One of the first tips we offer those interested in getting into freelancing from home is to start each day by dressing for success. Yes, we could stay in our pajamas and do this work but I’ve found that getting dressed in the morning in clothes I would be proud to wear out to a meeting, helps me maintain a professional and motivated attitude through the rest of the day.

I guess the choice then goes to each of us as to which kind of underwear represents success to us.
Rebecca Laffar-Smith shares: Evaluate Your Business In 2010

Bob Younce of FWJ (www.freelancewritinggigs.com) did the exact opposite, living life as a “Mom-blogger” for several years. (No, Bob is NOT short for Roberta — he’s a guy).

There’s absolutely nothing new about this:

George Eliot – lady
SE Hinton – chick
JK Rowling – Mom

Of course, JK Rowling didn’t hide the fact she’s a woman, but marketing studies showed that adolescent boys woul d beless inclined to pick up Harry Potter if they knew a woman wrote it. We’re talking about ‘snap judgement, half a second to pull a book of a shelf do I choose Orson Scott Card or Mary Jane?’ type decisions. Rather than alienate half her target market, Rowling went for initials.

George Eliot, however, had it easy… it would be much more difficult today, when authors do public signings and a pen name is more than just a pen name that appears on a book cover — it’s an entire persona. I give “James” credit for keeping it up but I know I wouldn’t be able to.

Rebecca, I don’t mean to invalidate your feelings at all… I certainly understand what you’re saying, but I view what James did merely as another marketing tactic.

And I ask you this: Is James any more successful than Linda Formacelli, Jenna Glatzer, Deb Ng or myself? Okay, maybe me… I honestly don’t know. LOL I don’t think gender is the reason at all.

And hon, if you put your time and effort into freelance writing completely, you too could be up there w/ the ladies I consider the “big 3.” But then the world would lose an amazing Web designer.
Dawn shares: Writing, Editing & Coaching Services

I don’t really know the implications of all of this. While I personally have never been treated badly, or asked to lower my rates, I also have no idea how many times I’ve been skipped over because I am female. There’s no way to know, unless that person were to tell you. Since many times prejudices are subconscious, they may not even know why your query “didn’t click” with them.

I am proud James took a stand, and did what she needed to do. I’ve read a lot of the articles popping up, and I don’t think she was trying to hurt anyone.

I really don’t have any answers. I just hope this story can encourage others to do what they need to do, whether as themselves or under an alter ego.

~Kimberlee
Kimberlee Ferrell shares: Pushing Past Your Writing Anxiety

I don’t know – the whole gender bias thing – I never really paid attention to it. I mean, it can work on the reverse, too. There are plenty of gigs a woman is more likely to get. I think there ARE differences between the genders and instead of resist it, why not have it work FOR you! That’s the approach I choose to take.

So, I sort of feel indifferent about the Men With Pens announcement.
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