This project answers all those needling questions I've encountered throughout my career as a freelance journalist.

Why do so many freelancers feel insecure in mistreated?
Why do so many people look down on freelance journalism?
Why aren't journalism students better prepared for the reality of freelancing, when many of them will become freelancers at one time or another during their career?

We've all suffered stereotypes and preconceived notions around being a freelance writer. This guide serves to help re-establish certain facts, as well as to compile the basic principles and tools for unlocking our full potential.

As the media moves unrelentingly towards the Web, and journalism becomes de-institutionalized, freelance is becoming the mainstream for an entire new generation of journalists. The time has come to reflect on our status, strategies and best practices for the future.

Freelancers offer a high-quality service;
Freelancers are flexible and available;
Freelancers deliver consistent quality in their work;
Once established, freelancers can earn a comfortable living;
Some of the best writers in our profession today are freelancers.

In the beginning, I was just going to write a post on my blog discussing a few ideas about working as a freelance journalist. Once I started writing, the project took off. Twelve chapters later, I couldn't resist the analogy to Alcoholics Anonymous. After all, we have our own bad habits to break!

After many hours of reflection and discussion with colleagues and friends, Freelancers Anonymous became a 30-minute structured talk. I presented it for the first time on September 30, 2009 before the Québec Independent Journalist Association. It was a perfect occasion to write a book, or booklet, on all the topics touched on during my talk. There was enough material to write a full-length book, with many examples and anecdotes supporting my points, but... I'll get to that later!

I want to hear your ideas on freelance journalism — especially if they're challenging mine! There are plenty of viewpoints not included in this project, and we're at a time of major upheaval in the media world.

Take part in the discussion by either emailing me (niko at vulusu.ca), following the Twitter feed (@Freelancers_A), or by becoming a fan on Facebook.

Illustrations: Jo-Annie Larue (joannielarue.com)
Graphic design: Pierre-Emmanuel Messier, Maya Rioux
Translation to English: Duncan Moore, Aleece Germano
Web development: Nicolas Ritoux

Québec Independent Journalist Association (AJIQ)
Frédéric Brunel, Louis-Jacques Darveau, André Dumont, Cécile Gladel