Off the Wire: September 2025

We’re revitalizing our series, Off the Wire. Here, we gather stories about the media business, journalism, writing, communications, and freelancing—with a Canadian focus. Who needs a water cooler?

MediaFreeLogo.2 SB

With layoffs continuing to ripple through Canadian media and other sectors this autumn, the freelance landscape is shifting in real time. Statistics Canada’s latest Labour Force Survey (August 2025) reported a drop of 43,000 self-employed workers. For freelancers, this mix of contraction and instability underscores just how important independent work has become. Freelancing is more than a side hustle or a backup plan, it’s a resilient path forward in a job market where traditional roles are shrinking.

Freelancing stories from around the web

More from Canadian Freelance Guild

Posted on September 30, 2025 at 7:00 am by editor · LEAVE A COMMENT · Tagged with: ,

The Thrill of the Pivot: When to Dive In and When to Quit

It’s a question circulating on social media and in writers’ conversations everywhere: when is the right time to start offering a new service or explore a new niche? And equally important—when do you know it’s time to call it quits on an experiment that isn’t working?

The Thrill of the Pivot: When to Dive In and When to Quit

As a long-time full-time freelancer, I’ve weathered many seasons in my business. I’m also someone who thrives on experimentation. While not every shiny object catches my eye, when I discover a new niche that seems adjacent to ones I already serve, I get genuinely excited about the possibility of expanding my business.

That adjacency is key criteria for most pivots I consider—the change should be just a sidestep away from my current offerings. I also do a gut check: am I genuinely excited about this potential new niche or service? If both boxes are checked, I know I’m ready for the work it will take to move into new territory.

A Tale of two niches

Sometimes the new niche chooses you. Recently, I landed a client in an unfamiliar industry through a referral and discovered I genuinely enjoyed the work. That got me thinking: are there other potential clients in this space?

Armed with fresh samples and years of experience in adjacent domains, I decided to start reaching out. I researched potential contacts using everything from LinkedIn to Google searches, and asked my network of freelance friends if they knew of clients in this sector looking for writers. My combination of warm and cold outreach yielded several promising leads and ultimately added two new clients to my roster.

I’ve run this outreach experiment multiple times—sometimes successfully, sometimes not. Both experiments passed my adjacency and gut-check tests, but the unsuccessful one revealed a crucial third criterion: whether the niche values and budgets for outside writers. In that case, while the work was interesting, the industry simply didn’t have the resources to make cultivation worthwhile.

My example focuses on niches, but other freelancers experiment by adding new services. I recently spoke with a junior colleague who’s testing the waters by adding proofreading to her book editing business. The service meets all my pivot criteria: it’s adjacent to her current work, serves the same client base, and draws on her existing skills. Plus, I could see her genuine excitement about the potential uptake.

How to gracefully retract your pivot

Eventually, the dreaded question arises: when do you know it’s time to move on from a pivot that isn’t gaining traction?

The key to a smooth exit starts with a smart entrance. Avoid pivoting too far—take a baby step rather than a leap by choosing something adjacent to your current offering. Longform content writers probably shouldn’t jump into TikTok video creation without relevant samples. A successful food writer will struggle more moving into automotive writing than expanding into wine coverage.

But if you’ve identified that promising niche, dove in with enthusiasm, and heard nothing but crickets—that familiar sinking feeling when a pitch gets rejected—it’s time to take action.

I give my pivot projects two quarters (about six months) before reassessing what deserves my continued attention. I try to evaluate objectively: how much new work has this pivot actually generated? How much effort have I invested? And emotionally: am I still energized by the thought of offering this service?

Remember, giving up doesn’t need to be dramatic. If you’ve advertised the new service on your website, you can leave it there in case the right clients eventually surface. Simply scale back your outreach and social media promotion in favor of content focused on your successful niches and services.

After all, your time is the ultimate trade-off. If it’s better spent elsewhere, reclaim it and apply it to your next venture.

Suzanne Bowness is a longtime freelance writer/editor whose book The Feisty Freelancer: A Friendly Guide to Visioning, Planning, and Growing Your Writing Business was published in January 2025 by Dundurn Press.

Posted on September 16, 2025 at 6:00 am by editor · LEAVE A COMMENT · Tagged with: 

Off the Wire: August 2025

We’re revitalizing our series, Off the Wire. Here, we gather stories about the media business, journalism, writing, communications, and freelancing—with a Canadian focus. Who needs a water cooler?

MediaFreeLogo.2 SB

With freelance participation on the rise and regulations tightening, it’s more important than ever to stay informed. Here are the latest stories shaping the future of freelancing and media in Canada.

Freelancing stories from around the web

Remember to check out the Canadian Freelance Guild Job Bank, which lists various opportunities including calls for pitches and freelance opportunities.

