Webinar: The Freelancer Starter Kit
This is the Canadian Freelance Guild’s biggest event ever with six panelists and a moderator with a broad range of freelance skills, expertise, and experience: writers, authors, teachers, journalists, marketers, a magazine editor, a publisher, and an audio-video producer.
They’re gathering for a weekend workshop to show you what’s in the Freelancer Starter Kit: the basics you need to get a freelance career underway and keep it going.
Whether you’re thinking about a slow rollout or jumping in with both feet, someone here has been there, done that, and has either the T-shirt or the scars to prove it.
Our Presenters
- Mark Kearney, Author and Academic
- Jaclyn Law, Writer and Editor
- Caroline Topperman, Writer and Publisher
- Julie Barlow, Author and Journalist
- Robyn Roste, Author and Marketer
- Mihika Agarwal, Freelance Journalist
CFG Experts Workshop – The Freelancer Starter Kit
- Online: Saturday, November 30, 2024
- 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern Time
- Free for CFG members; $5 for CMG, PMWG, TNG-CWA, CWA Canada Associates, and CBC Pensioners Association Members, $10 for FBCW, PMWG, SATW Canada, SCWES, TMAC, WFNB, WFNS, CFWF, CCFC members, and $20 for members of the general public
You can register for this webinar right here.
Learn more about the cost and benefits of membership in the CFG on this webpage.
The link to the Zoom webinar will be sent to you via email about half an hour before the start time.
Please check your spam or junk folders if you can’t find the email, and contact organizer@canadianfreelanceguild.ca if you haven’t received the link 10 minutes before the scheduled start time. This webinar will be recorded and posted to the CFG Video-On-Demand site. Once posted, all paid registrants will receive a link and instructions on how to view.
Beyond the Employee Mindset: Julie Barlow on the Art of Going Solo
In November 2024, Crystal Fletcher, president of All About Canadian Books (AACB) spoke with Julie Barlow, author of Going Solo: Everything You Need to Start Your Business and Succeed as Your Own Boss about being a self-employed writer. Below is a summary of their discussion.
From negotiating with difficult clients to crafting a marketing strategy, this veteran freelancer shares hard-won wisdom from three decades in the trenches of self-employment.
For many writers and creative professionals, the leap from traditional employment to freelancing feels like jumping off a cliff with a parachute you’ve never tested. Will it open? Will you soar—or crash spectacularly?
In a recent CFG Books author interview, host Crystal Fletcher sat down with Julie Barlow, co-author of “Going Solo: Everything You Need to Start Your Business and Succeed as Your Own Boss,” to unpack the psychological, practical, and financial realities of self-employment. With eight books to her name, including the international bestseller “60 Million Frenchmen Can’t Be Wrong,” and a three-decade career spanning magazine writing, translation, and documentary work, Barlow brings a wealth of experience to those navigating the treacherous but rewarding waters of freelance life.
Finding Your Way to Self-Employment
Unlike entrepreneurs who’ve been launching lemonade stands since age seven, Barlow didn’t grow up with self-employment on her radar. Coming from a middle-class, working-class family, the path to freelancing was less about following a childhood dream and more about adapting to economic realities.
“The truthful answer is, it wasn’t really on my ideas either,” Barlow admitted. “I came of age and finished my university studies at a time where the unemployment rate was very, very high. I wanted to work in writing, and I really didn’t have any other options.”
This pragmatic origin story might comfort those who didn’t grow up with entrepreneurial aspirations yet find themselves considering the freelance path. Sometimes circumstances, rather than burning passion, guide us toward self-employment—and that’s perfectly fine.
“I learned later that my father indeed had sort of spotted me as somebody who would probably run her own business someday,” she shared. “As time went on, I realized that I definitely had the stuff for it. The people who last as self-employed workers, it’s because they’ve got the stuff, but sometimes you don’t really discover that until you’re in the process of it.”
