publishing and Corporate Communications. 3rd edition. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2011.

Goodman, Michelle. My So-Called Freelance Life: How to Survive and Thrive as a Creative Professional for Hire. Berkeley, CA: Seal Press, 2008.

Photos courtesy of Fairfield Grace Photography

About the Author

Nicole Wayland is a freelance copyeditor/proofreader and blogger based just north of Washington, DC. As the operator of Ford Editing, she edits for several publishers (both academic and trade) as well as businesses and individual authors. Her blog, Healthy Happy Sound, is centered on finding health, wellness, and overall happiness. When she’s not editing or writing, Nicole is likely searching for a new healthy recipe, rock climbing and practicing yoga, or traveling the world with her husband. Apart from her editing website and blog, you can also find her on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Posted on October 29, 2014 by Alyssa W. Christensen and filed under Articles, Editing, Featured Articles.

We want to know: What careers are we missing?

So far, we've featured interviews with over 60 English majors here on DearEnglishMajor.com. In terms of careers, job titles and responsibilities, that has covered a lot of ground!

Below, you'll find a list of the job titles we've featured on our site. However, we know there's still a lot out there.

We want to know: What careers are we missing?

If you have an English or writing-related degree and are working in a position that is a direct result of your degree (a position that includes responsibilities such as writing, editing, publishing, teaching, marketing, etc.) and your job is NOT on this list, we want to hear about it!

Public Relations Coordinator
High School English Teacher
Middle School English Teacher
Digital Media Manager
Communications Manager
Content Manager / Content Specialist
Web Communications Manager
Freelance Writer
Freelance Editor
Administrative Coordinator
Contributing Writer
External Relations Manager
Social Media Manager/Specialist
Development Editor
Director of Content Marketing
Director of Development
Copywriter
Comic Book Editor
Creative Director
Direct Response Marketing Coordinator
Immersive Journalist
Manager of Game Narrative Design
Novelist / Author
Publisher
Screenwriter
Director of Marketing & Communications
Publishing Consultant
Grant Writer
Newspaper Editor
Technical Editor
Magazine Editor
Marketing Coordinator
Internal Communications Specialist
E-mail Marketing Copywriter
Marketing Copywriter
Public Library Professional
Library Associate
Non-Profit Communications Coordinator
Proposal Writer
Blogger
Writing Coach

CONTRIBUTE or e-mail your suggestions to alyssa@dearenglishmajor.com!

Posted on October 18, 2014 by Alyssa W. Christensen and filed under Articles.

How Working in the Service Industry Has Made Me a Better Writer

As a beer brewer, published writer and adjunct professor, Sam Slaughter knows a little something about working in the service industry along with practicing your craft. If you're spending your days pouring pints of beer behind the bar when you'd rather be writing, not to worry—all is not lost. In fact, you might be better off than you can imagine, and Sam Slaughter is here to tell you why.

I’ve been writing on and off for around fifteen years and I have been serving, waiting tables, bartending or doing something related for around a decade. In the time that those two have overlapped, I’ve learned that, at least for me, having a job that has nothing to do with writing has helped me tremendously when I do finally sit down to write.

I realize that for most of y’all that will be reading this, writing full-time is the end-goal. We want to be able to get up every morning and get to it, typing furiously to produce the next great [insert type of writing here]. In this day and age, though, while it is possible (and there are plenty of examples of it elsewhere on Dear English Major), there’s probably going to be some period of time where you’ll need to write and have some sort of other job to pay those pesky things called bills. If that is the case, my suggestion is to find a job in the service industry—waiting, serving, hosting, bartending, whatever—because those types of jobs can teach you valuable skills that are transferrable to your writing craft.

First and foremost, I think, working in the service industry teaches you to listen.

