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Effective Freelance Writing
I am not strictly ‘a morning person’. I prefer to do my Freelance Writing work late into the night and get up as late as possible. Nevertheless, the late night part of my writing schedule is about organisation and structure of my written content, plus marketing. Because, despite having a heavy head in the mornings, that is the time I get my best writing ideas.
Are you like me: someone who wakes up with a head full of written content? I know that sounds strange (and it could well be down to working on my freelance writing projects just before I go to bed), but this works for me. I hastily grab pen and paper and sit with my morning coffee, jotting down everything which comes into my head. As I write notes, more ideas appear. They may be disorganised, but I can deal with that later, when I am fully awake.
Much later in the day, when I am more alert, I organise my notes according to projects and type up the articles for clients, or for blogs and email posts.
In the morning I am a creative person and later in the day I become an organised one, because I work according to my body’s rythms.
My partner, on the other hand, is not a ‘morning person’ in any sense of the word. His brain does not appear to function much at all until he has had at least two cups of coffee and some cigarettes. As to writing, he can hardly produce a single word (written or spoken) until he is fully awake. But come the evening, he is busy typing up all his freelance writing work and his ideas flow at the same time as he organises them.
Two different patterns of writing, but they both work, because we know what works best for us.
As a freelance writer, it is very important to know when you are at your most creative and when you are at your most organised. This way you will type your best written copy and be much more productive. There is no point in working against your body’s natural rythm. It will burn you out and your writing will not be as effective as it could be.
So think about this, the next time you type that copy. Have you found your best time to write?
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Kimberly Ben
July 17th, 2008 at 10:59 pm
Hi zania,
I work a lot like you do. Structure is difficult for me with four children until school starts. Untile then I just keep doing the best I can I suppose.
zania
July 18th, 2008 at 12:48 am
Hi Kimberly,
I’m glad someone else works like me. My partner finds it real strange that I separate out my writing work this way
Four children - wow! It must be really hard to get your writing done!
I’ve just checked out your blog and see you worked even on 4th July.
You really are an avid writer!
Dave Tex
July 25th, 2008 at 12:18 am
I don’t have a particular time yet. Just seems to be when the mood strikes me, which can be at any time on any day. It seems to coincide with when I have a lot of energy, which is usually later in the morning or just after 9 pm or just after consuming a caffeinated beverage.
I suppose I’m most full of energy when I feel inspired to write. And usually all I need to be inspired to write is something to write about.
I suppose if I want to get more serious I would need to develop some sort of schedule.
How important would you say it is to have a writing schedule?
zania
July 26th, 2008 at 2:13 am
Hi Dave,
I’ve just seen your blog.
Looks like you do have the passion to write, but, as yet, no plan.
I must admit, I only write at my best when the mood strikes. Luckily though, I’ve worked out when that is. The advantage I have, I guess, is that this is my full time job, so I’m free to choose a schedule to fit in with the way I write (I have to be disciplined though - and that’s not easy for me, as I am pretty unorganised at times…)
Looks like you have worked out what suits you best too, but it’s fitting it in with your job. Not easy, I should imagine!
Yes, it is important to have a schedule, but one which suits you.
The first thing you need to sort out is what you want to write about, and who you want to write for (I’m not saying you will always be able to choose who you write for - you won’t by any means - but it will give you an idea of the type of markets you want to approach).
Blogging on blogger is a start in the right direction for testing out your writing skills (and it allows you to try out new writing ideas - perhaps on different blogs), and it will give you the experience of writing for an audience, but eventually you will need to get some hosting and a domain name, to put yourself out there as a serious writer. But that’s in the future.
In the meantime, I would be looking at the market for writers. You can find these in Freelance Writing Forums on the net (just google it - there’s loads), plus you can network with other writers, which is pretty important and useful. You should also be looking at offline publishers. I live in Spain (and some of the time in the UK), here I can access info on publishers at my local library. I don’t know if that’s the same in Canada.
I also scan the small print of magazines and even advertising copy, to see if there are addresses of publishers I can approach with ideas. But for that, you need a writing portfolio.
So, the best thing to do first of all is to get writing, when you can and wherever you can and then fix that schedule once you have worked it out.
I’m actually going to write a post here in a day or two about organising your writing work (it is for offline publication only, but it may help).
You’ve just jogged my memory that I need to get writing here myself.
Thanks!
zania
July 26th, 2008 at 2:41 am
@Dave,
I tried to leave a comment on your blog btw, but it wouldn’t accept either my wordpress or my typepad id (I have both), so I had to give up. sorry!
Dave Tex
July 28th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
Thanks for the reply and the advice. I’m a little scared about how to go about making the transition from writing in my spare time to writing for a job, and I will definitely try out the freelance pages. I suppose building experience and having things to back up your claim of having the ability to write is crucial.
Are people willing to hire people with very little experience if they provide unpublished writing samples?
One more question, are writing workshops worth the time? I’m sure it varies - some are, some aren’t, but what is your experience with workshops or do you have a post you can refer me to?
Thanks for your time!
Dave
Dave Tex
July 28th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
I’m not sure why your comment on my blog didn’t work. I’ll have to look into that. Thanks for taking the time to try and do it at the very least. I changed the title of my blog today as I did not like the other one and I should change it while I can, so the new link is available in this post.
Thanks again!