‘Advice’
The 5-Minute Freelancer Q&A #45 — Becky Zimmer
Becky Zimmer is a freelance writer with experience in farm, community, small business, and sports reporting. Formerly based in Humboldt, Saskatchewan, she now lives in Whitehorse, Yukon.
Outsmarting the Imposter: Freelancers, Doubt and Doing It Anyway
Feeling like you’re faking it—even with solid bylines and clients? You’re not alone. In September 2025, the Canadian Freelance Guild hosted a webinar on Imposter Syndrome and How to Beat It featuring expert panelists John Geary, Vanessa Chiasson, and Kaarina Stiff. A summary of this discussion is below. To view the webinar, you can access […]
The Thrill of the Pivot: When to Dive In and When to Quit
It’s a question circulating on social media and in writers’ conversations everywhere: when is the right time to start offering a new service or explore a new niche? And equally important—when do you know it’s time to call it quits on an experiment that isn’t working?
13 Freelance Traps Creatives Must Avoid to Keep Their Business Running Smoothly
Things got off to a great start when I began my freelance writing career three decades ago. I quickly found myself with enough assignments to keep me busy all week long. I was writing so hard I made a classic freelance error. I forgot to take time out to do “sales,” to pitch ideas and find new clients. When one of my editors changed jobs and another magazine closed, my work dried up overnight and I feared it would never come back….
6 Big Mistakes Freelancers Make on LinkedIn (and How to Fix Them)
This article on LinkedIn tips for freelancers is written by Vanessa Chiasson, a freelance writer based in Ottawa who specializes in travel and human interest stories. Work looks a little different when you’re a media freelancer. Sometimes it looks a lot different! How we use LinkedIn is different too. This is no static platform for […]
AI and the freelance writer in 2025
In 2025, artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a looming force on the horizon. It’s here, embedded in the everyday work of many freelance writers. From content ideation to editing and even pitching, AI is changing how creative professionals work. For freelance writers across Canada, the challenge for most isn’t avoiding AI but learning how […]
How to avoid bad clients: 8 tips for self-employed workers
This article with tips to avoid bad clients is by Julie Barlow and Jean-Benoît Nadeau, authors of GOING SOLO: Everything You Need to Start Your Business and Succeed as Your Own Boss. Every freelancer has clients who don’t pay on time or don’t pay at all. They cook up stories about invoices blowing off their […]
Eight ways to keep things simple for freelance writers
Over three decades as self-employed writers, we have realized that simplifying things is key to keeping our business running smoothly. These eight ideas will help you avoid headaches and keep on top of your ever-growing list of tasks.
16 ways to say no as a freelance writer (and why you would need to)
This article about ways to say no is by Julie Barlow and Jean-Benoît Nadeau, authors of Going Solo: Everything You Need to Start Your Business and Succeed as Your Own Boss. Why would any freelancer ever want to say “no”? All successful self-employed creators know: sometimes you have push back. It’s a big ask for […]
4 Pitch Templates for Freelance Writers
by Robyn Roste Although pitching isn’t the only way freelancers find paid work, it’s an important skill to master. As much as I’ve tried to avoid it over the years, pitching in some way, shape or form is a large component of my freelance business and something I need to continually practice and improve at. Industry […]
