Freelance Writer

[RunOrangeRun]

Where and how do you get thease kinda of jobs. Im looking for a job this summer im am going from HS to College and would like to do so Freelance Writing. Also how hard is it to get a job for Freelance and does it require huge amount background? Or maybe i can just do small Freelance jobs.

Comments please any thing would be great

Thanks

Also if you know of any places that are looking for people or where i can get more info please post or e-mail me at RunOrangeRun@aol.com

[James Wallis]

Jesus Christ hunt-and-pecking on an IBM Selectric.

Read through your post again. See anything wrong with it? If not, then abandon any thoughts you've ever entertained about working as a writer. It is riddled with spelling errors, typos, bad grammar, incorrect punctuation and eccentric capitalisation. It reads as though English is not your first language. In fact it does the one thing you don't want it to: it makes you look like someone who can't write -- not to a commercial standard; not at all.

I think I speak for all publishers when I say: first show us you can write. Then ask us for a job.

[Chris Aylott]

I just know there's a New Style RPG somewhere in the intersecton of these two posts.

cheers,

[RunOrangeRun]

I do not normally type in any formal way when talking on message boards. Its about as important to people as a can of "off" is to bugs. I guess you think just because I fail to make myself perfect in a relaxed situation means you should tear me apart. Just like bully does to an outcast. So please just step back for a moment breath in for three and out for six before you respond the last think I want is to be flamed again by you or anyone. So hold your breath while I get some examples.

Peace

Add: Heres an example, This is something I wrote for my english class a few months ago.

Resident Evil: Resurrection
Sherry’s Rescue
By: Darren Orange(Its me)
(Fan Fiction Based upon Resident Evil By Capcom)
I was finally there. It took a while to hunt down the information but I found it. I couldn’t believe that they took my niece to such a high-level umbrella research facility. They really must think she’s something special. It’s the typical Umbrella hiding their illegal research inside a legitimate drug making plant. I’m very glad they didn’t get my creation back to Umbrella. Like most of umbrella’s plans they either fail or are planned to fail. In my case they just failed. I simply feinted my death.
My virus that I had created from the T-virus worked just as my tests showed it would. I’m lucky this virus daunted their attempt to kill me. I perhaps shouldn’t put it that way. I was killed but the virus brought me back. I feel very stalwart now because of what it has done. The virus pretty much completely changes the inside of your body.
It makes you fast enough to dodge bullets, and strong enough to bend mental doors with your fists. It also has the wonderful T-virus healing ability. If I am shot, I simply feel a pinch. Even a bullet to my brain wouldn’t kill me. The great cost for this is my humanity. I can no longer stay I am truly human and if I am not wearing glasses it shows. The one major side affect of the virus is that it changes your eyes and your sight. My eyes are reptilian, but it does allow you to see perfectly in the dark.
These traits are very efficacious and will help me get my niece out of Umbrellas hands. I promised my brother I would protect her from them. Hopefully after this I would no longer be reproofing myself. It was time for me to get in there; it was about two in the morning. The building was dark no light at all came from it. A 10-foot tall barbed wire fence surrounded it. I easily jumped over it.
The building was about the size of a larger warehouse. Its funny where Umbrella decided to put these things. This one happens to in between in a valley in the Rocky Mountains. It also happens to be a ten-mile hike to the nearest road, and about a 30-mile hike to the nearest town.
I walked up to the only door in the entire building. It had a small red light glowing on what appeared to be a key card-locking device. I broke the locking device with a solid punch and the door swung open. I walked inside and to my surprise the warehouse was completely except for an elevator in the dead center. Normally Umbrella makes a false set up to fool inspectors but for some odd reason there is not any false front here. I knew it was to easy then I realized something moved.
He walked up to me wearing a black suit and tie and said, “So you’re looking for Sherry.” He took off his glasses his eyes where reptilian. “So your Scott?” he asked. “Yes, and who are you”, I said. “My name is Albert Wesker”, he said. “Do you have my niece”, I asked. “Yes, we do,” said Wesker. “I’ve come for her to fulfill my brother’s request”, I said. “I have no problem with that, but my employer does,” said Wesker. “We haven’t found Sherry to be useful in any way, so we planed to use you to collect combat data on the Nemesis.
We managed to get enough DNA from its last remaining bits to clone it” said Wesker. I stood in awe I have heard of the Nemesis but have never seen it; it’s a BOW Bio Organic Weapon. The Nemesis could be programmed almost like a computer to hunt down and kill any target or targets and anything that gets in its way. “Oh, we have told this Nemesis to kill Sherry” he said as he pointed to a small cage that had Sherry in it. My eyes widened and I could say anything intelligible because of how much rage I was in.
“Oh and the nemesis is on its way up right now” he said as he pointed to the elevator that according to the lights was in accent. The Nemesis is prefect, he doesn’t mater where you run or where you hide it will find you. “Thank you for your help”, Wesker said as he ran out the door behind me. I quickly woke caring less and less about this Wesker guy and realizing that I had to get Sherry out of here as quickly as possible.
I quickly moved in the only way I knew how right up to the cage and ripped the door of its hinges. Sherry was over joyied to see me she leaped right into my arms. I told her it would be all right and she said, “I know.” That put a smile on my face for an instant until I heard a ding come from the elevator. I started to move as the doors started to open and had one foot out the door when I heard it call, “SHEERRRRRY” in its deep almost growling tone.
When I was out the door I had a rope ladder in my face it was a helicopter and they where almost blinding me with a searchlight. I grabbed the robe latter and held Sherry tight. We where pulled into the air and away from any danger. I looked down to see the Nemesis standing out side the warehouse staring up at me. It started walking in the same direction we where going they are amazingly steadfast.
It would find us that was just a mater of time. Even myself with my new ability’s would be little match for the Nemesis. I hoped that I was just saved by these people in the helicopter and not just captured. Either way we are free from the Nemesis right now and Sherry is safe.

