Once a week, we gather stories about the media business, journalism, writing, communications, and freelancing—with a Canadian focus—and share them in Off the Wire. Who needs a water cooler?

From around the web:

• An Online Portfolio Can Change Your Career: 11 Writer Websites We Love [The Write Life]
• 57 million people worked as freelancers this year [Fast Company]
• The New Realities of Freelancing After 50 [Next Avenue]
• My best advice for new freelancers [The Professional Freelancer]
• This Study Shows Freelancers Are Stressed Over A Lack Of Safety Net [Trupo]
• The Freelancing In America study shows that the U.S. independent workforce is a political force to be reckoned with [Freelancers Union]
• 13 Secrets of Successful Online Freelance Writers [Freelance Writing Jobs]
• How to Level Up Your Freelance Income This Year [Lifehacker]
• One Freelance Experience [Mike Tatarski]

Recently on Story Board:

• Vancouver freelancer fall social night October 23: Summer’s over and the days are getting shorter and chillier, so come and warm up your week with a drink and some freelance camaraderie. Freelancers in the Vancouver area are invited to a social evening onWednesday, October 23 at Red Racer Taphouse...

Spot a story you think we should include in next week's Off the Wire? Email the link to editor@thestoryboard.ca or tweet us at @storyboard_ca.