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

From Canada:

• Overwhelmed by Your To-Do List? Start Here [Freelance Hustle]
• Writers Vote: Election "How To" for TWUC Members [TWUC]
• Glacier Media to close three more B.C. community newspapers [Globe and Mail]

From The U.S. and beyond:

• Here's Why the Freelancer Economy is on the Rise [Fast Company]
• Are matching donations key to crowdfunding journalism? Beacon is betting on it. [Poynter]
• Staying Healthy as a Freelance Writer: 9 Important Self-Care Strategies [The Write Life]
• 5 Things To Consider If You Are Planning To Freelance [Jobs & Hire] (via @Mediabistro)
• 12 tips for writing fast – or at least faster [Poynter]
• The Not-To-Do List: 9 Habits to Stop Now [Four Hour Work Week] (via @LuigiBenetton)
• Greenpeace hires team of investigative journalists [The Guardian]
• 6 steps to kickstart your fall [Freelancers Union]
• Budgeting for the Self-Employed [The Every Girl] (via @KayliBarth)
• The Unionization of Digital Media [The Nation]
• If You Don't Click on This Story, I Don't Get Paid [The Awl]

Last week on Story Board:

• Students' voices can create change in the fight for fair wages: TIFF offers a wealth of opportunities for students and aspiring newbies as it takes over downtown Toronto with screenings, meetings, deals, and parties. As the excitement and hype ignite the city many of us dream of attending TIFF as industry professionals...
• The Born Freelancer Looks Back Over Four Years, Part 2:Having had some time off to pause and reflect, today I would like to conclude my look back on columns I have written as “The Born Freelancer”...

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.