[Gareth-Michael Skarka]

Originally posted by RunOrangeRun
Its about as important to people as a can of "off" is to bugs

If you honestly think this, then there is simply no way that you are ready at all to be hired as a freelancer writer.

No flames, no attacks, no snide comments....just the facts. You come off like an illiterate kid...not to mention one that can't take criticism to heart. Neither of which is a sought-after trait in a freelance writer.

And FYI: James is a very well-respected publisher, and I've been both a publisher and a freelancer (at times doing it full-time) for over a decade. We know what we're talking about. You might consider actually paying attention.


Edit: I took a look at your sample. It seems that first impressions, in this case, are pretty much spot-on. Your sample is full of the same mistakes that your posts are. You might want to brush up on your skills a bit before looking for work.

GMS

[RunOrangeRun]

Could you assist me then? Can you please post a example of the style of writing you consider to be good/awesome. I would like to take it and compare to my own to find out what I am lacking or missing. Lets start over I feel we have started on the wrong foot. So if you could please I'd like to see an example of work that you uphold in the greatest respect for, your own or anothers.

Thanks :)

[Gareth-Michael Skarka]

Originally posted by RunOrangeRun
Could you assist me then? Can you please post a example of the style of writing you consider to be good/awesome. I would like to take it and compare to my own to find out what I am lacking or missing. Lets start over I feel we have started on the wrong foot. So if you could please I'd like to see an example of work that you uphold in the greatest respect for, your own or anothers.


Sorry, but it's not a publisher's job to teach you how to write.

I would suggest that you post your sample on the Freelancing and Freelancer's forum here on RPGnet and ask for critiques, or better yet, step away from the computer, walk down the hall of your school until you come to a door marked "ENGLISH DEPARTMENT", and ask someone there.

GMS

[RunOrangeRun]

Expressing opinions without facts to back it up (such as a paragraph) is the mark of amateur.

[James Wallis]

Originally posted by RunOrangeRun
I guess you think just because I fail to make myself perfect in a relaxed situation means you should tear me apart.


Stop and think for a moment. If you were applying for a job as a hairdresser, would you walk into the salon with your hair unwashed and unbrushed? If you wanted a job in a clothes store, would you go to the interview in a tee-shirt crusted in old food and jeans with urine stains on them? If you wanted to work as an actor, would you phone up the casting agent and stutter, stammer and belch throughout the conversation?

Guess what: you just did. You posted in a forum that is read by many of the publishers in this industry, both large and small, and you asked for a job. This is not a "relaxed situation", this IS your job interview, and like most interviews it's partly about your talents and partly about your attitude. Your attitude sucks. Sadly for you, so does your writing.

I would seriously advise you to consider other careers.

[James Wallis]

Originally posted by RunOrangeRun
Could you assist me then? Can you please post a example of the style of writing you consider to be good/awesome. I would like to take it and compare to my own to find out what I am lacking or missing.

