I think it was as I was lying down to sleep, still talking about work at 11 pm, that I realized I have a problem. I’m overworked to the point of not being able to shut it off at the end of the day. And for those of you who are new to freelancing or…
Working smarter
3 Easy Freelance Value-Adds (that boost your earnings & reputation)
When I wrote the title to this post, my finger accidentally hit the Caps button. Freelance Value-ADD is not a disorder, but man, what an appropriate Freudian slip. Why? Because we freelancers tend to have attention deficit when it comes to marketing ourselves. We jump from the tried-and-true last thing that got us hired to…
4 Ways to Build Success into Your Freelance Writing Business
Freelance writing blogs are chock full of “here’s how you’re screwing up” posts. I know because I’ve posted plenty of those myself. Just look at this, this, and this from the last month. Okay, they all had a positive, actionable message in the end, but the point is there are plenty of things around on…
5 Ways to Organize Your Freelance Writing (and still have time for fun)
My to-do list today: Finish summary article for Client A Continue on feature article for Client B Finalize article for Client C (and invoice) Get it all done by noon because my son is arriving and staying for the next four days ‘Tis the season, isn’t it? December used to be when my freelance writing…
6 Email Sins That Are Killing Your Freelance Writing Business
In this week’s in box alone, I’ve received close to 60 pitches from PR people, most of whom did not do their homework. “…, 63% of millennials say the desire to travel is the primary reason they work, second to paying for basic necessities (83%), and well ahead of saving for retirement (58%) and paying…
Your Freelance Writing Continuous Improvement Plan
Today is more of an interactive post. Consider it homework that will actually make a difference to your freelance writing business. “Become addicted to constant and never-ending improvement.” – Anthony J. D’Angelo I saw a bastardized version of this quote on Twitter and did some researching to make sure it was attributed correctly. It wasn’t,…
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….
The Freelancer’s Time-Saving Cheat Sheet
I was reading an article yesterday that was encouraging — nay, teaching — us to work just four hours a day. And be more productive. Yes, I was skeptical, too. Then I read the article. Damn. Those aren’t hard steps. In fact, many of them I can do. Some of them I do already. But…
Running Your Freelance Writing Business Like a Boss
I’ll admit it — at times, I still get a case of the guilts. I’ve been freelancing since 2003, so you think I’d be over that feeling of having to be at this desk at a certain time. Yet every vacation, every day off I took (aside from weekends), I felt like I was playing…
7 Time-saving Moves for Freelance Writers
What I’m listening to: Love Is Bigger Than Anything In Its Way by U2 I’m hung over from a late night — went to the U2 concert, and didn’t get in until the wee hours of this morning. So today, with a full work day and an weekend already filled up with way too much,…