Tag: Freelance Writing

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Magazine, Freelance, and Copywriting

How to Start Writing Professionally: Essential steps for Aspiring Authors

Landing your first professional writing gig can feel like an uphill task if you’re an aspiring author. Things can feel particularly bleak if you’re tied to the idea of landing a creative role and don’t want to take on positions in fields like advertising and content creation.

However, some of the world’s most cherished authors started their careers writing for commercial publications. Kurt Vonnegut famously learned his craft as a copywriter, as did novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald and sports journalist Murray Walker.

Being willing to take on commercial roles helps you hone your craft while working on creative side projects. You’ll master the art of the sentence while working on challenging briefs and are sure to widen your vocabulary while searching for new superlatives for a new candy bar or automobile.

Starting a Freelancing Side Hustle

Taking your first steps into the world of freelancing can be an exciting time. Turning your conjugations, commas, and clauses into hard cash is internally rewarding, too, as all that time spent in English classes finally starts to pay off. However, if you want to be successful in freelancing, you’ll need to treat your writing like a business rather than a creative pursuit.

You need to invest in yourself and your skill set to stand out from the crowd. At a minimum, you should set aside funds for further education and devote a few weeks of the year to attending workshops, advertising your new business, and improving your setup.

If you’re working with limited capital, consider taking a personal loan to cover start-up costs like computers, keyboards, and website domain hosting. Personal loans give you some additional flexibility but must be repaid on time lest they impact your credit score. As such, you’ll want to create a clear budget to set you up for long-term success as an author.

You don’t necessarily need to break the bank on courses, either. Some of the best copy/content writing courses are entirely free, including:

These courses cost you nothing and look great on your resume. They also prove that you’re serious about starting in the world of freelance writing and are aware of wider industry trends.  

Setting Yourself Up for Success

Before you can start charging for your wordsmithing skills, you must ensure you are ready to take on work. This may sound odd — after all, you’ve always found time to write for yourself at home — but things get a little more serious when writing professionally. Start by making the most of super-productive time-management tips like:

  • Scheduling time to respond to emails;
  • Minimizing distractions in your workspace;
  • Planning the day’s activities in advance;
  • Set (and stick to!) working hours.

You’ll also need to invest in upgrading your internet connection. Fiber optic offers the best internet for remote work, as it typically offers a huge bandwidth, fast download speeds, and great upload rates. You don’t want to wait for pages to load for emails to send when you’re up against the clock on demanding projects.

When investing in your setup, be sure to pick up two monitors. This insider’s trick will save you hours every week, as you’ll likely be referring to content from across the web when writing copy for businesses, blogs, and big brands. A second monitor will pay dividends in a short period by meaningfully bolstering your productivity and reducing the amount of time you spend clicking through tabs.

You’ll also need to create a strong portfolio if you want to continue to see the cash roll in for your content creation services. A strong portfolio is essential when applying for roles or liaising with clients, as people will want to see that you have a strong track record of producing high-quality content. Work with a website builder to streamline the process or expand your skill set by creating your own site using a hosting service like Weebly, WordPress, or Squarespace.

Finding Time for Creative Projects

Leaping into the world of professional writing can help you hone your wordsmithing skills and can quickly turn into a full-time gig. However, when writing professionally, it’s easy to overlook your own creative projects.


Make time for your next novel, poetry collection, or journalism by creating a writing ritual and scheduling a day for creative projects. For example, if you typically work from Monday to Friday, consider dedicating the occasional Friday solely to non-work projects. Doing so can protect your love for creative writing and will help you achieve goals like publishing short stories or landing a creative position in a poetry journal.

Conclusion 

Writing professionally is easier than most writers imagine. However, before you start charging for your services, you need to ensure that you are set up for success. Get the ball rolling by gaining a few qualifications and upgrading your setup. High-speed wifi, dual monitors, and a basic understanding of SEO principles will set you apart from the crowd and help you earn more as a writer

Amanda Winstead is a writer from the Portland area with a background in communications and a passion for telling stories. Along with writing she enjoys traveling, reading, working out, and going to concerts. If you want to follow her writing journey, or even just say hi you can find her on Twitter.

Categories
Magazine, Freelance, and Copywriting

The Power of Networking: Building Meaningful Connections in the Writing Community

Writing can feel like a solitary career at times. After all, it’s just you, the keyboard, and your ideas for most of the workday. Writing alone is typically the best way to get the bulk of your work done, too, as you don’t want to be surrounded by distractions when you should be writing.

In reality, however, writing is a community-oriented pursuit. Even relatively solitary authors, like Jack Kerouac and Ernest Hemingway, had The Beats (Ginsberg, Burrows, Kaufman) and the Lost Generation (Stein, Fitzgerald, Eliot) for company.

As a writer, you can follow in the footsteps of these literary giants by creating a writing community of your own. Even simple community-building exercises, like joining local book clubs and writing groups, can significantly improve the quality of your prose and the power of your poetry.

Networking and Your Career

Finding a supportive group of writerly friends is a great way to expand your network and find new opportunities. Building a network shows clients and employers that you’re serious about entering the writing industry and that you have what it takes to produce perfect prose and stylistically satisfying sentences.

Building a network should be a core element of creating a career plan, too. Networking allows you to create useful dialogues with colleagues and peers that will serve you well in years to come. This can be invaluable during the job search and application phase, as folks who know you will be able to vouch for your skills and support your long-term vision.

Finding a Mentor

If you want to speed up your career progression, you should consider finding a trusted mentor in your niche. A good mentor can help you spot upcoming opportunities and may play a crucial role in helping you land new clients.

As a creative, asking for help can be powerful, too. When you ask a more experienced peer for help, you show that you’re in need of aid and are willing to work hard in order to overcome barriers. This will build stronger connections with your peers and enhance your emotional well-being (as it always feels good to have a trusted mentor in your corner!). If you’re considering approaching a prospective mentor, get the ball rolling by:

  • Being specific about the areas of aid you need
  • Offer plenty of gratitude for any help you receive
  • Be open to feedback and be willing to explore shortcomings you didn’t know you had
  • Stay in touch with trusted mentors, as they’ll be invaluable when you have a tricky decision to make

Finding a good mentor can make a world of difference to your writing efforts. Just be sure to offer plenty of gratitude, too, as most mentors will work with you for little-to-no pay if you’re respectful of their time.

How to Offer Feedback

At some point, you and your newfound writerly friends are going to swap manuscripts or exchange drafts. This is a sign of trust from your peers, as they are willing to show you a part of their work that is raw and unfinished.

Should you be fortunate enough to be trusted with a first draft, resist the urge to be overly brutal in your feedback, as this is a major misstep that many young writers make. For reasons that are unclear, many novice writers mistake blunt honesty for valuable feedback. Being overly critical of your feedback takes the wind out of your writing friend’s sails and is almost certain to detract from their passion for writing. Instead, try to:

  • Be overwhelmingly positive and point out what is working well. Many writers don’t know what they’re doing well and rely on readers to show them what’s working.
  • Be clear when making critiques but use polite, kind language to overcome the emotional attachment that writers have to their first drafts.
  • Offer resources to your writing friends if you spot a recurring mistake. For example, if you notice that your friend uses comma splices when writing, you should consider typing up something like “I noticed a few comma splices throughout this piece. It may be that it’s just a first draft and that you’ll fix the errors later, but here’s a handy resource you can use to learn more about comma splices and how to fix them.”

Utilizing these tips helps you make friends in the local writing scene, too. Folks are unlikely to promote your work if you’re unnecessarily mean—even if you have perfect prose. Instead, invest in your network by providing feedback that is timely, kind, and authentically useful.

Conclusion

Building meaningful connections in the writing community can be a real boon if you’re new to the industry. Get started by showing up to book clubs and writing groups, as you’re sure to start making connections and community-oriented events. Once you’ve started to build relationships, offer feedback that is overwhelmingly positive and authentically useful to your peers.

Amanda Winstead is a writer from the Portland area with a background in communications and a passion for telling stories. Along with writing she enjoys traveling, reading, working out, and going to concerts. If you want to follow her writing journey, or even just say hi you can find her on Twitter.

Categories
Magazine, Freelance, and Copywriting

The Craft of Realism: Writing Authentic Medical Emergency Scenes in Fiction

Medical scenes can be a great way to explore the natural drama of life. These types of events frequently result in high emotions, life-and-death stakes, and even conflicts. However, it’s also vital to be authentic in your approach. When medical scenes strike a reader as realistic, it can pull them right out of the narrative, leaving you struggling to get them back into it.

Creating effective medical emergency scenes isn’t just about establishing a richly-described setting, with beeping electrocardiogram (ECG) equipment or malfunctioning vending machines. You also need to focus on making the characters and their actions as true to life as possible.

So, how can you go about this? Let’s explore a few things to consider.

Seek Expertise

Unless you are a medical professional, you’re unlikely to have many authentic insights into the professional side of medical emergencies. This is particularly important if you’re writing from the perspectives of doctors, nurses, and paramedics. Sure, many writers have been on the patient side of things, but this isn’t always the same as having the day-to-day technical knowledge to write convincing scenes.

So, what can you do? Wherever possible, seek a source of expertise. Look for medical professionals with experience in the situations you’re hoping to depict. Reach out to your immediate network and see if there are friends or family with connections that you can chat with. Even retired medical providers can give you some useful insights.

While authenticity is important, this doesn’t mean you have to overload your readers with dense medical jargon. That can certainly be off-putting. When you’re talking to experts, aim to get a good overall sense of the actions taken during procedures and the equipment being used. This ensures that you can paint the scene without leaning too heavily on accurate but ultimately meaningless technical data.

Write Empathetically

When you’re writing authentic medical emergencies, it’s essential to remember that professionals in these environments are people. Yes, they have technical knowledge and skills, but that isn’t the be-all and end-all of who they are. These are jobs in which professionals deal with pain, death, fear, and interpersonal connections every day. There’s a deep emotional component to the job that runs through everything they do. Therefore, you need to take an empathetic approach to writing about these characters.

Get into the emotional and practical mindset of professionals. You could consider the key components of thinking like a nurse to better understand their strengths, challenges, and coping mechanisms. For instance, while they are sensitive to patients’ pain and distress, their daily exposure to blood, wounds, and bodily fluids can make them less susceptible to shock in medical emergencies. Their regular handling of difficult circumstances may mean they’re always assessing the risks of a situation, even in their personal lives.

At the same time, these traits that make them effective professionals can also mean they experience too much emotional labor. They’re often putting the needs of others before their own. How they manage this and respond to it can make for great character depth and even be the source of some realistic flaws. Writing empathetically helps you avoid the tropes of the overworked nurse and dig a little deeper into the wider impact of their lives and mental wellness.

Consider Bystander Behavior

Medical professionals and patients are not the only people involved in medical emergency scenes. There are likely to be a range of bystanders such as members of the public at the scene of an accident or other patients in hospital waiting rooms. Being honest and curious about what their responses might be can add another layer of authenticity to your writing.

