Freelance Writer

I love to write, but I am the WORST when it comes to procrastinating writing in a deadline situation. Any tips or tricks for this?

Asked by brikhaus about 11 years ago

Stop procrastinating. That's it. Procrastination leads to rushed work, and rushed work is almost always of lower quality. Plus, when you're late with a piece, you sabotage your relationship with the client and ruin the chances of getting future projects. Here are my top methods for staying focused: - Make a schedule as soon as you get a project - Set phone alarms or calendar alerts to remind you of milestones - Turn off the Internet while you're writing - Give yourself regular breaks throughout the day - Do a bit of a project each day instead of leaving it all for the end. Even a crappy draft is easier to work from than no draft. Honestly, it's hard. Some days, focusing is nearly impossible. On those days, I try to do something else that's productive: research, interviews, marketing, etc. Or, I go shopping or go to a movie and forget about work for a bit. Sometimes, it's really not worth it to beat your head against the wall. :)

If given the choice, would you prefer having 10 small clients, or 2 big ones?

Asked by Mikail over 11 years ago

In terms of productivity, I'd prefer two big clients. It takes me a while to get focused on a project, so I don't get much done when I have to change tasks constantly. In terms of finances, however, 10 is more sensible. If you have two and you lose one, you've just lost half of your income. If you have 10 and you lose one...well, it's not awesome but you're not going to go under.

What areas of freelance writing are the most in-demand right now? Corporate blogging? Speechwriting? Copywriting? Something else?

Asked by Hildabird about 11 years ago

Marketing writing is always in demand--even in (especially in) a tough economy, people need to sell their products. Also, in my experience, writers with specialized backgrounds are always in demand. If an aerospace firm needs someone to handle their writing, they might require someone to write everything from marketing copy to government proposals to technical reports--in other words, pieces with very different audiences. If one writer has an understanding of aerospace engineering, the aviation market, challenges faced by pilots, etc., they're already miles ahead of a writer who is simply a good writer. The first writer is more likely to 1) know what questions to ask, 2) understand the implications of a new development, 3) understand how it affects the industry, and 4) know where to look or who to ask for more information. As a result, the company can spend less time training the writer and less time explaining why the finished piece doesn't quite encompass the needs of the company, customer, and industry. Write what you know. :)

What would you say to an 18-yr-old whose parents told her, "The world already has too many writers, do something else?"

Asked by melinda about 11 years ago

What do you think is appropriate to charge a company who is looking for researched, 500-700 word blog posts on its site? I see many opportunities like this, but the companies are literally paying $10-15 per post, which is ridiculous.

Asked by shogunn about 11 years ago

How young were you when you started your writing

Asked by ChiickenBock over 8 years ago

Do you foresee a time when writers are better compensated? Or will this forever be a starving artists' medium? (I'm obviously not talking about the J.K. Rowlings of the world, but rather, the average, everyday, good writer).

Asked by 1candream about 11 years ago