Freelancer's Job Title

I can usually spot the other early career freelancers by their title. Yep, the double or triple monikers stand out in the marketplace.
About a year ago, this national higher education news pub's regional correspondent, also a jazz magazine editor, my supervisor at the time, joked about the dubious use of a virgule in my professional title. In an attempt at brevity, I marketed as not only a writer but also a slash editor.
After a laugh at myself, I've since clarified the title. Now, it reads Writer and Editor.
Marketing as both, I think, is a weak strategy. The generalization diffuses my specific skills, but a single title would disguise my overall publishing experience; therefore, my worth. What's a freelancer to do when even this popular Web networking brand prompts writing and editing as a primary expertise?
My most successful, read paying, gigs come from marketing as a specialist, a proofreader. A more accurate title, one that addresses all of the skills I bring to a job, yields fewer gigs. Maybe it yields fewer because the employer sees dollar signs muting all that marketed skill. Any strategic advice?
Freelancers, hold firm your rates. Get accurate job estimates. We educate employers by setting premium rates on our service or services as marketed.

Pop quiz: naturally-occurring substances, correct or incorrect?

Today and Tomorrow

Tomorrow I'm at this water quality compliance pamphleteer for an assignment of unknown duration.
Today, I proofread for this diabetes research clinic and educator.
I like the material at both companies. That makes it fun.
That's all from Latent Print today.
Stay tuned for future posts What is Proofreading? and Job Title Trends of the Self-Employed.

E-Corrigendum

Thanks to Latent reader Cooke, my dad, who's called attention to a misspelling in a previous post. The misspelled word is relates.
Latent Print regrets the error.

Blogger Gets Busy

Okay, lots of activity to report from Latent Print.
Can we do it as a list? Sure, we can do it as a list.
1. A story idea this morning for a local, weekly magazine column I thought was beyond my expertise. The rationale for my return East, you can read something about it here, has been on my mind. A first-person relationship reflection in the Sunday paper seems like a natural forum for this. Dontcha think? Stay tuned, it's all good, uplifting, perhaps. Sounds like a crossword clue.
2. An on-site assignment for next week in today from a rep at this creative agency popular with Latent Print. The rep says, "It is so nice to have clients specifically ask for you back. You always do an excellent job and we appreciate it more than you know." No, thank you.
3. I'm eager to apply for this local radio station's Production Assistant gig on the morning news broadcast. The job runs 4-noon. Bargaining my sanity or independent schedule? I'll let you know.
4. From the sales patriarch at Seattle wine-gift company I learned that boozing on the job is a disease, Punjabi snacks and sweets are delicious, and no eventually means yes. The advice realtes relates to a rejection e-mail earlier this week from this freelance proofreading prospect. The e-mail reads, "We are currently all set" ... to hire me later? Prospecting follow-up scheduled. Ever grateful for the training, Vasantji.
5. And, today, I responded to a craigslist ad to write for this travel blog brand branching to New England. Let's see. Frequent traveler, loves people and places, adventure and relaxation, I'm fit for it.

Finally, thanks for encouraging words from Susan and Cooke Harvey.

Adventure pic of me courtesy Jeremy Luscher, hosted by Eric London.

Sidewalk Rubber Band

At the rate postal carriers dispose of rubber bands in this town, I could have office supplies for a month.
Smile!

Fledgling Freelancer's Flight

A Western area code appears. Paul. His pitch takes the informed approach.
"So, how'd you like Native Son?" he asks.
I tell him, yet subscription at my former neighborhood's Tony Award-winning theater remains impossible.
I introduced myself to Paul Harding at the 2006 Earshot Jazz volunteer party in the private lofts at this Seattle club and bar. Months prior, I saw him do his spoken word thing with musicians Joe McPhee and Mike Bisio at this Ballard bar.
On the phone, at first, he doesn't recall that we've met. After a moment's chat about writing, jazz, the East Coast, I relate the uncanny call as reality check.
"Okay. I'm gonna make some money now," he says. We hang up.
So far, making due with freelance work in Boston isn't going well. Plan B comprises creditors—an apt term for the card that put me through this professional certification program, not so, the support from loved ones—or an inquiry at the nearby florist shop or cafe-cum-pizza parlor.
Given more time, we hope my portfolio attracts local appeal, and assignments come in as for this local freelancer. Congratulations, Susan, on making the switch to freelancing full-time.

Whose Line is it Anyway?