Her journey from reluctant freelancer to successful author and entrepreneur led to creating “Going Solo,” which began as a translation of her husband Jean-Benoît Nadeau’s French-language guide for self-employed workers. Originally published decades ago, the book has become something of a classic in Quebec, and Barlow saw an opportunity to bring these time-tested principles to English-speaking audiences.
“The pandemic project. I realized that I was sitting on some valuable material… that had sold very well for decades. And we were just sitting on it,” she explained. “I had some time on my hands. And so I just started translating it.”
Think Like the Boss (Because You Are)
At the heart of “Going Solo” is one fundamental mindset shift that many freelancers struggle to make: seeing yourself as the boss, not as an employee who happens to work from home.
“The philosophy of the book…is teaching you not to think like an employee,” Barlow emphasized. “It’s very hard for everybody starting out, no matter what business they are. Even from kids who really have a fiber for entrepreneurial stuff—they tend to not see themselves as the boss.”
This employee mindset manifests in countless ways: undervaluing your work, failing to negotiate properly, letting clients dictate unreasonable terms, and feeling guilty about saying “no” to projects that don’t serve your business interests.
The book addresses this psychological barrier while providing practical guidance on everything from creating a business plan to handling taxes and client management—always with the underlying message that you must “be in the driver’s seat.”
The Art of Negotiation (Or How to Never Be Flattered Into Bad Deals)
Perhaps nowhere is the “boss mindset” more crucial than in negotiations. Barlow shared her four golden rules for successful negotiation, starting with the most fundamental: “Everything is negotiable.”
“You have to go into a contract keeping that in mind,” she explained. “You need to take your time. We all hurry too much. We all say yes, too quickly.”
Another critical negotiation principle—particularly relevant for creative professionals—is resisting the siren call of flattery.
“One of the big things to do as a freelancer when you’re negotiating is not listen to people who flatter you,” she warned. “People want to believe as a negotiating tactic that telling you you’re good will make you drop your defenses a little bit. That happens, surprisingly often, part of the whole system of getting people to write because they get exposure.”
Beyond these rules, Barlow emphasized the importance of understanding your client’s actual needs—not just what they initially claim to want.
“I always, always have to know what they expect. And you can spend a lot of time… I think going too quickly in negotiations is really a problem. You need to spend a fair bit of time digging with people and figuring out what it is that they really expect.”
This research phase puts you in a stronger position to adjust your offering to meet their true requirements while commanding appropriate compensation.
Learning to Say No (A Freelancer’s Superpower)
One of the most challenging aspects of freelancing—especially when starting out—is turning down work when every instinct screams that you need income. Yet saying “no” to the wrong clients or projects may be the most important skill for long-term success and sanity.
“It is very hard to say no when you’re starting out,” Barlow acknowledged. “And again, I’m back to the idea that you’re that you feel a bit like an employee, you feel like you’re a little bit have to go along with what people are saying.”
To help reluctant freelancers develop this crucial skill, Barlow shared her list of “ways to say no”—a collection that host Crystal Fletcher called “the list I need!”
Among the more straightforward rejections: “I don’t have time,” “This is not my specialty,” “I don’t do this type of work,” and “The project is not interesting enough.” Others address common freelance pain points: “The deadline is too short,” “The job doesn’t pay enough,” or “The job involves more work than I’m being paid for.”
But the final and most powerful reason to decline work? What Barlow calls “the bomb”: “I don’t like the way you are treating me.”
She revealed that she recently walked away from a potentially lucrative ghostwriting contract for exactly this reason. “I truly didn’t like the way I was being treated. And I walked out on it.”
While acknowledging the difficulty of turning down work, especially early in your career, Barlow emphasized that it becomes easier with experience: “It’s harder when you’re younger, but I think it’s good to learn it when you’re starting out. I think it’s good to heed your instinct and watch out for those points where it’s really not in your interest.”
Red Flags: Spotting Bad Clients Before They Ruin Your Life
Bad clients are a universal freelance experience, but Barlow offered practical advice for identifying warning signs before you’re in too deep.
“Prevention is the best medicine,” she emphasized. “If you have a bad feeling about somebody, because they don’t really seem to understand the deadline, or how long it takes to work…it’s a red light.”
