BootsnAll Travel Community

Greetings, all.

A few weeks ago, my new blog started getting a lot of press -- it was a feature in the Boston Globe and I did a segment on NPR.

Check it out: http://www.thegrammarvandal.com.

Now, I'm starting to get some offers for freelance copyediting work. I am delirious with excitement over this. I LOVE copyediting!

For now, if I get a lot of work, I want to reduce the hours at my current job so I can keep the benefits. Then, if there's enough work, I can do it full-time!

I want to freelance full-time and move to Europe. The going rates for editing start at $30.00 an hour.

I'm worried, though. This is my biggest dream -- to be able to work from home so I can live all over the world. But what if there isn't enough work? I need to pull this off, financially -- and I have student loans to repay.

Any advice whatsoever?

Should I move to Prague, where it's pretty cheap, and just stay there until I can build up clients?

HOW do I build up clients?

Grammar vandal? Are we both in agreement that people who type "u" for "you" should be shot? Good luck in whatever you end up doing, freelancing would rock. (go easy on me if there's errors, lol)

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Originally posted by AdventurousKate:
Any advice whatsoever?

As yet another self-employed expat, my only advice is to sow as many seeds as possible. As an independent contractor, your livelihood will rely on people. They'll be your company's only real asset, and you'll have to begin seeing everyone you meet in this context. (Not a pretty a picture, I know, but it's a requirement rather than an option.) Don't burn any bridges and never fail to make a friend out of an acquaintance. This is the only golden rule for self-employment, and it applies whether you're writing, copy editing, or consulting.

You've acquired some juice from the Boston Globe article and NPR interview. While offers are already finding their way to you, there's no reason for you not to shop yourself around for additional offers.

You should also consider transforming your site/blog into a portal for other grammar visigoths like yourself.

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Should I move to Prague, where it's pretty cheap, and just stay there until I can build up clients?

Prague? Cheap? Pray tell when this happened.

Moving to Europe can close a few doors while opening a few others. Some folks don't like employing a contractor who isn't residing in the U.S., even if the work doesn't require their physical presence. This can be offset by keeping one foot in Boston (even a simple UPS mailbox), as well as a phone number with a Boston area code (Vonage, Skype, and many another VoIP company can accommodate you).

With any luck some of these ramblings may prove helpful.

Please note: This post is shielded against any and all grammar vandals by a moat consisting of carelessness and a wall of apathy 12 feet high and three meters thick.

Kate, you're my new hero. Nothing gets me more worked up than bad grammar (messages boards are immune).

Like the menu at my restaurant is chock full of them...Really irritating! I'm a total grammar/spelling/serial comma/AP style nerd.

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Some folks don't like employing a contractor who isn't residing in the U.S., even if the work doesn't require their physical presence.

Is there any valid reason for this, or is it just general hesitation / lack of comfort on their part?

Regardless, I hope that doesn't prove to be terribly true in my business, because if it is, the current scheme I'm working on gets toileted.

(I was tempted to use irregardless there just for grins, by the way.)

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Originally posted by Not the first Travis:

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Some folks don't like employing a contractor who isn't residing in the U.S., even if the work doesn't require their physical presence.

Is there any valid reason for this, or is it just general hesitation / lack of comfort on their part?

Well, for self-serving reasons I'd argue that there's no valid reason for it , but I suppose I understand. I think companies, by and large, are a little suspicious of expats and other nomads. They want to see some sort of link, be it metaphorical or contractual, with a home base.

In practice, I've found that European clients themselves care very little if I have offices in Europe, but they care very much whether or not I have offices in the U.S.. There is some aspect of the perceived stability that they find comforting, I imagine. If I have a U.S. address and number I am not then some sort of American gypsy, running from the law perhaps, trying to come between them and their money.

Irregardless (that one's for you Kate), said rule isn't universal. I know plenty of successful engineers and sales people over there running around with nothing but cellphones and hotel bills, and they call no place "home."

What business are you scheming, Travis? (If you don't mind splattering said scheme all over BnA. )

I'm eternally greatful for copywriters.

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I'm eternally greatful for copywriters.

As well you should be. All that overpriced crap you didn't really need that's cluttering up your life? You're welcome!

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What business are you scheming, Travis?

As "spelling-challenged" static alludes, I write advertising. That's right, I do God's work. I already freelance and work from home for clients scattered around the U.S. My work couldn't be more portable. I can do it from anywhere in the world as long as I have rock-solid telephone and internet (and electricity ). Your point though about keeping at least the perception of a U.S. home base is well-taken and one that hadn't occured to me. Don't think it will matter at all for clients I already have a relationship with, but new ones....???

In addition to that, an opportunity has fallen into my lap wherein I could buy a guesthouse/posada/B&B type place in the mountains of Mexico. We could basically pay cash with the equity in our house and be done playing the mortgage game. My partner wants to do it because he thinks it would be "fun" and give him something to do while I dick around and do nothing all day.

My only fear is I'd end up killing one of the guests. No. Really.

I think we're going to go check it out next month.

Sorry for the de-rail Kate. By the way, I agree 100% with what Co Op said about your relationships are your business. And if you can make it work for yourself, do it. Being self-employed/freelance is great. There are definitely downsides as well, but I've been doing it for 14 years straight now. I can't imagine going back on staff. Good luck!