I'm attracted to the Bildungsroman. The coming-of-age stories serve as existential proof: I am, my narrative is not, unique. (Your reflections on Jante's Law?)
This Boston Globe review of essays by DeWitt Henry suggests similarity in Henry's narrative and that of Latent Print. However, in the review we learn that Henry perseveres. "Henry describes how he improvised a life," we're told.
Improvised? A dubious reduction of the coming-of-age narrative. The proper demi-glace intimates why one cooks at all.
I hope Henry's account of founding Ploughshares smacks of something grander.
I'll add the Emerson professor's book to my queue at the local library.

Your Resume Will Remain on File

With 22 applications out there and only hits from this agency since January, I figure something is wrong with my approach. Make something of these phrases: "Nothing wrong with your personality," and "more senior level," and "keep you in mind."
Some applications are for non-existent posts at target companies, say, proofreading marketing collateral at this fast-casual joint or this major marketing firm, for example. Freelancers have to prospect. Hmmm, remind me to make those follow up calls next week.
Since the authors of advertised job posts, for which I am amply qualified, return nada by way of my submitted applications, I send for help.
I start with a resume consultation. This results in a resume redesign here that I offer up for critique—thanks all.

Chicago 18.57, 18.69–18.85

Not familiar with stylebook verse? The numbers translate thus: alphabetizing personal names in letter-by-letter style—thousands of names. A biblical task guided by secular text.
As I scroll Arabic al-s, Asian romanizations, Spanish and Latin American unhyphenated couplings, Mc-somethings and O'whats it's, names become fates. What if I incorrectly apply Chicago treatment to the child of an influential indexing expert?
Thankfully, the maxims of proofreading and copyediting ne'er are wrote.
A fascinating project. Congratulations graduates.
Today, I celebrate new membership in this Boston writing organization, submit this draft, and join friends at this Porter Square pub before squeezing in to this Porter Square bookstore for a Meredith Hall reading recommended by my friend and fiction writer Megan Bedford.

Conde Nast's New Wired Style

News is in from an unlikely source for Latent Print. Wired plans to publish an updated stylebook. Read the original post here.
The original Constance Hale edition provides lessons in staying relevant in a growing digital world—valuable for proofreaders and copy editors clutching AP or Chicago.
I turned to Wired Style on assignment when the exec. asst. asked me if I would capitalize C-level, as in senior-level employee, ya know, the chief. With no guidance from Wired, I suggested she reword it. No dice. Too many uses already in the doc.
My survey of this Conde Nast business pub. reveals C-Level in heading case and C-level in doc text; at Forbes, ditto, though they sometimes tie their execs. to the office, C-suite occupants. I thought business happened on the links.
The new Wired Style can't come soon enough.
Anyone know of the first occurance of C-level?

Pajama Workers in the Minority

Though Catherine Price's self-employment service piece offers helpful insights—my comments—perhaps Salon eds. should exercise a heavier hand. I appreciate personality in a lede, but reject the author’s characterization of the self-employed. The coffee-shop-cool-freelancer-with-cubicle-disdain notion belies the reality of self-employment.
Under that characterization, my resume appears both unattractive, to prospective staff employers who assume freelancers are alike, and attractive, to agencies searching for mercenaries.
Looking ahead at working 40–50 years, I see employment as a one-assignment-at-a-time evolution of my skills and my self. In this projection a staff job, cubicle or no, and self-employment receive equal measure. In either case, I work in clothes, not pajamas.

Related gripes: I enjoy my local, hipster cafe, but I could never bring my office there—they charge for wireless—let alone concentrate if I tried.

Competition I

Can an experienced, twentysomething freelancer stand apart in this town?

To whom it may concern:
So, I'm applying to this job that my BFF sent me on Facebook. I'd be like totally perfect for it!
I get grate grades and finish my internship later this month. Going to school and slaving in an office for Pnuts at my internship has been totally bananas, but I'm like totally a better person for it! With my real-world experience, I'll totally help your company make more money then Steve Jobs. Love my MacBook, go Steve;)
So, I'm an expert at all things related to the job. Steve Carell has totally taught me everying I need to know about tolerating jerks at work. BTW, Jim is sooooo cute. I'm efficient, do what I'm told, and won't erupt the bosses good ideas. Like I've totally payed my dues and m ready to start work in a high-powered, entry-level position for $60,000 a year.
I've attached my resume to this email. You could reply to this email to interview me, but its just totally easier if we just do it over IM. Or, do you Skype? So, I'll hear from u later this week, right? I graduate soon and I totally need to know if I have a job before my parents get here for commencement.
U totally won't regret hiring me, like, I'm a total whiz.
Ciao,
Boston Applicant

