The Masterclass-Freelancing for Life addressed how to make a living out of doing what you love, with topics such as finding your voice, avoiding pigeon-holing, balancing corporate and creative work, invoicing, using internship opportunities and marketing.
Here are a few take-outs from the day.
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| Reflecting on the freelance life, Emerging Writers' Festival, image (C) Anna Sublet |
Keynote
First up, we had Clementine Ford, who spoke to a room full of mainly white, educated, able-bodied people. Clem made the point that it is important for us as writers to acknowledge our privilege. In our quest to get noticed, get published, and make our way as writers, we need to learn some humility, Clem said. ‘Don't speak on topics you shouldn't.’ Instead, ‘use your privilege to bring others into the fold.’ This in turn supports the industry and your own development as a writer, she said.
The vexed issue of writing for free, or ‘for exposure’ came up. As Clem said, ‘the exposure argument is rubbish, but it’s only partly rubbish. If you're writing for paid sites, don't be exploited.’ Having said that, she acknowledged that exposure can be beneficial, ie. you can put yourself in the path of those whose attention you might need to attract. So, it might actually be worth attending an event, or speaking for free, in these cases, as it could lead to meeting people and the possibility of future work.
Another tricky question is how to balance what you are prepared to write about ‘as an artist’ with ‘what will pay me money to live?’ Clem's advice: don't feel you have to justify taking paid work.
“Don't be too proud about how you get there,’ Clem told the room. Her advice was to see it as an apprenticeship, ie crap pay, lack of respect from industry, and bad hours! But just remember, on the way, Clem warned, ‘Don't shit on your peers!’ Or as Clem’s mum told her: 'Don't piss on those you meet on the way up, cos you will almost certainly meet them on the way back down.'
On a lighter note, she reminded us that the freelance life is one filled with alcohol and pyjamas. I can live with that.
Time is Money
Some fabulous advice about focusing on what you need to do to survive from Luke Ryan, Ronnie Scott and Elizabeth Flux. From prioritising a certain amount of paid work per week, for example a minimum amount of invoicing, to turning off email! (I’m trying that right now-simple but effective!) There were also a few suggestions about using apps to block social media, and working in simplified word processing platforms.
Speaking of social media, writers seem to feel that they need to ‘tend their digital garden’, but the panel’s advice was, yeah, maybe nah. Too much time on Twitter, Facebook and updating one’s blog can be nebulous work which doesn’t really pay off.
It was acknowledged that it’s hard for writers to know how to value their time and work, and Luke suggested that the Australian Society of Authors has suggested rates. This is about 91 cents per word for articles, but this isn’t really enforceable. Ronnie made the point that you might see certain writing jobs as having an 'enjoyment tax', where you really want to delve into the topic, plus the concept of a 'pride tax', if you really want to see your work published in a certain publication.
To establish yourself as a business, set up as a sole trader by getting an ABN online. Simple as that. Then, go ahead and invoice! An audience member mentioned Flying Solo and their Facebook site as a source of advice and support as a sole trader in the arts. And on a practical note, get an arts accountant who understands freelance work!
The Art of the Essay
Another fabulous discussion, this time chaired by Rebecca Harkins Cross, with Maria Tumarkin, essayist, and Nick Feik, editor of The Monthly. This was such an interesting exploration of how the essay traverses the personal and political, the literary and journalistic modes.
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| The Art of the Essay, image (C) Anna Sublet |
Nick pointed out that the word comes from the French essayer, to try. It is an attempt, or a testing, to which Maria agreed, yes, it is evaluating something, testing ideas. ‘The essay dramatises a mind at work,’ said Maria.
It was great to listen to Maria’s discursive musings on the essay form. Essays, she said, can move through tones; they need colour and movement. They can ‘hold the lyrical with the forensic...Mutually exclusive positions can be held and explored...(there is) that tense wrestling with ideas...The essay has a high tolerance for paradox,’ said Maria. For example, it might ask ‘are you blue or are you green? Oh no, I'm a rainbow.’
On the practical side of publishing, it was fascinating to hear Nick speak about how many more pitches The Monthly receives from men than women. It’s about 4:1. Ouch...
Right now, essays are huge in America, but this hasn’t yet come to the Australian scene. There has been much debate about the ‘confessional’ nature of some first person essays, but as Nick says, there needs to be something universal about the written piece, to lift it to being great writing. It can't simply be a working through of issues for one’s own sake.
But all agree: get a good editor, redraft, and get trusted people to read it. As was mentioned, ‘first drafts are not essays.’
Time to mull over these angles with lunch, solo in The Moat. Mmmm, gold.
Out of the Box
Great topic to come back to, and luckily our panellists made it! Talking pigeon-holing, branding and pitching with Amy Gray and Ellena Savage.
As an emerging writer, you can become stuck writing for a specific topic, and not be taken seriously beyond that. Using young writers to provide confessional personal essays, the benefit mainly goes to the masthead, Amy suggested.
Ellena warned about the risk that your voice could be reduced to a specificity rather than be read as a universal voice. So instead of being seen as critiquing a structural situation, the personal reads as a specific oppression, or wound.
Really important, say the panelists: find an editor who has your back. An editor who won't use you as a token, or benefit from your position.
Decide as a writer:
What do you want to write about, what topics? 'Find your voice.’ Work out what you are best at writing about, rather than what editors will like. ‘They will like what you're obsessed with!!!’ says Amy.
Where could this be published? Go to numerous publications. Don't be limited to one or two-that's a risk. Send stuff to many places.
Who could help you with this? Unsolicited emails to other authors are mostly welcome.
Then do the work!
In finishing up, know your capacity. ‘Burnout is a complete motherfucker,’ says Amy. ‘Mental health needs to be intact to produce, especially that sense of curiosity.’ And read!! We all need to recharge away from the screen.
For Ellena, working in hospitality has changed her life. She is now a massive advocate for using different parts of the mind, and for using your body to work at something which is totally removed from the industry.
One of the biggest things I took away from this session is: Beware of an editor who will throw writers under the bus!
Freelancing 202
Experienced writers on this panel amazed and inspired me with their earning capacity, professionalism and dedication to their craft. From how much to charge, to how to navigate the corporate world, to ghostwriting, to managing social media presence, we heard from Adeline Teoh, Liam Pieper, and Gillian Terzis.
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| Freelancing 202, image (C) Anna Sublet |
All in all, a day filled with fabulous advice. Real food for thought and some salutary warnings about selling yourself short, selling out, underselling, overbidding, overextending, overcommitting etc etc. Phew. Also, for life as a freelancer, everything is a tax deduction-bonus!
Many thanks to Writers Bloc for the experience. Not only did I see this an investment in myself, the pleasure tax made it more than worthwhile.
The Emerging Writers Festival continues until Friday, 24 June.
Originally published June 2016.
What a great opportunity! Thanks for sharing those nuggets - it's a jungle out there!
ReplyDeleteYes, Collette, some good tips there. And just writing the round-up was an exercise in writing discipline!
DeleteThanks for the write up - not quite as good as being there but the next best thing maybe :-) You've made me realise I should keep an eye on the Emerging Writers Festival for next year.
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading through, Emily! It's really an interesting, fun festival. Some great tips, very accessible and great panels over the years. There is also the Digital Writers Festival coming up, which is aligned with the EWF. "The Digital Writers’ Festival is a first of its kind, world-leading program that promotes Australian writers to new audiences, fosters collaboration between writers online, and increases the accessibility of writers festivals."
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