as a freelancer is for corporations,
and other businesses. For instance,
there is a medical practice in Central
that wanted to develop its image
holistically, but didn’t know how
to go about creating a brand, core
message, or how to explain their
particular approach to the public. I
created several versions of their core
beliefs that can be used in different
publications or applications. Their
leaflets, press releases, website, and
so forth all have a coordinated story
behind them.”
A dream job?
Personally, I love writing. I get a
real sense of accomplishment out of
producing something and knowing
that others will read it. For me, the
best part of the job is when someone
contacts me or stops me in the street
and wants to talk about a piece I’ve
written. Other writers, like Angela,
like the flexibility and creativity
that freelance writing allows: “As a
freelance writer, I am able to juggle
my responsibilities as a mother with
my need to write. I can work around
my family commitments. Freelance
writing also allows me to meet
wonderful people who are willing to
share their insight and knowledge.”
For Jill, it’s the process of writing
that she most enjoys. “My favourite
part of writing is diving into research
on a particular topic and then laying
out the different sides that give readers
something to think about. For me,
that includes a combination of online
research, informal discussions with
other parents and formal interviews
for each article. It’s a wonderful
journey that starts with a few ideas
and then takes me on a ride into
opinions and angles that often
challenge preconceptions. I’ve always
loved research and often have to
really discipline myself to stop at a
certain point so that I can make the
deadline!”
But, as with any job, the life of a
writer isn’t always what you imagine
in the romantic version in your head,
where Dorothy Parker tells stories at
the Algonquin Round Table, or
where Woodward and Bernstein
have just uncovered the details of
Watergate.
I have had to write on holidays to
meet deadlines, and have had to spend
time hunting for Wi-Fi connections
instead of looking for seashells with
my family. Another regular
Playtimes
contributor, Elle Kwan, can relate.
“I never thought I’d get sick of coffee
shops, but sometimes it’s a complete
pain hogging tables, drinking too
much caffeine and battling a bad
internet connection because of a
deadline. I’ve had to conduct phone
interviews in bus shelters and send
stories from the MTR.”
Despite its degree of freedom,
freelancing doesn’t always shield
you from working with people you
don’t like, or mean the exact words
you write are the ones that are going
to end up in the publication. Elle
says, “It’s the editors that make a
real difference. It’s great when you
click with one and horrible when
you don’t.” Angela agrees: “I often
cover topics that require sensitivity.
I have worked with editors who have
made changes to certain words that
resulted in the article coming across
as insensitive or judgmental. The
benefit of freelancing means that I
could choose not to work for those
publications again.”
What about the cash?
As the editor of
Playtimes
often tells
new writers, “This work will not keep
you in Cartier.” While the salary
varies among publications, freelancers
who write for magazines and
newspapers in Hong Kong can expect
to make about $2 to $4 per word.
That means that I will earn about
$3,000 for this story, and that has to
cover any expenses I might incur –
taxis and coffee, for example – as well
compensate me for the time it takes
to research, conduct interviews and
write. Corporate writing pays much
more, and Jill says, “The corporate
writing helps support my magazine
writing. I couldn’t imagine only doing
freelance [magazine] writing in Hong
Kong and being able to achieve our
financial requirements as a family of
four.”
I only write one or two pieces
a month, and the money I make is
enough to keep me in shoes. Dicky,
who takes on much more work than I
do, says, “It is possible to make a living
as a freelance writer, but it is very hard
work. One has to be prolific, and treat
it as a full-time job, sitting down as
early in the morning as you possibly
can and not leaving your desk until
Check it out
•
Hong Kong Freelancers Network:
•
Hong Kong Writers Circle:
•
Women in Publishing Society Hong Kong:
December 2013
89