Other danger signals include vague language like “let’s see how things go” rather than clear conditions, excessive jargon or “fancy talk,” and the previously mentioned red flag of flattery.
“The golden rule of dealing with bad clients is to get everything in writing,” Barlow stressed. Whether through formal contracts or detailed email exchanges, documenting expectations provides protection if things go sideways.
She also warned against letting professional relationships become too casual: “People sometimes will want to get casual as, again, as a negotiating technique, you know, to sort of wear your barriers down… It’s important to always just keep things very professional.”
When Barlow shared a recent experience with a ghostwriting client who repeatedly refused to sign a contract while using flattery and fancy talk, it illustrated how even seasoned professionals can initially miss warning signs. “I still get caught up in this thing. And I’m at somebody’s disposal a little bit… and then I step back to my self-employed entrepreneur self and I got the heck out of there.”
Finding Clients in the Digital Age
In today’s interconnected world, client acquisition strategies must blend traditional networking with digital approaches. For Barlow, LinkedIn has become a primary channel for connection.
“A lot of the way I find new clients now is being very present on LinkedIn,” she explained. “People reach out to me, or I reach out directly to them as they come up.”
Barlow posts about three times weekly on LinkedIn, sharing content related to freelancing and self-employment. Rather than spending hours crafting original content, she uses Google Alerts to find interesting articles and resources to share, making the process manageable amidst her other work.
She’s also embraced virtual networking: “I meet people and I set up coffees. I had a virtual coffee with somebody last week…someone I didn’t know, someone who’d seen my posts and was interested in what I was doing and set up a coffee.”
These digital connections complement traditional networking, creating a more diverse client acquisition strategy that isn’t dependent on physical location. “It makes it really easy to talk to people more or less in person, who aren’t in my city.”
For writers specifically, Barlow emphasized leveraging writing skills in outreach: “As writers, we are less incentive to pick up the phone and find clients, much more incentive to write emails to clients. We can draw on our skills, we’re convincing, that’s what we do.”
Breaking the Time-Money Connection
Perhaps the most counterintuitive insight Barlow shared relates to the relationship between hours worked and income earned—specifically, that they don’t have to be directly proportional. As she notes in “Going Solo,” “a self-employed worker who earns $250,000 a year doesn’t work 10 times more than someone who earns $25,000.”
“An employee will think that if they want to earn 10 more, they tend to get a job that pays better, but also work a lot more,” Barlow explained. “The key to being self-employed in the entrepreneurial part of being self-employed is identifying the potential that you have to make more money with what you’ve got.”
This approach requires thinking strategically about intellectual property and revenue streams. For instance, the French version of “Going Solo” was “just sitting there” until Barlow recognized its potential value in English. Similarly, her books on French language and culture generated multiple income sources beyond book sales.
“We made a radio show out of it. We’ve been working on and off on a film documentary series that will hopefully someday get filmed. But we’ve been paid in the meantime to do that,” she explained. “That’s the kind of stuff you need to find—stuff that will generate more income without you starting back at scratch all the time. Otherwise, you’re a gig worker.”
This mindset shift—from trading hours for dollars to creating intellectual assets that generate multiple revenue streams—marks the difference between struggling and thriving in self-employment.
Collaboration: Working with Others Without Losing Your Mind
Barlow brings a unique perspective to collaboration, having written several books with her husband Jean-Benoît Nadeau. While acknowledging it’s not for everyone, she extolled the benefits of having a partner in the creative process.
“I think you should always find a way to have second pair of eyes on things,” she advised. “You can become so in love with your research and so close to what you’re producing that you don’t see it anymore. It’s like trying to see faults in your own children.”
Her collaborative process with Nadeau involves shared brainstorming followed by dividing responsibilities: “If we’re writing a book together, we barge and make a plan together really collaboratively, brainstorming and putting the ideas together. Then we tend to split stuff up.”
