• Home
• 5 Ways to Support This Site
• Privacy Policy
• Subscribe
• Terms of Service

Starting Freelance Writing and Consulting Services

Sometimes I do something so stupid, I amaze even myself.

I wasn’t planning on writing anything for Wishcasting Wednesday this week, and indeed I didn’t, preferring instead to read others’ WW posts. And I actually did read several. “What do you wish to begin?” is what Jamie Ridler asked for this week’s wishcasting prompt. And just running across that question set me to thinking, because writing prompts are like that when you’re a writer.

I originally thought, because yesterday was the first day of school, that I’d talk about the kids beginning school, about getting back onto a normal, school-year daily schedule. I also thought about starting a new book, but I don’t know which book to start yet. Or about starting a new job. Over the last week, I’ve been in contact with a recruiter regarding a full-time software management job. And then I heard back from someone at a small technology company about a part-time tech-writing position, writing web content about their software. That actually sounded trés kewl, even though it pays less, is part-time, and is probably less permanent…

Okay, pays less— But still enough to make me happy, because it’s not really about the money; it’s about the expertise. (That’s a different blog post, though.) And part-time— I’d actually prefer that, because it means I can continue my own writing, which I would largely need to give up if I took a full-time management job. And less permanent— Again, that’s a good thing, because it gives me more independence, and independence is very important to me. So when the person at the small technology company looking for a tech writer, when he asked me if I had a resume—

I’d make a damn good tech writer!

Why don’t I have a writing resume? I have credentials, maybe not stellar from a classic resume point-of-view. But as a sales letter? Especially for a tech writer?

• Because of my extensive technical background (over 20 years developing software), I understand technology.
• Because of my years of experience as a writer, I know how to make even complex topics accessible.
• Because of my skills as a storyteller, I know how to make even boring subjects engaging. (Hint: the secret is understanding what motivates your reader.)
• As a software engineer, I’ve had extensive experience writing both internal and end-user documentation.
• I’ve authored 3 books and written over 700 online pieces.

I can even do a Billy Mays-style WOW demonstration, by rewriting some boring, convoluted user documentation (probably from an open-source project) or corporate-speak (probably from the brochure of a we-want-to-appear-bigger-and-more-clueless-than-we-really-are company). I could probably even pass the so-called Sinatra test, named in honor of the song “New York, New York”—”If I can make it there, I’ll make it anywhere”—a test so astounding as to be almost unbelievable. My Sinatra test might be something like making “insert tab A into slot B” actually interesting and engaging.

Remember I said, sometimes I do something so stupid as to amaze even myself? Well, it honestly and truly never occurred to me to offer freelance writing services. I’ve been taking software and web-development gigs, on and off, to make ends meet and to give myself working capital. And I even thought of picking up freelance writing gigs. But I never really pursued the latter, even though that’s where I ostensibly want to take my career and my life.

But now I’ve talked to the Missus, and yeah, writing gigs would bring in enough money, and if it would make me happy—and I think it would—then I should do it.

What do I wish to begin?

I want to begin to offer freelance writing services. I’ve already started the first of a number of sales letters, which will go up on my main site. I want to begin offering a range of services, all specialized to my areas of expertise:

• technical writing, especially for web content
• online copywriting, especially for technology companies
• ghostwriting of articles, small memoirs, and pocket-sized books
• copyediting and typesetting for self-publishers and indie publishers
• consulting (on writing and story) in the fields of computer software and musicianship (the two areas I’ve been in longest in my life)

That’s what I wish to begin. And I’m actually working on it, too. Stay tuned.

-TimK

P.S. If you’re looking for someone to help you in any of these areas, please do contact me and tell me more about your project. Maybe I can help.

Did you enjoy this post? Why not leave a comment below and continue the conversation, or subscribe to my feed and get articles like this delivered automatically to your feed reader.