Need a quick lesson to freshen up your vocabulary?
I’ve gathered a few fun words and writing resources that’ll help you punch up your writing in less time than it takes to brush your teeth.
Read moreFreelance Tools I *Actually* Use
There’s no real guide to freelancing. You have to be a-jack-of-all-trades, so having a “tech stack “(or a few handy tools) to help you along the way is a major key to success.
Here are the freelance tools I use on a regular basis.
Read moreGoodbye MailChimp, Hello ConvertKit
I’ve decided to leave Mailchimp and switch to a new platform: ConvertKit.
About a month ago, I migrated over and have been watching my reports to see how performance varied. More on that in a sec, but first...here's why I decided to switch.
Read moreFreelance Writers + the Apprenticeship Model
Did you know that the apprenticeship model extends all the way back to the Middle Ages? It’s true: A master craftsman would employ young people as an inexpensive form of labor in exchange for providing food, lodging, and formal training in a craft.
Apprenticeships are still used today, but in the freelance world, I don't see people talking about it.
Read moreHow to Hire & Work with a Ghostwriter
For the most part, everybody has a reason they don’t write as much as they like to.
But what they don't realize is that there are skilled ghostwriters who can help with the execution piece. We're looking at how to find, work with, and leverage a ghostwriter so you can publish more original content.
Read moreWriting Practice: Focus on Tiny Wins
A few weeks ago, I decided to alter my diet a bit.
Quarantine has me stress-eating (and loading up on sugar, alcohol, and comfort foods.)
The result = feeling like garbage.
Writing Lessons from the Existentialists
For the past few weeks, I’ve been reading about Existentialism. A thought clicked while I was reading: There’s a very prominent tie to writing within this particular philosophy because much of it relates to how we describe and interpret the world around us (through words.)
This is relevant not just to folks who consider themselves writers by trade or hobby, but to all of us. We all communicate with others through the medium of words—and the better we are at doing that, the more clearly and effectively we can share what’s inside our minds.The question is: How?
How to Write More (and Get Out of Your Own Way)
So often, ideas get stuck in writers’ heads (and never make it to the page.)
Here’s how to work past that and get more writing done.
Read moreThree Black Writers You Should Know
Right now's not the time for me to share another writing lesson. It's time for me to shut up, to listen, and to be a better ally. That's why instead I want to spotlight three Black writers.
I'd encourage you to check them out and follow along with what they're doing. For me, they've been huge sources of inspiration and are generally just wonderful, intelligent people who have important things to say.
Live Sessions + Teaching Writing Lessons via Crowdcast
Over the past few months, I’ve been experimenting with teaching writing lessons in a live format via Crowdcast. So far I’ve done four live (paid) sessions that average about 10-15 people each as well as one free Q&A session (which had almost 100 attendees.)
Read moreHow Does Freelance Writing Work?
Remember that feeling you had as a teenager the first time you slid behind the steering wheel of your parents’ car?
You get in, fire it up, and grab the wheel with a white-knuckle-death-grip as you jerk your way around an empty high school parking lot.
Read moreHow to Become a Freelance Writer
If you’re researching jobs that let you escape the office and be your own boss, being a freelance writer probably tops most lists you’ll find online.
You can work wherever you want (as long as you have an internet connection), whenever you want (please sleep from time to time), and for whoever you want (assuming they want to work with you, too).
But what does a freelance writer do, exactly? And how do you become one?
Read moreWays to Find Freelance Writing Jobs
When you’re just starting out as a freelance writer, it’s tempting to use job boards like Upwork to try and find work. I have two words of advice: DO NOT. Before you burn yourself out vying for low-paying gigs and shady clients with thousands of other freelancers, take a breath.
Ask yourself: if you were your dream client, who would you rather hire:
A person who you know nothing about beyond a form they completed on a freelancer marketplace?
Or a trusted member of your professional community?
Quick Guide for New Freelance Writers
I’ve created a quick guide for new freelance writers who are just starting to dip their toes in the waters of the freelancing world.
This will give you answers to some of the many questions that come up as you’re just getting started--and will point you in the direction of some helpful resources, too.
Read moreWhat does a freelance writer do?
How to Get People to Read Your Posts
We all know that attention spans are shorter than ever (about 7-8 seconds on average, in fact.) Compound this with the distractions that crop up every minute of the day in the modern world, and you’ve got a major challenge on your hands when it comes to getting someone to sit still and actually read something you’ve written.
Read moreHow to Write a Stellar About Page
Writing About page copy is something a lot of people struggle with, because:
It feels gross and weird to write about yourself
It’s hard to know what’s too much (or too little) information
You don’t want to creep people out or scare people off by over-sharing
And these are just a few of the things that trip people up when they sit down to write this particular page.
BUT! Don’t worry. I’m gunna help you with a few easy suggestions. Let’s get right to ‘em.
Common Freelance Writing Questions Answered
Last week after I did a live Q&A session, I realized it’d probably be helpful to pull together a FAQ of sorts that puts answers to common freelancing-related questions all in one place.
Honestly, I don’t know why I hadn’t done this already. UGH.
So, without further ado: Here are my quick, short-form answers to common freelancing questions and links to longer-form reads that answer these questions more fully.
I hope you bookmark this page and share it with others.
Read moreCommon Writing Questions Answered
I pulled together a FAQ that puts answers to common writing-related questions all in one place. Here are my quick, short-form answers and links to longer-form reads that answer these questions in depth.
Read moreWhy You Need to Rhyme
Hope you're doing okay right now. If you're like me, maybe you too are having trouble sleeping and feel like your anxiety is at an all-time high with everything that's going on. You're not alone in that.
That said, I've been working to keep the worries at bay. Which brings us to today's topic.
Shakespeare.
Sylvia Plath.
Notorious B.I.G.
Bob Dylan.
What do they all have in common?