WritingThoughts

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If you’re thinking of becoming a freelancer, it can be hard to know exactly where to start.

That’s where The Freelancer’s Bible by Sara Horowitz with Toni Sciarra Poynter comes in. Not long ago I received a review copy of the book.

Now that I’ve had a chance to look at the book, I’d like to share my thoughts.

First of all, let me make it clear that, although I received a copy of the book to review, my opinion here is my own and was not influenced in any way.

Now that the disclosures are out of the way, it’s time to get on with the review.

About the Authors and Freelancers Union

One of the things that really sparked my interest is where the book is coming from. It’s coming from the founder of the Freelancers Union. The Freelancers Union is a good resource for freelancing news and information. You can find their blog here. It stands to reason that their book might also be a good resource.

What You’ll Find Inside

When I opened the book, I was not disappointed.

The Freelancer’s Bible is highly readable, with many examples and interactive elements such as quizzes and checklists. Most of the advice here is relevant and easy to implement. But be aware, there is a lot here and you probably won’t absorb it all at once.

The main body of the book arranged in five logical sections (which are almost mini-books in and of themselves). The sections are as follows:

• Part 1: Getting Started–New freelancers in particular will want to pay attention to this section, which includes a step-by-step guide for getting started, advice on setting up a freelance office, and building a portfolio.
• Part 2: Getting Work–This section addresses one the biggest challenges that most freelancers face. It’s also a topic where bad advice could really harm a freelancer’s business. I was pleased to find that the advice here is competent and realistic.
• Part 3: Growing Your Business–This was the section that I found to be most interesting simply because this is what I currently need. The section could also be called advanced marketing and networking tips because that describes a lot of what is discussed here. It also touches on business structure and passive income.
• Part 4: Managing Your Business–Freelancers at every level need to learn how to organize their business, and this is the section that shows them how to do it. U.S. freelancers will want to pay close attention to the section on taxes.
• Part 5: Your Business and Your Community–This is the section that deals with life balance, which is a struggle for freelancers and non-freelancers alike. It also covers some financial concerns and ends with a description of the Freelancers Union.

The Bottom Line

While not everything in the book is applicable to my specific situation, there’s plenty of well-researched information here. This is a great resource for every freelance writer to have.

Have you read The Freelancer’s Bible too? What did you think?