The Write Out Loud VIP interviewee for August is Michael Hait. Michael is a professional genealogist and historical researcher, and freelance writer, based in the Washington, D.C.-metropolitan area.

WOL: What type of writing and/or editing do you do? If you freelance, what types of clients do you take on?

MH: My main endeavor is genealogical and/or historical research, writing, and editing, though I have also had articles published for other markets. Most of my editing work has been with past research clients, editing family histories for publication. I also write a column for Examiner.com.

WOL: How do you find clients, market your services and/or sell your work?

MH: For research and editing, I have a website, and have had no shortage of inquiries directly from that, with no further effort necessary.

My research for writing comes mainly at the newsstand, where I look for magazines that might serve as potential markets. I generally follow these magazines for 2-3 issues to understand their selection process and editorial tone. I also routinely conduct “Google” searches online to discover other potential markets.

WOL: Why did you decide to become a (freelance) writer/editor?

MH: I have always loved to write. When I was still a teenager, I would research and write factual articles on various topics for fun. For three years, in my late teens and early twenties, I published a photocopied ‘zine, which focused mostly on music. When I turned twenty, I vowed to have at least one hundred items published that year. Though none of them paid and all were “small press” publications, I managed to accomplish that goal, writing everything from poetry to short fiction, creative nonfiction and music reviews, interviews, editorials, and researched feature articles. As my financial obligations became more overpowering, I had to stop writing for a few years, but have within the last two years picked up where I left off (opting now to submit only to paying publications).

WOL: How do you schedule your day?

MH: Unfortunately, I still have to work full-time while I write. This limits my writing to the hours between dinner and bedtime. Usually I accomplish my writing goals by sacrificing my sleeping goals.

WOL: What portion of what you do is writing/editing and what portion would you say is other business related work (e.g., marketing, networking, querying, etc.)?

MH: In general, I would say about 35% research, 35% writing/editing, and 30% marketing, querying, and networking. This may differ depending on the project.

WOL: What are your favorite tools for making your work easier?

MH: One program that I recently discovered is FusionDesk. This program has made my life exponentially easier. It allows you to create multiple projects, with different folders and tasks within them to serve as an organized “To-Do” list. Then, within each task, there is a notepad for notes, and a timer to gauge the exact time spent working on each task. This time then totals itself for the project as a whole, though maintaining separate sessions. Since I started using this software, I have been much more organized.

I also use the free software Article Helper. This allows you to manage and edit multiple articles within the program.

WOL: What resources (books, websites, courses, etc.) do you regularly use or have been useful to you in the past?

MH: I have used the Writer’s Market for several years. I also read The Writer and Writer’s Digest to keep up with new markets, and to learn from the experiences of other writers.

WOL: What skills would you say are most important to your success as a writer/freelancer?

MH: I think the most important skill a writer can have is organization. While I will admit that the organization of papers, etc., in my office could stand some improvement, the organization of my thoughts when writing an article is extremely important. This is a skill I developed while still in high school, and it has been my greatest asset, both in writing and in the research that I conduct for clients.

WOL: Where is your favorite place to work? What is your favorite time of the day to work?

MH: I don’t really have a favorite place to work. My favorite time of day is restricted due to my other responsibilities. Usually I get the most work done late at night on the weekends.

WOL: What strategies do you use to stay on top of deadlines and manage multiple projects?

MH: The key, for me, trying to juggle my freelancing business with a full-time job and my other responsibilities, is to give myself plenty of time. I will start an article in April for a June deadline. I also have to be sure that every spare minute of my day is spent in some aspect of this business – from the time I wake up until the time I go to sleep.

I have found it best to assign one project to each night. Sometimes I do this in advance, sometimes I just go with how I feel that night. Trying to manage multiple projects in each night often takes away from my productivity in any of them, due to the time it takes to focus on whatever it is that I want to work on.

WOL: What one piece of advice would you give to other writers who are hoping to build a freelance business?

MH: Find a niche, and develop relationships with editors within that niche. Most of my published writing appears in a few publications, with a few editors.

WOL: Thanks, Michael. That’s great advice!

Michael is the creator of The Family History Research Toolkit CD-ROM (Genealogical Publishing, 2008).  He has written several articles for Family Chronicle and Internet Genealogy, has recently taken on a geneology column for Epitaphs magazine and writes the National African-American Genealogy Examiner column on Examiner.com.  Michael also teaches an online course in African-American Genealogy for GenClass.com, and is currently editing a book on Civil War soldiers of the Albany (New York) Hilltowns. Michael is a member of the National Genealogical Society, the Association of Professional Genealogists and the International Society of Family History Writers and Editors, as well as several local Maryland historical and genealogical societies. To learn more about Michael, visit his website.