I don’t mean listen as in taking an order (important, but not really to writing). If you’re a bartender, you’re going to hear stories. When I can, I talk to the patrons. Most of the time it is about beer, but usually after a few, the conversation wanders. They tell me about their days, their families, their jobs, the screwed up things that have happened in the world. As a bartender you are the ultimate confessor. You don’t have the ability to absolve one’s sins (excluding the ability to help them forget for a little while), but you are the one a person can come to to get something off his or her chest. It can get annoying, sure, but it can also provide an enormous amount of insight into a different world.

People want to talk about themselves and talk about what they know (even if they don’t actually know about it) and as a bartender, you are the receptacle of that knowledge. As a creative writer, this is a boon. The stories I’ve heard from patrons over the years have made their way into my stories in little ways. A detail here, a detail there—the pieces that hit home do so because they are steeped in reality. As a journalist or marketer, you conduct anthropology as a server. You learn about people, their wants and wishes, their likes and dislikes. As a writer, you can parlay that information into article pitches, advertisements, you name it.

Complementing the ability to listen is the ability to observe.

The benefits of doing so are many of the same as listening. On a practical level, you need to observe so you don’t spill red sauce on a white-dressed woman or don’t clothesline an errant child or something else that will negatively impact your tip. On a writing level, observation is key. There are many writers that advocate for being a watcher. Among them, David Foster Wallace said a good writer is, by necessity, a lurker, staring at any and everything.

As a server of any sort, not only will you listen to people’s stories, but you will see them played out. For the creative writer, you will see how a family interacts—are the kids hooked to their iPads, is an elderly man holding an elderly woman’s hand?

All of these things are writing gold.

From one little detail like that, an entire story can arise. For non-creative writers, observation can lead to inspiration for pitches. Do you notice a consistent crowd of doctors at this one bar? Are all the kids now playing with X instead of Y? There are ideas in every seat, at every four and two-top, you just need to look at them.

Third, the service industry forces you to use all the muscles you don’t typically use when you write.

Some may write standing up, or for some writing may be a full-body activity (how, I don’t know, but I don’t want to discount it). For most of us, though, we’re slumped (okay, I’m slumped, I have terrible posture) over a keyboard in an only-somewhat comfortable chair for hours staring at an artificially bright screen. Being a server, you’re moving. You’re exercising (if you want more on the benefits of exercising for writing, read Haruki Murakami’s What I Talk About When I Talk About Running) and allowing the rest of your body to work as hard as your mind usually does.

During that period of exertion, too, it allows your mind to run free a bit. I work in a brewery and spend hours lifting fifty-pound bags of grain in a mill and later scooping those same grains out of the mash tun. The motions are the same—lift, drop, lift, drop, scoop, pull, scoop, pull—and during them I can reflect on what I’m writing. I have a chance to write without writing. What will come next? How can I rewrite that scene? It all can happen during the exercise brought on by the service industry.

Finally—and this one is less about writing and more about general humanity—being in the industry teaches you to be a real, kind human being to others.

Ask any waiter and you’ll surely hear anywhere from five to five thousand horror stories about terrible customers. Working as a hookah lounge one summer, I was repeatedly referred to as “Boy” when a table of twenty-somethings deemed me necessary to their plans. Boy. I’ve been harassed by drunks more times than I can count (and, speaking as a white middle class male, I get off lucky. I know I am not harassed anywhere close to as much as, really, anyone who does not resemble the reigning hegemonic forces since forever).

I realize this may not work for some. The sheer fact that the service industry in most cases forces you to be social may not be one’s cup of tea. For me, spending hours with only my mind, I need that kind of interaction. I need strangers to confess to me. I need to haul grain bags and feel the strain in my muscle fibers. I need all that to write better.

About the Author

Sam Slaughter is a writer, beer brewer, and adjunct professor based in DeLand, Florida. He received his BA from Elon University and his MA-English from Stetson University. He has had fiction, book reviews, and nonfiction published in The Atticus Review, Heavy Feather Review, McSweeney's Internet Tendency, Drafthorse, The Southern Literary Review and elsewhere. He can be found behind the bar at Persimmon Hollow Brewing Company, on Twitter @slaughterwrites, or on his website www.samslaughterthewriter.com.