A good example here is bystanders at the scene of a medical emergency. It’s easy to fall into the trap of showing heroic and capable people who leap in to perform life-saving procedures until the ambulance arrives. This isn’t always accurate though. There are various emotional and practical reasons bystanders don’t attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The burden of responsibility for someone’s life can be too overwhelming or they might be afraid of doing it wrong and causing more damage. Others simply misinterpret the situation as being less serious than it is.

This multitude of responses provides you with resources to make sure even minor characters ring true with your readers. Indeed, the nuances here can offer additional opportunities for drama and high emotion. Will a bystander with a fear of disease or infection be able to overcome this to save a life? What’s going through the head of a civilian with CPR training as they use their skills for the first time?

Conclusion

Achieving an authentic sense of realism is key to crafting impactful medical emergency scenes. This involves not just seeking out experts for research, but also delving into the emotions people are likely to exhibit. Authenticity doesn’t mean you need to forgo elements of fantasy or melodrama; instead, you just want a good foundation to build your fantastic fiction on.

Amanda Winstead is a writer from the Portland area with a background in communications and a passion for telling stories. Along with writing she enjoys traveling, reading, working out, and going to concerts. If you want to follow her writing journey, or even just say hi you can find her on Twitter.

Categories
Magazine, Freelance, and Copywriting

Guarding Your Words: A Writer’s Guide to Intellectual Property Protection

As a writer, it’s always important to recognize your value. This isn’t just about appreciating your level of talent. There’s also tangible worth to your words. Intellectual property (IP) — in this case, your literary creations — can have significant financial worth.

This is something that extends beyond monetizing publishing and distribution rights. Many movie studios are on the lookout for the next potentially profitable IPs to option for movies, TV shows, and other media. Unfortunately, unscrupulous people also recognize the value of your IP. As a result, it may be at risk of misuse or plagiarism, particularly if you’re regularly posting content online in blogs and other media.

Copyright Protections

Copyright is one of the most powerful tools you have as a writer to protect your IP. However, it’s also one of the elements that too many writers don’t fully understand.

So, what is copyright? Well, the way of asserting that you are the creator or owner of a work in a legal sense. It’s designed to prevent disputes over who produced a work and therefore owns the rights associated with it. If you own the copyright, not only can you sell, distribute, and license the work and derivatives of it. It also means that if somebody uses your work without permission, you can issue cease and desist notices and pursue lawsuits for compensation.

There are exceptions, though. While your idea for a character or work might feel like your IP, it is not usually recognized as such legally. You can only copyright a fixed — meaning permanent enough to distribute or reproduce — work. There are also fair use exemptions, which in itself is fairly complex. However, you may find it difficult to defend your IP when people create parodies of your work or use it in news content.

Technically speaking, you gain copyright over your work as soon as it’s created. However, you’ll find you have a stronger case if you need to pursue a lawsuit against someone stealing your IP if you register your copyright with the U.S. copyright office or via an attorney. This creates a clear record of who created an IP and when.

Safeguards During Collaborations

Protecting your IP can be relatively straightforward when you’re a writer working on your own. But in collaborative situations, you might be working on concepts with publishers. Movie and TV production studios will also often put together writer’s rooms to collaborate on creating scripts. With various people involved, this can muddy the waters of who owns IP and how you can protect it.

Your best approach here is to work with your collaborators to establish clear boundaries here. No matter who you’re working with, take the time to talk about who owns the material you produce during sessions. Ask for clarity about whether it’s a work-for-hire situation where the studio owns all materials, or whether you keep work that is unused in the final product.

Particularly in the case of materials that are unused in the final product, one way to help safeguard your IP is to get evidence that you created it. Reliable team collaboration management software can be an effective tool here. These don’t just support smooth project communication. They also tend to keep track of what tasks specific project contributors perform. There’s usually a date stamp for when you upload documents and perform tasks, too. In essence, you’re creating a record of what you provided and when. This can help safeguard against other collaborators claiming your IP as theirs.

Seeking Legal Assistance

There’s only a certain amount you can do individually to protect your IP when it’s stolen. Yes, you can issue a direct complaint to the person breaching the property or send a form cease and desist notice. However, you’ll have more impact when you’re supported by an experienced copyright attorney.

Part of the benefit here is that they can do a lot of the leg work on your behalf. They’ll have professional-level cease and desist letters that they can issue and — importantly — follow through on. They also know the most effective ways to gather a packet of evidence when petitioning the courts if you seek compensation.

Additionally, your attorney may use advanced technology to protect your IP. Some law firms are starting to utilize artificial intelligence (AI) to perform a range of tasks. AI-powered legal assistance platforms can analyze legal texts to identify information or precedents most relevant to support your lawsuit. Some AI software will swiftly and accurately scan contracts to spot unusual or unfair terms related to your IP. However, it’s important to make certain the lawyer
you collaborate with uses such tools ethically and that they do their due diligence to verify the work of their AI tools.

Conclusion

Protecting your IP can take some work, but it’s vital if you want a sustainable writing career. This should include registering your copyright and potentially collaborating with an attorney in theft or plagiarism cases. Even if you’re at a relatively early stage of your career, don’t think your work isn’t suitable for protection. There may be a kernel of something in your work that needs to be nurtured over time. Taking steps to safeguard it now empowers you to utilize it to its fullest in the future.

Amanda Winstead is a writer from the Portland area with a background in communications and a passion for telling stories. Along with writing she enjoys traveling, reading, working out, and going to concerts. If you want to follow her writing journey, or even just say hi you can find her on Twitter.

Categories
Magazine, Freelance, and Copywriting

Embracing Tech Advancements: Powering Freelancer Success in the Modern Landscape

Freelancing as a writer can be deeply rewarding. You’re getting paid to show off your wordsmithing skills and can make a great living while building your brand as a writer. 

However, if you want to stay relevant as a writer, you’ll need to embrace emergent tech advancements that define the digital landscape. Today, that means you should take full advantage of automation, artificial intelligence (AI), and immersive augmented reality (AR) experiences.

Tech and Writing

The recent rise of artificial intelligence has left some writers fearing for their jobs. This is understandable, as programs like ChatGPT can produce pages of prose in the blink of an eye.

In reality, AI programs are designed to help writers — not replace them. You can use recently released programs like Google Bard to conduct pre-writing research and improve the efficiency of your revision process. You can also use programs like Grammarly to edit as you work and improve your understanding of syntax and grammar.

Rather than fearing new innovations, you should see emergent tech as a chance to “level up” your writing process. For example, if you routinely run into writer’s block, you can use a program like ContentAI or Ryter to start brainstorming ideas. This is particularly helpful if you are working with an unfamiliar genre and need to understand the requirements before you can start writing.

You can, of course, choose to eschew all modern tech from your writing process. There’s nothing wrong with a ballpoint pen and a pad of paper — and the tactile feel may help you write a more captivating opening scene. However, automation tech can still help you find freelancing success off the page. 

Automation

Automating the writing process with generative AI may land you in hot water with publishers and clients. After all, they’re paying for your skills, insights, and experiences. Fortunately, you can still use the latest AI tech to increase your profits and decrease your risks.

You can start using automation to increase profitability by augmenting some of the customer relationship management tasks you have to do. This is particularly useful if your brand is growing quicker than you expected. Automation can help you reach out to highly qualified leads or send emails to folks who are in your “follow-up” folder.

AI can streamline the document-management process, too. This is helpful if you’re responsible for creating multiple articles a day and are at risk of losing track of important files. AI-driven document automation can help with storage, classification, and invoicing. This reduces the risk of error and ensures that you actually get paid for your hard work.

The Future of Work

Despite popular belief, the writing process is constantly changing. A hundred years ago, writers like Hemingway and Woolf may have spent their mornings sitting at their typewriter. Today, anything other than electronic writing is all but unthinkable for modern freelancers.

Start embracing the future of work and writing by leveraging AR and virtual environments. For example, if you regularly liaise with global clients, consider investing in a virtual office space where folks can “meet” with you while wearing VR goggles. This may be something of a gimmick for now but could become the norm for contractors and freelancers in years to come.

The metaverse will need writers, too. This means that staying up to date with the latest trends in virtual worlds may be a savvy move if you want to break into game development and virtual entertainment. Just be sure to secure your income with reliable streams, too, as daily activity on sites like Decentraland can vary wildly.

Increase your chances of finding freelancer success by advertising your services on social sites like TikTok and Instagram. Your social presence can serve as a portfolio for your work and may help you connect with clients from around the globe. A well-established social page can even help you diversify your income, as you may be able to land brand sponsorship and ad revenue when posting online.

Conclusion

The future of freelance writing looks bright. Fears of AI replacing writers have largely been assuaged, as folks see that real writers provide more value than AI bots. However, that doesn’t mean you can rest on your laurels.

Instead, embrace the future of work by using the latest innovations to your advantage. Tech advancements like generative AI, automation, and real-time editing can significantly improve your process and help you achieve higher levels of efficiency. You can even use emergent tech like VR goggles to differentiate your brand identity and connect with clients in new and exciting ways.

Amanda Winstead is a writer from the Portland area with a background in communications and a passion for telling stories. Along with writing she enjoys traveling, reading, working out, and going to concerts. If you want to follow her writing journey, or even just say hi you can find her on Twitter.

Categories
Magazine, Freelance, and Copywriting

Embracing Tech Advancements: Powering Freelancer Success in the Modern Landscape

Freelancing as a writer can be deeply rewarding. You’re getting paid to show off your wordsmithing skills and can make a great living while building your brand as a writer. 

However, if you want to stay relevant as a writer, you’ll need to embrace emergent tech advancements that define the digital landscape. Today, that means you should take full advantage of automation, artificial intelligence (AI), and immersive augmented reality (AR) experiences.

Tech and Writing

The recent rise of artificial intelligence has left some writers fearing for their jobs. This is understandable, as programs like ChatGPT can produce pages of prose in the blink of an eye.

In reality, AI programs are designed to help writers — not replace them. You can use recently released programs like Google Bard to conduct pre-writing research and improve the efficiency of your revision process. You can also use programs like Grammarly to edit as you work and improve your understanding of syntax and grammar.

Rather than fearing new innovations, you should see emergent tech as a chance to “level up” your writing process. For example, if you routinely run into writer’s block, you can use a program like ContentAI or Ryter to start brainstorming ideas. This is particularly helpful if you are working with an unfamiliar genre and need to understand the requirements before you can start writing.

You can, of course, choose to eschew all modern tech from your writing process. There’s nothing wrong with a ballpoint pen and a pad of paper — and the tactile feel may help you write a more captivating opening scene. However, automation tech can still help you find freelancing success off the page. 

Automation

Automating the writing process with generative AI may land you in hot water with publishers and clients. After all, they’re paying for your skills, insights, and experiences. Fortunately, you can still use the latest AI tech to increase your profits and decrease your risks.

You can start using automation to increase profitability by augmenting some of the customer relationship management tasks you have to do. This is particularly useful if your brand is growing quicker than you expected. Automation can help you reach out to highly qualified leads or send emails to folks who are in your “follow-up” folder.

