be a better writer

Be A Better Writer: 4 Simple Steps To Take Today

February 23, 2017 by FWJ Leave a Comment

When you work as a freelance writer, it can be difficult to feel like you’re experiencing meaningful growth. Sure, maybe you snagged a gig at a prestigious magazine or you worked with a genuinely helpful editor, but freelancing can be lonely work. It can easily foster a feeling of stagnation, with your professional improvement at stake.

How are you supposed to get better at your job without the day-to-day mentoring and camaraderie that comes with a more traditional kind of work? The key lies in self-motivation and focused effort, targeting the skills that you struggle with and the areas most highly in demand, rather than just writing draft after draft without specific goals to achieve.

So, how do you escape the potential effect of the lonely freelance life and be a better writer?

Here are four things to do.
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Read Only if You Want to Write Better and Faster

July 16, 2014 by Freelance Writing Jobs 2 Comments

We all want to be better writers, right? I’m also willing to bet that, more than that, you want to write faster. After all, if you write better and faster, the more client work you can take on, and the more you can charge for your work.

There’s no lack of articles online – and offline – giving pieces of advice on how to write better and faster. We even published one recently – How to Become a Better Writer.

Today, I came across this infographic which can serve as a quick pick-me-upper and/or guide for those who want to write better and faster.

I agree with most points – especially number 9 (which obviously doesn’t apply to those who don’t drink) – but what do you think? As fellow writers, what can you say about this infographic? Let’s hear your thoughts in the comments?

Via Brennan Reid

4 Tips to Cut Down Writing Time

Meditation and Writing: How to Open Your Mind and Enhance Your Creativity

Easy Ways to Increase Writing Productivity

February 5, 2014 by Kimberly Back 6 Comments

When your income is determined by the amount of content you create, the pressure to be productive as a freelance writer can be debilitating.

Don’t allow diminished output to be the white whale of your writing career. Increase your writing productivity with these six easy suggestions:

Create a Flexible Schedule

Freelance writers need a daily writing plan to stay on track, especially if they juggle simultaneous projects or write several articles per day. But when using a schedule, permit some flexibility. Don’t become so tied to your calendar that you deny your own creative impulses. Allow yourself to be inspired rather than shying away from bursts of genius simply because your writing plan dictates you finish an assignment. Your schedule should drive you, not dominate you.

Get Some Air

You’ll be more productive if you learn to take breaks. Staring at a blinking cursor for hours on end is the antithesis of productivity, as is forcing yourself to type lifeless paragraphs you’ll delete at the end of the day. When your productivity is waning, seek a change in scenery. Take a walk around your block, go for a short drive, or simply open your front door and inhale. Fresh air equals a fresh perspective. [Read more…]