Posted on October 13, 2014 by Alyssa W. Christensen and filed under Articles, Featured Articles, English Major Stories.

5 Things You Can Do in College to Stand Out in the Job Market as a Writer

If you’re still in college, then you’re in luck—you have the power to significantly impact your post-grad life, and a world of opportunity is at your feet! Whether you're a freshman this fall or a soon-to-be graduating senior, use this precious time to your advantage. When you graduate, there will be millions of your peers at your side, vying for the very same job positions that you so desperately desire. Often, there are hundreds of qualified, experienced people applying for the same position.

We promise we’re not trying to scare you... we just know how important it is to stay practical and plan ahead. There are things you can do NOW to stand out later.

Consider the following five things that you can do in college to increase your chances of standing out in the job market as a writer:

1. Take part in writing-related extracurricular activities and internships.

Many colleges offer a range of writing opportunities outside of the classroom, such as a school newspaper (print and online), alumni magazine, literary magazine, etc. If you can, try out a variety of roles in a couple of publications. Sign up to be a reporter, and the next semester, try out an editor position if you can. Not only are these excellent things to have on your resume, but this is also a great way to determine what kinds of positions you would like to pursue after graduation, and what topics you’re truly passionate about. Do you get bored editing the work of others? Do you enjoy in-person interviews with people? These are the kinds of questions that will help you narrow your search once you start looking for a job.

Participating in an internship program is another important component of your undergrad experience. (It may be the case that internship employers will want to see that you’re active on campus, in which case those previously mentioned activities will come in handy.) An internship will provide you with a different type of work experience that will be even more useful when it’s time to buckle down and search for a post-grad job, and it may be as close to the ‘real world’ you will get during college. It’s an excellent thing to have on your resume—it shows potential employers that you’re serious about pursuing a career in a given field.

2. Don’t just stick to writing—participate in a wide variety of extracurriculars.

Whether it’s Greek life, Amnesty International, fencing club, Habitat for Humanity, the sailing team or belly dancing club, it’s a good idea to involve yourself in something that’s not necessarily related to writing. As you probably remember from back when you were applying to college, it’s important to be well-rounded (on your resume, but also just in, ya know, life!), and the various experiences you have as a result of being involved will absolutely help you as a writer. After all… what the heck are you going to write about if all you do is… write?

Keeping an open mind about new adventures and opportunities will also allow you to meet new people and expand your network beyond the English department. Win, win! Speaking of networking...

3. Take the time to network.

Some people won’t touch the word “network” with a ten-foot pole—the word as we know it in the job search world conjures images of awkward small-talk and exchanges of business cards. When we refer to “network” here, we’re really just encouraging you to meet new people and make some friends. Doesn’t sound so bad, right?

Talk to that person in your geology class who is outside your normal social group, ask your professors questions during office hours, make friends with the receptionist at your internship, etc. In many cases, jobs, internships and other work opportunities happen via word-of-mouth and through personal connections and recommendations. We’re not encouraging you to be fake or to use people, but by expanding your social group, you will naturally expand your “network” and scope of opportunities.

One of the best things about going to college is meeting like-minded folks who share the same interests you do, as well as meeting new people who will help you expand your view of the world and life in general. Take advantage and make some lifelong friends!

4. Graduate with a portfolio.

If you’re interested in pursuing a career as a writer, one of the worst things you can do as an English major is to graduate from college with NOTHING (or close to nothing) in your portfolio. Most employers who are searching to fill writing-related positions will ask for examples of your work, and may even ask to be directed to your work online. (Check out ‘Building Your Professional Website & Online Portfolio: 13 Things You Need to Know’ for tips!)

Those clips you wrote for the school newspaper, that press release you wrote for your internship, and the newsletters you made for your fraternity house will definitely come in handy!

