Tag Archive
Take a Break
When you are having trouble with an assignment or other business-related thing, go out and get a cup of joe. Yeah, maybe you already have a whole pot of joe sitting on the counter, or, maybe you don’t like joe…whatever. Just get up and outta your house and get some perspective on whatever is... »
Your Pride and Your Prejudice
There is a difference between valuing your time enough to set reasonable prices for your work and thinking that you are some omnipotent ruler’s gift to the industry. There are many amazing writers nipping at your heels who simply don’t know how to value their own writing. Many of them are just as smart,... »
Nichify Your Niche
You probably know that it is easier to find clients, charge decent prices, and establish yourself as an authority when you choose a niche to write in. But did you know you can make your niche even…nichier? For instance, let’s say you are a science writer. What if you instead became an earth science... »
It’s All Relative
Once your relatives realize you are a writer, it may be come open “free work request” season. From proofreading your nephew’s term paper to writing an online dating profile for your newly divorced brother, your talents will be called upon. When this happens, remember that your time and your talent is valuable. If you want... »
Become a Better Writer
Not all writers have all grammar rules memorized. In fact, I bet 90% of them don’t. Here are some quick resources to help improve your writing, from a grammatical standpoint: Grammar Girl Online Writing Lab from Purdue (umm…no, not like the chicken) Guide to Grammar and Writing »
Feeling Bored and Used Up? Go Outside
The freelancing lifestyle is not for everyone. The long hours at home can feel like a prison sentence to some people so Panera, Starbucks and other Wi-Fi’d coffee spots get their all-day patronage, but that’s not exactly fun and interesting either. In fact, it’s like changing one box for another. Instead, why not grab a... »
Turn Off Your Wifi
There are times when I have the attention span of a gnat. I can not focus on a single task and instead flit about from Google reader, to Adsense numbers, to Twitter, to Facebook, to Skype IM, to CNN, to EOnline in such rapid succession, you’d think my multiple personalities were playing musical chairs... »
How To Start Writing
It’s easy to start writing—if you can set aside 20 minutes over a lunch break or before bedtime, you can start quite simply. Try writing micro-fiction or a mini blog post (like these). Set a limit–two paragraphs maximum, for example. Try to make each little project completely self-contained with a beginning, middle and end. Do that... »
Do I Need A Degree To Be A Writer?
Many ask, few believe when you tell them a freelance writer does NOT need a diploma of any kind. While it is true that freelance writing for medical journals and other highly specialized publications do require degrees in the field of concern, as a general rule you don’t need a degree to write for magazines,... »
