By

Michele L. Tune

Aspiring writers fantasize about writing articles that please editors or potential clients. When you hit send, you cross your fingers or say a prayer – or both! – and hope for the best. But when you receive a response filled with negative news of a rejection (or worse, no response at all), it can seem hopeless; like you’ll never make it as a freelance writer. You might even think of throwing in the towel and giving up totally. You don’t have to give up your dreams and ambitions of being a freelance writer! Follow these steps and learn how to write a quality article that will leave potential editors and clients salivating for more!

1. Write from your heart. If you don’t put your heart and soul into your writing, your words will fall flat, won’t have a smooth flow, and won’t stir the emotions of your reader.
2. Brush up on basic grammar and punctuation rules. You want to impress potential clients and editors with your writing skills. You’re a professional, remember? You wouldn’t go to the office in your gym clothes, so put on your thinking cap and play the part of a writing pro!
3. Write more, write often. The more you write, the better you’ll become – if you have any talent, that is. Some people aren’t born to write (just like some aren’t born to sing). We all have our calling. I couldn’t ride a wave if I had to, but surfers are one with their board.
   
4. Read. This is something a lot of writers fall away from once the gigs start pouring in. Not every writer does this, but it happens. It’s been said that the more you read, the better your writing will be. Why? Because you’ll become familiar with the way words should flow, sentences should come together, and you’ll have correct grammar and punctuation drammed into your head continuously. So, even if you don’t possess a degree in English or Writing, you’ll be educating yourself and polish your skills while doing something that is probably already your favorite pastime.
5. Sleep on it. This is my most successful tip yet, I do believe. There’s nothing I love more than to pour my heart and very soul onto blank pages into the wee hours and save my work, knowing I can rest peacefully and be proud of the work I accomplished. The next morning, I go back into the file and proofread the piece. If it needs polishing, I polish. I usually save it again and go back a couple hours later – maybe even after lunch. At this time, I give it a final good read. If I’m satisfied, I hit send.

My editors and clients are pleased with my work and I know it’s because of the above tips. For example, just the other day I applied for a writing gig I was interested in on Deb Ng’s Freelance Writing Jobs. I heard from the client within 4 hours! Not only did he give me an assignment, he was thrilled with my work (turned in before deadline) and I’ve already scored ongoing work! (The pay is awesome and it’s on topics I’m passionate about.) And, another writing gig I applied to recently (found it at Freelance Writing Jobs, too), I heard back from the potential client within a few minutes!

In my next post, I’ll share tips for sprucing up your e-mails when you apply for writing gigs so you’ll get a better response. It’s fun, I promise! But you don’t want to miss my tips so be sure to subscribe so you can increase your own freelance writing success!

Until next time, keep writing the cyber highway!

Following is a guest post from none other than Devon Ellington! She’s very successful and has a solid writing career. I know you’ll be inspired by her post and her success. Be sure to visit her blog, too. She tells it like it is and shares her real writing experiences. Can’t beat that!

NOTE: I’m working on upcoming posts and will focus on keeping fresh content coming (regularly). I have lots of news to share with you! Oh, and don’t forget to subscribe so you won’t miss any of my juicy updates. See that feed dolly over there? She was a gift from one of my readers! Ain’t she pretty? (More about her early next week!)

Without further ado, here’s Devon Ellington…

Don’t Lose the Joy!

By Devon Ellington

Writers who take the first steps on this path are always looking for the magic “something” that will make them published, well-sold, and well-received.  Writing full-time isn’t for cowards.  One needs an incredible amount of grit, stamina, and determination, in addition to all the creative and business aspects required to make this your business and your vocation as well as your passion.  There’s no one trick, no one magic anything, and everyone’s path is slightly different.

The caveats, however, include:

• Sit your butt in the chair and write. No excuses.  It doesn’t matter if you’re tired or your family interrupts you or you “don’t wanna”.  Write.

• Write every day or almost every day. Writing is like training for a marathon.  You build up stamina, you get into the flow, it gets easier if you do it every day.

• There will never “be” time. You have to “make” time.

• Writer’s block is a luxury only those who rely on another source of income can afford.

• Every project will cause you, at some point to ask yourself, “How badly do I want this?” Because every project will require you to say no to something else, whether it’s in your professional life or your personal life.  No one else can make that recurring decision.  Only you can.

Something that we often forget as we crack the whip on those who claim to want to join us on the writing path, or as we moan to each other about difficult clients or late-paying clients or whatever,  is Joy.  With the capital “J”.

Most of us got into this profession because we love to write. We love to feel pen moving across paper, or watch the words march across the screen.  We tell stories.  Even when we write for a business client, we’re creating a story to present the client’s product in the best and most fascinating light.  We bear witness, we seek justice, we figure out what makes human beings tick.  We’re fascinated by the world and by everyone and everything in it.