Back Pocket

What a line. “My motivation isn’t completely altruistic.”
Permanently working for free loomed after the few months volunteering as the member magazine's assistant editor. I wish I could have told him, also a frequent volunteer, then that I’d certainly be around a while, but returning East was inevitable. The director and I continued Thai lunch.
I don’t have the courage to list here the reasons I’m fond of my past experiences there. Even though the magazine can’t pay me a lot now, I’m happy to work with them again.
I pitched service as regional correspondent. The new ed. assigned me a profile and concert preview story on former Seattleite and musician Kendra Shank.
I send the piece in early next week after a phone interview and trip to the NYC-based singer’s brunch gig here with Francois Moutin, bass, and John Stowall, guitar; I’ll record temporary travel expenses on 2008’s Schedule C. (Lessons on filing quarterly some other time.)
With this clip, I'll pitch national jazz pubs on the jazz org's upcoming 20th fest.

Also, with disagreeable times now past, that agency called yesterday with a short freelance proofreading assignment for next week. I can't wait to do good work for us both.

Someone to Talk To

I behave politely, despite his presumption. His influence lands his ilk a Latent Print post. Conspiracy theorists score one point. Believe whatever you want.
On the walk to deposit my check I pause in this square, where couples share ice cream in the sun and geriatric prater mingles with diesel backfires and a stubbled busker’s tenor. Hovering in the candid scene produces a satisfaction. I'm content to remain anonymous, to continue working alone among the gatherers.
As a freelancer, I do sometimes crave conversation. Do I appear receptive, I wonder, somehow approachable?
I can't quote the camera-wielding proselytizer. While he spoke, I was silently excusing his cause. I just thought he was going to ask me to take his photograph.

Prospecting

Thanks to my girlfriend's office survey, I have a new job board to search for freelance work. The tip comes from a copywriter there.
Thanks to you both.

Insurance

Musician Andrew D'Angelo's recent misfortune and this state's mandate—not to mention the behest of my dad—prompt me to end my gamble with health and finances.
I start individual health care policy research here. The site leads me to useful pdfs of coverage comparisons. I navigate on my own to find each of the six provider's unsavory premiums and limited-network emergency coverage.
Though health care misgivings are not unique to Massachusetts, the state's coverage mandate presently is. It's perhaps the reason why moving to the Commonwealth ruptured any benefit from my professional group's health care discount. I'm waiting to hear back now about one company's self-employment rate. If I get this settled by next week, I can visit a doctor by next month.
Healthy, uninsured, and self-employed in Mass, I offer this post on Latent Print as case study.

Opposing Morbidity

Today passed as many others.
I deleted e-mail job alerts. I drank coffee. I read my daily aggregate of media-news headlines, where this story about a presently two-paper town with a history of print competion comes as no surprise among the trend of eschatological reportings on the troubled industry.
Papers fold; bloggers die of heartattacks; attrition might be less severe among catalog proofreaders here or catalog copywriters here—the two applications I sent out today.

Photo by Justin Gove

Freelancer's Bill of Rights

The ol' bureaucratic-hierarchy excuse.
I'm not casting blame. Nursing mailbox malcontent, yet to call, I've exerted minimal pressure on them to fill the invoice.
Today, via e-mail reply, my assignment editor bought time: "As of Thursday your check was cut but waiting to be signed."
Sheesh, can someone get payroll a rubber stamp already.

Genesis

I denied Friday's agency assignment. By the client's calculation, proofreading the 50–60-page marketing proposal was a 1pm–5pm job. The agency rep noticed that I sounded hesitant.
I reported that despite the improbable estimate—even 10 pp/hr would not satisfy the four-hour window—I was up for the challenge.
When the rep announced a pay rate below my stated minimum, we hit the brakes. Mutual apologies followed a swift exchange about margins; the job and my updated profile dissolved into their database.
Instead of facing Friday-afternoon on-site abandonment, I created Latent Print.

Mug

Greetings from Latent Print, a blog by an independent writer, editor, and proofreader about being intermittently employed. I'll post each workday about assignments, colleagues, or diversions from permanent employ. Welcome cybersleuths. I hope to hear from you.