When talent isn't enough: Business basics for the creatively inclined: for creative professionals, including... artists, writers, designers, bloggers, ... to freelance or run their own business

200 Pages·2013·1.16 MB·English

by  Kristen Fischer

“Many talented creatives flop at freelancing because they don’t know how to bid on a project, negotiate
a contract or manage client expectations. Kristen Fischer is on a mission to ensure you don’t become one of
them. By the time you’re done reading this smart, comprehensive guide, you’ll be a lean, mean business
machine.”
—Michelle Goodman, author of
The Anti 9-to-5 Guide and My So-Called Freelance Life
When Talent Isn’t Enough
Business Basics for the Creatively Inclined
Kristen Fischer
Copyright © 2013 by Kristen Fischer All rights reserved under the Pan-
American and International Copyright Conventions. This book may not be
reproduced, in whole or in part, in any form or by any means electronic or
mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage
and retrieval system now known or hereafter invented, without written
permission from the publisher, The Career Press.
WHEN TALENT ISN’T ENOUGH
EDITED BY JODI BRANDON
TYPESET BY GINA TALUCCI
Cover design by Ian Shimkoviak/theBookDesigners Printed in the U.S.A.
To order this title, please call toll-free 1-800-CAREER-1 (NJ and Canada:
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The Career Press, Inc.
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Fischer, Kristen.
When talent isn’t enough : business basics for the creatively inclined : for
creative professionals including artists, writers, designers, bloggers,
Web developers, and anyone else looking to freelance or run their own
business / by Kristen Fischer.
p. cm.
Includes index.
ISBN 978-1-60163250-0 -- ISBN 978-1-60163-543-3 (ebook) 1. Arts--
Vocational guidance. 2. Arts--Marketing. 3. Self-employed. 4. Small business. I.
Title.
NX163.F57 2013
658.02′2--dc23
2012039162
For Joe Fischer, my father-in-law, who always takes the time to ask me, “How’s
business?” Your support for my professional endeavors—and this book—means
the world to me.
Acknowledgments
Special thanks to my literary agent, Kathleen Rushall, for believing in this
project and making it a reality. The team at Marsal Lyon Literary Agency was
instrumental in providing both guidance and patience.
Thank you to the team at Career Press for your publishing expertise.
My gratitude goes out to Richard Streitfeld and Kiffanie Stahle for providing
valuable wisdom and professional knowledge.
All of the talented people that shared their stories so candidly have helped
other creative professionals tremendously.
Thank you to the New England Patriots, who motivate and inspire me.
Norma, thank you so much for being amazing at what you do and being a true
light.
Danielle, Ken, Mom and Dad Fischer, and the rest of my family and friends:
Your kind words, support, and enthusiasm have empowered me. I am beyond
blessed to have each of you in my life—cats included.
Charlotte, Quinnan, and Lyla: You each inspire me to reach higher.
My loving gratitude goes out to my mother. You are the foundation, you are
the support, you are my friend.
To my wonderful husband, Tim: Thank you for listening to me, loving me,
and making me laugh. You are my one and only. I wouldn’t be living happily
ever after without you.
And to my Lord, I really can do all things through You.
“We must be careful not to exhaust ourselves ‘waiting for inspiration’ when we
could have simply been working.”
—Julia Cameron, author, The Artist’s Way
Contents
Author’s Note
Foreword by Kari Chapin
Introduction
Chapter 1 • It Takes More Than Talent
Chapter 2 • It Starts With Your Vision
Chapter 3 • Lessons in Legalese
Chapter 4 • Finances for Freelancers
Chapter 5 • Will You Be My Client?
Chapter 6 • Talking Up Your Talent
Chapter 7 • Connecting With Clients
Chapter 8 • Setting Boundaries
Chapter 9 • The Well-Rounded Freelancer
Chapter 10 • Long-Term Talent
Chapter 11 • Business on the Side
Afterword
Resources
Index
About the Author
Author’s Note
All quotations from freelancers, in the text and in the Q&A sections, are the
result of personal conversations, either in person or via e-mail, between the
subjects and me throughout the course of the last year.