Too Lazy to Work Too Nervous to Steal: How to Have a Great Life As a Freelance Writer

by John Clausen

Author John Clausen shows readers how to turn their love of writing into a moneymaking business. They'll learn that freelancing is about more than just knowing how to string words into sentences and sentences into paragraphs. Clausen shows how a person's life experiences, friends, hobbies, skills - even former employers - all come into play to make a career in freelance writing. Too Lazy to Work, Too Nervous to Steal takes writers through the process of becoming a freelancer one step at a time, from getting organized and getting an attitude to finding and keeping an "anchor client," earning an honest buck, spending it smartly and overcoming unexpected challenges. Clausen shows them how to: develop a realistic business plan, design a system and live with it, find an "anchor client," market their services, and deliver the goods every time. His friendly, funny style - a cross between a pep rally, a workshop, stand-up comedy, and good old-fashioned storytelling - will get readers prepared and keep them inspired, enabling them to live their dream and succeed.

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction, Business

256 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 2001

Reviews

[Matt Kelland · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot of what John has to say about the attitude required to be a freelance writer is spot on. He takes a no-nonsense view of what's involved with being a professional: spend your time on marketing, think about the money, write what the client wants, how to spot a good story, etc. All that is good advice which every aspiring freelancer should take to heart.

However, the book is written for an earlier era, before the days of the Internet, before blogs, before citizen journalists, and before the rates for magazine writers came tumbling down. A decade ago, when this book was written, writers were a rare commodity, and could expect to get well-paid for their work by magazines that were pretty much the sole source of information. Now, writers are almost literally ten a penny, and they're often competing with amateurs who will write for free, as well as millions of free Web pages that offer an alternative to magazines. The book could really use an updated edition that focuses on the challenges facing the modern freelancer.

[Rachel]

This book is far too anecdotal to be practical. Maybe I'm spoiled by the clarity and ease of reading that is the hallmark of such popular, process-oriented self-help books as What Color Is Your Parachute, but in matters of life and death(and that's what this is), I need BULLET POINTS.

So you've reached the point in your freelancing career where you have enough material to finally write a book ABOUT your freelancing career. Well, bully for you, but I still don't have a clue. And I lack the patience to glean pearls of wisdom from somebody who doesn't seem to have any idea how to teach, but has plenty of experience self-promoting.

Needless to say, I haven't REALLY read this so maybe it has something to offer. There's always an initial period of resistance and disgust, then you find a point of entry and maybe it helps you. Some books make it easier than others, though. I think I'll just go straight to The Well-Fed Writer and hope that book has what I really need: some idea of WHERE THE FUCK DO I BEGIN.

[Carrie Daws · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is great for the writer who is looking to freelance. The author provides many ideas of places to look for work and processes for how to contact the right people to make your pitch. He also includes a few things to absolutely not do, some of which he learned the hard way.

[Scwisher · Rating 4 out of 5]

While not really a "how to" book, Clausen's work is full of recommendations and anecdotes any new or fairly inexperienced writer would find valuable.

[Jackee · Rating 2 out of 5]

good ideas, but very out-dated for the modern day aids of social media and such.