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One of my all-time favorite people has penned a book for freelancers. James Chartrand and Mason Hipp have collaborated to create a guide to help you release your freelance potential, and I couldn’t be more excited. Not just because this book has two fantastic authors, either. This project has heart.

The Unlimited Freelancer: The Book and the Dream

According to the promo page,The Unlimited Freelancer is a how-to guide for anyone who has experienced that point where your dreams of freelance freedom meet the hard reality of a freelance life. Hipp and Chartrand walk you through how to make more money, avoid common freelancing mistakes, and how to save time by working smarter, not harder.

This advice comes from two of the best freelancers in the writing business, written by two who know what a roller coaster freelancing can be. The words are flung directly from the trenches of the freelance writing desk to the pages of The Unlimited Freelancer. James and Mason know what you’re struggling with; they’ve been there themselves, building a successful business with a shoestring, a dream, and a prayer.

The book releases January 14th, in both e-format first and a print edition later. You can sign up now to receive advanced notification of The Unlimited Freelancer news and get a free copy of “Why Some Freelancers Thrive and Others Barely Survive” to keep you busy until your copy arrives.

A big Blue Duck Congrats goes out to both Mason and James on creating such a timely, constructive, and heartfelt guide for those with the guts to chase down their dreams. The Unlimited Freelancer just pushed its way to the top of my required reading list week. Thanks guys for sharing your cookies with the rest of us.

“Pick your gigs wisely, and with integrity. Don’t whore yourself out for a fast buck.”
written by Bob Younce

In a recent post on Freelance Folder, Bob reminds us that conducting business with integrity is an admirable quality.  When I first began writing, I took every single job that came through the door. (Hey, I needed the money and the experience.) For awhile nothing I wrote clashed with my personal code of business ethics, but eventually I was asked if I would write adult content and/or misleading sales copy. The answer to both was a resounding, “No thank you.”

I could have accepted the jobs. After all, my name would not appear with the content, nor would my business be linked to the clients’ websites. Who would know? Well, I would. I have nothing against the writer who did accept these jobs, in fact, I recommended him, but my personal code of ethics is to only do during the day what I can live with at night. If my conscience won’t let me sleep, it’s not worth it. Do I always follow my own advice? Of course not. Sometimes I have to beat my head against the wall until it’s bloody to learn a lesson. Occasionally I just seem bent on torturing myself for no apparent reason.

Change Your World for the Better

“One of the sad facts of the Internet is that the vast digital landscape is frequently marred with all sorts of substandard work. There is a case to be made, for example, that most Internet content would never make it past the editorial gatekeepers of the print world. I won’t discuss the merits of that argument here, but I will say there’s plenty of crap online. If it bothers you like it does me, the best way to fix it is starting with your own commitment to standards and to quality.” -Tom Chandler

One of my pet peeves is crap content producers. These writers churn out scum-sucking content faster than a team of professional dumpster divers. Their keyword-stuffed, incoherent articles clog the Internet and frustrate all of us. Now, there is quite a bit of terrific content on the Web, but sometimes it’s hard to find when wading through the muck.

I like Tom’s challenge to each of us to take an honest look at our own content and see what could be improved. (That’s partly why I will be interviewing the Net’s Top Bloggers to Pick their Brains about how they improve their writing!) My own writing is constantly in a process of change, hopefully for the better.

Making a Difference

“if you want to make a difference with your business, you need to see the larger picture. You need to figure out what the positive change you wish to effect on your world is, and then work towards it.”- Tom Chandler

Making a difference may not seem like a viable business goal, but on the Internet, it’s surprisingly easy. If you gather a following of loyal readers who come together to socialize, share, and grow together (like Men With Pens), you’ve made a difference. If you help fledgling writers or business owners along their journey, you’ve made a difference. If you help support the writing community, or help raise the standards of online work, you’ve made a difference. Let me ask you, how are you making a difference?

Thanks to Tom for the inspiring post. It stimulated me to think deep and evaluate my own content. Change is a good thing.

PS. If you want a feel-good story about how blogging can make a difference in someone’s life, watch this YouTube video. 

Glenda’s Story

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajqq9bHomn8[/youtube]