The Freelance Writing Readjustment

Here’s the thing about a freelance writing career —

You go along building a client base, you get comfortable with how things are going, and you ride it out.

Or you slap it together every day and cross your fingers.

Which one are you?

In many ways, both of those methods are shortchanging your potential. Phoning it in, so to speak, is just as stifling as the slapdash approach. The difference is you may not realize it.[bctt tweet=” Your #freelancewriting process could well be holding you back.” username=”LoriWidmer”]

I know. I’ve been there. And if I’m not on the alert at all times, I could end up right back there.

But a writing process? Can that really improve your business?

Damn right it can.

Let’s say you have four appointments in one day — dentist, hair salon, lunch with a friend, council meeting in the evening. You’re going to plan and fit all that in, aren’t you? You’re going to allot time for each task and make sure you’re not overextending. When you scheduled each one, you made sure you weren’t overlapping.

Do you do that with your freelance writing day? Do you, for example, write when you’re most productive, or are you answering emails that could wait?

Here’s how to readjust your day in order to improve your writing results:

Get more ideas in front of you.

You can’t pitch ideas or know which clients to target if you’re not reading anything. Try aggregate sites — Reddit, Nuzzel, ProfNet press releases to locate story ideas and potential clients (who are quoted and who send out press releases). Haunt Twitter hashtags to see who’s talking about what — particularly those hashtags your target clients are using. Read newspapers. Magazines. Trade journals. Schedule time into your day every day to read one more thing about your specialty area or your interest area.

Do something different.

You’ve sent holiday cards every year to your present and former clients. What about those clients you’d like to work with? Or you’ve always approached clients in email. What about phoning them or sending them a letter in the mail? You’ve settled on working with consumer technology publications. What about the trade publications? The trade associations? The people who support the technology industry? Find one thing today to add to your current process that shakes it up a little.

Make a list.

Every night before getting up from your workspace, open a calendar invite (or your task program) and make a quick list of the things you need to do the next day.  I prioritize mine in order of deadline or importance. Do this every workday and you’ll never feel like you’re swimming in a sea of deadlines and confusion. Plus, there’s something so satisfying about checking that item off your list. (possible productivity tools include Trello, MS Tasks, Wunderlist, Todoist)

Track your time.

If you think you don’t get distracted, yet you simply cannot get it all done, track your time. Download a timer, turn it on when you work, turn it off when you stop (even if it’s to answer an email). Wow, you worked three hours today but sat there for seven hours? Where is that time going? Each time you stop to do something else, jot down when you stopped and why. Within a few days, you’ll see your worst time sinks. (Try RescueTime, Toggl, Marinara Timer)

Rearrange your workspace.

I once struggled with productivity. Then my husband and I decided to turn our desks to face each other. I went from facing the eggshell-colored wall to facing the rest of the room, including the artwork and the bookshelves. My productivity shot through the roof. Something as simple as feeling in command or present in your space can really improve your output. And paint those walls a color that pleases you. That will do wonders for your morale, which will increase your productivity.

Lose the distractions.

Turn off the phone, close your email program, disconnect from the internet. Jot down things that leap into your head as you’re writing. Then forget about them until you’re finished with your work. Use Freedom app to block the temptations while you’re researching. Try installing Strict Workflow on your Chrome browser. It will block your surfing habit until your writing time is up.

Clean your damn desk.

Seriously, how long are you going to sit there with that expired Macy’s coupon on your desk? Do you really need two measuring tapes? Those broken glasses? That pile of bills and receipts? Yes Lori, I’m talking to you. Writers, what’s on your desk that doesn’t need to be? Clutter-free desk space — even just in front of you — can make you feel like you’re starting fresh.

Have you seen your productivity falter? When is that most likely to happen?
How have you fixed it?
What’s your favorite productivity boost?