AI can streamline the document-management process, too. This is helpful if you’re responsible for creating multiple articles a day and are at risk of losing track of important files. AI-driven document automation can help with storage, classification, and invoicing. This reduces the risk of error and ensures that you actually get paid for your hard work.

The Future of Work

Despite popular belief, the writing process is constantly changing. A hundred years ago, writers like Hemingway and Woolf may have spent their mornings sitting at their typewriter. Today, anything other than electronic writing is all but unthinkable for modern freelancers.

Start embracing the future of work and writing by leveraging AR and virtual environments. For example, if you regularly liaise with global clients, consider investing in a virtual office space where folks can “meet” with you while wearing VR goggles. This may be something of a gimmick for now but could become the norm for contractors and freelancers in years to come.

The metaverse will need writers, too. This means that staying up to date with the latest trends in virtual worlds may be a savvy move if you want to break into game development and virtual entertainment. Just be sure to secure your income with reliable streams, too, as daily activity on sites like Decentraland can vary wildly.

Increase your chances of finding freelancer success by advertising your services on social sites like TikTok and Instagram. Your social presence can serve as a portfolio for your work and may help you connect with clients from around the globe. A well-established social page can even help you diversify your income, as you may be able to land brand sponsorship and ad revenue when posting online.

Conclusion

The future of freelance writing looks bright. Fears of AI replacing writers have largely been assuaged, as folks see that real writers provide more value than AI bots. However, that doesn’t mean you can rest on your laurels.

Instead, embrace the future of work by using the latest innovations to your advantage. Tech advancements like generative AI, automation, and real-time editing can significantly improve your process and help you achieve higher levels of efficiency. You can even use emergent tech like VR goggles to differentiate your brand identity and connect with clients in new and exciting ways.

Amanda Winstead is a writer from the Portland area with a background in communications and a passion for telling stories. Along with writing she enjoys traveling, reading, working out, and going to concerts. If you want to follow her writing journey, or even just say hi you can find her on Twitter.

Categories
Magazine, Freelance, and Copywriting

Writing in the Era of AI: Balancing Opportunity and Uncertainty

Artificial intelligence (AI) has changed the writing world forever. In the past year, AI has transformed from a niche tool for data analysts to an “all-in-one” program capable of replicating human creativity and producing reams of content with a simple prompt.

However, the doomsday-like fears that AI will replace authors, freelance writers, and content creators are largely exaggerated. At their core, AI programs like ChatGPT and Ryter are designed to help writers — not replace them or turn them out onto the street.

As a writer, you can use AI to speed up your research, increase your productivity, and check for errors in your work. You can also use AI to develop a side hustle of your own to support your creativity as you’ll have plenty of time to start a small business with the time you save thanks to powerful deep-learning programs.

Refining Your Voice

The speed and efficiency of natural language processing models mean that they will probably replace low-quality content writers and folks who write for content mills. However, your readers aren’t looking for content that is simply “correct” and SEO-optimized — they’re paying for you.

Rather than competing with Leviathan-like AI models, focus on refining your voice as a writer. A clear, stylistically interesting voice will convince prospective agents and publishers that you are a writer worth bringing on and will keep readers on the page for longer. 

If you’re struggling to discover your writerly identity, ask yourself “To whom am I speaking?”. Focusing on your audience will innately enhance your writerly voice and give you the confidence to make syntactical flourishes and grammatical choices that flaunt your voice and build rapport with your intended audience.

When considering your audience, you may find yourself mistakenly believing that you have nothing to say. This is likely caused by low self-esteem and a lack of experience. As a writer, you are an astute student of the world and always have something to contribute. Fortunately, you can improve your self-esteem by:

  • Prioritizing positive writer relationships
  • Practicing assertiveness when you sit down to write
  • Reining in self-criticism
  • Talking to a counselor or therapist

Remember, you don’t need to be an expert to write on a particular idea or subject. Simply believe in your ability to create credible, engaging content and use AI to help with pre-writing research.

Pre-Writing Research

As a writer, you may be reluctant to create an account with ChatGPT or Ryte — particularly if you believe that they will “steal” your job one day. However, writers have been using tools for centuries. We’ve come a long way from quills and dip pens, but you should still make use of the latest breakthroughs in tech.

You can use AI to speed up the pre-writing research phase and improve the veracity of your work. For example, imagine you’ve been asked to produce a blog post titled “The Best Summer Annuals for Large Flower Beds.” However, you know nothing about gardening and don’t know your petunias from your pansies.

Rather than spending hours scouring the web for expert advice, start your search with a simple prompt on a program like ChatGPT. Something like “What annuals will fill a large flower bed?”. This will likely generate a list of useful options for you to consider. However, you aren’t finished researching just yet.

Take the information that ChatGPT has generated and follow up with several Google searches based on your findings. Focus on authoritative sources and truly learn from the blog posts and articles that you find. When it’s time to write, close the AI program that you used to get the ball rolling and focus on writing high-quality copy that reflects your voice and links to all the appropriate sources.

This AI-driven style of research will save you plenty of time and help you get an overview of any given subject. It’s your job to turn your research into reader-friendly paragraphs that are accurate, enjoyable to read, and SEO-friendly.

Starting Your Own Side Hustle

As an author or freelance writer, you’re usually a small cog in a much bigger wheel. You produce thousands of words per day but only get paid based on the rates agreed upon with clients or publishers.

However, AI can change this paradigm and put you in the driver’s seat. Leverage your strengths to create a business of your own by identifying your most valuable soft and hard skills. Combine these skills with an industry that you are passionate about and consider starting your own blog or affiliate website.


Use AI to firm up your blind spots and do the heavy lifting for you. Use SEO programs like SEMRush, Jasper, and AlliAi to identify keywords, complete A/B testing, and track your rankings. This means you can focus your efforts on writing high-quality content without having to worry about doubling as an SEO agency for your own blog or affiliate site.

Conclusion

As a writer, you can’t afford to ignore the power of AI programs like ChatGPT. Instead, use the tools to increase your productivity, alleviate your workload, and start a side hustle of your own. Use the time you save thanks to AI tools to refine your writerly voice and increase the depth of your research. This will help you stand out from the crowd of writers and lead to more lucrative book deals or client contracts in the future.

Amanda Winstead is a writer from the Portland area with a background in communications and a passion for telling stories. Along with writing she enjoys traveling, reading, working out, and going to concerts. If you want to follow her writing journey, or even just say hi you can find her on Twitter.

Categories
Magazine, Freelance, and Copywriting

How eBook Authors Can Connect with & Grow Their Reader Base

The advent of eReaders and the rise of social media means that, as an eBook writer, you can reach a global audience. eBooks sales are on the rise, too. Revenue generated from eBook sales is expected to reach $15.39 billion by 2027 when as many as 1.12 billion people will be using Kindles and Nooks to read their favorite new titles.

As an author, you can take advantage of the eBook boom by marketing to readers in digital spaces. Mastering the eBook marketing game today can help you connect with your readers and build a strong base for future releases.

However, the eBook scene is increasingly competitive. Even traditional authors, like fantasy novelist Brandon Sanderson, are entering the self-publishing eBook scene and dominating sales in the eReader world.

The competitive nature of the publishing world means that you must build an author brand that holds serious sway in the minds of your reader base. Offering exclusive content like “sneak peaks” and branded merch can help you build the requisite buzz around your eBooks and develop a loyal reader base that buys every book you release.

Social Media

Social media is a gold mine for authors in the eBook industry. In sales terms, the folks who follow you online are “highly qualified” leads who are much more likely to purchase your upcoming eBook than the average Joe. 

However, finding success on social media requires more than posting a few selfie snaps. You need to post engaging content that adds meaningful value to your readers’ lives if you want to connect with your audience base.

Learn from published pros like John and Hank Green. The Green brothers are both traditionally published authors but have built much of their loyal following on social sites like YouTube, Twitter, and TikTok. The pair share informative, engaging content through their VlogBrothers page and Crash Course project.

Fortunately, you don’t have to become a full-time influencer to reap the rewards of a strong social presence. Instead, consider sharing useful content on sites like Twitter and TikTok. Focus on content genres like:

  • Tips to overcome writer’s block
  • Self-Publishing “How-to’”
  • Behind-the-scenes shots of your writing process
  • Interviews with other eBook authors

Posting interesting, informative content will build a buzz around your upcoming eBooks and increase engagement across all your social pages. Remember to interact with any comments or shares that you receive, and reward folks who regularly participate in author Q&As or opinion polls.

Increase your reach and engagement further by hosting competitions that improve your social following and build loyalty amongst your reader base. Offer physical promotions like stickers, temporary tattoos, and branded merch to bolster your social game. Readers will love showing their support with stickers and custom badges. Include a QR code in the design to draw more folks to your social pages and build intrigue around your eBook brand.

Membership Platforms

Social media is the best place to build your author brand and connect with new readers. However, you may be able to generate a little extra and build your reader base by offering exclusive content within membership platforms like Patreon and Substack.

Consider offering a tiered membership program with exclusive perks and benefits to the folks who decide to support you with a subscription. You’ll be competing against well-established authors like Chuck Palahniuk, so be sure to give your reader base exclusive content that excites them. Consider offering insider perks like:

  • Exclusive, members-only merch
  • Early access releases
  • More regular Q&As
  • Feedback for aspiring authors
  • Pre-publication access to chapters

Remember that membership platforms give you a chance to connect with an audience base that authentically cares. Post regularly and offer meaningful insights into your writing process. You can even host workshop-style digital events that build your web presence and grow your reader base online.

Web Presence

As an eBook author, you live and die by your web presence. Without a strong digital profile, would-be readers will never find your books and will turn to competitors, instead.

Start by creating a web page that is designed to build traffic and grow your digital profile. Ignoring Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is one of the most common eBook marketing mistakes you can make. Improve your SEO game by researching relevant keywords and producing high-quality content for your blog.

As your eBook brand grows, you may need to bring in an SEO specialist to further bolster your digital presence. An SEO agency will build your presence online by utilizing technical SEO that increases your visibility on search engines like Google while fixing fundamental errors like content duplication and slow-loading pages. This allows you to focus on your writing and gives you time to attend in-person events.

In-Person Events

Attending in-person events is a great way to network and build your brand as an eBook author. Speaking at panels and participating in conferences is a fantastic way to build your credibility, too. This is particularly important if you are trying to break into the eBook scene, as readers may be more likely to buy from authors they meet in person at book events.

Landing your first in-person event can be tricky. Start building your network by attending events as a participant, rather than a guest author. Local workshops and author readings are a great place to connect with your community and build your reputation as an eBook writer.

Avoid “selling” yourself while attending in-person events. The folks who attend book clubs and writer’s workshops don’t attend with the goal of buying a new novel; they’re attending to have fun, learn, and meet upcoming authors. Focus your efforts on building a connection with your readers and be prepared to give more than you receive. At most, you can ask loyal readers to write a review to aid your upcoming marketing efforts

Gathering Reviews

Good reviews are invaluable in the eBook publishing world. A high-profile, positive review can push your book to the top of the rankings and draw an entirely new reader base that will boost your profile. However, gathering reviews as a new author can be tricky — particularly if you aren’t used to asking readers to weigh in on your work.