Rather than one person handling research while the other writes, they each take ownership of different sections. “We just split everything up so that we’re both doing everything. It creates a lot of friction, which brings a lot of good because we really dig into stuff.”
For those who don’t have a writing partner, Barlow suggested joining writing groups that provide similar feedback opportunities: “It’s a great lesson for everybody to go through. We should always be maybe part of some kind of writing group or something where you’re getting feedback from people all the time.”
Psychological Hurdles: Overcoming Mental Blocks to Success
As the interview concluded, Barlow addressed the psychological barriers that often hold freelancers back from achieving their potential.
“We identified three things that typically make it hard for people to sell. One is a belief that they’re small… that they don’t have the experience, and they don’t have what they need to sell what they do. And that’s never really true,” she emphasized.
The second barrier is geographical limitation—the belief that you can only serve local clients. “Some of the most interesting work I’ve had has come from strange places and other countries,” she noted, encouraging freelancers to think beyond their immediate region.
The final hurdle is underestimating the work involved in selling. “Sometimes it is hard work. And you shouldn’t think there’s something unusual about having to do a lot of work to sell something,” she said, revealing that her first book proposal took six months to write and another six months to sell.
Despite these challenges, Barlow’s message remained optimistic: “There are a lot of really difficult things about being self-employed, but they’re all manageable… I hope it gives people confidence.”
For freelancers at any stage—from those contemplating the leap to veterans seeking to refine their approach—”Going Solo” offers both practical guidance and psychological reassurance. The path may be challenging, but with the right mindset and tools, it’s a journey worth taking.
As Barlow’s experience demonstrates, success in self-employment isn’t about superhuman abilities or innate entrepreneurial instincts. It’s about learning to think like a boss, understanding your value, setting appropriate boundaries, and creating systems that allow your business—and your life—to thrive on your own terms.
What to Expect On a Press Trip: 8 Tips
This article about what to expect on a press trip is written by Vanessa Chiasson, a freelance writer based in Ottawa who specializes in travel and human interest stories.
When I return from a press trip, everyone is eager to hear what adventures I had during my work as a travel writer.
I’m only too happy to oblige!
I love talking about the time I was taught how to pour a proper pint of Guinness by the company’s head brewmaster in Dublin, that time I flew first class to Istanbul when Turkish Airlines introduced a new connection to Montreal, and the incredible meal I had while sitting on the floor of a meat-smoking room in Swedish Lapland.
This is why I love my job and why so many freelancers are eager to join press trips. They’re incredible opportunities to connect with people, places, and stories you normally couldn’t otherwise access or afford. And, let’s face it, they’re a nice perk of the job.
Then there’s the other side of the experience. There are tough days, disorganized hosts, punishing schedules, and frustrating travel companions. Press trips are exhausting, unforgettable, overwhelming, and occasionally dull, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Here Are 8 Tips for What to Expect On a Press Trip
If you’d like to explore this in your career as a freelancer, this is what you should know about press trips.
1. Press trips (also called FAM or familiarisation trips) are either done with a group or individually.
Group trip itineraries are organized by the hosts who issue the invitation. All expenses are paid, save for personal costs (like souvenirs) and occasional exceptions (alcohol isn’t always included.) You save a lot of time and effort when someone else does all the research and arrangements, but you may be stuck with activities and schedules you don’t love. Group trips usually have a supportive, congenial atmosphere, but you always run the risk of travelling with someone you dislike.
2. Individual trips are generally more flexible and focused on your work and interests.
You are responsible for pitching your trip to the tourism board and researching your itinerary, which takes time and energy. You are always “on” and responsible for everything. Your entire costs might be covered, or you may simply get just a few discounts and meal vouchers, but either way, you can expect some paperwork.
I like a mix of both. I appreciate being around colleagues and not being responsible for the schedule. Still, I also enjoy hitting the open road on my own and being in charge of the music, the coffee breaks, and how much time I want to spend at the museum. Regardless of what kind of press trip you’re on, here are some things that always matter.
