“If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.” – Stephen King
While not everyone is a fan of Stephen King, it’s difficult to deny how true this quote is. As writers, we need to continuously evolve, and one of the best ways to do this is to read the work of others. Whether you read books, essays, or blogs – it doesn’t matter. The important thing is that you make time for reading and that you learn from what you read.
Today, I’d like to share five blog posts that will help you in your freelance writing life. Knowing how hectic a freelancer’s schedule can be, I don’t suggest reading them all in one day. Spread them out. Re-read them. Learn from them.
How to Not Set Yourself up for Failure with New Year’s Resolutions by Jeff Goins
Every new year starts with good intentions. We’ve been conditioned to plan a fresh start and make resolutions for a better life. The thing is, we all know too well that New Year’s resolutions tend to be thrown out of the window at some point.
This post by Jeff Goins shows you that New Year’s resolutions are achievable. In one sentence: “Measure the process, not the outcome”.
A Better Approach to “Write Every Day” by Jessica Strawser
“Write every day even if you don’t feel like it.”
You’ve heard this piece of advice many times. You may even have shared it with fellow writers. It doesn’t always work, though, and if that’s the case for you, this blog post will give you a fresh perspective.
The Forest for the Trees: How to Cure Overwriting by C.S. Lakin
Is there such a thing as overwriting? Definitely. Here’s how the author defines it.
Overwriting takes many forms. Wordiness. Overuse of modifiers and weak sentence construction. Vagueness. Redundancy. Convolution. Pushing metaphors so far beyond the breaking point that they cease to be enlightening and become ridiculous instead. Purple prose.
If that hits too close to home, then read this post first.
How to Avoid High PayPal Fees: A Lucrative Trick for Freelancers by Alexis Grant
There are many ways freelance writers can receive payment, but PayPal is probably one of the most common. If you use PayPal, you’re already aware of the fees that cut into your earnings. This post will teach you how to save on those fees.
Finding Readers: Strategies for Building Your Audience in 2015 by Stacey Roberts
If you are using your blog to make money, you definitely want to increase your reader base. The theory is simple, but the implementation is not always an easy road. This blog post gives actionable tips that will help get more readers.
Happy reading!
P.S. It wouldn’t hurt to follow that woman’s example (in the image up top) and read with a glass of wine in your hand.
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