Expert Interviews

Work as You Please

Name: Julie-Ann Amos smarterwork Expert in: Writing & Editing, Business Consulting, Document Production, Net Research Based in: London, UK Freelance since: 1992 (part-time)

smarterwork: How did your freelance writing career come about?

Julie-Ann Amos: I went freelance whilst working full time, which kept me busy! An agent was looking for authors for a publisher and my name "came up". I wrote my first four books whilst working full time. Now I work part-time as Head of Human Resources for an investment bank, and freelance the rest of my time. One day I might go freelance full time, but for now I enjoy the flexibility of a little bit of both worlds.

SW: Do you find the Internet helps you for your work?

JA: I use the Internet extensively for research. Quite frankly, I can write intelligently about just about any subject now, given time to do my research and assimilate it. In fact, sometimes I get so distracting with learning new information I get behind in the actual writing!

SW: What is the market like for freelance writers these days? Is it possible to make a decent living from it?

JA: You can definitely make a modest living. Personally I prefer to do small, short projects which give me a massive variety than research and write long papers, but I will do both. I do find I sometimes do a project at a low fee because it is interesting and attracts me, perhaps it’s a challenge to find the material. I don’t think I’ll ever make my fortune, but I make enough to live, pay the bills and do pretty much what I want in life.

SW: What do you think of smarterwork? How does it compare to more traditional ways of working with clients?

JA: smarterwork is a gift! I’m unusual in that I can’t be bothered with marketing and fishing for business – I feel it makes me feel a bit desperate! I like the system where you pick your price and some projects you get, some you lose. I sometimes look at the bids and am amazed why people work for so little, but I started out with low fees to gain a reputation. I have found all the Clients without exception nice and pleasant to deal with.

SW: Could you tell us a few words about some of the projects you worked on at smarterwork?

JA: I have done quite a few Web page texts – my style is quite clear and easy to follow, so it’s well-suited to this. I have also done work as complex as research papers for Universities. My favourite projects are either Web pages, as they’re short and I get satisfaction from completing a piece of work; or research. These are great fun! I spent weeks researching the financing of the Eurotunnel at one stage, and it was so fascinating I bought a book on the subject afterwards.

SW: Do you think the Internet is affecting working habits in areas other than journalism?

JA: Yes. I use it for translation work as a Client, and I would also consider sub-contracting legal work via the internet. In fact, I’m just getting a new mortgage, so you may see me online as a Client looking for a UK lawyer to do my conveyancing!

SW: Do you have any advice for people thinking of setting up as freelance journalists?

JA: Start small. Small projects you know you can deliver, small fees to get the work, because work = experience and reputation (i.e. feedback scores!). And don’t be afraid to try a bid if you’re not sure – be honest and say "I don’t know for sure but I think I can find out". One of my best clients I found in this way – he had only 2 bids, and I told him that if he didn’t mind a little advice from an expert, I thought it was because people were afraid of failing on the project, which was a particularly tough one. I agreed to have a go and reduce or waive the fee if I failed, because I wanted to see if I could do it for the challenge. He’s now one of my best clients, as I say. If you’re honest and up-front with clients they’re very helpful, I have found. And finally, just keep trying. I’ve nearly not bid when there were dozens of bids on a project, as I thought I wouldn’t stand a chance. Then I bid on the spur of the moment only to win the project. Persistence pays off eventually.

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