More from Canadian Freelance Guild

Spot a story you think we should include in next week’s Off the Wire? Email the link to robyn@robynroste.com.

Posted on August 31, 2025 at 8:00 am by editor · LEAVE A COMMENT · Tagged with: ,

Off the Wire: July 2025

We’re revitalizing our series, Off the Wire. Here, we gather stories about the media business, journalism, writing, communications, and freelancing—with a Canadian focus. Who needs a water cooler?

MediaFreeLogo.2 SB

With freelance participation on the rise and regulations tightening, it’s more important than ever to stay informed. Here are the latest stories shaping the future of freelancing and media in Canada.

Freelancing stories from around the web

Remember to check out the Canadian Freelance Guild Job Bank, which lists various opportunities including calls for pitches and freelance opportunities.

Recently published on Story Board

Spot a story you think we should include in next week’s Off the Wire? Email the link to robyn@robynroste.com.

Posted on July 30, 2025 at 6:00 am by editor · LEAVE A COMMENT · Tagged with: ,

Off the Wire: June 2025

We’re revitalizing our series, Off the Wire. Here, we gather stories about the media business, journalism, writing, communications, and freelancing—with a Canadian focus. Who needs a water cooler?

MediaFreeLogo.2 SB

With freelance participation on the rise and regulations tightening, it’s more important than ever to stay informed. Here are the latest stories shaping the future of freelancing and media in Canada.

Freelancing stories from around the web

Remember to check out the Canadian Freelance Guild Job Bank, which lists various opportunities including calls for pitches and freelance opportunities.

Recently published on Story Board

Spot a story you think we should include in next week’s Off the Wire? Email the link to robyn@robynroste.com.

Posted on June 30, 2025 at 6:00 am by editor · LEAVE A COMMENT · Tagged with: ,

13 Freelance Traps Creatives Must Avoid to Keep Their Business Running Smoothly

This article with traps freelancers must avoid is by Julie Barlow, author of GOING SOLO: Everything You Need to Start Your Business and Succeed as Your Own Boss (with Jean-Benoît Nadeau).

13 Freelance Traps Creatives Must Avoid to Keep Their Business Running Smoothly
Things got off to a great start when I began my freelance writing career three decades ago. I quickly found myself with enough assignments to keep me busy all week long. I was writing so hard I made a classic freelance error. I forgot to take time out to do “sales,” to pitch ideas and find new clients. When one of my editors changed jobs and another magazine closed, my work dried up overnight and I feared it would never come back….

Experience taught me the hard way that even when your business is up and running, you can’t slack off sales. It’s just one of many “myths” or misconceptions both beginners and seasoned freelancers face over their careers. And there are many others.

Here are 13 freelance traps that every creator should avoid to stay confident and keep your business running smoothly

1. “I’m just starting out, so I should charge less”

Absolutely not. Your prices should be based on industry standards for whatever you are producing, and your costs. If you were an employee, lack of experience might translate into a lower salary, but it doesn’t work that way for freelancers. You “earn less” when you are inexperienced because it takes you longer to produce, so don’t charge less to begin with!

2. “I’m good with just one steady client”

No, you’re not. From a business perspective, you should never put all your eggs in one basket. You should always have at least a few clients. If you lose your main client, you need other customers to fall back on. Also, from a tax perspective, having one client means you run the risk of being considered an employee and could have your tax advantages removed.

3. “My clients are friends”

No, they are not. Clients are not your friends. You are in a business relationship with them, and you need to treat them accordingly. Working for friends, or thinking of clients as buddies, makes us ready to compromise, and hesitate to ask for fair pay and working conditions. It’s OK to be friendly with your clients, but when they fail to pay, be ready to confront them, drop them, even if you like them. Business is business.

4. “Once my business is up and running, I won’t have to spend as much time doing sales”

Yes, you will. As I learned from experience, even when you have enough work to keep you busy for a year, keep offering your services and looking for new markets and clients. It’s always easier to sell when things are going well. This will help you avoid costly and demoralizing slumps.

5. “I can’t afford to be unpleasant”

Yes, you can. Problems with clients never “solve themselves.” If a client is late in paying, expecting too much from you, asking you to do extra work without paying for it, changing the terms of your contract when it’s started—and these are just some examples—you can’t afford to be nice about it.

6. “The customer is always right”

No, the customer is often wrong. Sometimes they are wrong when you are negotiating with them. They are definitely wrong when they pay late. They can be acting in good faith and still wrong.

Remember, the boss is always right: and you’re the boss.

7. “I always have to say yes to work”

No, you don’t. If the work doesn’t interest you, or if you have too much on your plate to complete it, it’s better to take a pass. It’s a good idea to know other people in your business so that you can share work with when you have too much. Clients appreciate this and will probably come back to you knowing you will always find a solution for them.