5. Further your education OUTSIDE of the classroom.

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Most college courses aren’t going to go over things like grammar, punctuation, and the AP Stylebook, but it’s important to review these things on your own to keep your writing fresh and professional.

But when it comes to staying up-to-date on an ever-evolving industry, your education outside of the classroom doesn’t stop there. When you start the job search, employers will mostly likely want to see that you can do more than just write. Learning about things like web design, coding, WordPress, HTML, graphic design, etc. are really just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to skills outside of your English major. For more ideas on how to bulk up your skill set, check out '10 Ways to Stay Productive While You’re an Unemployed Writer.'

Alyssa W. Christensen lives in Seattle and is the founder of Dear English Major. Her full-time freelance career consists of providing writing, editing, and marketing services to small businesses. When Alyssa isn't helping businesses improve their online presence, she enjoys exploring Seattle's culinary delights with her husband, catching up on her favorite blogs, and working on her latest craft project.

Posted on September 16, 2014 by Alyssa W. Christensen and filed under Articles, Featured Articles.

Top 3 Reasons for English Majors to 'Go Corporate'

One common trait most writers share is freedom of expression. Your thoughts, your words, your construction, your result—the liberal arts version of a never-before-seen chemistry experiment. Some (not all) writers manifest that philosophy into a defiance of Corporate America:

“Why would I make someone else rich when I can work for myself?”
“This is the exact reason I wanted to be a writer… I’m not into the 9-5 thing.”
“I don’t need some MBA grad judging my work.”

Granted, these are legitimate reasons for being, at the very least, wary of swapping out your t-shirt and home office space for a collared shirt and cubicle. However, there are plenty of perks to working at a large company, and for those unfamiliar (and I certainly was at the start of my career), I hope to steer you toward your own decisions on whether a more corporate setting is your best fit.

Benefits: For What It's Worth

Chief among those benefits of going corporate are, well, the benefits. Many corporations will offer employees not only comprehensive health care plans, but 401(k) and other retirement account plans as well. Side note: younger savers may want to investigate the Roth IRA, which deducts slightly more money from your paycheck now, but at the advantage of paying no tax on your withdrawal later in life.

A smaller, more start-up type company could certainly pay more in cash—especially to Millennials, who baby boomers seem to hold in contempt—but for me, there’s nothing like the peace of mind of having strong health insurance, which is more likely to exist at a larger, more corporate entity. Breaking down deductibles, co-pays and HMOs is typically a job left to HR, which means less for you to try and discern. Knowing your options is still very important (as is having options in the first place), but if your corporate employer has a robust plan, you’ll appreciate the coverage.

Paid vacation and holidays are now considered part of an employee’s hygiene factor—in other words, a liberal vacation policy isn’t a perk; it’s an expectation. Tuition reimbursement and continuing education programs, flexible spending plans and potential bonuses are great if they can be had, but their exclusion shouldn’t be dealbreakers.

Corporate Camaraderie

Telecommuting and remote working arrangements are gaining steam over the last half-decade, but you’ll still likely spend the majority of your work week in a cubicle. Here’s why that’s not necessarily such a bad thing: people. When you’re having difficulty making coherent words appear on your screen, as we all have, collaborating with a manager or grabbing a coffee with a colleague can help take a sledgehammer to that wall of writer’s block.

You’re an Investment, Not a Number

Despite the United States’ recent plague of job loss and unemployment, or perhaps because of it all, corporations don’t take their hires lightly. In other words, if you find yourself at a solid company, don’t assume that you’re simply a number without a face, and the next market dip could leave your job vulnerable. In fact, a corporate job may provide you with some stability that may not be afforded to you at a smaller company. It can cost up to 150% of an employee’s salary to find a replacement, a statistic with which Human Resources people are undoubtedly familiar (and are being measured on), so they want to keep you.