Improve your reputation online by actively encouraging readers to leave reviews. Create a clear process for gathering reviews, and personalize any requests for reviews that you make. Use the data you collect to include key details like your reader’s names and include a call to action in email marketing (e.g. a hyperlink or a button with the text “Click here to leave a review”).

Be sure to track the number of reviews you get and store them within spreadsheet software like Excel or Google Sheets. This way, you can quickly search for adjectives that you want to use in marketing materials like “adventurous”, “bold”, or “thought-provoking”.

You can further incentivize reviewers by offering discounts and/or credits for use on future purchases. For example, you could give readers who leave a positive review $1 off the next eBook they buy from you. This increases reader loyalty and can lead to an increase in repeat purchases.

Conclusion

Building a loyal reader base can be tough in the eBook industry. Readers have plenty of options to choose from and can find their favorite author’s newest novel with just a few clicks.

Build your brand and connect with your reader base by improving your social media presence. Even small changes, like posting tips to overcome writer’s block, can make a big difference to your reputation online. Follow up by offering exclusive content on a members-only site like Substack or Patreon. These sites give you a great chance to connect with your readers and bring in some extra revenue while you work on upcoming projects.

Amanda Winstead is a writer from the Portland area with a background in communications and a passion for telling stories. Along with writing she enjoys traveling, reading, working out, and going to concerts. If you want to follow her writing journey, or even just say hi you can find her on Twitter.

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Magazine, Freelance, and Copywriting Uncategorized

Combating Writer’s Block By Inspiring Creativity

If you’re feeling uninspired and like nothing you write seems good anymore, you likely got a case of writer’s fatigue. Everyone gets tired and feels a lack of inspiration now and then, but those who specifically pursue creative pursuits, like writing, can struggle with this even more.

Luckily, if you’ve got writer’s fatigue or writer’s block, it’s not permanent, and you are not alone. Every single day there are writers like yourself battling with blocks that interrupt their work, and every day writers overcome these blocks thanks to a little help and guidance.

Writer’s block might not feel the same for everyone, however, and its treatment may vary from person to person. But often, it’s simply a matter of taking a step back and finding ways to inspire your creativity again.

The Dreaded Writer’s Block: What is it? And Why Does it Happen?

Writer’s block is usually something that stems from some creative burnout or just burnout in general. You can’t easily ignore it. If anything, pay attention to it. It’s usually an indication that you are pushing yourself too hard or there is some other issue going on that needs to be addressed.

In most cases, there are five types of blockages or issues — one or more of which could be contributing to your burnout or writer’s fatigue. These include:

  1. Mental blocks associated with thoughts or beliefs that are hindering you.
  2. Scarcity blocks, which stem from having a lack of resources needed to succeed.
  3. Emotional blocks, which develop in response to fears, emotional responses, or past trauma.
  4. Procedural blocks that come from unhelpful habits and poor workflow.
  5. Attentional blocks, which are the result of things in your life that are distracting you and pulling your focus.

Once you can identify what blocks or issues are contributing to your burnout or writer’s block, then you can take the steps necessary to fix those issues.

Tips for Overcoming Writer’s Block By Tapping Into Your Creativity

While there are a variety of methods to treat burnout, all of them typically center around recharging your creativity or finding new inspiration.

Below are some tips for overcoming your blocks by helping you unlock your potential and inspire creativity.

1. Find A Creative Outlet Outside of Writing

If you are throwing all of your creative juices into your writing only, you will most likely feel blocked. You probably spend too much time writing and not enough time on “brain breaks.” Not all of your time should be spent staring at a screen, typing.

So, picking up another creative hobby can help you find ways to enjoy being creative again, and over time, you might find yourself feeling more inspired to write again. You could pick up painting, for example, or photography. Maybe try your hand at playing an instrument or throw yourself into learning to bake. Whatever it is, just make sure it doesn’t involve sitting in front of your computer.

2. Try Journaling

Picking up a journal and taking note of the things around you and in your life that you find inspiring can help you overcome your blocks.

For example, you can sit outside and make a note of the beauty of nature or do some people-watching and jot down the things about humans or humanity that you find inspiring. You can also turn your journal into more of a scrapbook of things that inspire you.

Your journal also doesn’t haven’t to be conventional. It doesn’t even have to feature writing if you don’t want it. You can use it as a scrapbook and feature photographs or objects that inspire you — like a piece of nature or a place that makes you happy.

3. Do Some Brainstorming Activities

Brainstorming is an excellent way to jumpstart creativity so you can find your way back to your writing again. Many companies use brainstorming sessions to help their employees get their creative juices flowing. Just because you potentially work from home as a writer doesn’t mean you can’t have your own brainstorming sessions with yourself.

You can start by simply thinking of a topic and coming up with questions or ideas you have about it on a piece of paper. There are also numerous online tools you can use for digital brainstorming and creating mind maps.

The ideas you are brainstorming don’t necessarily have to be about the things you are writing about. You can brainstorm about anything, even silly topics. The idea is to simply exercise your brain in a new way that can help you feel inspired again.

4. Build Your Creative Network

Sometimes the issue of writer’s block stems from isolation. Writers who work from home or spend a significant time on their own may be especially familiar with this concept. It can be incredibly helpful to get out and network with other creatives like yourself to help you feel the drive to write again and get past your blocks.

You can simply go out and socialize more, or you can seek out specific groups and meetups geared towards creatives, like meetups for writers, painting groups, or even a book club. It ultimately doesn’t matter what kind of socializing you are doing; it’s just about getting out and having that human connection with others to avoid the isolation that could be contributing to your writer’s block.

Final Thoughts

Writer’s block can sometimes feel like an impossible feat to overcome. But experiencing one doesn’t make you any less of a writer. There are so many others who have felt the same way and still eventually overcame their blocks. Sometimes you just need to step away from your writing and find other things and activities you enjoy to help you find inspiration again.

Amanda Winstead is a writer from the Portland area with a background in communications and a passion for telling stories. Along with writing she enjoys traveling, reading, working out, and going to concerts. If you want to follow her writing journey, or even just say hi you can find her on Twitter.

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Magazine, Freelance, and Copywriting

Do You Need a Strong Web Following To Get a Publishing Deal?

Making it as an author has changed dramatically in the digital age. Today, building your personal brand online is almost as important as your ability to wordsmith a syntactically sophisticated sentence or write a strong narrative hook.

Big-name authors like Cassandra Clare and Brandon Sanderson can even leverage their hefty followings online when looking to land a new publishing deal.

But building a substantial following online can be tricky. BookTok and author-Twitter are competitive digital spaces and publishers are unlikely to be swayed by single-digit follower counts.

So, before starting up a Twitter page or a Reddit sub, you need to decide whether the effort is worth the reward.

Do You Need a Web Presence?

There’s no doubt that social media is a great place to build your personal brand. However, authors have been making do for centuries without fretting about 280-character limits or photo filters for Instagram.

Even today, popular contemporary authors like Sally Rooney and Zadie Smith eschew the Twitter-verse and turn their backs on Book-Tok. Instead, these authors lean on the strength of their prose and let their publishers do the branding for them.

Turning your nose up on Twitter may just give you the time and mental energy you need to craft your next best-seller, too. Rooney, the author of Normal People, is famous for spending hundreds of hours alone in the New York Public Library while researching an upcoming novel. It’s hard to imagine that she had time to shoot a TikTok video or join a Twitter debate while deep in Marxist theory.

Similarly, Zadie Smith — author of White Teeth — feels that the burden of instant analysis that social media provides would threaten her writing process. Smith says that she “began to really dislike the tone of voice of Twitter,” and that tweeting put her in a position that undermined her “right to be wrong.”

Benefits of Digital Followings

Building a loyal digital following is demanding. You need to post original content on a near-daily basis and have to regularly engage with your followers to build your following. However, if you do build a significant following, you’ll be able to leverage your loyal supporters when looking to land your first publishing deal.

A digital following can supplement your income, too. As an author, you’re a trusted source on all things literary. You can even use your wordsmithing skills and rhetorical savvy to make a living from blogging. A digital side hustle is a great way to earn some extra income, and the ability to self-promote will earn you bonus points when working with publishers.

Generate more income while waiting for your first publishing deal by choosing a niche for your blog. A strong niche like classic book reviews or short-form poetry will draw more people to your blog and will help you build a loyal following. Choose a name and a content management system that suits your personal brand and organize your main pages so folks can quickly find the information they’re looking for.

Growing your digital following can be useful if you plan on circumventing traditional publishing houses. Self-publishing is a fast-growing avenue for newcomers to the literary scene, as many author brands already have a presence in the book world. As a book influencer, you’ll already have an audience eager to read your new work, and you won’t have to worry about jumping through the convoluted hurdles that traditional publishing presents.

A strong following online gives you the chance to self-publish — but that doesn’t mean you should. If you believe in your writing and want to land a publishing deal, use your online following to show that you have the “it” factor. A strong digital brand shows that you already know what your readers want and have the skills necessary to deliver on audience expectations.

How to Build a Brand Online

A strong digital following can be a real ace up your sleeve during the publishing process. However, garnering the attention of book-ish followers can be tricky.


Start building your online brand presence by following the authors you know and love. What kind of content do they post? What insights resonate with you? Which posts do you scroll past without paying much attention?

Use your favorite authors as a guide. This will help better understand your brand’s positioning in the book industry. Try to emulate their content but add a twist that authentically represents you, too. This shows that you are aware of market trends but can provide a unique reading experience that stands out from the competition. Don’t be afraid to show the “behind the scenes” of your work day and use your social presence to build an authorial identity that you can be proud of.

Conclusion

A strong web following can be a useful bargaining chip when working with an agent. However, you’ll still need to jump through all the usual hoops if you want to get published via traditional venues. Make the process much easier by refining your niche via a blog and following authors in your sub-genre to better understand your audience’s expectations.

Amanda Winstead is a writer from the Portland area with a background in communications and a passion for telling stories. Along with writing she enjoys traveling, reading, working out, and going to concerts. If you want to follow her writing journey, or even just say hi you can find her on Twitter.

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Magazine, Freelance, and Copywriting

3 Steps Freelance Writers Should Take To Protect Themselves and Their Assets

 The gig economy has been steadily growing in the U.S. for the past five years. Over 73 million Americans now work for themselves as freelancers and millions more are expected to start their own businesses in the coming years.

Working as a freelance writer can be particularly rewarding. You can use your wordsmithing abilities to make a great living and don’t have to worry about clocking in for required hours.

However, going freelance can be financially risky. You don’t earn a pre-defined salary and won’t receive benefits like healthcare insurance. This means you have to take proactive steps to protect yourself and stay financially secure between projects.

Mitigate Financial Risk

Earning a living as a freelance writer is deeply rewarding. You’re being paid to show off your command of language and can choose to take on projects that align with your personal interests or professional goals.

However, going freelance is a little like taking a leap of faith. Your earnings are entirely dependent on the clients you secure and you can’t be certain that you’ll earn enough to cover your cost of living in the first few months.

Future-proof planning can help you make calculated decisions can reduce the amount of financial risk you incur.