Oh, for God's sake. Read a book.

[Gideon]

Can I have a job, please, James?

I can be a sandwich board. When I get to enlightened, I'll write Hogshead rulz above my avatar, if you pay me. That way I won't have to read a book, either.

[Misguided]

Hey, didn't we just have this thread a few weeks ago?

Conventional wisdom is that you "never get a second chance to make a first impression". That may not always be true, but in many cases it is. You've just made yours, now how do you feel about it? [no sarcasm intended]

Gareth is correct. This is not the apropriate forum for critiquing your work. Please do so in the freelancers forum.

[RunOrangeRun]

Whats Hogshead? Thats a pretty silly name. I would like to get someone elses thoughts that is not a jerk and that doestn live in London. Please give me an example of good writing that YOU have writen yourself. If you can not produce anything that you have done please do not waste your time flaming me. I hate people that just talk all cocky and do not have any actions to back them up. So put up or shut up. Please people do take this in offance all of this is directed at the people who have already posted. Help me out, thats what Message boards are for.

[Misguided]

Hogshead publishes Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay as well as an award winning line of games known as New Style. New Style includes The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, De Profundis, Violence, Puppetland and other critically acclaimed games. They also publish Nobilis and SLA Industries.

What do WFRP and this forum have in common? Anyone?

[wizardattic]

Originally posted by RunOrangeRun
So put up or shut up. Please people do take this in offance all of this is directed at the people who have already posted. Help me out, thats what Message boards are for.

The problem here is he did help you out. His first reply to you while blunt, was very to the point. In a professional forum you must look professionial. And as other have pointed out, this is the wrong forum for helping you out on your basic writing needs.

If you must feel insulted by bluntness from professional editors, then you'll need to thicken your skin as well as hone your writing skills for a few years before trying to go pro. You will find that most won't even take the time to tell you why they have trashed your submission.

[flyingmice]

Originally posted by RunOrangeRun
Whats Hogshead? Thats a pretty silly name. I would like to get someone elses thoughts that is not a jerk and that doestn live in London. Please give me an example of good writing that YOU have writen yourself. If you can not produce anything that you have done please do not waste your time flaming me. I hate people that just talk all cocky and do not have any actions to back them up. So put up or shut up. Please people do take this in offance all of this is directed at the people who have already posted. Help me out, thats what Message boards are for.

My word! I am stunned by the profound depths of your pettyness. Your abysmal ignorance of the English language is pitiful, but all too common. Your base stupidity is, on the other hand, inexcusable. The people who replied to you *have* put up. They have published many excellent games, and you have done exactly diddly-squat. It is not for *them* to prove anything to *you*, it is *you* who have to prove something to *them*. If this is how you plan on impressing prospective employers, I see a long wait for you in the unemployment line.

[RunOrangeRun]

Sorry, Delete this Thread, Please.

Thanks

[flyingmice]

Apologies for the temper tirade there. You guys were being so patient, and Mr. Orange was being so obtuse, that I blew up. I'm not normally so incendiary.

[AdrianChapman]

Quoting Flyingmice:
Apologies for the temper tirade there. You guys were being so patient, and Mr. Orange was being so obtuse, that I blew up. I'm not normally so incendiary.

Its all right, we all know you are a nice guy at heart. Mr. Orange is over on the Freelancer board and acting nice there, I think he got the point. Most of the other guys over there (myself included) have been giving him LOTS of pointers. On a personal note though, I don't think you were being too harsh, Orange going off like that in here was bad form, and you at least were semi polite about it.

AdrianChapman

[NPC Troll]

It's OK, Run Orange Run. No one knows who you really are.

What's your real name, so we know whose work to avoid?

[Tim Gray]

Originally posted by AdrianChapman
Its all right, we all know you are a nice guy at heart. Mr. Orange is over on the Freelancer board and acting nice there, I think he got the point. Most of the other guys over there (myself included) have been giving him LOTS of pointers. On a personal note though, I don't think you were being too harsh, Orange going off like that in here was bad form, and you at least were semi polite about it.
That's interesting - I was probably about 65% convinced it was a joke till you said that.

PS - James, I'm wearing a tie and everything - huh? huh?