8. “Clients will always take advantage of me”

No, they won’t. Your client isn’t “the enemy.” Yes, they want you to do your best work, but if you start thinking that customers have it in for you, you won’t get far. Talk openly to clients about problems you are having as soon as they pop up. If you hide the truth about your concerns, your clients will lose confidence in you.

9. “I have to do everything myself”

Not at all. You hire professionals to fix plumbing or electrical problems in your home. Why not do the same for work with bookkeeping, accounting, website security or even invoicing? If business is booming, you will need to hire outsiders to keep on top of things. Consultants, fees-based contractors, and interns can also help you get your business off the ground.

10. “I can handle the stress”

Maybe, but probably not. So, why take the risk? In small doses, stress is like exercise—vital and necessary. But when it becomes frequent and intense, it can wreck you physically and mentally. Freelancers must pace themselves. Stress makes us neglect details and become irritable with clients. Stressed-out workers don’t negotiate well, and don’t produce well. So, make sure you take breaks and vacations. It will pay off.

11. “Things will take off, eventually”

Not necessarily. No matter how determined and hard-working you are, if your business isn’t taking off, you can’t keep financing it forever. But this doesn’t mean you are doomed. You might be going about your business the wrong way. So take the time to ask, is my idea good? Is my timing bad? What’s the competition doing better than I am? You can put the question to your top 10 customers: ask them to tell you honestly if your idea, project, or product stands out. They’ll tell you.

12. “I have to spend a lot of money to get things going”

No, you don’t. Your business can fail because you didn’t invest enough, say, to buy good computers or software. But there’s a limit. Study your needs carefully every time they arise. Think about your business plan. Make sure you are buying something that will help you reach your goals, not something you think you need because other people have it.

13. “I am doing a favour for a friend”

Not a good idea. If you spend your time making exceptions for people, you will never develop your specialty and make a living selling it. You wanted to turn your skill into a business because you love doing what you do, and because you wanted to earn income from it. Bending the rules for friends will sabotage that.
What other traps should freelancers be warned about? Let us know in the comments!

Also on Story Board from Julie Barlow

Posted on June 25, 2025 at 6:00 am by editor · LEAVE A COMMENT · Tagged with: , ,

6 Big Mistakes Freelancers Make on LinkedIn (and How to Fix Them)

This article on LinkedIn tips for freelancers is written by Vanessa Chiasson, a freelance writer based in Ottawa who specializes in travel and human interest stories.

Stock image of a mobile phone with LinkedIn loaded on the screen. This is to illustrate the article titled 6 big mistakes freelancers make on linkedin (and how to fix them)

Work looks a little different when you’re a media freelancer. Sometimes it looks a lot different!

How we use LinkedIn is different too. This is no static platform for us. We can’t simply list our work experience.

It’s not enough to make a few half-hearted connections after a conference. Our work is dynamic, ever-evolving, and multidimensional. Our LinkedIn presence ought to be the same.

I’ve been using LinkedIn for over a decade and coaching others on how to make it work for them.

Here are 6 of the most common LinkedIn mistakes I see freelancers make

1. You’re focusing on what you’ve accomplished instead of who you serve

Yes, when you get that Canadian Geographic credit, you better shout it from the rooftop! However, far too many media workers use LinkedIn as a platform just to brag about bylines. Don’t just tell us who you’ve worked for. Tell us how you served them.

My LinkedIn bio begins by stating that I work with value seekers and, in a tumultuous media landscape, I offer editors reassurance and results.

What about you? Do editors love you because you turn in impeccably clean copy? Are publishers impressed by your hard-hitting interviews? Are collaborators awed by your commitment to creativity? This matters more than a big name byline.

2. You’re only connecting with editors–and anyone else you think might give you an assignment

LinkedIn is all about building relationships, not begging for jobs. Start by following your sources, organizations you think are cool, people you volunteer with, friends from old jobs, and anyone else you can think of. Engage in real conversation when they post. Envision a complex web or snowflake-shaped world of semi-connected people, not a few sparse vectors to fancy-pants publishers.

3. You’re not updating your projects

You’ve probably heard that you can add your publications to LinkedIn but what about projects? This often-ignored section is where freelancers shine.

What, exactly, counts as a project? Anything you like! Just think of all the interesting things we’ve done.

My projects include training to walk several sections of PEI’s famed Island Walk, a marketing workshop I co-hosted with a friend, an e-book I wrote about GDPR compliance, and much more. This is the perfect place to record all the cool stuff you do that doesn’t fit into a tidy category. You better believe that people browsing through your profile will be impressed.