Start by building a strong emergency fund. As a freelancer, your emergency fund should cover at least three to six months’ worth of essential outgoings. This will give you time to switch directions if you find that freelancing isn’t right for you.

Remember to put aside a portion of your earnings for tax, too. Don’t get caught out by the 15.3% self-employment tax as you’ll still need to pay for Social Security and Medicare even when you’re self-employed. Work with an accountant or CPA to mitigate your risk and ensure that you pay your taxes on time.

You’ll also need to source your own insurance when you’re self-employed. However, finding the right healthcare coverage can be tricky. Consider using healthcare.gov’s Health Insurance Marketplace to find the right insurance options for you. You’ll be able to browse flexible plans and find high-quality health coverage that aligns with your budget and healthcare needs.

As your freelance writing business grows, try to diversify your income streams. You may have one or two stellar clients when you first decide to go freelance, but you need to spread your risk if you want to make it in the long term. Taking on a few clients can help you diversify your portfolio, too, as different clients will ask for content based on the genre expectations of their industry.

Register as an LLC

Sole-proprietorship is the default business structure for freelancers. Setting up as a sole proprietor is straightforward and relatively affordable, meaning you can start earning without having to bring in professional help. However, as your freelance business grows you may want to switch to a limited liability corporation (LLC).

Starting an LLC is easy. Find a registered agent in your state and have them file the proper paperwork before important deadlines pass. You’ll need to share information like the business name, the contact information of all founding members, the address of the LLC, and the mission statement for your business.

Once you registered as an LLC, your business accounts and personal accounts will be considered separate. This can help you protect your personal assets if you are sued or face legal issues. Likewise, if you go bankrupt, creditors cannot go after your personal assets and only have access to your business assets.

Use Reputation Management Techniques

Your reputation is vital to the success of your business as a freelance writer. A great reputation can help you land high-profile clients and will improve your retention rate between projects.

However, maintaining a great reputation is about more than completing work on time and sending professional emails. If you have a social site or a blog, you need to utilize reputation management techniques to keep your brand strong and your clients happy.

Start by regularly posting to social media and actively engaging with the questions, comments, and concerns you receive. A quick response to a question asked on Twitter or Instagram can nip a potential PR problem in the bud and will show clients that you care about them.

If you maintain a blog or website, lean on your SEO skills to boost your profile and rank higher in search engines. Post high-quality, SEO-optimized content to your blog every month and monitor the site’s performance using Google Analytics. This shows your audience that you have an insider understanding of digital content and will draw more clients to your business.

As your brand grows, utilize free brand-mentioning tools like those offered by SproutSocial and HootSuite Streams. Social listening tools can help you see the conversation happening about your brand and will alert you to any negative PR coming your way.

Conclusion

Going freelance is exciting, rewarding, and a little bit scary. You can minimize the risk you take on by building an emergency fund and registering as an LLC. This can help you remain financially secure between projects and will give you the confidence you need to upgrade your clients and build a brand that supports your growing business.

Amanda Winstead is a writer from the Portland area with a background in communications and a passion for telling stories. Along with writing she enjoys traveling, reading, working out, and going to concerts. If you want to follow her writing journey, or even just say hi you can find her on Twitter.

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Magazine, Freelance, and Copywriting

How is Artificial Intelligence Changing the Copywriting World?

Copywriting has changed a lot in the past decade. Instead of writing for print media, most copywriters now work in digital marketing and are experts in SEO, keyword optimization, and social media.

Most copywriters have embraced the digital revolution and can find more work thanks to the explosion of blogs, websites, and social media platforms.

However, artificial intelligence is poised to shake up the copywriting world forever. Some fear that AI may even replace copywriters in the future, though the effectiveness of AI remains questionable. In reality, sophisticated AI can help copywriters mitigate mistakes and work more efficiently.

A.I. Copy

A.I.-generated copy is designed to produce quick results for folks who don’t have the budget to pay real writers. This means that most human writers aren’t afraid of AI, as algorithms can’t do the work required to research keywords, plan projects, and gather insights from industry experts.

A.I. is relatively easy to spot, too. As copywriter Giada Nizzoli explains, A.I. is only capable of producing “words written without a strategy.” This means that A.I.-generated content might be grammatically correct, but it seldom performs as well as human-generated content.

A.I. copy goes against Google’s guidelines, too. Major businesses cannot afford to fall foul of Webmaster guidance and will sidestep A.I. content. Those who do “employ” A.I. writers run the risk of being classified as “spam” and removed from Google listings.

Unfortunately, A.I. may take work away from the most at-risk writers. Writers who are growing their portfolio on sites like Fiverr or Upwork could face direct competition from bots, as A.I. is a cheaper, quicker alternative to freelancers. These writers will have their income slashed, as their price point will be driven downwards by A.I. that offers similar services at a fraction of the price.

That said, most writers quickly graduate from the pittance paid on freelancing sites. Writers who want to build a career in copywriting can generate their own portfolio using sample work and should try to work with agencies that are on the lookout for creative, motivated copywriters.

A.I. Assistance

Writing bots aren’t going to replace professional copywriters anytime soon. However, A.I. can be used as part of a professional writer’s toolkit.

Artificial intelligence helps researchers and writers by eliminating human error and improving pattern identification. Machine learning programs are capable of crawling the web in a fraction of a second, and can speed up data analysis. This means that A.I. can be used during keyword research and may help writers generate ideas for when they’re struggling with writer’s block.

A.I. can speed up the editing process, too. Programs like Grammarly and ProWritingAid use machine learning, deep learning, and natural language processing to identify errors and make suggestions. This helps copywriters sidestep syntactical slip-ups and ensures that every sentence, paragraph, and page is grammatically correct.

A.I. for Business

Copywriting is about more than keyword research and wordsmithing. Any copywriter worth their salt is also a savvy business person and understands the importance of personal branding for their small business.

For new copywriters working on a limited budget, A.I. tools may be a cost-effective way to improve their offering and reach more clients.

A.I. can help small business owners generate sample logos and branded blog pages that resonate with prospective clients. A.I. can also complete competitor analysis to help copywriters set price points and target new customers.

It’s worth noting that business-related A.I. tools aren’t as effective as real-life humans. A real graphic designer will always produce better results than a bot. Likewise, human intervention is needed during competitor analysis as A.I. can be swayed by anomalous data points and complex consumer behavior.

Conclusion

The pessimistic amongst us believe that A.I. will take our jobs and deliver us all into a matrix-like future. However, steps are already being taken to ensure that A.I. doesn’t tread on the toes of real-life copywriters. Anti-bot apps like GPTZero are capable of identifying AI-generated content and Google’s Webmaster guidelines categorize AI-generated copy as spam.

That said, A.I. can be used as a tool to help copywriters. A.I. can eliminate errors and conduct competitor analysis. This gives copywriters a leg-up on the competition and ensures that clients get the high-quality content they need.

Amanda Winstead is a writer from the Portland area with a background in communications and a passion for telling stories. Along with writing she enjoys traveling, reading, working out, and going to concerts. If you want to follow her writing journey, or even just say hi you can find her on Twitter.

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Magazine, Freelance, and Copywriting

Taking Care of Your Mental Health in the Editing Process

No matter how long you’ve been writing, you know that your “finished” copy is really nowhere near complete. Once you’ve completed your work, the editing process begins. This can be a painstaking process for writers. Not only do you have to pick apart all of the hard work you put in, but you’re probably putting a lot of pressure on yourself to ensure your story is nothing short of perfection.

Editing is often a long process, filled with self-doubt. You might start to question your abilities, be more critical of your work and your intelligence, and start to feel down about life, in general.

Needless to say, it can all take a toll on your mental health. So, it’s essential to take care of your mental well-being throughout the editing process. If you don’t, you could be at risk of burning out and losing your desire to write and be creative. You might even end up resenting your work.

So, what can you do to take care of your mental health in the editing process, and how can you mitigate burnout?

Establish a Routine

Maybe you have a strict deadline that you need to make, and it’s putting extra weight on your shoulders. Or, maybe you don’t have a timeline in place, causing you to procrastinate and be even more critical of your work. In either situation, a healthy routine can help.

Even if you’re working from home and you don’t have any tight deadlines ahead, a routine can help with:

  • Reducing stress
  • Boosting productivity
  • Reducing anxiety
  • Giving you more time to relax
  • Encouraging healthy habits

Having a regular routine will make it easier to get the sleep your mind and body need. A lack of sleep is often linked with stress and depression. Prioritizing a good night’s rest can boost your mental well-being. You’ll also have more time to cook healthy meals, exercise, and socialize with friends and family. These are all things that are fantastic for your mental health and can help you achieve a better work-life balance.

Your daily routine should also include taking frequent breaks. While that might sound counterproductive to the editing process, sometimes stepping away from your work for a short time can make you feel more refreshed and creative when you get back to it. Clear your head by stepping outside for a few minutes, or try some deep breathing techniques to reduce your stress and boost your creativity during your break time.

Be Kind to Yourself

Self-compassion isn’t usually the top priority when a writer is editing. As you start to see more things you want to add or take away from your work, it’s easy to feel down about yourself and your abilities.

However, it’s important to lead with self-compassion when it comes to editing your own work. Self-compassion lets you acknowledge that you’re feeling down, but allows you to be patient and warm with yourself as you work through the difficult parts of the process. It can also improve your health. The more compassionate you are with yourself, the more likely you’ll be to make healthier lifestyle choices that benefit your mind and body.

Finally, be kind to yourself by reaching out for help when you need it. Chances are, you have a great support system out there. Whether it’s family members or friends, people are on your side and they want you to feel good about yourself. Socialize often, spend time in nature with people you love, and don’t hesitate to talk to a mental health professional if you’re really struggling.

When writing is your passion, the last thing you want is for it to become an obligation or something that causes stress. Keep these tips in mind to mitigate the effects of writer burnout during editing, and to enjoy the experience once again.

Amanda Winstead is a writer from the Portland area with a background in communications and a passion for telling stories. Along with writing she enjoys traveling, reading, working out, and going to concerts. If you want to follow her writing journey, or even just say hi you can find her on Twitter.

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Magazine, Freelance, and Copywriting

An Introduction to Website Copywriting

Being a freelance writer today often means seeking a range of creative opportunities. There are certainly few writers today that can focus on a single medium or subject. Indeed, having a diverse portfolio and clientele can help you gain more security in your career. As such, you may be about to include website copywriting as part of the services you offer.

It’s important to recognize that website copywriting is different from other forms you may be familiar with. Your clients will have specific expectations for the products you provide them, the intention of the work, and the results your writing needs to achieve. It’s worth taking some time to better understand what the field involves and how you can provide the best outcomes.

Understand Your Role

Firstly, it’s important to have some clarity about what your position entails. There’s certainly an element of this that can vary from project to project. As such, you need to be diligent when talking to your clients about their specific needs and expectations.

However, in a more generalized sense, you should remember that website copywriting is not necessarily the same as other forms of content creation. One of the core differences between copy and content is the copy is intended to be persuasive. The goal throughout the copy you create for the website is to keep tempting your reader further along the journey toward your client’s desired outcome for each visitor. This may be sales conversions, signing up for a newsletter, or engaging with other forms of content.