[Guildofblades]

>>Whats Hogshead? Thats a pretty silly name. I would like to get someone elses thoughts that is not a jerk and that doestn live in London. Please give me an example of good writing that YOU have writen yourself. If you can not produce anything that you have done please do not waste your time flaming me. I hate people that just talk all cocky and do not have any actions to back them up. So put up or shut up. Please people do take this in offance all of this is directed at the people who have already posted. Help me out, thats what Message boards are for.<<

Weather James could or would be inclined to produce materials that he himself has written does not matter. It wouldn't matter is James couldn't write beyond a 4th grade level (which he most certain can, and then some to boot). James is the head of one of the industry's more established companies known for using freelancers. He IS the person at Hogshead that you would need to impress to have a hope of ever doing any freelance work for Hogshead.

That and yout attitude is so poor that even if your writing was top notch, we wouldn't care to use you for any freelance writing jobs. Part of being a useful freelancer to use publishers is being able to take a job and handle it professionally. How you deal with company heads and other industry folk is just as important as your writing skills, and its about the only gauge we have to judge your professionalism and the likelihood that you would complete contracts on time and in a satisfactory manner.

And while in you in the process of insulting James for the name of his company, while don't you go ahead and insult ours as well. the "Guild of Blades Publishing Group"; what does that mean? Its just a name; one which we hoped could be somewhat memorable in the names of our target consumer audiences. Branding son, branding.

[James Wallis]

Originally posted by Tim Gray

PS - James, I'm wearing a tie and everything - huh? huh?

Huh?

[Tim Gray]

Originally posted by James Wallis
Huh?
I was trying to impress you in case I ever ask for writing work.

But I'll settle for spreading confusion wherever I go. Tra-la-la!

[flyingmice]

Originally posted by Guildofblades
>And while in you in the process of insulting James for the name of his company, while don't you go ahead and insult ours as well. the "Guild of Blades Publishing Group"; what does that mean? Its just a name; one which we hoped could be somewhat memorable in the names of our target consumer audiences. Branding son, branding.

Hey! Ours too! Can't get more "Fly-by-night" than 'Flying Mice LLC'. :D

Actually, our name has nothing in paticular to do with bats, except that I like them. Our *real* business is designing computing devices, among them 3D controllers, AKA "Flying Mice". It is a definite plus that the name - as you said for your own company - sticks in people's heads.

[doppelganger]

Wow, guildofblades. You do not seem to be a professional either, judging by the errors in your last post. It looks to like a case of the pot calling the kettle black.

Peace out.

[Guildofblades]

>>Wow, guildofblades. You do not seem to be a professional either, judging by the errors in your last post. It looks to like a case of the pot calling the kettle black. <<

The difference here is that I am not on this forum trying to solicit freelance *writing* jobs. I am one of those company owner types that would *potentially* be interested in using freelance writers on future projects.

I am, frankly, not here to impress any of you. Our company began smaller than a pimple on the side of the game industry's arse, but thanks in part to some great advice given to us by a few industry veterans, we survived long enough to grow the company to where we are today. I participate in these forums for two reasons mostly. The first is simply to "keep an eye" on the industry and its happenings, and the second is to do for some small start up companies what was once done for us.

I could care less how the quality of my writing comes off on these forums. Anything that I write professionally, weather it be for inclusion in one of the Guild's products or for marketing materials, thankfully gets edited.

---To Flying Mice:

>>It is a definite plus that the name - as you said for your own company - sticks in people's heads.<<

It helps to have a company name that the average consumer can shorten in common usage as well. Hence "The Guild of Blades Publishing Group" tends to be shortened to just the "Guild of Blades" or "The Guild", much the same as "Wizards of the Coast" often becomes just "Wizards" or "WOTC".

[Elissa Carey]

Originally posted by doppelganger
Wow, guildofblades. You do not seem to be a professional either, judging by the errors in your last post. It looks to like a case of the pot calling the kettle black.

Peace out.

May I politely point out something? Before mentioning another's errors, it would be wise to look over one's own.
"It looks to like" is somewhat awkward. This can be fixed by either saying "It looks to be" or "It looks like."

I typically try to stay away from pointing out grammar, spelling and punctuation errors on the forums I frequent, usually because if I did, I would be doing it all day. Even some of the best posting can have a few errors (and I've had a few of my own, I admit, but nothing glaring). But now and again, posts like these which criticize another's errors crop up, and I honestly feel compelled to respond. Don't take this the wrong way, doppelganger - all I'm attempting to do is get you to take a step back and see what you're doing. :)

As for RunOrangeRun - others have said what needs to be said in regards to insulting a potential employer as well as taking advice from them and others. I've skimmed the sample posted here and on the freelancer section, and I have to agree that your work needs improving. It is good, however, that you are taking measures towards improving your work. Keep trying, and take a look at a few of the resources listed in a few of the threads also in the freelancer section. They will help you immensely.