These days, corporations far and wide acknowledge writers as soundly contributing team members, and not simply dismissed as people who don’t want to get a real job. Whether it’s copywriting, technical writing (not as creative, but still vital for industries like financial services and engineering), or the ever-expanding content marketing, versatile writers do have a role in the “real world.”

About the Author

English major Mo Hall is currently a marketing writer and content coordinator at Michael C. Fina, a company located just outside of New York City. Read our interview with Mo here to learn more about his experience, career, and advice to English majors.

Posted on July 7, 2014 by Alyssa W. Christensen and filed under Articles, Featured Articles.

Building Your Professional Website & Online Portfolio: 13 Things You Need to Know

If you’re pursuing a career as a professional writer, having an online portfolio is an absolute must. When we say “online portfolio,” what we mean is a website that showcases your work, the same way you would in a binder of newspaper clippings (does anyone do that anymore?!).

Having an online portfolio allows you to direct potential employers to a single, permanent space where your work will always be accessible. It won’t get ruined in the rain and it will never go out of date (if you update it regularly, that is!). Even more importantly, it improves your professional online presence and creates a platform on which to market yourself, which is really what finding a job is all about. Plus, it shows how tech-savvy you are—a huge selling point alone!

There are so many online tools available, many of which are even free. But regardless of which one you choose, consult our expert checklist below to ensure your online portfolio is polished, professional and effective!

Relevant domain:

Having your own domain name doesn’t cost much and it shows that you are serious about being a professional! Use your own name, a business name, or a short phrase that reflects your goals. Remember, it’s all about marketing yourself and creating something memorable.

Aesthetically pleasing design:

Treat the design of your website as part of the portfolio itself. You want to show potential employers and clients that you have some web skills, but don’t worry—this doesn’t mean you have to become a web developer or a coding expert. Many designs are already built for you, and you have the option to customize them if you want. Also keep in mind that what is ‘hip’ in design is constantly changing. You don’t want a site that looks like it was built in 2005—things have come a long way since then.

Professional headshot:

Making a good first impression with a professional headshot is crucial. Think of it this way: you’re the product you’re trying to market! This doesn’t mean you have to be a model, but getting your photo taken by a professional photographer—or even a friend with a great camera—is an investment you won’t regret! You can use this headshot in countless places, and it might be the first impression someone has of you and your brand. Lots of writers skimp on this, but it is absolutely crucial to your online image and the way you will be perceived. If you don’t care about representing yourself well, then how well will you be able to represent someone else?

Your resume:

Whether listed directly on the site or provided as a PDF, including your resume offers an excellent way for potential employers to get a quick picture of your experience. Even a link to your LinkedIn profile is a good option.

Portfolio:

This one is obvious at this point, but if you are going to bother making a website, then it needs to showcase your work! (You’d be surprised at how many professional websites lack this…) Include photos of completed projects, samples, screenshots, links, videos—whatever you have! It’s best to include a caption with each piece that at least details when it was created and what your contribution was.

Contact info:

You don’t have to give away your soul here—a simple e-mail address that you regularly check will suffice! We definitely recommend against sharing your address online unless it’s an actual office and you want people to find you.

Optional:

Description of services:

If you’re looking for freelance gigs, then you’ll want to include a list of your services and a brief description of each. Some freelance professionals choose to list their rates and fees directly on the site, while others prefer to keep that information confidential until they speak with a potential client directly. Either way, it should be clear from visiting your site what you do!

Testimonials:

If you work with freelance clients, then this is a wonderful way to show off your street cred! Of course, some people take these with a grain of salt (who would post a bad review of themselves on their own website?) but it does show that you’ve worked with real people.

Dead pages:

Oops! How did that happen? Test every link on your page—it doesn’t look very professional if you send someone to your portfolio and an important page is broken.

Unfinished design:

Don’t send anyone to your site unless it’s completely finished! Once you start a page, finish it.

