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Writing Contest for Freelancer Writers

January 25th 2010 22:07

I've put up a post on Writing Words that should be interesting for freelance writers, too: There's a writing contest about writing.

The deadline is on Sunday and there's an entry fee. The winning entry will receive £100 and will be published in the first edition of Leaf Books Magazine, other entries may also make it into the magazine.

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Posted By: Sonya 1 - Category: miscellaneous, writing

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Follow Freelance Tips on Twitter

January 18th 2010 22:18

I set up a Twitter account for this blog. If you use Twitter, follow me @fltnet.

Twitter, if used smartly, is a good for job leads. I've already created a list for freelance jobs. Feel free to suggest other users worth adding to this list.

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Posted By: Sonya 1 - Category: writing

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Freelance Tips is Back

January 17th 2010 21:49

I did a brief stint as the Freelance Tips blogger in late 2007 and I had big plans. Then real life happened. Now I'm back, though, and the big plans with me.

For tonight, I just want to leave you with a couple of questions and an assignment: Are you standing in the way of your own success? Do you think you don't have what it takes to launch your freelance career, write guest posts on successful blogs or apply for higher-paying freelance gigs? If that is you, make a list of your writing achievements - I bet you'll find that you've achieved more already than you were aware of. Remember that the next time you find a gig which is right up your street and go for it.

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Posted By: Sonya 1 - Category: writing

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The Myth of Writer's Block

December 23rd 2008 02:13

I just read a great book on writing called How to Write a Lot: A Practical Guide to Productive Academic Writing by Paul Silvia (ISBN 978-1591477433; American Psychological Association, 2007). Although the book is aimed at academic writers such as college students and professors, I found a great deal of valuable information for freelance writers as well. Silvia takes the position that writing is a mundane task and should be approached as a job that must be completed. This differs greatly from other writing books that teach reluctant writers how to be “inspired” or get in touch with their “inner writer.” Silvia simply says, “Hey, writing sucks. Here’s how to get words on paper.”

I like Silvia’s no-nonsense approach to writing. He says that for academic writers (and in our case, professional writers), there is no such thing as writer’s block. Unlike poets and novelists, we don’t have to wait for inspiration. We need to just sit down and start writing. This advice helps us freelance writers because sometimes we tend to be too critical of our own work. If we become perfectionists, nothing will ever get written. This book helps writers understand that sometimes “good” is simply “good enough.” We don’t have to write brilliant prose. We just have to get the information to our readers.

The same goes for blogging. Research shows that successful bloggers are not necessarily the best writers. They just write a lot! As a result, their work shows up on more search engines. As a result, they have more readers. As a result, they get more ad clicks. See how it works?

Here are some of the tips Silvia gives for how to write a lot:

1. Just sit down and start writing. Don’t make excuses, and don’t wait for just the right moment. Just as you brush your teeth every day, sit down and write every day.

2. Set a schedule and stick to it. Set writing goals for yourself. After reading this book, I have decided to try to write at least 500 words a day. The words can be in a blog, in an article, or even in an email. But I need to get 500 words out of my head and onto the computer each and every day. This is a realistic goal, and it will keep me in the habit of writing.

3. Write a lot, write often. Don’t focus on writing well. Instead, focus on the task of writing. You can always go back and revise later. Sometimes the hardest part is getting the words out in the first place. So just start writing.

This book is only about 150 pages long, but it is packed with practical, no-nonsense advice. I recommend it for anyone who struggles with writing.

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Posted By: Momniscient - Category: writing

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New Year's Resolutions for Freelance Writers

December 21st 2008 19:20

With 2009 just around the corner, I thought I would share some great New Year's Resolutions that every freelance writer should adopt. With these simple tips, you are sure to grow your freelance writing career in the coming year.

1. Develop a business plan. Freelancing is a business just like any other, and the key to any successful business is a solid business plan. If you don't already have one, visit the U.S. Small Business Administration for tips on how to write a business plan. A plan will give you specific goals to reach in 2009 and keep you focused on your priorities. It will also provide a marketing strategy.

2. Set a schedule and stick to it. Just because you work from home doesn't mean you have to be on the job 24 hours a day. It's easy to get consumed with work and spend all day in front of the computer screen. This isn't healthy, and it's probably not what you envisioned when you started this gig. To prevent this, create a work schedule and stick to it. When the end of your work day comes, turn off the computer and get on with your life.

3. Write every day. The best way to improve your writing skills is to write, write, write. Just like exercise, the more you write the stronger your writing abilities will become. Even if you are not working on paying jobs every day, find an opportunity to write a blog or another enjoyable writing activity. Practice makes perfect.

4. Find new income streams regularly. Set a goal for yourself to find a new place to write regularly. It could be once a week or once a month, but always be looking for a new opportunity to get paid. I try to find a new legitimate Web site once a week. So far, I've had great luck discovering new places to make money by writing.

5. Start or maintain a blog. Blogging gives you that daily practice in writing, and it also gives you a good place to promote yourself. Blogging can also make you money if you do it regularly. The key to making money with a blog is to write, write, write. You have to stick with it, and eventually your hits will grow.

6. Read books on writing. If you haven't read William Zinsser's On Writing Well or William Strunk's Elements of Style, you are not writing to your full potential. As a writer, it is essential that you read books on how to write well. Consider it your professional development. Make a point to read a book a month.

8. Write for fun. Don't let all the writing you do be work-related. Chances are you chose this profession because at one time you actually enjoyed writing. Tap into that joy and just write for fun sometimes. If you find that all the writing you do is for the sole purpose of profit, you will begin to resent yourself. Give yourself a chance to have some writing down-time, whether it's through a journal or a blog. Have fun in 2009.

9. Connect with other freelancers. Freelance writing can be a lonely profession. You spend all day on the computer, and you get little interaction with other people. Make a point to connect with some of your peers in the coming year. Join a social networking site like Writing.com to share ideas and meet other writers.

10. Pay your taxes. One of the first orders of business for 2009 will be to pay your 2008 taxes. Be sure to have all your paperwork in order so Uncle Sam won't have to hunt you down to get paid. If you didn't make any money in 2008, take this opportunity to get all your files in order for your 2009 taxes.

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Posted By: Momniscient - Category: writing

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Break the Block: Tip #44

October 17th 2008 11:59

Follow this prompt to help break or prevent writer’s block. Use your word processor, your blog, or handwrite this out. Remember that whatever works best for you will yield the best results.

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Posted By: Jenn Hollowell - Category: writing

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Break the Block: Tip #43

October 16th 2008 12:11

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Posted By: Jenn Hollowell - Category: writing

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Break the Block: Tip #42

October 15th 2008 12:22

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Posted By: Jenn Hollowell - Category: writing

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Break the Block: Tip #41

October 14th 2008 11:11

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Posted By: Jenn Hollowell - Category: writing

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Don’t Count the Hours!

October 13th 2008 17:00

When I worked a salaried position, I made the mistake of taking my pay and figuring out how much I was making per hour. My supervisor was very upset with me and shouted, “Don’t count the hours!” I was earning around $20,000 per year back then and, when I figured out my hourly wage, it was about $3.72 because I worked SO much.

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Posted By: Jenn Hollowell - Category: writing

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