3. Discuss expectations.
What do your hosts want in return for hosting you? If you’re a blogger, how many posts are expected? Social media stars must clarify how many videos they’ll produce and when. Freelance writers need to have a discussion about who they hope to pitch. (I’m increasingly asked to confirm media assignments before press trips, which I find impossible as itineraries often change and experiences aren’t as expected. Feel free to tell this to prospective press trip hosts and offer up your portfolio as proof that you deliver). Itineraries and travel tickets should arrive well in advance of a trip. They rarely do. Be patient but firm. You need to know the information in advance to plot possible storylines.
If you must choose between paying for something and getting reimbursed or having the host book and pay, choose the latter. Choosing your own flights might sound more straightforward, but it’s not so much fun when you’re still chasing down reimbursement six months later.
4. Punctuality matters.
Be on time when the van departs. Call ahead when stuck in traffic.
5. Organization matters, too.
Pack light. Bring extra memory cards, backup batteries, power banks, pens, and business cards. Keep receipts in a ziplock bag.
6. Attitude really matters.
Say thank you to your hosts, the waitress, the hotel clerk, and everyone else. Bring cash to tip housekeeping.
7. Press trip food can be funny.
Sometimes, your menu differs from what everyone else has to choose from in the restaurant. It might be a spectacular gourmet tasting menu or a limited offer to keep you within a specific budget. Some press trips come with the expectation of sharing food with everyone at the table. Occasionally, what sounds like a short, simple meal can become exhausting when you’re suddenly joined by the property’s head of sales and the town’s deputy mayor. And every now and then, there’s no food at all. I’ve lost track of the number of times I’ve been on a food tour without food, and I’ve learned to travel with granola bars.
8. Finally, don’t be afraid to speak up and ask for what you need before and during your trip.
If you’d like to photograph a chef or grab drone footage of a farm, let your hosts know. The goal of the trip is to introduce you to the people, places, and experiences you need to pursue a story and good communication is essential to making that happen.
You may also like
- Here’s the Number 1 Secret to Getting Invited on Press Trips
- Live webinar: The Business of Travel Media (January 9, 2025)
Webinar: Are You Year-End Ready?
Love it or hate it, your financial year-end is coming to a close. Getting and staying ahead of this annual business deadline is critical if you want to keep the Canada Revenue Agency off your back.
Our Experts Panel is here to help.
Are You Year-End Ready?
- Online: Thursday, November 21, 2024
- 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern Time
- $5 for CFG members, CMG, CBC and CWA partners; $10 for CFWF, FBCW, SCWES, TMAC, WFNB and WFNS partners; $20 for members of the general public
You can register for this webinar right here.
Learn more about the cost and benefits of membership in the CFG on this webpage.
The link to the Zoom webinar will be sent to you via email about half an hour before the start time.
Please check your spam or junk folders if you can’t find the email, and contact organizer@canadianfreelanceguild.ca if you haven’t received the link 10 minutes before the scheduled start time. This webinar will be recorded and posted to the CFG Video-On-Demand site. Once posted, all paid registrants will receive a link and instructions on how to view.
Questions to help you reflect and plan for 2025
There are all sorts of positive reasons to spend time reflecting on your business, asking questions and planning.
Things like reducing anxiety, improving clarity and encouraging creativity. But making the time to work on your business instead of in your business? Sometimes more difficult than it seems.
A while back I purchased a self-paced digital course and one of the first tasks was to film a three-minute video outlining things like why I was taking the course, where I was at in my freelance business and tasks I was struggling with.
My first instinct was to skip the video and jump into the actual coursework but I did end up quickly recording something and moving on.
Recently, I was cleaning up some digital files and ran across the video so I stopped and watched it. Even though I felt like I hadn’t made as much progress as I had wanted to from the course, once I saw the video I realized I have come a long way. I felt encouraged and motivated to keep going—things I wouldn’t have felt if I hadn’t taken those three minutes to talk about where I was at and where I wanted to go.
If this seems like the kind of thing your freelance business could benefit from, here are some prompts to help you reflect and plan.