[CrazyIvan]

I was under the impression that Guild, unlike the writers asking for jobs, does not particularly need to be a great writer. That is, with due respect, why he is hiring other people. Run Orange Run on the other hand...yeah, not so much.

[Elissa Carey]

Originally posted by CrazyIvan
I was under the impression that Guild, unlike the writers asking for jobs, does not particularly need to be a great writer. That is, with due respect, why he is hiring other people.


Of course. Hopefully I didn't give off the impression that I was also criticizing Guild; as you said, he's doing the hiring, not the writing. :)

[Guildofblades]

>>Of course. Hopefully I didn't give off the impression that I was also criticizing Guild; as you said, he's doing the hiring, not the writing.<<

Hi Elissa,

Actually, I do both. We are a company with a big whopping two people on staff currently, plus one very part time accountant. That means a lot of multi-tasking.

However, as I said on another post, my purpose on these forums is not to impress people with my writing technique or skill. I have a daily routine of forums and e-mail lists I monitor or participate in; some for marketing purposes, others to stay on top of as much of the dailing happenings in the game industry as possible. I blitz thru these forums as past as possible so as to not detract time from more productive work. That means I don't worry about editing myself or having others edit my writing here.

That all being said, I also won't claim to be the world's greatest writer. With spelling, grammer and the like, I get by. Though I can write a mean bit of fiction. :)

But for any freelancer hoping to solicit contract jobs, I have to say, the sure fire way not get them is to have an attitude. I don't care if the freelancer is the worlds best artists or worlds best writer, if they have an attitude, we won't touch them. Why? Because if they have an attitude or come off as unprofessional, those are the types that have proven themselves to be more likely to end up non reliable. They won't do the project to spec, demand pay rates or contract conditions above what they are worth, and tend to prioritize their own projects and whims above the need of completing contract jobs on time.

[Elissa Carey]

Oh, completely understood. I've had a taste as part of a team for an amateur magazine. Needless to say, once in a while we get someone who thinks their prose is deathless. :D (And I'm always up to reading some mean fiction - I live and breathe books.)

[Aries]

Originally posted by RunOrangeRun
Expressing opinions without facts to back it up (such as a paragraph) is the mark of amateur.

Very smart. Piss off people in the industry. That is a good way to get blackballed. Very quickly.

[Menteroso]

And I thought my threads wouldn't die.

I gues the lifespan is equal to the stupidity of the original post, neh?

[Aries]

Originally posted by Menteroso
And I thought my threads wouldn't die.

I gues the lifespan is equal to the stupidity of the original post, neh?

I jumped on this one late... So sue me! :D

[Jon H]

Like some stupid "good citizen" I'm going to jump in on this one....

If anyone still feels like flaming Orange, please consider this:

Yes he got it all wrong, he was very rude to respected publishers - BUT he then apologised, took advice, went over to Freelancers & Freelancing, and displayed a much healthier attitude all round.

This one actually had a happy ending.

[Chade]

Originally posted by RunOrangeRun
Whats Hogshead? Thats a pretty silly name. I would like to get someone elses thoughts that is not a jerk and that doestn live in London. Please give me an example of good writing that YOU have writen yourself. If you can not produce anything that you have done please do not waste your time flaming me. I hate people that just talk all cocky and do not have any actions to back them up. So put up or shut up. Please people do take this in offance all of this is directed at the people who have already posted. Help me out, thats what Message boards are for.

I think you may have just lost any opportunity you had of getting a job. I hate to say this, but you write as if you are an angst-ridden, spoiled teenager. Hmm, maybe there is somewhere you can work...
(Oh yeah, they won't notice your grammatical errors, either.)

[dalziel_86]

The scariest thing in the world is when the pessimistic predictions you make start coming true.

The world of the future really *will* be dominated by l33t-speaking munchkins who wouldn't recognise the English language if it came up behind them in a dark alley and thumped them with a lump of two-by-four. :)

And yes, I ran this through Word's spell-checker to save myself *some* embarrassment. :D