Therefore, your role as a copywriter is to service this journey. From the moment visitors land on the homepage, your words should draw them in and nudge them further down the path. There are various methods to achieve this, including directing visitors through different types of content to build trust or earn their engagement. But, really your primary tool is short and persuasive writing.

Maintain Productivity

Website copywriting can sometimes be an enriching creative exercise. Nevertheless, you’re working toward the goals of your client, rather than your artistic interests. Alongside your application of the written word, you’ll be utilizing user experience strategies informed by hard data and corporate metrics. You’ll also need to hit deadlines and targets set out by your clients. If you struggle with this, it’s vital to establish methods to maintain productivity so you can maintain a reputation as a reliable professional.

One effective approach is to adapt your writing environment. The decor you surround yourself with and the layout of your home office can have a direct impact on your productivity. A comfortable chair can mitigate the potential to fidget, which may aid your concentration. Investing in a desk with plenty of storage space helps you reduce distracting surface clutter. Additionally, maintaining a safe distance between your monitor and your upper body can help reduce instances of eye irritation and dry eye, as can blue-light reflecting glasses. Speaking of sight, wherever possible, choose relatively neutral colors on your walls to both maintain your focus and keep your space peaceful.

Sometimes, though, productivity is about finding sources of motivation. Just the fact you’re getting paid usually isn’t enough. Remind yourself of something you find particularly interesting in each website project. Display some mantras that keep you writing through difficult periods.

Treat it as a Business

The ability to engage in a wide range of website copywriting projects and interact with varied clients can be fun. However, it’s important not to lose sight of the fact that you’re running a business. Treating your activities as such can empower you to thrive even when you face challenges.

This can be particularly helpful when it comes to gaining funding. You may find you have a big project coming up but in the meantime, you require capital to pay for new equipment, online applications, and even salary shortfalls. It can be more difficult for independent writers to gain traditional loans, but as a freelancer, you can utilize alternative funding options to keep your business functioning. This might include engaging with microloan programs or taking out lines of credit for equipment or services. If you have an online following, crowdfunding may be a viable option for specific projects.

Your business acumen should extend to marketing yourself, too. If you treat your company as a professional enterprise, you’ll tend to attract clients committed to interacting with you as such. Make sure your marketing materials — particularly your own website — are good demonstrations of your copywriting skill set.

Ensure your copy takes your clients on the type of journey to conversion they’re looking for with their own digital media. Using search engine optimization (SEO) techniques in your content and social media not only attracts appropriate clients, but you can also use it as an example of the valuable skill sets you bring to the process.

Conclusion

Website copywriting can be a lucrative and interesting addition to your freelancing services. It’s important to understand the nuances of this type of writing and how it serves your clients’ goals.

Utilizing methods to maintain productivity helps to ensure you hit essential targets and maintain a good reputation among clients. Remember that you’re running a business and some attention to funding and marketing can help your projects thrive. While website copywriting may be a new field for you, a little focus and planning can help you develop a successful enterprise.

Amanda Winstead is a writer from the Portland area with a background in communications and a passion for telling stories. Along with writing she enjoys traveling, reading, working out, and going to concerts. If you want to follow her writing journey, or even just say hi you can find her on Twitter.

Categories
Guest Posts

Writing Samples as a New Freelance Writer

Guest posts

These days, there are numerous opportunities to get a decent project for freelance writers. Such platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, and Freelancer publish thousands of new job positions on a daily basis. But not all freelance writers can get the project of their dreams because of a lack of information in their profiles, particularly writing samples.

Writing samples are actually proof of your writing experience. They basically include all writing styles you have experience in, links to your content written in the docs, or posted writings. 

However, the style of your writing samples is commonly defined by the job you would like to get and by the platform you create your account on. In this article, we would like to name the main components of writing samples for freelance writers to make this job successful. 

Define your writing direction

It is not necessary to add the entire library of your writings to the writing samples that will be accessible to your potential clients. For example, if you confirm your candidate for a medical blog writer, you need to create writing samples related to the healthcare industry. It can be articles, it can be blog posts, it can be social media posts, or it can be business cards, and so on. You can add anything related to the topic to show your experience to the customer. Writing samples also entail writing a separate article related to a certain topic to show an example of how you can write, meaning this article can be not only from the real case. 

Provide samples of different pieces of content

Writing a short example of an article is not enough to fill in your writing samples block in the portfolio. Make sure you have all samples that you are proficient in. For instance from the custom writing service best essay, if you claim yourself as a good writer for social media, then provide several writing samples for various social networks according to their requirements like the number of words, tags, images, and so on. If you claim you are good at long-read writing, then you need to show the long-read articles, 200-300 words are not enough for this type of writing sample. Your success in freelance writing partially depends on the quality of your writing samples, so make sure you dedicate enough time to their creation. 

Ensure the quality of content in your writing samples

Writing samples is not a task that you will get paid for, but it doesn’t have to influence the quality of content you write. For the writing service, Trust my Paper, each writing sample needs to have a suitable structure with the heading, subheadings, bullets, images, links to credible resources, statistics, links to scientific articles, etc. Writing samples are not always about the simplicity and the short length of the text, but about the high quality of content to engage more potential clients with your writing services. 

Make sure your writing samples are accessible to potential clients

When adding your writing samples to the portfolio, ensure that all documents and links are workable and available for other users. Double-check the access to files and make sure nobody is allowed to reshare, copy, or change your text. In case the links to your writing samples don’t work, the probability of getting a decent writing project decreases a lot. 

To conclude

Whether you are a new freelance writer and have gained some experience already, having writing samples is pivotal for your work. Nothing will describe your skills and knowledge better than real examples of your content writing. In addition, you should constantly work on improving your writing samples and expand your library in the portfolio as well. 

Nancy P. Howard has been working as an editor at Trust My Paper custom writing company. She is also a professional writer in such topics as blogging, IT and HR. She loves traveling, photography, and is always welcome to meet new people.

Categories
Guest Posts

7 Great Reasons To Specialize in a Writing Product, Not a Niche

Guest posts

Freelance writing isn’t always the easiest way to make a living. Moving from project to project demands concentration, adaptability, and an abundance of stamina. There is however one important element that many people overlook. The difference between finding your niche and making the decision to focus on a writing product.

The term “writing product” refers to a very distinct sub-category of writing.

A few examples are:

  • SEO (search engine optimization): writing content to increase web traffic
  • Short ad copy: writing for promotional purposes (e.g.: slogans)
  • Resume writing: creating resumes

Specializing in writing products demands many of the same skills used in any writing field. But it also involves intimate knowledge of formats and industry-specific information and vocabulary. Writers who specialize in products have the advantage of perfecting their craft while appealing to a very particular target market.

Why Should You Specialize?

That old saying “Jack of all trades, master of none” is certainly something to ponder when your livelihood is writing.

To be an expert—a master—in your field, your only option is to specialize. Finding your niche is a move in the right direction. But unless you settle on one specific writing product, freelance writing may be a hard and unrewarding road to walk.

So, what are the benefits of writing product specialization?

1. Refine And Hone Your Skills

If as a writer, you’re having to use different styles from job to job, it’s very easy to lose focus, resulting in mediocre pieces that don’t impress anyone.

Different products require different and distinct approaches. By sticking to one in particular it’s possible to perfect your skills and become an expert in your chosen field. Writing resumes demands a very different approach from SEO or contract writing. Likewise, specializing in SEO requires a totally different mindset to writing generic blog content.

When choosing your specific path, it’s best to pick something that interests you—and that you’re reasonably good at. It’s very rewarding to work your way up to being an expert in your field.

2. Withstand Market Fluctuations

Many professionals suffer when the economy takes a downturn. But by specializing in a product rather than a niche, you can ride the dips far more successfully.

In rocky financial times, people will be more careful in their spending habits. However, if you’ve built up a solid reputation, clients will still have confidence in your ability to produce excellent work.

The past couple of years have seen many people lose their jobs. As a result, there has been an influx of people trying to make a living with freelance work—including writing. This might suggest that there’ll be less work available, but customers are far more likely to stick with already established writers.

3. Work Efficiently

Dedicating yourself to one specific writing product not only hones your skills, it allows you to work faster and more efficiently too.

Switching between styles might be good if you want to practice multitasking, but that often comes at the expense of your productivity. When you focus on a single writing product, you don’t need to perform mental gymnastics between tasks or projects. This momentum can set you up for a well-organized system in which jobs are streamlined.

Having a clear idea of your daily work schedule and where your focus is needed most allows you to move through tasks with ease.

4. Simplify Your Marketing

Marketing your business, skills, and services is a massive part of success in the freelance field. Ineffective marketing leads to few clients, which in turn leads to low income and the unpleasant task of trying to find work elsewhere.

Simplifying your marketing strategy is a huge help in attracting more clients. Focusing on a particular product makes that far easier to achieve.

These days, marketing is spread across a few platforms:

  • Your website
  • Business pages on social media (Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, etc.)
  • Business cards

The fact that you need to maintain more than one online profile makes it hard to compile a clear portfolio containing many different styles. Focusing on one product makes creating marketing material much simpler.

5. Get Client Referrals – And More High Profile Clients

When clients realize that you’re highly skilled in a particular writing product, they’re far more likely to promote you through word-of-mouth. This is an excellent method in growing your business and building a comprehensive network of returning customers.

Another bonus of word-of-mouth referrals is the potential to reach high-profile clients who are willing to pay an attractive rate. Often, high-profile clients don’t advertise jobs, they rely on recommendations instead.

6. Find Work Opportunities Easily

Focusing on a specific category of writing allows you to search for more work opportunities while avoiding the effort of wading through hundreds of job ads.

If you know that your area of expertise is writing short ad copy, then you can streamline job searches to get appropriate results every time.

You’ll also find it far easier to set your rates if you focus on one product. This makes quoting clients quicker and easier, and it streamlines your invoicing process, too.

7. Build Your Reputation

Cultivating your reputation is easier when your specialty is one particular product, rather than several different ones.

Enhancing your skill set, marketing strategically, and building up a client base are vitally important in establishing a reputation for reliability and quality work.

Work Your Way Up

Before you decide what your focus is, think ahead and ask yourself a few questions about your ambitions. If you can commit to your chosen specialization, you can become a successful product writer with a bright freelancing future.

Wordplay ninja, article alchemist, and knowledge inquisitor. Melanie Robles is an experienced freelance writer and editor covering a variety of topics. When she’s not consumed by the creative vortex, she spends her time exploring new fields of knowledge to broaden her horizon.

Categories
Guest Posts

Practical Tips to Kickstart Your Freelance Writing Career

Guest posts

So, you want to learn how to be a freelance writer? Freelancing is a great option to keep yourself supported as a college student. If you’re exploring work post-graduation, you know how little American grads get paid starting out. This is why many motivated individuals have started turning to freelance to generate extra income and earn money off of skills they developed in school.

In this article, we walk you through the basics to succeed in the writing gig industry.

