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Free advice

Free Advice Friday: Streamlining Article Writing

Posted on August 14, 2015June 30, 2016 by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Timeless by The Airborne Toxic Event I’m still on vacation, though I’m now south of the Canadian border. Because of my unusually heavy summer workload, I needed to step away for a full week. It’s a combination of detox and much-needed cleaning. We talked a few weeks back about how to…

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Free Advice Friday: Turning Ideas Into Article Queries

Posted on July 24, 2015June 30, 2016 by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Have Love, Will Travel by The Sonics What a week. Unlike most summers, I’ve been working to the point where I had to postpone my vacation a few weeks just to get caught up. I did, but more came in. No matter — I’m out of here either way. I need…

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Free Advice Friday: Killing Your Worst Freelance Writing Enemy

Posted on June 26, 2015June 30, 2016 by lwidmer

What I’m reading: Alexander’s Bridge by Willa Cather What’s on the iPod: Afire Love by Ed Sheeran Ever have one of those days where your wheels don’t just spin, but they get mired deep in stuff you can’t control? Welcome to my Thursday. As much as I tried to get projects going, I was pulled…

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  1. Cathy Miller Avatar
    Cathy Miller
    June 26, 2015

    Can you see me standing and applauding? Great post, Lori. We all get stuck at times. And if you think you're past that, think about the list of "personal projects" that remain untouched. I'm guilty as charged.

    When I find myself stuck in analysis paralysis, I go back to a kick-in-the-pants question – what's the worst that could happen? I don't get the gig? Do I honestly believe there will never be another one? Hardly. I make a mistake? Some of my best lessons came from my mistakes.I charged too little? Charge more the next time.

    In my corporate days, I had a colleague who had her own kick-in-the-pants inspiration. She'd ask, what – is this a cure for cancer? No? Then quit treating it like it is.

    Reply
  2. Lori Widmer Avatar
    Lori Widmer
    June 26, 2015

    AMEN, Cathy Miller! 🙂 You're right — we all do it on some level.

    And I've always loved your "analysis paralysis" line. It's perfect. I think your colleague's perspective is spot on. We do tend to over-analyze something, often to the point of killing it.

    Reply
  3. Paula Avatar
    Paula
    June 26, 2015

    Amen, Cathy.

    Maybe it's how I grew up, but I'm good at keeping things in context. As long as nobody dies, whatever you're dealing with is not The Worst Thing Ever.

    Like Cathy said, What's the worst that can happen?

    When you're talking about freelance writing, that's probably having a your byline on an article the editor did a hatchet job on. And the solution? You don't use it as a clip. Most negative situations freelance writers face can be turned into lessons – that way you won't make the same mistake twice. And you'll grow as a professional.

    Reply
  4. Lori Widmer Avatar
    Lori Widmer
    June 26, 2015

    Great advice, Paula. You grow when you try. Inertia is failure, not trying and making mistakes.

    Reply
  5. EP Avatar
    EP
    June 27, 2015

    Funny thing about those roadblocks. Why do we insist on creating them for ourselves? I feel like I'm in some obsessive-compulsive Monk episode sometimes. Just do it!

    Reply
  6. Lori Widmer Avatar
    Lori Widmer
    June 29, 2015

    Very good question, EP. And I'm with you on the Monk similarities — too much in the head is never a good thing!

    Reply
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