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:

• Margaret Atwood column pulled, re-posted on National Post website [Globe and Mail]
• 7 ways to find your first client (or get new clients fast!) [The Freelance Hustle]
• Momentum building to unionize digital newsrooms [CMG]
• Six weeks into its micropayment strategy, The Winnipeg Free Press preps for “slow building process” [Nieman Reports]

From The U.S. and beyond:

• 4 Simple Ways Freelancers Can Conquer Cash Flow Problems [The Freelancer]
• The Creative Apocalypse That Wasn't [New York Times]
• As BuzzFeed urges no unions, sharp rebuttal from labor leader [Poynter]
• How to keep clients happy while traveling the world [One Woman Shop]
• How to Be a Better Writer: Turn Struggle Into Success [The Write Life]
• Why Freelance Writers Need to Take Time Off (Like Regular Employees) [Freelance Writing Jobs]
• Upworthy launches freelancer program [Poynter]
• The Value of Slow Journalism in the Age of Instant Information [Nieman Reports]
• Why Every Freelancer Needs a B Team [The Freelancer]
• 3 must-break freelance habits [Freelancers Union]
• 12 basics of interviewing, listening and note-taking [Poynter]
• “Behind every tweet is a story,” and other advice for new journalism students [Nieman Lab]
• 8 essential security tips for freelancers [Freelancers Union]

Last week on Story Board:

• Digital newsrooms moving towards unionization: It’s been a big summer for unions and new media. The past few weeks have seen a string of stories about digital media workers organizing...
• Goal setting for freelancers: Whether or not you’re getting ready to go back to school this fall, there is something hardwired in us about September. It’s the season of clean notebooks and a new teacher. We get a fresh start. That may explain why September is such a hot mess of resolutions and goal setting...

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.