Seek Out Training

Don’t worry, you don’t have to have an English degree (although ideal) to qualify as a writer. A degree or diploma in related fields such as psychology, journalism, and sociology helps immensely, as studying the arts builds up the critical skills needed for writing. If you don’t have the time or money to get a degree, look up online certificate courses to build your skills. As long as you can write well and demonstrate reasonable skill through your writing samples, we promise you that a university degree (or lack thereof) won’t be an issue.

Attract Clients

You’ve got the training, now what? Begin by looking up industry-specific sites like Problogger and Freelance Writing Jobs. Check out job boards (this list by Elna Cain is super handy) that post daily, well-paid gigs. You can also always put your services up for hire on marketplaces like Fiverr and Upwork. This reduces your headache significantly, as clients will come to you rather than the other way round.

Take On a Few Starter Jobs

Everyone has to start somewhere, right? To build up the credibility you require to land well-paying gigs, you need to begin with low-paying jobs to generate feedback. We won’t glamorize this – starter jobs aren’t fun, and you’ll be doing a lot without much ROI. But once you’ve laid the groundwork with a few jobs, you’ll have work samples to show future clients. And a writing portfolio is the hot ticket to graduating to better-paying gigs in the industry!

As you begin writing, be sure to create a business entity for long-term success. An Employer Identification Number, or Tax ID Number, is what the IRS uses to track your payroll taxes and identify your business. Be sure to pay attention to your IRS EIN filing so that you’re set up for a stress-free tax time (both for federal and annual taxes).

The beauty of this business is – anyone can become a freelance writer. While degrees and past qualifications certainly help, freelance jobs are open to pretty much any individual who can show off their stellar writing skills. And it’s profitable too! Use writing as the tool to transform your income (and life) today!

As a former banker, Jim McKinley uses his background and skills to provide advice and valuable resources to anyone who needs help with their financial literacy. In his spare time, Jim spends time with his family and his dogs and he maintains his website Money with Jim.  

Categories
Magazine and Freelance

The Value of a “Write Away”

I have a good friend who often says, “I’m going to be gone this week to a “write away.”

What you may ask is a “write away?” Simply put it is a time set aside where you go somewhere and write away (in more ways than one)! During these time of staying at home and social distancing, most of us need a write away more than ever.

When you are in a writing slump and can’t seem to get the words flowing, maybe you need a change of scenery and routine. For these times, that may mean changing your writing space in your home so you have a view out of a different window as you write, parking the car by a lake and spending a few hours writing, or finding a quiet outside location near your home to write. Look for an uncrowded park that is open and “camp out” there.

You may be thinking to yourself—That’s fine for you but I don’t have a lot of places to go nearby. The good news is you don’t have to. Here are a few other suggestions.

A friend of mine lives on a lake just a short drive from my house. She has a beautiful home with an entire glass wall in her living room. The view is calming, relaxing, and extremely conducive to creativity. This sweet friend has given me an open invitation to come to her house and write any time I need to have a write away. During this time of staying away from others, I can ask my friend if I can go sit on her dock and write all afternoon. I am not around people but my creativity has a chance to flow as it comes. Do you have a friend whose yard or dock you could visit for a write away?

Look for a friend who lives in the country and take a chair and small desk to sit and admire the countryside as you write. Most people won’t mind your coming and just hanging out in their yards.

If your library or church is open, you may be able to find an indoor spot to enjoy new surroundings and increased creativity

No matter what method you choose, the benefits of taking a break from your normal routine are great. Does your creativity need a jumpstart? Plan a “write away” today.

Linda Gilden is a wife, mother, and grandmother. Linda finds great joy (and lots of writing material) in time spent with her family and enjoys every opportunity for a short “write away.” Her favorite activity is floating in a pool with a good book surrounded by splashing children!

Categories
Magazine and Freelance

A Writer’s Bio – The Most Valuable Piece of Real Estate on the Block

Many writers assume that the value of their article is the payment they receive for writing it. The opposite may be true.

If you’re trying to make a living as a freelance writer, you may be tempted to choose which articles you write based on the compensation you receive. Fiscal sense tells us to accept the articles that pay the most and reject the ones with little financial reward. While compensation can determine if we can pay our bills, there’s often a hidden value in every article that has little to do with financial compensation. It’s a prime piece of literary real estate called a bio.

Almost without exception, magazines, compilations, devotionals, and online publications include a writer’s bio—short for biography—at the end of each article. A bio is a few lines that tell the reader about the writer. If you craft your bio well, it can be more valuable in the long term than a check.

 A well-written bio can:

1. Help convert one-time readers to followers. If your writing resonates with a reader, they’ll want to read more of your work. Be sure to include live links (if allowed) to your blog, book, or social media sites.

2. Establish your credibility. Whenever I write grandparenting articles, for example, I always say something about my four grandchildren in my bio. If you write for professional publications, mention your education or awards. If you contribute articles to Bikers Weekly, be sure to include a detail or two about your Honda Goldwing or your Harley.

3. Spark emotional connections. Years ago I read one of Lori Roeleveld’s articles on Crosswalk.com. Her message resonated with me and made me want to learn more about her. When I read in her bio she was from my home state of Rhode Island, I had to reach out. As we exchanged emails, we discovered a multitude of common interests and experiences. Her well-written bio sparked what is now a delightful friendship.

4. Open the door to other writing opportunities. When you write in your area of expertise and use your bio to share additional credentials, others in the field can find you. For years I wrote articles and devotions for homeschooling parents. One day a friend shared one of my articles on Facebook. It caught the eye of an editor seeking a writer with homeschool experience. When she read in my bio that I had homeschooled for 17 years, the editor invited me to write for their website.

As you craft your bio, make every word count. And don’t use the same bio every time. Customize it for each publication, including details relevant to that audience. Use humor or share quirky details as long as it furthers your purpose. Check with each publication for style preferences and word count.

If you found this article helpful, I hope you’ll read my bio below. If I’ve written it well, it might make you want to visit my blog, vouch for my credibility, be my friend, or invite me to write for you. I look forward to hearing from you soon!

Lori Hatcher is the editor of Reach Out, Columbia magazine and the author of three devotional books including Refresh Your Faith – Uncommon Devotions from Every Book of the Bible and Hungry for God … Starving for Time, Five-Minute Devotions for Busy Women, winner of the 2016 Christian Small Publisher Book of the Year award. A blogger, writing instructor, and inspirational speaker, her goal is to help busy women connect with God in the craziness of life. You’ll find her pondering the marvelous and the mundane on her blog, Hungry for God. . . Starving for Time . Connect with her on Facebook, Twitter (@LoriHatcher2), or Pinterest (Hungry for God).

Categories
Magazine and Freelance

Put Dialog on a diet

Like delicious desserts, dialog is often a reader’s favorite part of a story. We quote great dialog for generations.

            “Off with her head!” – Lewis Carroll.

            “We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.” – Winston Churchill.

            “There’s so much scope for imagination.” Lucy Maud Montgomery.

            “It’s me again, Hank the Cowdog.” John Erickson.

            “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” – Jesus Christ.

Dialog is what characters say. Powerful stories are dialog driven through carefully chosen word selections. When Scrooge responds to Christmas cheer with “Bah, humbug,” Charles Dickens has masterfully portrayed the old man’s attitude and character in two words.

Dialog has dynamic purpose in a manuscript. It economically accomplishes several vital objectives. Dialog must

  1. move the story forward. “There’s no place like home. ” This declaration tells the reader that Dorothy’s goal is to return to Kansas.
  2. reveal something important about the plot. “The priest told me they are married.” A single sentence provides a crucial plot point in Fiddler on the Roof without the use of an entire scene to show the same event. In dialog, information can be dropped like a surprise bomb. Readers read to be surprised.
  3. show something important about the character. “Go ahead. Make my day.” What a character says can show what the character is thinking, how the character responds, and illuminate the depth of the character’s motivation.
  4. give the character a unique voice. “I know hurryin’ is against your nature, but you might want to pick up the pace before that storm rolls in.” Vocabulary lets the reader know if the character is educated, gives clues to the region the character is from, and shows the character’s nature to be relaxed, tightly wound, worried, sly, or confident.

Put your dialog on a diet. Words that should not appear in dialog include:

Yeah

Okay

Hello

Good-bye

Oh

Well

Writers give the illusion of reality when crafting dialog. It is the juicy parts with the empty portions left out.

        She helped him sit up. “Are you okay?”

            He rubbed the goose egg on the back of his head. “Where is the phone?”

In this example, if the character answered the question – “Yeah, well, I think I’m okay,” – it would detract from the urgency of the situation. From the action of rubbing his head, we know the hero has a painful noggin. Because he ignores concerns about his health, the reader sees he is focused on what is more important. Show me or tell me, but don’t do both.

In the first draft, dialog may begin with “Hello,” “Oh,” or “Well,” “Yeah,” and end with ‘Good-bye,” but in the editing process, be sure to remove these unnecessary distractions. They are like empty calories in your work. Cream filled Twinkies to be eliminated. Then reread the conversations and see how concise it flows without the banned words weighing it down and sounding like the writer is a novice. With practice, you will no longer even write these twinkies into your diet for dynamic dialog.

History buff and island votary, PeggySue Wells skydives, scuba dives, parasails, and has taken (but not passed) pilot training. PeggySue is the bestselling author of 29 books including Homeless for the Holidays, The Girl Who Wore Freedom, and Chasing Sunrise. She is a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Christian Authors Network, Run Hard, Rest Well, advisory committee for the Taylor Writers Conference, and talk show host on Five Kyngdoms Radio. Connect with her at PeggySueWells.com, @PeggySue Wells, linkedin.com/in/peggysuewells, and facebook.com/peggysue.wells.

Categories
Magazine and Freelance

Writer’s Block Or Submission Block? Play to win the Publishing Game

We came. We pitched. Did we send?

Writer’s conferences are well-planned days of speakers, workshops, and opportunities. After pitching themselves and their beloved projects, many writers leave their meetings with agents, editors, and publishers, clutching close a business card and those much sought after words, “Send that to me. I’d like to take a look at it.”

Perhaps you submitted a query or proposal and received the coveted invitation to submit your manuscript.

Editors report that they often never see the projects they invite writers to send. 

There are two types of writers. Those that submit for publication and those that don’t. In the writing industry, the difference between players and spectators is frequently determined by who takes the next step. 

While the unpublished group may claim writers’ block, professional writers are adamant that writers block is as mythical as Nessy the Loch Ness Monster. 

“A professional writer doesn’t wait for inspiration anymore than a professional plumber waits for inspiration to lay a pipe.”

John Erickson

After spending his first forty years as a Texas cowboy, John Erickson is the author of 60 some Hank the Cowdog books. “A professional plumber knows some principles like you don’t lay a pipe uphill or in frozen ground but he lays that pipe. Professional writers write. I write four hours a day seven days a week because I’m fanatical about that because that’s what I do.”

Batter Up

Are your projects stuffed in a drawer, or stored on computer files? Submission block is like a batter that refuses to swing. Opportunities wing past. 