Read the rest of this post »
Webinar: Getting Canadian Government Contracts
Governments operate on an April to March budget year. Now is the time to access the largest employer in Canada: the federal government. Provincial and municipal governments can also be lucrative clients. With their tendency to spend whatever is left over in their budgets as the end of March approaches, it’s important to set yourself up as a supplier well in advance.
There is no path to overnight success. Adding any level of government to your client list means understanding what’s involved, and planning ahead.
Getting Canadian Government Contracts
- Online: Thursday, November 7, 2024
- 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time
- $5 for CFG members, CMG, CBC and CWA partners; $10 for CFWF, FBCW, SCWES, TMAC, WFNB and WFNS partners; $20 for members of the general public
You can register for this webinar right here.
Learn more about the cost and benefits of membership in the CFG on this webpage.
The link to the Zoom webinar will be sent to you via email about half an hour before the start time.
Please check your spam or junk folders if you can’t find the email, and contact organizer@canadianfreelanceguild.ca if you haven’t received the link 10 minutes before the scheduled start time. This webinar will be recorded and posted to the CFG Video-On-Demand site. Once posted, all paid registrants will receive a link and instructions on how to view.
Here’s the Number 1 Secret to Getting Invited on Press Trips
This article about getting invited on press trips is written by Vanessa Chiasson, a freelance writer based in Ottawa who specializes in travel and human interest stories.
Have you ever wondered how to get invited on press trips?
Before I embark on any trip as a travel writer, I always hear the same question from family, friends, colleagues, acquaintances, and even near strangers: Do I have room in my luggage for them to tag along?
I understand the jealousy (heck, it’s a big reason I love being a travel writer!), but for my colleagues, there’s no need for it. They can go on press trips themselves! However, many people don’t know how to start this process.
How do you get on lists? What can you do to connect with tourism boards? Can you go on press trips when you aren’t a travel writer?
The primary purpose of a press trip is to allow a journalist to gain access to the people, places, and information they need to pursue a story.
When a tourism board is hosting, the focus is naturally on travel. However, there’s no reason a freelancer specializing in food, wine, small businesses, ecology, weddings and more can’t be a part of them, as the secondary purpose of a press trip is that it allows destinations the chance to push their priorities.
Do they hope to have more newlyweds visiting their fancy hotels for a honeymoon, or are they eager to welcome bus tours to their museums? Are they keen to showcase their region as a fantastic getaway for music lovers, history buffs, or bird watchers? You might just be the kind of freelancer they need.
Here’s the #1 secret for getting invited on press trips from a professional travel writer
The secret to getting on a press trip isn’t how good of a writer or photographer you are.
The secret for getting invited on press trips also doesn’t lie in securing a juicy assignment.
Getting invited on press trips is all about value.
Tourism boards and destination marketing organizations put a lot of time, energy, and resources into hosting journalists. They want to see a return on their investment. What is considered an acceptable return varies tremendously, but there is an easy way to find out. Ask!
If you’re eager to be part of a press trip to Montreal, Lake Placid, or Belize, poke around on the media section of the respective tourism board websites (you’ll often find a tiny link in the footer).
What are they emphasizing? Is it nature? Family adventure? Luxury dining? What kind of stories have they shared online? Are they proudly showing off content about their microbreweries or their historical societies? Do they care about juicy print bylines (great for an established freelancer eager to enjoy more travel)? Are they keen on making a splash online with gorgeous images (perfect for an Insta-famous photographer)? Do they prefer to organize group press trips and send out invitations, or do they host journalists individually and want you to approach them?
Send a letter of introduction and ASK.
How to get started when you’re new to press trips
While there are no hard or fast rules about who to contact first, the easiest and most successful way to start is to connect with the tourism board in your backyard. It all comes back to that value proposition. If you’re just beginning, you’ll unlikely be invited on an all-expenses paid trip to tour Bordeaux’s wineries—unlikely, but not impossible.
However, it’s much more probable that a nearby tourism board is willing to invite you to the opening of a swanky cocktail bar. There’s little risky investment on their behalf. So, do some research.
