Archives for April 2015

Why and How Freelancers Should Invest Their Money

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Being a freelance writer comes with many advantages and unique challenges. While you’re technically able to set your own hours, work from wherever you want, and accept and decline projects as you please, the reality is that you’re often at the mercy of your clients. During a busy period, this can mean long hours, busy schedules, and little time for handling other issues in your personal life.

It is thus important to have a plan for your finances. One idea is this: how freelancers should invest their money. If you have something extra, make your money work for you. [Read more…]

15 Encouraging Writing Quotes for When You Feel Like a Failure

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Last year, I wrote a piece about things that you can do when you feel like a failure. About a year later, I find it a slightly weird coincidence that I am writing something about the same topic.

I am not sure if it’s because my subconscious is telling me that I feel like a failure (because I honestly don’t), or if it really is just a coincidence.

In any case, we all need some encouragement from time to time. The reasons may vary. A client may be dissatisfied with your work. You may have the blues, resulting in low output. You may feel that your work isn’t good enough.

Whatever the reason may be, I hope these encouraging writing quotes will give you a morale boost.

1. If you can tell stories, create characters, devise incidents, and have sincerity and passion, it doesn’t matter a damn how you write. – Somerset Maugham

2. It took me fifteen years to discover I had no talent for writing, but I couldn’t give it up because by that time I was too famous. – Robert Benchley

3. Any man who keeps working is not a failure. He may not be a great writer, but if he applies the old-fashioned virtues of hard, constant labor, he’ll eventually make some kind of career for himself as writer. – Ray Bradbury

4. If you have other things in your life—family, friends, good productive day work—these can interact with your writing and the sum will be all the richer. – David Brin

5. Get it down. Take chances. It may be bad, but it’s the only way you can do anything really good. – William Faulkner

6. Rejection slips, or form letters, however tactfully phrased, are lacerations of the soul, if not quite inventions of the devil—but there is no way around them. – Isaac Asimov

7. If you write one story, it may be bad; if you write a hundred, you have the odds in your favor. – Edgar Rice Burroughs

8. Keep on beginning and failing. Each time you fail, start all over again, and you will grow stronger until you have accomplished a purpose…not the one you began with perhaps, but one you’ll be glad to remember. – Anne Sullivan Macy

9. Few things are impossible to diligence and skill. Great works are performed not by strength, but perseverance. – Samuel Johnson

10. The one ironclad rule is that I have to try. I have to walk into my writing room and pick up my pen every weekday morning. – Anne Tyler

11. Mistakes are the portals of discovery. ~ James Joyce

12. Real courage is when you know you’re licked before you begin,
but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what. – Harper Lee

13. I’m not a very good writer, but I’m an excellent re-writer. – James Michener

14. In the name of God, stop a moment, cease your work, look around you. – Leo Tolstoy

15. No writing is wasted. Did you know that sourdough from San Francisco is leavened partly by a bacteria called lactobacillus sanfrancisensis? It is native to the soil there, and does not do well elsewhere. But any kitchen can become an ecosystem. If you bake a lot, your kitchen will become a happy home to wild yeasts, and all your bread will taste better. Even a failed loaf is not wasted. Likewise, cheese makers wash the dairy floor with whey. Tomato gardeners compost with rotten tomatoes. No writing is wasted: the words you can’t put in your book can wash the floor, live in the soil, lurk around in the air. They will make the next words better. ― Erin Bow

Allow yourself to feel discouraged, but don’t dwell on it. Get up and do what you can do. Before you realize it, you’ll be back with a vengeance.

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Is Hiring a Writing Mentor Worth the Money?

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Editor’s note: This post was written by Rachel MacDonald, a travel and lifestyle writer with over 7 years of experience navigating the ups and downs of freelance life.

Does it feel like someone’s hit the pause button on your freelance career? Are you finding it hard to secure new clients? Or are you thinking of taking your career to the next level by writing a book? There’s a veritable smorgasbord of DIY writing tools and helpful communities online, but sometimes it helps to speak to a real, live person who’s successfully achieved the career goals that you’re aiming for.

hire writing mentor

Many professional writers turn to writing coaches or mentors at some point in their career, whether it’s for advice or a general motivational kick in the pants.

