What I’m listening to: Runaways by The Killers Midweek already? It was a good week so far. As expected, client projects are rolling in, and I’m back in my office, so the routine is coming easier than when I was working remotely at my parents’ house. That’s a condition I’ll be returning to quite soon,…
Category: Working smarter
A Freelancer’s Month of Getting Nothing Accomplished
What I’m listening to: When September Ends by Green Day It’s been a rough September. Dad is ill. Mom broke her knee. The stepson, his wife and kids (ages 2 and 3 months) have descended on the house and show no signs of departure (which I normally don’t mind, but it’s been a week and…
Kicking Freelance Writing “But”
What I’m listening to: Never Let You Go by Third Eye Blind Yesterday on a private writers’ forum, I saw a post from someone I consider to be a smart, savvy writer. She was asking for help. She wants to lose her full-time gig and go 100% freelance. However, things were getting in the way….
5 Scary Freelance Writing Business Mistakes
What I’m listening to: The Fall of Rome by The Airborne Toxic Event Jeezuz, what a week. I did the old trick to get more work coming in — I thought about taking next week off for vacation. Not that I need more work, but I wanted a lot of these stalled projects to finish….
6 Hacks to Increase Your Freelance Writing Productivity
What I’m reading: Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage by Haruki Murakami What I’m listening to: Blackstar by David Bowie Snow. That was the focus of my weekend, at least until yesterday when the sun came out. Well no, even then. It all had to be moved. And there is a lot —…
Freelance Writing Biz Fix: Creating a Virtual Workspace
What I’m listening to: Lola by The Kinks What a week. I started with two projects and a new client call. So far, I’m up to two more projects and two more new client calls — none of which are happening until after I return from vacation. I did get a bit of work done,…
3 Freelance Writing Trends to Avoid in 2016
What I’m listening to: Sweet Jane by Lou Reed Maybe it’s the new calendar that brings out the crazy freelance writing advice I’ve seen lately. I’m not talking about the usual weird advice, such as how you must do this or you never should do that, or my all-time biggest pet peeve: “Freelance writing is…
The Action Part of Your Freelance Writing Action Plan
What I’m reading: House of Leaves by Mark Danielewski What’s on the iPod: Have Love Will Travel by The Sonics What a good time to step away from the home office. There’s no work getting done right now, no clients in the office, no answers to any questions I might have (I have one —…
Your Annual Freelance Writing Business Review
What’s on the iPod: I’m a Mess by Ed Sheeran It’s nearly Christmas — time for your annual business review. I know — you’re way too busy preparing for the holiday onslaught to think about your business. But in the waning days post-Christmas and pre-2016, there’s a good chance you’ll have a spare hour to…
One Easy Method for Reaching Your Freelance Writing Goals
What’s on the iPod: Thunder Road by Bruce Springsteen (this is my favorite version) It was great to have the Springsteen song (link above) show up on my iPod this morning. The UPenn FM station WXPN named it #1 in their list of All-time Greatest Songs. Agreed. As the holiday speeds up on us, I’m spending…