SECP's Resources

Member Resources

Writers

Graphic Designers

Writers:

Writing.Com is the online community for writers and readers of all interests and skill levels. Whether you're an enthusiastic, creative writer looking for the perfect place to store and display your writing online or a casual reader searching for a good story, Writing.Com is the website for you! With 539,140 members and 1,203,632 literary items created since inception, this community is bursting with activities, inspiration and creativity.

http://www.writing.com/

Writer’s groups & resources
http://www.forwriters.com/groups.html

Willamette Writers is the largest writers' organization in Oregon and one of the largest writers' organizations in the United States. It is a non-profit, tax-exempt Oregon corporation led by volunteers. Elected officials and directors administer an active program of monthly meetings, special seminars, workshops and conferences. Continuing with established programs and starting new ones is only made possible by strong volunteer support. Members continually explore other ways to interact in the literary community.

http://www.willamettewriters.com/

Oregon Writers Colony
OWC is a place for people working together to provide opportunities whereby writers are supported and encouraged in a community of their peers. Oregon Writers Colony offers writing workshops throughout the year, the free monthly OWC Presents! at Powell's Books, Beaverton, and a writing retreat on the Oregon coast for members' use.

http://www.oregonwriterscolony.org/

Pacific Northwest Writers Association
PNWA's mission is to develop the writing talent from pen to publication through education, accessibility to the publishing industry, and participation in an interactive, vital writer community.

http://www.pnwa.org/index.cfm

Graphic Designers:

Creative Latitude: Creative Latitude is a worldwide community that unites various creative disciplines for collective promotion, education and ethical business practice.

Photographers:

Northwest Photographers: A free community of regional photographers who enjoy sharing in Northwest photography.

http://www.nwphotographers.net/

NWPhotoForum.com- The Premier Online Community for NorthWest Photographers!

http://www.nwphotoforum.com/forums/index.php

Professional Photographers of America began providing education and a sense of community to the photography industry since 1880. To those offerings, the association has since added business and personal protection, business discounts, professional recognition, and more. Today, PPA is the world’s largest not-for- profit association for professional photographers, with more than 18,000 members in 64 countries. It is an association that seeks to increase its members’ business savvy as well as broaden their creative scope. It aims to advance their careers by providing them with all the tools for success.

http://www.ppa.com/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=119

NANPA, the North American Nature Photography Association, is the first and only association in North America committed solely to serving the field of nature photography.

http://www.nanpa.org/

National Press Photographers Association

http://www.nppa.org/

Photoshop User is the official magazine of NAPP. Published 8 times a year, it's a must-read for thousands of graphic designers, photographers, and digital artists. Members also receive Darkroom , the premiere magazine for Adobe® Photoshop® Lightroom™ users. Delivered with Photoshop User, Darkroom shows you how to streamline your workflow with in-depth tutorials and timesaving shortcuts.

http://www.photoshopuser.com/

Photoshop User TV: The Photoshop Guys have their new studio, a new intro, and some new tutorials to share with their viewers.

http://www.photoshopusertv.com/

Tools For Indpendent Professionals

The lynda.com Online Training Library® has built a reputation and a loyal following as the perfect software training resource for independent creative professionals. Our easy-to-use video format allows you to play, replay, skip around, and learn at your own pace. Subscribers have 24/7 access to thousands of real-world lessons taught by working professionals, and new courses are added weekly to keep your skills sharp. SECP members get 20% on Lynda.com subscriptions. Get more info here.

Check out these free software tools for designers: Codeline Communications has some cool free software downloads for designers including the "Art Director's Toolkit" that has some neat features like metric/pica/point/inch converters and scanning percentage charts and lots more. The "Color Consultant Pro" helps you put together all kinds of color schemes easily - plus there's other stuff. Check it out. ( http://www.code-line.com/software/)

This website is a must stop for all creatives If you haven't checked out CreativePublic yet, get to it! There are pricing guidelines for all kinds of projects, tons of forms that you can use to make your business more professional, and lots of downloads to make you more productive. Sign up for the free eNewsletter. There's lots of useful info. ( http://www.creativepublic.com)

Check out this website for info on access to benefits for freelancers. Working Today is on the 'cutting edge' of the freelancer benefit arena. There is a lot of new information and options that we're not hearing about. This is the place to look. ( http://www.workingtoday.org/)

http://www.workhappy.net/ (killer apps for independents)

Check out this cool hourly rate calculator. Enter in your expenses and it figures out how much you should be charging. http://freelanceswitch.com/rates/

New Online Source for Work

At Virtualecommerce.com, freelance vendors are offered solutions to reaching clients who are eager to purchase your skills and experience. When they outsource their projects locally, nationally or globally they are looking for skilled professionals. Our website will connect you to buyers who are willing to pay good money for your work.

Virtualecommerce.com will market your profiles and portfolios to buyers in a showcase specifically designed with you in mind. Upload samples of your work and we will take it from there to the buyers/employers. Then you may watch the site for projects you want to bid on. Just tell the buyer the price you will charge to do his work. Then you sign a contract to get paid and when you finish the project, virtualecommerce.com sends it to you. There is no obligation when you register, and you are welcome to upload your profile and portfolio showcase, so “VE” can market you to the thousands of Buyers who are seeking skilled freelancers. The objective of Virtual-Ecommerce, Inc., is to enable our freelance vendors to own their own successful business and be able to live the lifestyle they desire. VE wants to provide professional vendors with as much work as they can handle. VE’s focus is to build long and deep relationships with our clients (you) and to present a pleasant working environment better than you can imagine.

Check Out Some Other Online Spots To Be Seen For Freelance Projects:

Aquent.com – This source identifies editorial and design freelancers, as well as individuals looking for extended contract and full-time positions.
Elance.com - With this Web site, you review the terms for a given project. Then, send bids for the work.
SoloGig.com – Review projects and bid.
Guru.com - Review projects and bid.
Coswap.com - Review projects and bid.
ContractedWork.com - Review projects and bid.
CreativeGroup.com - Review projects and bid. Extensive site that also offers valuable tips and articles on the creative process.
HowDesign.com – Register to be a supplier. Projects sorted by geography and you can put up an online portfolio.
AllFreeLanceWork.com - Review projects and bid.
FreeLancers.net – This network offers extensive search functionality so you can home in on the right project.
FreeLancers.com - Review projects and bid.

Freelance Talk is a huge forum for freelancers to share ideas and expertise.

http://talkfreelance.com/

http://www.workingsolo.com/

http://www.smallbusinessadvocate.com/

http://www.askjim.biz/

http://lifehacker.com/

http://freelanceswitch.com/index.php

Other Resources:

CubeSpace
Located at 622 SE Grand Avenue in Portland, Oregon, CubeSpace has offered to host SECP events. It's a comfortably professional space with great amenities for self-employed creatives. CubeSpace is an innovative workspace community design specifically for solo and small businesses. They provide work stations, meeting rooms, and big office amenities to people who would otherwise be working from their homes, coffee shops, or wherever they can set up their laptops or use their cell phones. Their services are available on a monthly membership basis, or at hourly or daily rates.

souk
souk understands the dream to say how and when you work - to work to live. souk presents flexible term office space and services, specially designed for individuals and small teams to create.

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Member Resources

Writers:

Graphic Designers:

Photographers:

Tools For Indpendent Professionals

New Online Source for Work

Check Out Some Other Online Spots To Be Seen For Freelance Projects:

Freelance Talk is a huge forum for freelancers to share ideas and expertise.

Other Resources:

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