If you click on your LinkedIn profile, you’ll see a button under your name that says “Add Profile Section.” This opens a box which allows you to add “Core,” “Recommended,” and “Additional” information to your LinkedIn profile. You’ll find projects under the “Recommended” tab.

4. You’re not telling people how they can work with you

A colleague of mine, a woman who worked in marketing before transitioning to travel writing, has just won an award for her well-established travel site. As the congratulatory comments poured in on LinkedIn, I couldn’t help but notice one that said, “I didn’t know you did travel writing!” Not all her connections were up to date on her career.

That’s why it’s prudent to write a helpful update once a quarter or so which explains what you’re doing, who you’re doing it for, and where you hope to grow in the coming months. Like any other social media network, LinkedIn doesn’t show all your content to all your followers. You need to be proactive.

Are you no longer doing wedding photography but putting a lot of effort into developing your family reunion portfolio? Let people know.

5. You’re not curating and chopping

If your career as a freelance illustrator indeed got a boost from working part-time in an art supply store, please include it with your LinkedIn experience. However, not every gig with a tangential connection to your work life needs to be a part of your profile. In fact, keeping irrelevant material can be a real annoyance and distract from what you really want to focus on.

I once thought it would be smart to keep my old experience as a medical centre admin on my LinkedIn profile. After all, many of those same organizational and administrative skills have proven very helpful as a freelancer. However, I began receiving annoying messages from dental clinic service providers. I quickly learned my lesson. Less really is more!

Alas, some messages kept trickling in and I finally realized that while I had deleted that particular job experience, I hadn’t culled “health care” from the skills section. Oops! Now that section is cleaned up and I’ve reordered the list so that my most relevant skills are now at the top.

6. Fear not the headshot!

Media freelancers are usually more comfortable behind the camera, not in front of it. However, when it comes to your LinkedIn profile photos, you need to step out of your comfort zone and invest in professional-quality headshots.

We are visual creatures. We want to see the friendly face behind the project.

Ask a local colleague for photographer recommendations. Book a haircut, recruit your bossiest friend for fashion advice, and make those photos happen!

What’s missing from this list? What’s your best advice for optimizing your LinkedIn profile? Let us know in the comments!

Other social media posts from Story Board

Posted on June 18, 2025 at 6:00 am by editor · LEAVE A COMMENT · Tagged with: , ,

Webinar: Robyn Roste and Marketing For Freelance Writers

In addition to curating the CFG’s Job Bank, and serving as only the second Editor of The Storyboard, our long running freelance-focused publication that turns 15 this year, Robyn runs a busy freelance writer and coaching business, and is the author of Marketing for Freelance Writers. There’s more, but you get the idea.

Come along, bring a friend, and we guarantee you’ll learn something useful about freelancing, marketing, and book publishing.

CFG Authors - Robyn Roste and Marketing For Freelance Writers

All About Canadian Books host Crystal Fletcher is back again with another of our CFG author interviews. She’ll talk to Robyn about her new book, the choices made getting it to market, and an unexpected new challenge she’s agreed to share with our viewers.

Our Presenters

CFG Books and AACB Present: Author Robyn Roste and Marketing for Freeelance Writers

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.

Posted on June 11, 2025 at 6:00 am by editor · LEAVE A COMMENT · Tagged with: ,

Off the Wire: May 2025

We’re revitalizing our series, Off the Wire. Here, we gather stories about the media business, journalism, writing, communications, and freelancing—with a Canadian focus. Who needs a water cooler?

MediaFreeLogo.2 SB

With freelance participation on the rise and regulations tightening, it’s more important than ever to stay informed. Here are the latest stories shaping the future of freelancing and media in Canada.

Freelancing stories from around the web

Remember to check out the Canadian Freelance Guild Job Bank, which lists various opportunities including calls for pitches and freelance opportunities.

Recently published on Story Board

Spot a story you think we should include in next week’s Off the Wire? Email the link to robyn@robynroste.com.

Posted on May 27, 2025 at 6:00 am by editor · LEAVE A COMMENT · Tagged with: ,

Webinar: Is Your LinkedIn Profile Working?

As the social media landscape continues to evolve, the CFG and many of our members are shifting focus away from more contentious sites like Meta/Facebook and Twitter/X, while increasing their activity on LinkedIn, the business-friendly platform now owned and operated by Microsoft.

While LinkedIn shares many of the features of other social platforms, it has some characteristics of its own. Knowing about those differences and similarities can help make your LinkedIn profile stand out from the crowd.

Is Your LinkedIn Profile Working?

Our Presenters

Our panelists are avid LinkedIn users, and they’re ready to share their DOs and DONTs with you.

CFG Experts Panel – 10 Ways to Protect Yourself from Generative AI

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.

Posted on May 21, 2025 at 6:00 am by editor · LEAVE A COMMENT · Tagged with: ,