What I’ve Learned During a Month of Networking
One of my 2023 goals has been to reach out to as many writers and editors here in Chicago (and even a few outside the city) to get a better view of the writing and editing landscape. Where are people finding work? How much should I be charging? What professional organizations are worth joining? What certifications should I be pursuing? Etc.
Here’s some of what I’ve learned from these networking meetings:
· You can’t replace face-to-face contact. Thanks to COVID, nearly all my working hours during these last three years have been spent at home, and just recently the occasional coffeeshop as I’ve started to feel more comfortable being out in public without a mask. Stepping away from my laptop and the comfort of my home for a meeting that didn’t involve logging into Zoom, WebEx, or Teams was a bit unnerving at first, but getting out there and meeting other professionals for coffee has reminded me of how disconnected I had become by only working from home. There’s just something about sitting across from someone and interacting with them in person that can’t be replicated by even the best headset and online collaboration technology.
· Freelance writers and editors love their flexible work schedules. There are still deadlines to be met and there are definitely times when you have to hunker down and get the job done, but what I’ve learned is that there is a great relief felt by those who have escaped the corporate grind and can now, for the most part, decide when they want to work.
· People actually want to help. This one has been a pleasant surprise. When I freelanced several years ago, I never took the time to try to develop relationships with other freelance writers and editors. I always viewed them as my competition (and I guess they still are to some extent?), so I didn’t spend any time or energy engaging with them. Looking back, that was a big mistake. My new approach has been to share my resources and experiences as well as being open about the struggles and concerns I have about starting a writing and editing business. The response has been overwhelming positive as I’ve found that many people can relate to my situation, and they’ve been open to answering my questions, sharing their resources, expertise, and even contacts, for which I very much appreciate.
· Writers and editors speak openly about finances and want to get paid what they’re worth. Something else that’s surprised me – and it’s been quite refreshing – is how some writers and editors have no concern about divulging their hourly rate or even their annual earnings. Discussing salary details with anyone that isn’t my wife has always been taboo for me, but as I’m learning, being open about finances can actually help set the market rate for writer and editors at an appropriate level. Because contrary to what some believe, good writing and editing are not easy. These are skills built up over years and years. It’s easy to find a slew of inexperienced writers willing to work for pennies per word at one of these content mills, but the way I see it, you’re going to get what you pay for.
Which leads me to this question I’ve posed during my networking meetings – how do you know what to charge when you have years of good experience and the ability to consistently deliver quality work? The responses I’ve received have been everything from “I don’t think I charge enough” to “I struggle setting my rate because I don’t want to overcharge myself out of an opportunity, but I still want to be fairly compensated for my time, effort, and quality of work I’m producing.” Figuring out what to charge is something I’m still working through, but hearing different viewpoints has been helpful as I navigate this part of running a business.
Sure, it can be disappointing when a writer or editor doesn’t respond to a meeting request, tells me they don’t have time to meet, or they don’t quite understand why I’d even want to meet, but I’m going to continue reaching out to try to build a network. There are just too many positives I’ve already experienced during the last month of networking to stop now.