But coaching doesn’t come cheap. When do the results justify the cost of a writing mentor, and how do you know if this approach is right for you?

Reasons to hire a coach

In a group writing class, you may have to spend time working on areas that you already consider strengths and skip over areas that might be weaknesses. A mentoring session provides one-on-one instruction, giving you focussed attention on the areas you need help with most. In many ways, a writing mentor serves many of the same purposes as any career coach, in that they help you present yourself in the best possible way. This could include giving you the confidence you need to send out effective pitches, which could lead to more work in the future. A good coach gives you the tools you need to handle challenges in your writing career, and overcome roadblocks with actionable goals. They can give you a fresh pair of objective eyes for your work, giving insight into the viewpoint of the editors and clients you’re trying to impress.

Assess the cost

Just as writers charge a wide range of fees for their services, so do mentors. The cost will depend on a coach’s experience, as well as the type of experience you’re in need of. For a general phone consultation, you won’t be too far out of pocket. However, in-depth coaching over a longer term period could cost anything from a few hundred dollars a month to upwards of $10,000. At this level, it’s vital to think about how much you expect to earn and whether you can fit this cost into your business budget. Don’t forget that there are numerous resources online available for free as you’re just starting out – a coach is really to take you to the top of your game.

Find the right fit

The cost is just one facet of coaching to think about. It’s important to sit down and define your goals as a writer before you even start the process of looking for a mentor, because this allows you to find the right fit for your needs. It’s best to look for a mentor who has already achieved the goals you’re setting for yourself. Look for a mentor or coach who is experienced in your particular writing niche, whether it’s food writing, historical fiction, or digital marketing.

The next step is to check this person’s credentials carefully. The last thing you want is a mentor who has embellished his or her resume in a bid to make a money off of gullible newbie writers. Read each mentor’s work to get a feel for their writing styles, and determine whether this might mesh well with your own. Ask for client references and testimonials, and follow up with these. Writing coaches should be happy to answer any questions you might have via a phone, email, or in-person interview before you hire them.

Not every writer needs a coach, but when you’re feeling stuck and need guidance to bring your A-game this can be a worthy investment. Just be sure to explore all your options carefully to find a coach who not only fits within your budget, but understands what you’re trying to achieve and has the experience to back up their advice

 

 

3 Ways Graphics Affect Us: An Infographic

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As writers, words are our tools – maybe even playthings.

We choose them carefully. We hear how they sound in our heads. We see them in our mind’s eye. We weave sentences together and connect those sentences to send a message perfectly.

We focus on words.

It is thus understandable that, sometimes, we underestimate the power of graphics. In this age of writing for the Web, we just can’t afford to do that.

If you’re a content writer or a copywriter whose client only wants text, then that’s a different situation. If you publish for blogs or online magazines, however, you know just how crucial graphics are.

Images can make or break a blog post or article.

Infographic Resumes for Freelance Writers: Use Words and Images to Attract Clients

It is thus useful to understand the ways graphics affect us, how they affect our readers. As they say, you have to put yourself in your readers’ shoes in order to give them what they want and need.

To aid you in understanding the ways graphics affect us, here is an infographic (how meta!) that gives us a look into the psychology of graphics. It covers the early use of graphics in history, their different types and uses, as well as how our brains react to different colors.

It really is an interesting visual aid that will help writers for the Web in selecting images, videos, and other visuals.

ways graphics affect us

Click here to see more infographics from Bigstock

Did this infographic help you understand the use of visuals better? Why not share your thoughts and experiences in the comments?

How Freelance Writers Can Earn “Big Money”

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“Big money” is obviously relative. For some freelance writers, this could mean at least $50 per hour. For others, this could be at least $100 per hour.

freelance writers earn more
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No matter what figure you consider big money, you can reach that goal. It may take a bit more work than you’re currently doing, but with these four simple tips, you will increase your worth.