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I know plenty of successful engineers ....... running around with nothing but cellphones and hotel bills, and they call no place "home."

sounds like me

COOP has some great advice.

The only advice I can add is that if you want to maintain a US client base when you move overseas you have to DELIVER and consistently prove you can deliver on time and within budget regardless of circumstances. For me that often means working long hours on short notice to provide a service they couldn't otherwise get from one of there 40 hour week salary drones. The other benefit, is sometimes I can also crank out work while they're sleeping. So they can give it to me in the evening when they head home and have it in the morning.

I also think it's important to be very wired such that you can respond to any emails and phone calls quickly. And, yes, this can mean getting up at 2 AM. It also means carrying additional overhead costs that you may not have if you were in the USA, so your take home pay may be less. But, hey, you get to live abroad.

As far as why companies prefer a US address. I imagine it's just less of a headache for a company as far as tax laws, liability, etc. And, secondly, for the guy hiring you. Having to explain to upper management why your expat contractor failed to deliver. Probably not a conversation you want to have.

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Originally posted by halfnine:
The only advice I can add is that if you want to maintain a US client base when you move overseas you have to DELIVER and consistently prove you can deliver on time and within budget regardless of circumstances.

At the risk of turning this thread into a regular hug-fest , this too is excellent advice. Build this type of reputation, for even a handful of clients, and it's the equivalent of sending out 5,000 business cards and resumes.

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originally posted by NTFT:
In addition to that, an opportunity has fallen into my lap wherein I could buy a guesthouse/posada/B&B type place in the mountains of Mexico.

Good sir, I'm right there with you. I am juggling the pros and cons of a similar opportunity at the moment, and, once upon a time, I ran a large guesthouse for eight months. While I enjoyed it and look back on it fondly, I can assure you that you will indeed kill at least one or two guests before you're done.

And once again, Kate, I apologize for both the thread derailment and the poor grammar.

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Originally posted by Continental Op:
I can assure you that you will indeed kill at least one or two guests before you're done.

One or two? Eh. I'm comfortable with that. I've ordered a copy of "How to Run a Posada for Dummies". Surely there's a chapter on efficient body disposal. Besides, "the partner" would be squarely in charge of guest relations. I'm in charge of happy hour and being otherwise invisible.

Back to topic....

I'm going to focus on the other point halfnine alludes to in his (excellent--more hugs!) post...

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working long hours on short notice to provide a service they couldn't otherwise get from one of there 40 hour week salary drones.

In other words, you need to be very good at what you do, and be very capable of dealing with the do-or-die pressure of a hard deadline. Some people can, some people....not so much. (Might be different in copy editing and/or other industries/professions that have longer contract terms? I don't know? But in my business it's put up or go hungry.)

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Originally posted by Not the first Travis:
Surely there's a chapter on efficient body disposal.

Three words: under, the, & patio.

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Halfnine said: I also think it's important to be very wired such that you can respond to any emails and phone calls quickly.

One of the downsides I was referring to is exactly this. You live by the technology, and you most certainly die by the technology.



I haven't had internet access from my computer for the last two days except for stealing the occasional wifi signal from a neighbor. I haven't been able to work successfully. Fortunately, it was at the early stages of an assignment so I have time to get things in order before the deadline. (And please don't tell my client. I've been billing them the entire time. )

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Originally posted by Not the first Travis:You live by the technology, and you most certainly die by the technology.

It's the Blackberry that's the death of every freelancer. If you can stay away from those little bastards then you can maintain a small shred of unwired, all-natural dignity. Once they suck you in, it's over.

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It's the Blackberry that's the death of every freelancer. If you can stay away from those little bastards then you can maintain a small shred of unwired, all-natural dignity. Once they suck you in, it's over.

Personally, I prefer all my work related email gets forwarded to my cell phone (one of three depending on which country I am in). I certainly don't feel obligated to respond immediately to all my clients requests, but I'd like to know in real time what the problems are. That way, if absolutely necessary, I can jump on the internet from anywhere and respond to a Client quickly either via Skype or email. Certainly, adds some credibility to freelancing abroad.

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I haven't had internet access from my computer for the last two days except for stealing the occasional wifi signal from a neighbor. I haven't been able to work successfully.

I feel your pain. Every once and a while the Clients VPN that I use goes tits up. Nothing much I can do about that. Fortunately, its very infrequent.

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Originally posted by halfnine:
Personally, I prefer all my work related email gets forwarded to my cell phone

I'm too easily drawn in. But I salute those who can balance Blackberry and sanity.

network, network, network. when you are in charge of your own salary and making your own connections you start to see people in a new light. In a way it is kind of sad. Sometimes it bums me out when i meet someone but instantly think of how i can promote to them or what type of connections they have. Sometimes i have to fight the urge to promote myself for the sake of my own sanity and holding to some shred of decency.

Well it's not that bad i guess but it's true, you see people in a different light but the nice thing about it is that when you are on this side you also look out for the many ways you can help and promote other like minded people. I have some friends that are excellent at throwing my name into the conversation and others that even if asked directly wouldn't be able to even incorporate it. It's just a different mindset when you are on your own.