Who represents your region? Are you dealing with a tourism board or perhaps a PR firm that handles things on their behalf? What are their priorities? Do they have a media list so you get announcements about special events? There are always locally-focused activities (like hotel openings, new food trails, and art exhibitions) packed with home-grown talent, and you should be there!
True, it’s not a full press trip but it’s a hosted travel event and an excellent way to make connections. Don’t be shy about sharing the resulting content you produce, and start building that relationship. Tourism board employees swap recommendations with their colleagues just like we do!
Conferences are another excellent opportunity to connect with the tourism board representatives who host press trips. Some popular options are:
- The Travel Media Association of Canada
- TBEX
- IMM (The International Media Marketplace)
- The Women In Travel Summit
- The Society of American Travel Writers
Registration rules vary from first come, first served to stringent membership requirements. Each conference provides an opportunity for casual networking as well as structured “speed dating”-style appointments. I always prefer conferences, networking events and personal recommendations over lists and social media groups that promise to alert you to press trip opportunities. These can be helpful for understanding the landscape but rarely result in trips.
Finally, don’t take rejection personally. All tourism boards receive more requests for press trip assistance than they can accommodate in any given year. You can do plenty of research and have plenty of value to offer but still be turned down. As freelancers, we know our work is about building relationships with our sources, editors, and publishers. Making the connections needed to get press trip invitations is no different.
Other travel writing articles you may like
- The state of the travel writing industry
- Travel writing tips from writer and editor Jennifer Bain
- Turning Your Holiday into a Travel Writing Opportunity
Webinar: Working the Conference Circuit
Conferences are among the very best resources for freelancers, but only if you take the time to understand the conference circuit and how to put that understanding into practice.
Our experts panel will lead you through the pros and cons of the conference circuit, the ways you can benefit from choosing the right conferences, and how to connect with the various players you’ll need to make your efforts pay off.
Working the Conference Circuit
- Online: Wednesday, October 30, 2024
- 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time
- $5 for CFG members, CMG, CBC and CWA partners; $10 for CFWF, FBCW, SCWES, TMAC, WFNB and WFNS partners; $20 for members of the general public
You can register for this webinar right here.
Learn more about the cost and benefits of membership in the CFG on this webpage.
The link to the Zoom webinar will be sent to you via email about half an hour before the start time.
Please check your spam or junk folders if you can’t find the email, and contact organizer@canadianfreelanceguild.ca if you haven’t received the link 10 minutes before the scheduled start time. This webinar will be recorded and posted to the CFG Video-On-Demand site. Once posted, all paid registrants will receive a link and instructions on how to view.
3 tips for making the most of an overseas conference as a freelancer
This article on making the most of overseas conferences is written by Becky Zimmer who is based in Humboldt, Saskatchewan. She has experience in farm, community, small business and sports reporting.
As someone who has always wanted to travel, the fact that I am now able to go overseas for six wees for a conference as a freelancer is a blessing. But I will not ever assume to be so well-seasoned that I cannot learn from my best laid plans.
I went to Europe with a plan. Now that my Switzerland International Federation of Agricultural Journalists conference is over, I am taking some time to reflect on what I can improve for the next time.
How to make the most of an overseas conference as a freelancer
The best thing about trips like this is not just about what you learn at the conference itself, but the people you meet that make the conference special. Like I did before I left, I was constantly talking with the people in my network during and after the conference.
This is one reason why my schedule was like wet sand—I didn’t know who was available and where I could potentially go and that’s was by design.
I wanted my colleagues from the British Guild of Agricultural Journalists to hook me up with their colleagues at a moment’s notice.
I wanted someone I just met to suggest cool places to see.
I had five days in Devon with a colleague graciously throwing farmers at me left and right. She also tipped me off to a press tour in Edinburgh, where I was able to have supper with a different colleague. Then there was a trip to Northern Ireland and Ireland where two colleagues showed me the ropes of their work within the ag sector—one as a reporter in Belfast and another as a researcher at the University College Dublin.
