The story of how I helped Paul Jarvis revamp The Creative Class, a course about the business side of freelancing. Currently open until 10/17.
Read MoreWhy Punctuation Matters
When we talk about writing, we often think only about words.
But the more I write, the more I realize that punctuation…it’s huge.
It determines how your words are read, understood, and interpreted.
I’m not talking about proper grammar, either. I don’t care so much about that.
This is a conversation about how punctuation influences the style and voice of your writing. Let me illustrate with an example:
End-of-Summer Thoughts
Summer’s over.
Usually this makes me sad.
I think, “Where did the time go? I didn’t do all the things I wanted to do!”
But this summer, I feel like I finally got it right. I allowed myself to enjoy the flexibility of freelancing.
The Most Important Lesson I Can Teach You About Writing Right Now
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about quality vs. quantity when it comes to writing.
The reason: I did some math recently.
If I’ve been averaging 3,600 words per week for almost four years now, that means I’ve written more than 691,000 words.
Um…that’s a lot of words. It’s kind of hard to wrap my mind around.
5 Common Writing Mistakes to Avoid
Know what?
There are a few writing and grammar mistakes that are a lot more common than you'd think. We see them all the time (and don't even realize it.)
The thing is: If you're making these errors on a regular basis, your co-workers and peers have probably noticed. That's not a good thing.
My Daily Writing Routine
Several readers have asked about my daily writing routine, so today, I wanted to share it with you.
Now, keep in mind that just because this routine works for me, it doesn’t mean it’s going to for you.
Sometimes I see these types of posts and it gives off the impression you have to mirror another person’s routine to achieve the same results. Not so.
Messaging Strategy Document: What It Is and Why You Need One
Writing anything is difficult when you don’t have clear direction.
If you don’t know whom you’re writing for (or how the writing voice should sound, what your goals are, etc.) you’re kind of just winging it every time.
But successful writing doesn't ever "wing it." It's strategic, clear, and powerful.
That’s where a messaging strategy document comes in handy. I recently put one of these together, which is why it’s fresh in my mind.
Where to Work When You’re Tired of Working from Home
So, I’ve been working from a home office for about four years now.
I love our little house, but sometimes…I don’t.
Working in the same place day in and day out where I also spend my non-working hours can get a bit monotonous.
Boring to Brilliant: How to Improve Snooze-Worthy Writing
Ever feel like what you’re writing is just kind of...bland?
Writing ruts happen to the best of us.
- Maybe it’s because you’ve been writing about the same topic for so long.
- Maybe you’ve become immersed in your niche, and you’ve lost external perspective.
- Maybe you’re just real tired and need a lil’ nappy.
I Went to Europe (And Fell Behind)
I got a little behind on posting this, and I haven't done that for more than a year. Writing here is important to me, so I always try to work ahead and schedule things out...even if I'm going to be away.
Read More8 Must-Read Books That Will Improve Your Writing Skills
This week, I wanna talk about books on writing.
The business world needs better writers, as indicated by studies that show writing training is a billion-dollar industry and research that shows writing is a skill desired by 73% of hiring managers.
Making Friends & Being Kind is Good for Your Freelance Career
The other day, I tweeted something that got more engagement than anything I’ve ever tweeted before.
It said: “Freelancer math: Connections + conversations + being nice = $”
I think it was popular because it distills a fairly complex concept into a simple idea, which is:
Brainstorming Blog Topics (That People Actually Want to Read)
Anyone can crank out blog content.
TBH, there’s lots of garbage produced every day.
The reason: Not everyone can dream up relevant topics that people are actually interested in reading.
How to Combat Scope Creep in Freelance Writing Jobs
Ever had a writing client who keeps adding more to your plate?
They want you do to just a few more things—no big deal.
At least that’s how they phrase it.
5 Ways to Improve Your Copy on Landing Pages
Landing page, sales page, donation page…these all have a common goal: Get the reader to take some sort of action.
The question is: How do ya get them to do that?
Let’s look at a few proven ways you can fine-tune your copy on these pages to make them more effective (for yourself, or for clients.)
How to Format Your Content Like the Pros
I’ve noticed some commonalities amongst some of the top sites that I write for from time to time.
(I’m talking about the Copyhackers, SumoMe, and Kissmetrics-type blogs.)
Know what it is?
Oops! I messed up. Now what?
Freelance writers make mistakes from time to time. We’re all human. It happens.
Maybe you forgot about part of an assignment. Maybe you missed a deadline. Maybe you embarrassed a client without even realizing it.
Regardless of the scope of the damage, there’s definitely a wrong and a right way to go about resolving an issue with a client. So let’s talk about how to do that.
Introducing: Coaching!
When I was getting started with my own freelance writing business, I wanted those questions answered, too. The trouble was: I had no one to ask.
I tried different courses and eBooks, but my issue was that nothing felt like it was exactly suited for what I was doing. There was a lot of generalized information to learn from, but what about my questions? I just wanted someone to talk to that could help me find my way and share what they’d learned, too.
Freelancers Need Community
This week, I want to talk about the importance of community for writers, freelancers, and really, anyone who works from home.
Read More2016: In Review
Greetings from year three of freelancing! Man, time flies.
I loved writing this year in review post last year, so I’m excited to do it again. It’s such a nice way to step out of the day-to-day operations and celebrate all that you’ve accomplished over the past 12 months.
So what was this year like?