Though there are multiple benefits to freelancing, there are definitely downsides as well. Being your own boss means that you also have to be your own motivator. There’s nobody to hold your hand and badger you to meet deadlines. Some days, you may struggle to get anything done at all. If you want to find success as a freelancer, it’s critical you find your rhythm and know how to motivate yourself. And there’s no better time to figure out how to do this than at the beginning of a new year! Let’s dive into how you can up your motivation in 2022.
How Do You Keep Writing During Tough Times?
They say writing is therapeutic, but those of us who write for a living know very well that it is not always the case. In fact, it could be the opposite. Deadlines — looming and past — can throw all semblance of therapeutic out the window.
How to Get Paid to Proofread
In this day and age, professionals are starting to value the importance of a work-from-home lifestyle that revolves around technology and its capacity to stay connected from anywhere at any time. Having the opportunity to avoid time-wasters such as rush hour traffic or long commute hours gives individuals the freedom to use their newly gained time not only for doing the activities they enjoy but also for picking up an extra source of income. [Read more…]
Why Freelance Writers Should Learn the Art of Doing Nothing
As I was looking into existing articles about “The Art of Doing Nothing, ” I came across two phrases how they described it in Italy and in India.
The Italians call it “La Dolce Far Niente” which means “the sweetness of doing nothing.” And it was a concept one author learned while watching Elizabeth Gilbert’s Eat, Pray, Love. The scene was set in a barbershop in Rome. Julia and her newfound friend are scarfing down napoleons while the men of Italy are educating them on the ways of the Italian. [Read more…]
Where to Find Inspiration When You Have Writer’s Block
You’re all set to write the guest post that’s going to bring at least a hundred new leads to your website, and then it happens: The dreaded writer’s block.
The best of us go through this at some point or another, and it may come from various reasons – maybe a fear of criticism or wanting to write the perfect post in one shot. [Read more…]
Screenwriters, Watch These Movies Based on True Stories and Learn
Writing an amazing screenplay about fictional events can be challenging. By basing your screenplay on a true story, you can use the basic structure of true events as a framework to hold the rest of your narrative. It can also be a lucrative way to convert existing non-fiction writing into potentially valuable Hollywood property. Watching movies based on true stories is a good way to hone your screenwriting skills.
Watch these movies to become a better screenwriter. Click To Tweet
Here are some of the best true story movies that can serve as inspiration for your screenplay in the making. [Read more…]
Inspiring Movies Every Writer Must Watch
Writing inspiration is all around us, everywhere we look. That guy at the next table at the coffee shop who’s alone and reading a book instead of playing with his phone. That little girl at the park sitting on the grass staring at a tree. That sparrow who is pecking at the crumbs of your cheesecake.
Books. Blog posts. TV shows. And, yes, movies.
Even if these materials aren’t specifically about writing, we can still glean inspiration from them. Today, I’m sharing watching material for movie buffs – or even the casual movie watcher. I’ve seen some of these movies, while the others are on my watch list. [Read more…]
Writing Tweets That Will Make Your Day
Hi. My name is Noemi. I’m a Twitter addict.
Today, I’m sharing some writing tweets with you because…read the third sentence of this post.
Have fun! [Read more…]
The Best Blog Posts About Writing to Read This Week
Reading is essential to being a good writer, so here are the best blog posts I’ve seen this week, which I’d like to share with you.
Blog posts about writing you’ll enjoy
Five Must-see TED Talks for Writers!
TED Talks used to be the hottest thing online, and while that may not be the case anymore, it doesn’t mean TED Talks doesn’t have anything to offer. Today, check out this article which includes talks from Any Tan, Elizabeth Gilbert, and Tim Brown. Topics range from creativity (and where it hides) to success and failure and the drive to keep on going. [Read more…]
Project Semicolon: A Different Take on the Semicolon
Sticklers for punctuation seem to have a thing for the semicolon. There are those who don’t really pay much attention to its use, while others may not have a clue. Then there are those who utterly dislike it.
“Here is a lesson in creative writing. First rule: Do not use semicolons. They are transvestite hermaphrodites representing absolutely nothing. All they do is show you’ve been to college.” – Kurt Vonnegut, A Man Without a Country
Whether you agree with that or not, here’s a fun but informative crash course on how to use the semicolon.
This post isn’t about the use of this punctuation mark in the usual way writers talk about it, though. Let’s digress from grammar, punctuation, job hunting, and usual topics we talk about.
I don’t know if you’ve heard of the initiative called Project Semicolon, but I think everyone should be aware of it.
Project Semicolon is dedicated to helping people who struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury, and suicide. Their vision:
The vision is that together we can achieve lower suicide rates in the US and around the world;
That together we can start a conversation about suicide, mental illness and addiction that can’t be stopped;
We envision love and hope and we declare that hope is alive;
We envision a society that openly addresses the struggle with mental illness, suicide and addiction;
We envision a conversation embraced by churches and addressed with love;
We envision a society that sees their value and embraces it;
We envision a community that comes together and stands together in support of one another;
We envision a world where an escape is not found within drugs or alcohol;
We envision a world where self-destruction is no longer a escape to be used;
We envision a revolution of LOVE and declare that our stories are not over yet;
Isn’t that a beautiful use of the semicolon in the “real world”?
Their tagline is just as inspiring: “A semicolon represents a sentence the author could have ended, but chose not to. The sentence is your life and the author is you.”
For people who are – or have loved ones – struggling with the issues mentioned above, Project Semicolon means so much more than a punctuation mark.
I took a look at Twitter, and I was touched by many of the tweets related to the movement. Here are several of them, which I hope will inspire you, too.
No matter what comes up in your life, know that ‘This too, will pass’. #ProjectSemicolon #TheSemicolonProject #SemicolonProject #Semicolon
— Project Semicolon (@ProjSemicolon) August 3, 2015
After everything was taken from me and I wanted only to die, I fought back. I survived #depression #semicolonproject pic.twitter.com/xt7eTyoc6R
— Elisa Hategan (@elisahategan) August 3, 2015
Some have even gotten semicolon tattoos.
Second tattoo ? #semicolonproject pic.twitter.com/YuHoLlsymm
— shindigity sam (@SamanthaAnnMill) August 2, 2015
Tattoo for #semicolonproject @TeamBrockComm supports education of depression & suicide prevention. #CrisisCenterTampa pic.twitter.com/4xZZDXRdTv
— lisa brock (@TeachPR) July 29, 2015
This last one says it all.
#semicolonproject because I could’ve ended my life sentence, but chose not to. Recovery is beautiful. pic.twitter.com/j3AJO2XLqb
— Sarah Spring (@sarahspringg) July 30, 2015
There is so much more to the semicolon than I previously thought.
If you want to help in any way, visit Project Semicolon.