I’ve realized I’m the worst at just being a tourist, but having local friends to show me cool places and introduce me to interesting people has been the best part of this journey.
Unfortunately, the list of amazing people to talk to got a little overwhelming and it was impossible not to leave people floundering in the throes of my inbox.
However, I know they will understand that organizing yourself after a big conference is both a joy and a pain.
Now that I’m heading home, I’m looking forward to the prospect of helping someone else when they come to Canada.
Tip 1: Be flexible
One of my other plans was to focus on different agriculture topics. I picked five areas I wanted to look into, including topics like rural reporting and community news in different countries, as well as waste reduction or reusability strategies in the ag sector.
As someone who already takes on too much I should have known that this was a far greater workload than I was able to tackle during and after the conference.
Out of all the stories I pitched to editors, only half fit these were subject goals I set for myself while the others were stories of opportunity that have ended up being financially beneficial with much of the work already done during conference tours, for example, interviewing, photos and Q&A sessions.
Next time, I will try to narrow that focus more, but the joy of freelancing is being able to tackle any story that peaks your interest.
Tip 2: Be kind to yourself
How do you work best?
Is a busy reception desk in Belfast with your headphones on the way to go?
Do you need a silent library reading room at the National Library of Scotland to get some editing done?
Can you edit photos as your laptop balances precariously on a train tray table?
You may have to fight for every scrap of work time you get, but set that schedule for yourself, find a place where you can be productive, set your goals for success and go.
On the flip side, enjoy your time of just being a tourist. When you’re touring the Scottish Highlands and reminding yourself that your husband said no touching weird rock formations, looking up at Big Ben from the top of a bus and wondering how much gold he’s made out of or watching Swiss cows graze at 3,000 metres above sea level, don’t take away from the experience by answering emails or arranging meetings with clients.
Let yourself just be in that moment.
That said, keep a notebook handy for potential blog ideas and your camera ready for those inspirational shots that could get your fingers flying later. Write the note, take the picture and then go back to enjoying yourself.
Tip 3: Schedule breaks
Travel isn’t always fun and comfortable. It can be exhausting and painful and you need to give yourself time to recover from that. No work, no tours, no day trips, just time in bed with Netflix and takeout. The only must-have for any well-deserved break is acceptance. Keep the guilt away and let yourself enjoy your Outlander and Thai food in peace.
There is far too much to see and do in one lifetime, let alone a single six-week trip.
Don’t ever beat yourself up for not doing everything you set out to do.
Don’t ever feel like you haven’t done enough.
Have you travelled overseas for a conference and tacked on a vacation? What are your tips for making the most of it?
Webinar: Practical Use Cases For AI
Dr. Nadine Robinson and George Butters are back with another update on the impact of Artificial Intelligence on freelancers, and how we can use these tools safely and effectively to work smarter.
This weekend workshop will focus on practical use cases: routine tasks that can be made easier with help from publicly available chatbots.
You’re bound to find some handy solutions among their tested list of more than 80 use cases for communicators and administrators.
Our Presenters
Dr. Nadine Robinson first learned about ChatGPT from her college students, and works hard to stay one step ahead of them.
George Butters uses multiple bots daily to speed up routine tasks for the Canadian Freelance Guild, and works hard to reign in rogue virtual assistants.
Practical Use Cases for A.I.
- Online: Saturday, October 19, 2024
- 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern Time
- $5 for CFG members, CMG, CBC and CWA partners; $10 for CFWF, FBCW, SCWES, TMAC, WFNB and WFNS partners; $20 for members of the general public
You can register for this webinar right here.
Learn more about the cost and benefits of membership in the CFG on this webpage.
The link to the Zoom webinar will be sent to you via email about half an hour before the start time.
Please check your spam or junk folders if you can’t find the email, and contact organizer@canadianfreelanceguild.ca if you haven’t received the link 10 minutes before the scheduled start time. This webinar will be recorded and posted to the CFG Video-On-Demand site. Once posted, all paid registrants will receive a link and instructions on how to view.