Make sure you’ve got the writing chops.

First things first. You’re a writer. Therefore, you need to make sure that you know what you’re doing, that your writing skills are above par.

Go one step further. Make sure your writing skills are so good that clients can’t help but be impressed.

Additionally, know what kind of writing fits client requirements. Learn how to write copy for landing pages if you are targeting that niche. Learn how to write well-researched articles if you want to reach out to clients who need this type of content.

Be honest with yourself. How good a writer are you? What areas can use improvement?

Train yourself to write fast.

Really fast. The faster you write, the more work you can take on, and the more money you can earn. However, do not lose sight of the fact that, on its own, writing fast won’t lead to big money.

You can be a blazingly fast writer, but if the quality of your work suffers, then you’re better off writing slowly and delivering excellent work.

Read Only if You Want to Write Better and Faster

How do you train yourself to write fast?

Go easy on yourself when writing the first draft. Just go ahead and write as quickly as you can. Once you’re done, edit and polish your article. It may be difficult in the beginning, but once get the hang of it, you’ll write even faster.

Don’t get stuck on research.

Here’s another way to help yourself to write quickly. Focus on what’s most important: the writing.

Yes, research is necessary in many cases. If you’re not an expert on the topic you’re working on, then you’ll definitely spend more time on research. However, do not spend more time than you have to on this activity!

You don’t need to spend hours and hours on research and ground work. Just get the information you absolutely need to get the job done well, and get on with it!

Note: research may include reading background material, looking up stats, interviews, and so on. You may have to do some tests to determine just how much research you need to do (on average).

Avoid quoting per hour.

We often see hourly rates in job ads, don’t we? That works most of the time, but if you want to earn more for a project, don’t give an hourly quote.

Instead, mention a flat fee for the whole project. The trick is to do the math so that the flat fee you quote gives you the hourly rate that you want.

Follow the advice of expert negotiators: quote a fee that gives you leeway to negotiate. Also determine beforehand the lowest amount you will accept.

These are ways freelance writers earn more. Although it does not encompass everything, it is a good start. Do you have your own success stories? Share them with us, and help fellow freelance writers earn more!

Greeting Card Writing Tips

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I’d like to think that freelance writers are some of the most versatile creatives out there. Most of us can write about a variety of topics, use different styles, and reach out to various audiences.

greeting card writing tips
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One interesting market for freelance writers, which challenges one’s creativity more than usual is the greeting card market. If you are thinking of trying this niche out, we have a comprehensive resource material about it: How to Break into the Greeting Card Market. [Read more…]

Ways to Get in the Writing Zone

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Writing for a living is not as easy as others would think, is it? Whether you’re writing your novel, or you’re writing articles and blog posts for clients, there are periods when you just can’t seem to focus.

There are those times, however, when you get in the writing zone, and you seem to be a lean mean writing machine. Thank the muses!

Unfortunately, getting in the writing zone is not always as simple as opening the door and entering your home office. On the flip side, there are things you can do to help get in the writing zone. [Read more…]

How Did You Start Your Freelance Writing Career?

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I was browsing Reddit earlier, when I found a thread titled “What was your first paid freelance gig?”. There were quite a few interesting answers, and it got me thinking about my own experience.

Today, I’m going to turn things over to you and ask you to share your own experience: how did you start your freelance writing career?

Before that, allow me to share some stories.

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Is Ghostwriting Bad for Your Freelance Writing Career?

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ghost_writer_mask

Freelancers have passionate feelings both for and against ghostwriting. Some say that ghostwriting is dishonest, and they suggest it will sink your career. Others take great pride in their ghostwriting work and in the relationships they build with high-quality clients.

Ghostwriting can be a good source of income, especially in your early freelancing days. Whether you continue as a ghostwriter depends on your goals for your writing career. In the end, whether or not you take ghostwriting work is a highly personal choice. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of ghostwriting work. [Read more…]

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