What are you afraid of? Rejection? Success? Both? Taking action that will change the status quo of your life? Is the dream of one day being a published author greater than your courage to go after it?

Even a rejection proves you are in the game. A participant rather than a spectator. A “no, thank you,” is not calling your baby ugly. It is a step closer to connecting with the agent or publisher that shares your passion for the project. It is valuable feedback. Behind a “no” is generally three plays. 

  • The piece does not fit with the purpose of the publisher. For instance, a publisher of non-fiction books is not interested in novels. 
  • There are similar projects already available or in process. 
  • The writing needs improvement.

A homerun response is an enthusiastic yes followed by that favorite call, “Check enclosed.” 

Get in the Game

If submission block is keeping you out of the publishing game, here are moves to get you playing:

  • Accountability. Tell someone you will submit on or before a specific date. 
  • Submit your best work knowing it may not be perfect. 
  • Approach an editor as an eager team player. Be coachable.
  • Like athletes, writers improve with practice. Every time you submit, you take a swing at the ball. 

Betcha’ a cold ballpark hot dog and warm soda that your publishing home run average improves when you submit your work. 

PeggySue Wells is the bestselling author of 29 books including Slavery in the Land of the Free, The Girl Who Wore Freedom, Chasing Sunrise, and Homeless for the Holidays. Connect with her at PeggySueWells.com

Categories
Writers Chat

Writers Chat Recap for January, Part 2

Writers Chat, hosted by Jean Wise, Johnnie Alexander, and Bethany Jett, is the show where we talk about all things writing, by writers and for writers!

“Because talking about writing is more fun than actually doing it.”

Author Community: Real Stuff Manuscript Bundle with Tom Blubaugh, Gina Burgess, and Jann Martin

In this episode, Author Community partners, Tom, Gina, and Jan share how their community of writers encourage one another in the journey of writing, building platform, and more. They share their marketing and publishing expertise, as well as discuss the Real Stuff Manuscript Bundle.

Watch the January 15th replay

 

If you want more tips and resources from Author Community and their manuscript bundle, check out this week’s Show Notes and Live Chat Discussions.

Bios:

Tom Blubaugh has been writing since the age of fourteen. Most of his writing has been nonfiction as well as denominational and business articles. In 2011 Tom’s first novel, Night of the Cossack, was published. Tom has been a public speaker for over forty years and is currently a Literary Strategist working one-on-one with authors and writers in all aspects of the publishing arena, social media, brand building, and book marketing.

Gina Burgess is a freelance editor in the Christian market. Her extensive experience in editing newspapers, blog posts, fiction, and short stories has given her the expertise needed to help writers, as a coach and an editor, to accomplish their goals. She was the Lifestyles Editor at her hometown newspaper, as well as editor for several other publications. Gina is the author of several books, hundreds of articles, and writes a weekly column for LiveAsIf.org (since 2006).
Jann W. Martin is an author, proofreader, teacher, speaker and blogger. Her dream is to captivate the hearts of children, by writing stories that teach them the Bible through the eyes of a child. The first book Jann published was, This Babe So Small, a nativity story that has sold over 2,000 copies. Her next publication was, Bible Characters Through the Ages, a five book series;  Book One: Adam in the Garden, Book Tow: Meeting Eve, Book Three: Watching David and Goliath, Book Four: The Amazing Esther, Book Five: Isaac and His Family, and Book Six: Jacob’s Journey.

How to Make Money as a Freelancer with Michelle Medlock Adams

This episode is jam packed with tips and how-to’s on freelance writing. Michelle not only brings energy to this episode, but also wonderful ideas for making money while learning and building credibility. She calls it “earn while you learn”.

Watch the January 22nd replay

 

If you want more tips and resources on Freelance Writing, check out this week’s Show Notes and Live Chat Discussions.

Bio:

Michelle Medlock Adams is an award-winning journalist and best-selling author, earning top honors from the Associated Press, the Society of Professional Journalists and the Hoosier State Press Association. Author of over 80 books with close to 4 million books sold, her works have received the AWSA’s Golden Scroll for Best Children’s Book and four Selah Awards.

 JOIN US!

Writers Chat is hosted live each Tuesday for an hour starting at 10 AM CT / 11 AM ET on Zoom. Here’s the permanent Zoom room link.

Participants mute their audio and video during the filming, then we open up
the room for anyone who wishes to participate with our guests. The “After Party” is fifteen-minutes of off-the-record sharing and conversation.

Additionally, you can grow your network and add to the conversation by joining our Writers Chat Facebook Group.

Categories
Encouragement

Focus on One Thing at a Time

Ever been so inundated with projects you didn’t know where to start? I encourage you to FOCUS and take one thing at a time.

I recently returned from a wonderful writer’s conference in Wheaton, Illinois. I’ve been to several conferences before but this time, I came home with so many projects and so much excitement to write, I could hardly stand to be around myself. Imagine my poor husband! Actually, I brought home suggestions for freelance work for him, as well, so he was pretty happy. 😉

After I unpacked, did my laundry, and laid out all my materials in my office, a bit of distress struck. Where do I start? I have this and this and this …

Then I remembered what my newspaper-reporter-husband said to me years ago when I did freelance work. I sometimes had multiple assignments that involved writing, interviews, and even setting up photo shoots. And I juggled all this with the needs of three active kids.  I often found myself in a tizzy—until my husband taught me the key: FOCUS on one thing at a time.

It seems simple enough. But when your brain is in panic mode, or you’re too pumped on caffeine, it’s easy to get bogged down with the WHOLE, rather than focus on the ONE thing that needs to get done, right now.

 

So, after staring at the spread of work I’d laid out in my office, I took a deep breath, prayed for wisdom, and made a list. What were the priorities? What needed doing today? And that’s where I started.

In one short week, I’d accomplished more in my writing than I’d done in a very long time. Rather than allow the anxiety to set in, I prayed for wisdom and focus. And God came through as I did my part.

It takes lots of discipline to be a writer. We are surrounded by so many distractions on every side and we must turn off the interruptions that suck away our mental energy. Unless, of course, a child is bleeding—and I’ve had that happen! I encourage you to guard your thoughts. Control what you can. And pray for FOCUS.

You might be amazed at what you can accomplish.

Carry on.

Elaine Marie Cooper is the award-winning author of Fields of the Fatherless and Bethany’s Calendar. Her latest release (Saratoga Letters) was finalist in Historical Romance in both the Selah Awards and Next Generation Indie Book Awards. She penned the three-book Deer Run Saga and has been published in numerous magazines and anthologies. She freely admits to being a history geek. Look for her upcoming series set in Revolutionary War Connecticut. The 4-book series is entitled Dawn of America. You can visit her site at www.elainemariecooper.com

 

 

Categories
Copywrite/Advertising

Making the Leap to Full-Time Freelance Writer

You will go out and leap like calves released from their stalls. – Malachi 4:2

Speaking of vulnerability, I’m about to open the kimono with you today.

Scary, right? I once had a boss who used that phrase—open the kimono. My colleague Joanne and I traveled to Uganda for a week. When Joanne came by the room to get me for a meal, I opened the door clad only in my hotel-issued bathrobe.

“Holland! Put some clothes on.”

“Don’t you want me to ‘open the kimono’ like the boss always says?”

“No!”

To this day, Joanne will ask me if some event happened on our trip to Tanzania or our trip to Uganda, and I will say, “Uganda. It was where I almost ‘opened the kimono’ for you, remember?”

Bonding with coworkers is always a blessing.

Anyway, I’m opening the kimono for you today. Last Friday, I officially became a full-time freelance copywriter. No more working for the man. No more putting in office hours. No more boring projects forced on me from on high. No more health insurance. No more regular paychecks. No more … you get the picture.

I’ve gone from saying I can’t believe this is finally happening for me to saying Sweet Home Alabama, I need a job with benefits.

Because of how everything transpired, I believe God opened this door. Most of the time, I feel like the calf released from his stall, leaping and gamboling about the field. The rest of the time, I’m wondering why no one is medicating that calf and then remembering the calf doesn’t have a prescription plan anymore.

On my third day as a full-timer, I’m offering you 5 things I’ve learned from making the leap to full-time freelance copywriting:

  1. Long-term relational investments pay off. I went from an average of 10 hours of freelance work per week with three clients to an average of 35 hours of work per week with the same three clients. I have several warm leads, too, thanks to writer and designer friends I’ve gotten to know over the years. Invest in your current clients. They’re your best bet to a secure future.
  2. It takes time to build a freelance client base. I started freelance writing for profit when my former colleague Joanne (see above) asked me to pick up the slack after her last copywriter took a full-time gig. From one small job to a full-time client base took three years. That was with God doing miracles along the way. We’re playing the long game, my friends.
  3. Have your marketing materials in place. My website is in production, but I wish I’d pushed it harder, sooner. Still, an online portfolio, references on LinkedIn, business cards, and a sizeable Twitter following can get you a long way toward securing new clients. They demonstrate credibility, and as copywriters, credibility is what backs our currency.
  4. Discover your niche. We start out writing anything anyone will give us to write. Since my first clients were non-profits and that was my background, I used to say “I’m a non-profit copywriter.” It was a non-profit strategy, let me tell you. Now I can say I specialize in writing about household products for urban-dwelling Millennials and in technology for non-techies. It’s still pretty broad (and believe me, I’ll write anything for a buck), but it’s a far more lucrative niche than non-profits. Having a niche helps establish my style and interests in prospective clients’ minds. Having agency experience helped, too, but it’s not vital.
  5. Ask your copywriting column fans for leads. If you are fortunate enough to author a copywriting column for an awesome site, ask your legions of fans to send you leads. Some people who read your column are aspiring novelists or Bible study writers, but they run into organizations that need writers all the time. They can pass those leads along to you – please! As copywriters, we don’t need degrees or certificates. We just have to write good copy that converts readers into buyers or donors.

So there you have it, my friends—a story about kimonos and calves and how God opens new doors when He’s ready, not when we are.

What leaps are you making in your writing career? What precipices is God kicking you over? What fields are you gamboling in like a young calf released from its stall?

Is God calling you to make a writer’s leap? You can open the kimono in the comments—metaphorical openings only, please.

 

 

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Have Words, Will Travel....Travel Writing 101 Uncategorized

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Have Words Will Travel
Upon returning from a writer's conference earlier this year, Cathy found a 1963 Shasta Airflyte Camper sitting in her driveway. Since then, she has taken quite the fancy to travel writing. She hopes you'll join her on this adventurous journey!

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“My last point about getting started as a writer: do something first, good or bad, successful or not, and write it up before approaching an editor. The best introduction to an editor is your own written work, published or not. I traveled across Siberia on my own money before ever approaching an editor; I wrote my first book, Siberian Dawn, without knowing a single editor, with no idea of how to get it published. I had to risk my life on the Congo before selling my first magazine story. If the rebel spirit dwells within you, you won’t wait for an invitation, you’ll invade and take no hostages.” ― Jeffrey Taylor

If your own rebel spirit is restless, below are top five sites offering boundless opportunities for every travel writer.

 

Do you have a favorite travel writing site? If so, please share in the comment section.