What do Parents Want to See in a Freelance Writing Guide?

Ok, today's blog post is a bit different to what I normally do. I need YOUR help to gather some data and I need YOU if you are one of the following:

• a stay at home mom
• stay at home dad
• working part time parent
• working full time parent who wants to switch careers
• a parent who is eager for new challenges

Here's what I need to know. I am conducting research for a book about starting a freelancing home based business while looking after the children and home. As a freelancer who started up because I couldn't afford to go back to work after having a baby (due to the extortionate childcare costs), this home business makes perfect sense to me and allows me to look after my baby while earning (a lot!) money.

How many of you out there would find this type of information useful as a book and what specific information if any would you like to see in it? What worries you and what irks you? If you were to buy a book on freelancing from home, what would you expect and want to see in a book like that?

This is really important because I want to address YOUR concerns as a parent so that the book I write is not only very useful and will take you from zero to successful in very little time, but will also provide practical help and advice about raising your children and finding the time.


You can either comment on this post, or you can send your comments to: arfawrites@hotmail.com

Thank you for taking the time to respond, and all comments would be very much appreciated.

Make the Most of Your Chambers Directory

One of the most effective tools I found for doing my research when freelancing was non other than the Chamber of Commerce Directory book. Stuffed full of every local business opportunity and hence freelance writing work, it's the one place I go to repeatedly to do my mailing shoots and contact people.

You could also use the local Yellow Pages, but call me weird when I say that I like the colouful pages of the Chambers Directory. And the hotspots? Think media agencies, PR firms, consulting, academia and healthcare.

In fact, ALL businesses can ideally be approached for work and as your work piles on, you will find you get repeated work and recomendations from your clients. Word gets around when there is a good freelance writer around, and to be honest, they are worth their weight in gold.

As one college administrator told me: 'We simply don't have enough staff or enough hours in the day to get this type of work done.' Bingo! Take advantage of this and you hit the jackpot each and every time.