Comments on: Guest Post: What’s Your Writing Dream?

By: allena

allena — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 22:20:54 +0000

This post makes me remember why your blog is at the top of my iGoogle, Lori.

By: ChuckB

ChuckB — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 16:53:42 +0000

Great summary. While I'm not freelance writing yet I'm still in that unfamiliar learning curve. A few years ago I invested in a popular correspondence course on how to write and immediately got stumped on the lesson about the 8 parts of a sentence. How stumped should I have been on this subject? As a result I never did finish the course but always wonder if taking the time and summoning the courage to learn how each part of the sentence works correctly could have helped me to reach my goals. Chuck

By: Jake P

Jake P — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 20:10:31 +0000

@Ronda, I'm 11 years into it, and it's where I'm still falling down :)

For me, it's the challenge of having been at the game so long -- 100% of my projects are current clients or referrals. Just when I think "Hmmm, I should do some marketing," something else will come into my inbox and the procrastination hamsters are back on the wheel.

In any case, Anne's piece is a good reminder. My two priority areas are revamping my portfolio site and getting some ebooks finished up. I'm also waiting on a professional designer to give me a bid on revamping the design of my Dr. Freelance blog, so I'll get moving on that, too.

By: Ronda

Ronda — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 15:55:48 +0000

I am 7 months into full-time freelancing and setting concrete, measurable goals is one area where I am falling down. This is good inspiration to do that, uhm, TODAY! Also good comments from Cathy and Paula. A structured plan and reminders of what we're aiming for do help us create our own luck.

By: Paula

Paula — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 15:38:54 +0000

Speaking as a magazine writer, the corporate and copy writing life seems more glamorous. Why? More leeway in setting your own fees. Magazines set their rates, which as we know almost never increase.

You're right Anne - a lot of people assume writing is a simple way to make money. In times of high unemployment, I always hear people say things like, "If I get laid off, I'll just write, like you do." Right....

Cathy - your 28 day process reminds me of the wish thread necklace my niece & nephew gave me. It's a tiny gold colored elephant charm on a thin blue thread. You're supposed to put it on and leave it on until it breaks. Each day you're supposed to make your wish and do something to move your toward that wish. When the thread breaks and the charm falls off, your dream is supposed to come true. The luck isn't in the charm, its in the things you do each day to move you toward that wish. Luck doesn't just happen. We have to earn it.

By: Cathy

Cathy — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 14:14:50 +0000

Anne-this is why you were someone I followed from the very beginning of my freelancing, and continue to do so. Simple, effective advice.

I told Lori in a recent comment that I tend to be good at the beginning of the month in keeping to goals and then slack off. I'm most effective when I use a 28-day plan I found in one of the many books I've read to structure myself.

It's from C.J. Hayden's book, Get Clients Now. In essence you pick actions from a menu of ideas, depending on your goal (e.g., filling the pipeline, making the sale, etc.)

You perform those tasks daily or weekly, depending on which ones you selected. It helps keep me focused.

Examples of some tasks:
-Spend 1 hour per day on eBook
-Send one query letter per week
-Reconnect with colleagues/clients twice in month

You get the idea. You set the measurable result. Of course, sticking to it is the real challenge. Thanks for reminding me I need to get back to it. :-)