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In September, I tried something new.
I attended my first business-related conference (SumoCon, hosted by AppSumo.)
The thing was: I wasn’t really sure if conferences were for me.
I’d been to my fair share of work-related conferences in the past (and at this point in my freelancing career) I went in knowing that it very likely might not become a habit.
Read moreYou know what I hate?
I hate waiting.
Life involves a lot of waiting. Waiting in lines, waiting at stoplights, waiting for a package to arrive...It's just part of the process. We have to deal with it.
Stop Taking Edits So Personally
Writing is the first hurdle.
Getting your edits done is the second.
You think you’re all done with a project and then…Ha! Nope. You’ve got some re-writing to do.
Read moreThis is kind of embarrassing.
When I started freelancing, I did some things that, looking back, I wish I wouldn’t have.
But…you live and you learn. So, I’m gunna share this with you today so you can have some lols and hopefully learn from me too. Don’t lol too much, please.
Today, I’m sharing all of my favorite things that make life as a freelance writer easier. Think of it as a freelance writer starter kit that I’ve put together just for you.
It took me about three years to discover and realize the importance of these different things, so I’m hoping this will save you some time. Let’s dive in.
Remember a couple of weeks ago when I talked about freelancing and loneliness?
Well, there’s something else I’ve been wrestling with, too.
It’s competition.
Not competition with my peers—competition with myself.
I’ve noticed something.
Short, compelling sentences work as an intro.
They work well.
Why is that?
Most weeks, I write anywhere from 8,000-10,000 words for various projects. That’s some pretty serious writing, I think.
Remember in school when a 500-word paper seemed daunting? Yeah. Welcome to my life. I do that 20x a week sometimes.
Read moreHave you ever tried writing about something you really don’t know much about?
It’s ridiculously hard.
Even the best writer will spend 3-4x longer putting together a piece about a subject they’re unfamiliar with because, well, they have to learn about it first. Duh.
For the most part, I love the fact that I get to work from home.
I get to walk my dog, wear sweatpants, and don’t have the office interruptions that are productivity’s worst nightmare. I can really knock out some writing assignments with long, uninterrupted stretches of silence.
I started freelance writing about two and a half years ago. I was doing it on the side, and eventually, I realized that with the referrals I was getting, it was feasible to make it my full-time gig.
Read moreDo you see that title? It’s wordy.
Just like the posts I want to share with you today.
Part of my daily work as a freelance writer is putting together long, in-depth pieces on…you guessed it…writing.
OMG, I need more freelance writing work.
Whether you’re just starting your freelance writing career, or if business is a little slow, you might feel the above sentiment.
Read moreEvery now and then, I get stuck. I have days where my brain goes into full-on meltdown mode, and throws a tantrum like a tiny child in the toy store—flailing and crying and completely refusing to do anything but what it’s supposed to.
I guess you could call it writer’s block, but I just call it an off day.
Writing Conversationally
I’ve had a few clients come to me specifically because they wanted me to create content with a nice, light, readable tone.
It feels conversational, and therefore, it fosters a connection with readers right off the bat. It’s not robotic or overly formal—which is a problem many businesses struggle to overcome with their audiences. They sound more like a faceless organization than real human beings running a company.
As a writer, your time is money.
Thus, waste less time = make more money.
One of the biggest time wasters is going back and forth with a new client over all of the minutia of your new gig. There are questions that need asked and answered, documents that need signed, and details that need ironing out.
Let’s face it: Writing is hard.
Lots of people don’t feel confident about their writing abilities—so if you fall into this category, you’re not alone.
I don’t know about you, but most of my new writing gigs come by way of the people I currently work with. I have them write testimonials for my work any time we wrap up a project, and then I use those in my marketing efforts moving forward.
Read moreYou already have your brand’s voice defined, but when it comes to writing, can you speak your customers’ language, too? Finding a way to do both isn’t always easy.
For example: When I sit down to write a blog post for my personal website, I know that it’s not going to be in the right tone for every person who might read it. Some of my clients want a funny, conversational tone, while others want a more serious and formal writing voice.
Read moreContent managers and freelance writers work together all the time, but do they always see eye to eye?
Nope.
Sometimes freelance writers expect better guidelines from content managers. Other times, content managers expect freelance writers to have a stronger grasp on their brand.
Read more