Here's What to Expect:

FRIDAY

Morning Sessions—The hardest thing about running a freelance business is figuring out how to make the paychecks flow reliably. Friday, we’re going to figure out how to solve that problem.

 

Friday’s session leaders will include editors representing a variety of book, magazine and website publications that use large numbers of freelancers regularly. They’ll talk about what they buy, what they pay, how their media businesses are changing and how freelancers can best meet their needs.

 

Face Time

After editors finish telling the inside story, take advantage of scheduled face time to meet with editors of your choice in a mini-session to introduce yourself and ask questions.

 

Lunch

A session with a certified public accountant on incorporation vs. the advantages of staying a sole proprietor.

 

Afternoon Session and Face Time

 

Cocktail Hour

After the last question is asked, join your FLX friends at a recovery cocktail hour at the official conference hotel, Embassy Suites Westshore (5:30 to 7:30). No additional charge for hotel guests.

 

Dinner

Friday evening, FLX Dinner in Tampa ($40 additional charge) Casual dining within walking distance of the hotel. Traveling companions are welcome to join us.

 

SATURDAY: Pick a full-day track

New Media—It’s great that you can write and edit, but these days being able to shoot and edit a video and record and edit a podcast are becoming de rigueur skills. Bring your laptop, your video camera and your digital recorder, learn to put them to good use and get some practice doing it. If you don’t have all the tools, don’t worry. You’ll still learn a lot about what it takes to be a multi-media reporter.

 

Books. Making Books Pay—Cutting a deal with a book packager, writing custom books, making self-publishing worthwhile. A nitty-gritty conversation on contracts and what an author can actually earn and ways to financially maximize a platform. Meet up with editors who specialize in the kind of specialty and mid-list publishing where many nonfiction authors get their start, agents who understand working writers and some authors who have made a career out of how-to and ghostwriting opportunities. Turning a book or two into a living isn’t easy, but it can be done.