Out of date information:

Did you get a new e-mail address? A new job? Have your work responsibilities changed? Is 2008 the last time you made an update? It’s a good idea to give your portfolio a glance every few months. Consider adding a website updating schedule to your calendar.

Faulty links:

Unfortunately, links to other websites do become inactive, and when they do, there isn’t anything you can do about it. But don’t let that deter you from including them on your site. Just be sure to test the published links periodically.

Spelling or grammatical errors:

You may be a writer or an editor, but you’re still not perfect. Call in a favor from a co-worker or ask a friend to proofread the text on your site—the last thing you want is for a potential client or employer to catch an error when you’re the one claiming to be the grammatical expert!

No matter where you’re at in your career, an online portfolio is not only a huge professional asset, but it’s also a super convenient way to get your name out there! Creating one may feel like busywork, but trust us, the investment will pay off.

Need some inspiration? Check out the links below for some of our favorite online portfolios (all from Dear English Major contributors!):

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Posted on June 18, 2014 by Alyssa W. Christensen and filed under Articles, Blogging, Design, Freelance, Self-Employed, Web Design, Writing, Featured Articles, Job Search Resources.

What Does a Copywriter Actually Do?

When I first told a friend that I was a copywriter, she half-jokingly asked me if I was the one who drew the little circles around the tiny “R”s after company names.

Now, obviously, she was confusing copywriting with copyrighting—two homonyms with very different meanings—but there was some truth behind her question. Most people have no idea what copywriters do.

In the broadest definition, copywriters write advertising and marketing pieces. The words they write (their “copy”) sell things to people; whether that be literal selling of products, convincing people to take an action, or persuading them to think of a product, company, or person in a certain light.

When I use words like “selling” and “persuading,” a red light goes on for a lot of people and they assume that copywriters are “evil advertisers,” tricking people into buying things that they don’t need. That actually couldn’t be further from the truth.

A copywriter’s job, in essence, is to connect people who have a problem, a need, with the solution to that problem. That’s really the only way that anything is ever sold. A copywriter uses words that a particular audience will relate to and will understand to convey a solution (be it a product or a service) to a problem.

Sure, some problems are certainly more critical than others. The copywriter who writes the subway ad for a battered women’s shelter that helps a woman find a place to stay is doing a different kind of service to the world than the copywriter who writes a subway ad for a minivan that has the kind of seating and safety features that someone has been looking for—but that copywriter is still providing a service to the person seeking those features in a minivan.

My point is that copywriting is really about using writing to connect people with the solutions they need.

Copywriting, just like any other career, requires training; there are specific skills and techniques that someone must learn in order to become a successful copywriter. One of the most common mistakes I see people make is assuming that because they know how to write, they’ll be able to find jobs as copywriters. That’s just not how it works.

Creative Directors and clients want to hire copywriters who how to write copy—who know all the tools and techniques of writing effective messages. Which makes sense, right? I mean, I’m good at driving, but that doesn’t mean I can get work as a big rig trucker. I don’t know how to do that, so no one’s going to hire me to do it. I would need to get training.

And, in my opinion, it’s well worth getting that training because, not only is copywriting a great paying career, but it’s also fulfilling and fun. Copywriters get to do interesting, challenging, creative work and work with talented, dynamic people. A copywriter can work on-staff or as a contractor or a freelancer, and he/she can work for ad agencies, in-house agencies or individual clients.

No career is perfect, of course, but it’s thrilling to actually see your words in print or online; to know that thousands, if not millions, of people are reading words that you wrote. And I also suspect that it’s one of the few jobs in which you’re regularly really proud of what you do. Several times a day, a copywriter looks at the copy on his her or screen and thinks, “Hey! This is really good!”

So, I’m sure that there are plenty of people in the copyrighting business who enjoy what they do (even if they don’t get to draw the little circles—what a pity). But people who love writing, who want to collaborate to create great work, and who want to make a good living for their efforts, would do well to see if copywriting might be a good path for them.

Thoughts? Questions? Let us know in the comments below.