It’s hard to remember that on the days when you’re juggling multiple projects, Microsoft fails yet again, the toilet backs up, the cat pukes all over that brand new silk cocktail dress you planned to wear tonight, a client is six weeks late with payment, and all your own bills now carry late fees.

Yet, when things are at their worst, take a moment to remind yourself why you’re doing this.  What part of this process, even on the bad days, give you joy?

The worst days are the days it’s the most important to pull out your personal handwritten journal, or shoot off an email to vent to a friend, or kidnap your neighbor next door for an impromptu glass of wine in the middle of the afternoon.

One of the reasons we freelance is so we don’t get caught up in a typical nine-to-five lifestyle. I’m very disturbed at the number of people who’ve left the corporate grind for more freedom only to build a similar prison of their own design.

And another reason we freelance as writers is because we love what we do. So don’t forget the Joy.  And on the days when you feel like it’s buried at the bottom of the cat box, take the time to dig it back out.

You’ll be glad you did.

Devon Ellington publishes under a half a dozen names in both fiction and non-fiction, as well as supplying her business clients with outstanding writing.  She writes the Jain Lazarus Adventures, published by FireDrakes Weyr Publishing, and “The Literary Athlete” column for THE SCRUFFY DOG REVIEW.  Visit her writing blog, Ink in My Coffee:  http://devonellington.wordpress.com

Posted Wednesday, October 15, 2008

By

Michele L. Tune

I really do feel this way, like I’m pulling the reins on myself. I know I’m holding myself back. I’m capable of accomplishing so much more than I do. I was born to write, to blog, to succeed as a writer. I know that. It’s hard to be confident in that sometimes, though. For me at least. How about you? Do you feel this way? Do you feel like you’re holding yourself back, like you’re your own worst critic?

As writers, we are on the silent side of the screen. We can respond to e-mails quietly. If we need to, we have the option to let an e-mail sit before we respond. Maybe we need to gain our composure if we’re angry or have some other strong emotion to the author of the e-mail. Or maybe we just need time to think of the best words to reply with. Either way, we’re safe. E-mail is a nice, quiet way to communicate – with words, which we’re comfortable with.

I’ve come across numerous blogs where writers are sharing these exact thoughts. Jennifer, at Catalyst Blogger, shared similar feelings in her post The Freelancer’s Guide to Giving Good Phone. It’s an older post of hers but it’s really stuck with me. I was surprised when she fessed up with her readers that she really isn’t fond of talking with clients on the phone. I guess I shouldn’t have been. So many of us writers are perfectly ok with peace and quiet (the ones I know anyway).

Do you feel like you’re pulling the reins on yourself? Are you holding yourself back? Are you still fantasizing about seeing your name in that dream magazine, but are too petrified to pick up the phone and call the editor? Could your business grow if you got out of your comfort zone? I’m sure it could. I know (with all my heart) that I would have those big dream credits tucked sweetly in my portfolio – if only I’d get up, climb out on that limb, and reach for the sky. After all, the sky is the limit. Right?

“But, it’s so cozy where I am, Michele.” You argue. And, you’re so very right! When you get comfy in any area of your life, it’s hard to do something different and get used to something totally new and there are some folks in the world who are absolutely scared stiff of the unknown. They have a “what if” syndrome. I’m guilty of that one myself. “What if” I call the editor and they never answer an e-mail from me in the future because they remember my name as the kook with the zealous voice who interrupted their lunch? “What if” I don’t succeed as soon as I’d hoped if I venture out into new writing waters? We can drive ourselves bonkers with all the “what if” questions.

Life is full of uncertainties, of mishaps and dangers and surprises we aren’t expecting. They’re around almost every corner. We have to learn to accept them, learn from them, grow from them, WRITE ABOUT THEM, and be all the wiser from them in the end. It isn’t easy, I know. But if we’ll stop pulling the reins on ourselves, we won’t have to sit and watch our writing come to a halt. We need to make sales, people! We need to move to the next level in our writing careers!

Are you ready to let go of those reins? Are you with me? What’s the first thing you’re going to do so you’ll be running free like the wild stallions? Will you call that editor? Pick up the phone and talk business with a client (maybe even ask them for a raise)? What is the first thing I’m going to do? Oh, I’m letting go. I’m writing this post from a coffee shop. How’s that letting go? I’m a hermit (big time)!! It’s a major breakthrough when I venture out into the public.

Big ole dream clips, here I come!!!!

Want to find out where the cyber highway leads me? Would you like to know when I share updates about my freelance writing and blogging clips, things I’m learning along the way, or even just stuff that happens in this writer girl’s life? Subscribe to my feed or subscribe by e-mail. I can’t wait to have you join me on my journey!

Here’s to writing (freely!) the cyber highway!!