Interview with a Freelancer: Heidi Hoff, Freelance Writer
You can find Heidi at heidih AT telus.net.
DEE-ANN LEBLANC: Why did you choose to use your own name or start your own business to work under?
HEIDI HOFF: I use my own name because that's what is on my byline. Some people use variations or pseudonyms depending on the type of writing they do but I think using one's own name, especially for magazine writing helps make you accessible if other editors like your work and want to track you down.
DEE-ANN LEBLANC: What type of freelance work do you do?
HEIDI HOFF: I write for major-market magazines that have included Chatelaine, Canadian Living, Oxygen and The Writer. I write a monthly company profile for Alive magazine and have written for other health magazines, too. Now that my family has a dog, I have expanded my query circle to include pet oriented magazines like Animal Wellness and I just completed and article for Appeal magazine's (Save On Foods) pet section.
DEE-ANN LEBLANC: How long have you been freelancing?
HEIDI HOFF: I've been freelancing off and on for eight years.
DEE-ANN LEBLANC: Full time or part time?
HEIDI HOFF: I was putting more work into my freelance career when my children were small and wanted to work from home. I was so passionate about my writing at that time, I couldn't stop! The first query I sold was to Chatelaine magazine and that was definitely a rush. I went on to write many more for Chatelaine but found that working with four different editors in just over a year a bit overwhelming. Every editor has a different style and requirements so it was challenging. I learned fast, though! After a couple of years I realized that having a bi-weekly paycheque would be nice so I took a part-time job outside the home. I continued writing but really appreciated regular paycheques. One thing I dislike about freelancing is waiting for those cheques, if they ever come, that is. I took a break for about a year after being stiffed $3000 from a magazine. It really put me off writing and I suffered a type of writer's block I guess. I'm slowly getting back into it because I really enjoy it. I am still holding out hope that one day I'll be paid that 3 grand.
DEE-ANN LEBLANC: Can you describe a typical, or at least recent, project for us?
HEIDI HOFF: I'm lucky enough to write a monthly feature for a local natural health magazine. I am also happy to see my first pet-oriented articles in print at the moment, one is in Appeal magazine (Save On) the other is in Animal Wellness.
I enjoy trying to break into new markets and the suspence awaiting an editor's reply brings. Things haven't been the greatest in the magazine business since ad pages are dropping so I've found editors not getting back to me in a timely manner, if at all. It seems they are trying to use articles they have in reserve and are less likely to assign pieces because budgets have been cut back. The odds aren't as great right now as they were a year or two ago.
DEE-ANN LEBLANC: What are your strategies for dealing with this?
HEIDI HOFF: I read a lot of other writer's blogs and industry sites to keep on top of what's happening and their take on things. I do have a part-time job besides writing which keeps the income flowing. There is a lot of debate at the moment about the future of the magazine industry and I'm excited to see where it's headed. I think the writing world needs a shake-up. I feel that querying is a bit of a waste of time at the moment. Even trade magazines which pretty much used to be a sure thing are having difficulties now. I suppose I could challenge myself to try to come up with original takes on evergreen topics but I don't know if the time and effort I would put into it would really pay off at the moment.
DEE-ANN LEBLANC: About how much of your time do you spend on the business side, and how much on creating?
HEIDI HOFF: The time I spend on the business side of things is very small. Just expense tracking and that sort of thing. I'm always creating in my head so that's a bit more difficult to guage. After I've completed interviews for an article I let it sit for a bit and then essentially write it in my head and put it to paper. I get ideas from everywhere and usually write them down for future queries.
DEE-ANN LEBLANC: What's the strangest or funniest inspiration/idea pairing you've had? As in, you saw something and an idea sparked that seemed to have nothing to do with what you were doing. And did you then sell that article?
HEIDI HOFF: I used to write a lot of personal experience pieces, especially when my kids were younger. We didn't have pets when our daughters were younger so my eldest daughter had a virtual fish. I sold the piece to the Vancouver Sun and a photographer came and took our picture. It's a nice memory to have.
DEE-ANN LEBLANC: What is the most important piece of advice you could give to someone starting out or transitioning into your specialty?
HEIDI HOFF: Read some good books like The Renegade Writer: A Totally Unconventional Guide to Freelance Writing Success
DEE-ANN LEBLANC: How did the classes go? Did you learn anything interesting from them?
HEIDI HOFF: I had a huge fear of public speaking but standing in front of a classroom and talking for two hours really cured that! I did have some embarrassing experiences, like forgetting what I was talking about in the middle of sentence but I learned how to overcome them. My students motivated me to become a better writer and the confidence I gained from teaching really translated to my writing. I no longer feared editors!
DEE-ANN LEBLANC: What's your favorite part of your work?
HEIDI HOFF: I like the freedom of working whenever I want and writing about whatever I want. I can work many hours one day and take the next day off. Writing also keeps my brain busy and active instead of turning to mush as I get older.
DEE-ANN LEBLANC: What would you rather farm off on someone else?
HEIDI HOFF: Transcribing interviews! It's a long tedious process.
DEE-ANN LEBLANC: Anything else you'd like to share with Freelance Survivors?
HEIDI HOFF: Never accept an assignment without a contract. If the magazine doesn't offer one, make up your own and don't start work until you have the editor's signature. You still might get stiffed but at least you have some type of agreement in writing.
Sending queries to new markets is good for broadening your horizons and makes you a more versatible writer.
