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After a career in financial services, Dana (Blozis) Neuts began freelancing in 2003. Based in Kent, Washington, Dana is a freelance writer and editor as well as the owner and publisher of iLoveKent.net and iLoveCovington.com, hyperlocal blogs. Her work has appeared in many Seattle-area publications as well as national publications including GSN: Government Security News, HS Today and American Profile. She is past-president of the award-winning Western Washington Pro Chapter of SPJ, serves as the Region 10 Director of SPJ, is a member of the membership committee, and chairman of the freelance committee. She previously served on the SDX foundation board and has been a facilitator for Scripps. For more information, please visit VirtuallyYourz.com. Specialties: Business Writing and Editing, Features, Humor, Small Business, Nonprofits, Finance, Insurance, Travel, and Marketing Consulting and Implementation including Social Media.
Tara Puckey is a freelance journalist based in Indianapolis, Indiana. She always enjoyed writing, premiering her work at the age of three with “Blue Dot, Yellow Dot,” a story about two colors that befriended each other. Later, she participated in the Young Authors competition and wrote an article for American Way magazine. Sadly, there's no link to that since it was written before the Internet existed. Later in life, after choosing journalism in a list of alphabetical majors, she fell in love with the business. In 2011, she graduated from IU School of Journalism at IUPUI with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, with High Distinction. At that point, she had been freelancing for four years and won several national awards. Part of a military family, Puckey originally focused her freelance business on military media. Later, she expanded to offer web design, branding, editing and other services. She is especially fond of working with small, local businesses and non-profits.
Tools for Freelancers
Links and Resources
ASJA
The American Society of Journalists and Authors Contracts’ Watch performs a watchdog service to keep freelancers abreast of markets with less-than-favorable contracts for writers.
National Writers Union Guide to Publications Paying $1/word [PDF document]
Media Bistro
mediabistro.com is dedicated to anyone who creates or works with content, including editors, writers, television producers, graphic designers and book publishers in industries including magazines, television, radio, newspapers, book publishing, online media, advertising, PR, and graphic design. Its mission is to provide opportunities (both online and offline) for you to meet each other, share resources, become informed of job opportunities and interesting projects, improve your career skills, and showcase your work.
National Writers Union
National Writers Union has been on the cutting edge of the fight against all-rights and work-for-hire contracts. It fought the introduction of these contracts at major newspapers and magazines throughout the United States in the case of Tasini vs. The New York Times. NWU also offers a grievance service, health insurance and press credentials for its dues-paying members.
Tax Guidelines for Freelancers
Tax Tips For Small Businesses is an indispensable reference that offers clear, concise, uncomplicated and immediately useful advice on how to sidestep pitfalls and take maximum advantage of frequently missed, perfectly legal opportunities that can save many thousands of dollars.
Indemnification Clauses
How to Deal With Indemnification Clauses: A position paper from the American Society of Journalists and Authors by the ASJA Contracts Committee
Writers’ Market Online
Find out what publications are buying manuscripts, the fees available and up-to-date contact information for editors at all manner of consumer, trade and specialty publications. Although there’s also a print reference published annually (and available in the reference section of your local library), the online version provides software for tracking submissions and the most current information for a reasonable subscription.
Freelance Success
Freelance Success provides nonfiction writers with in-depth information to make more money from your work — top-paying market information, interviews with top editors, tips on managing your business, access to tools and databases, advice on using technology, links to other writer confabs and inside dish on the writing business.Subscription is $89/year
Absolute Write
Classes, market listings, articles, editorial services, forums and writers' directory for professional and beginning writers of freelance, screenplays, plays, nonfiction, poetry, songs and more.
Writing World
Tips, articles, columns, newsletters, links, guidelines, classes, and more for writers of all genres.
Featurewell Syndication Worldwide
An electronic marketplace for the global publishing industry. This website provides editors with the opportunity to purchase and republish top quality journalism. For writers, this is a great opportunity to resell work in another market. Check it out!
ASJA Writers Conference
A good lineup of panels that are perfect for both beginners and seasoned professionals. This conference also offers good sessions for those interested in writing books.
Shaw Guides: Guide to Writers Conferences & Festivals
Information about upcoming conferences, workshops and festivals around the country with links to sponsoring organizations. Searchable by region and month.
U.S. Copyright Office Forms
Contains PDFs of forms and simple instructions for registering your copyright.
at-Largely: Journalists and News Sites
List of investigative reporting sites that accept freelancers.
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