Right, so, I'm starting out on my freelance career, and one of my biggest problems I have is self-promotion. I just want to write, not go into sales, but that doesn't mean I can't promote or market - I have experience with that, I'm just, uhm, kind of nervous about doing it for myself.
So, to the end that I'm working toward building a professional portfolio and all I have are articles I wrote for the little newspaper I worked for, would any individuals who are more familiar with the business than I am (I'm green; I admit it, but I'm willing to learn) have an idea on a first step?
Besides writing, obviously.
But, for instance, is a website a good idea? Not to mention, my name is a) common, and b) boring, so since I'm starting out, I'd imagine NOW is the time to make a decision about a nom de plume.
Any feedback would be very helpful.
Thanks in advance!

Hi, Erevmore and welcome to WriteWords

When you say 'Freelance career' what sort of thing are you writing? Magazine/newpaper articles? If you mean writing novels, then self-promotion is not necessary at this stage - not until you are a published author.
Self promotion is difficult for a lot of writers who are natural born introverts. A website where you can blog is one step - and bear in mind that magazine editors/novel agents are likely to check your blog at some point (ie, if you are submitting work to them which they are interested in - bear in mind they don't normally trawl the internet for interesting blogs), so it's best not to come across as too controvercial or weird in your blog posts, but still keep it interesting and well written.
Good luck.


- NaomiM

Erevmore, I was wondering the same thing as Naomi about your question. But if it helps, I've been a freelance journo for years and am very happy to help with advice if you want to WWmail me.

well, though I am a closet novelist, I am interested in trying to support myself through writing, and I recognize that there are a number of freelance venues available - for instance, copywriting, article, travel writing, etc.
I'm currently trying to decide which area I could research and enjoy the most; at heart, I'm a fiction writer. I love short stories and (obviously) novels, but I also want, at least, to start building a respectable portfolio so that, when I finish my novel, I will not be a total unknown.
Right now I'm in need of writing credentials beyond the few articles I did for our local paper. Additionally, practice never hurt anyone!
I have a few articles I'm working on, but I've also seriously considered the other two possibilities - copywriting and travel writing. However, I feel like a) copywriting is fundamentally soulless, and b) travel writing can, ah, potentially subvert my inner critic if I start being sent 'free' tickets to places that want me to review them favorably. I have a few travel stories of my own, but haven't decided where to place them.
Yes, I am going to state, blatantly and unashamedly, that I am a fledgling.
I've been writing all my life, but I place myself in the "beginner" category.
Anyhow, I hope that helps to clarify. I'm a novelist, but I want to also make a living and have some extra practice where someone will read my work from a more objective, and if necessary, crueler viewpoint than my immediate acquaintances.

I would say a website is a must, and one you can update often and quickly, keeping it fresh with a blog section and a couple of recent pieces, and so on. It's the first place everyone thinking about commissioning/using/publishing you will look. You could have a look here:

http://www.pedalo.co.uk/pages/content/index.asp?PageID=67

for a Cook's Tour of the possibilities and to gather some ideas, as they have all sorts of clients.

I'm not a journalist, and there'll be others on WW who know much more how it might work for you than I do. But although I know fiction writers who find journalism and related things dovetail very nicely with their fiction-writing, I know others who find the constant deadlines (not to mention travelling) and pressure always to take work offered, for the sake of future work as well as present finances, really make it hard to take the calm, long-term time out to write fiction. Which isn't to say that you shouldn't, only that it's worth thinking about which kind of writer you think you might be...

I would also say that it's by no means essential to have this kind of background in order to get a novel published. Fundamentally, unless you're incredibly famous personally, your novel will be published if it's what a publisher wants, and not if it isn't. It does no harm that they'll know you're used to writing professionally and so on, but it's certainly not the important thing.

Best of luck with it, anyway.

Emma

I want to thank everyone so far for their insights - just another reason I love writewords! This is very helpful.