What I’m reading: To the Bright Edge of the World by Eowyn Ivey What I’m listening to: No Hard Feelings by The Avett Brothers Wow. January just slid right by there, didn’t it? I spent it working remotely and spending time with my ailing father. He’s so ill he probably doesn’t know I was there…
Working smarter
Free Advice Friday: Your Streamlined Writing Life
What I’m listening to: Zombie by The Cranberries (RIP Delores O’Riordan) This is the year I get my shit together. That’s what I vow every year. Every year, I’m going to make that one change that pushes me into a new category of productivity. I’m going to streamline the hell out of my freelance writing habits, and it’s…
January Redo: Your Freelance Time, Wasted
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,…
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 —…