Do you want a so-called freelance life?

Word count: 200 words

Reading time: Less than 1 minute

This is my regular installment of “writing about writing,” in which I scan the world to find websites, books and articles to help writers.  

Readers frequently confess to me that they’re dying to quit their day jobs and become fulltime freelance writers. “Dare I do it?” they ask. “How much money do I need to save up in advance?”

If the thought of becoming a freelancer has ever crossed your mind, run to the nearest bookstore/library (or go online) and get a copy of My So-Called Freelance Life: How to Survive and Thrive as a Creative Professional for Hire. Written by Michelle Goodman, this fantastic, informative book offers the wisest, most complete guide to freelancing I’ve ever seen.

Want to know how to build your freelance business plan? Trying to figure out how to set your prices? Worried about how to deal with clients from hell? Goodman covers it all with a light and breezy style that’s easy to read but her content is far from lightweight. In fact, I’d call her breathtakingly comprehensive. She’s an American, so her chapter on taxes won’t apply to anyone who lives outside of the US, but otherwise, I think any beginning freelancer could benefit from reading it.

This is the best “how-to” book I’ve read in a long time.

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