Freelancing for Dummies

Rating:
Summary: Ego-Stroking For Dummies
Review: "Shiny, happy people wheeling deals" should be the sub-title for this book. The profession of freelancing is for the go getting, self-imaging, assertive (most times aggressive) dynamo. Drake's book failed to include this brief but crucial bit of information in Freelancing for Dummies.

Drake does a wonderful job empowering the reader, then again so does Maxwell in The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader. Both books, although I am sure they sell wonderfully as they are corporate products, are not grounded. Drake should have addressed all of her audiences, not just her likeminded Type-A personality readers.

Some of the contents such as setting rates, collecting fees and paying taxes are needed. However, sections on how to set up one's chair are not. And, the chapter on building an extended staff is, again, assuming that the reader is either an egomaniac with the knowledge to boot, or a former corporate executive.

If you are full of yourself and can't wait to tackle the world with your own business, this is the book for you. If you are a little more on the average side, I suggest you read Sorenson's Power Freelancing. Good luck!

Rating:
Summary: Same Old Stuff
Review: First let me say this: If you are a new "Freelancing for Dummies" will be helpful in putting you on path to getting published. But I do wish the author had put MORE into it, in terms of material that hasn't been seen elsewhere.

I also find the author to be overly optimistic, and writing from the viewpoint of someone who has dipped in and out of the profession, and most likely has an alternate means of support. Then, too, the author tries to cover too much, and leaves this reader wondering whether she is addressing those new to writing for publication, or published writers who want to take a shot at writing for a living. (To be fair to Ms. Drake, one or more editors may have had too heavy a hand in the mix.)

The bottom line: Don't ignore this title, but if you've read more than one other book for beginning freelancers you may do better to pick up some books for more advanced writers, and/or genre- or field-specific writing.

Rating:
Summary: You want a freelancing business? This is THE BOOK!
Review: Frankly, Susan M. Drake has written extremely well. With 8 years of freelancing experience behind me, I can only nod my head and agree with her with every turn of the page.

Written in a very simple manner and easily understood...no fanfare, no big words, just facts.

She covered almost everything there is to cover for the topic of freelancing and you know what? It REALLY is a book for dummies.