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 Thursday, September 25, 2008

Written By Guest Blogger, Jean Wise

Today’s post is brought to you by a Guest Blogger. Jean Wise is going to talk about her on-line writing group. Give her a nice welcome!

KINDRED HEART WRITERS ON-LINE GROUP

Clella Camp (top left), Jean Wise (top right)

Bottom, from left to right: Laura Groves, Johnnie Donley, Karen Evans

On-line critique groups are beginning to find a place in the world of writing. Because people are asking about our group – how it got started, how it functions, and its benefits, here’s our story.

We all met for the first time at the Florida Christian Writer’s Conference in 2007. As it concluded, we wanted to stay in touch and talked about forming a group.

Our first year was a learning year and we revamped after meeting again at the 2008 conference. We reorganized as the Kindred Heart Writers. We are five women from different geographic locations and with different experiences, different life situations, different desires, and of different ages, but with one common goal-to do the best we can with the gift God had given us- writing.

Critiquing Each Other’s Work

We have established an ongoing critique rotation and a blog for writers (www.kindredheartwriters.com). Approximately once a week one of us submits a writing sample for feedback, so every five weeks we have something critiqued. We rotate blog responsibilities, posting a new blog entry twice a week. The surprise benefit has been as we help other writers, our own writing improves. As they say, iron sharpens iron.

Weekly Writings

We take turns sending out a weekly devotion entitled “Morning Moments.” Rotations schedules are set up in such a way that we usually do not have to do more than one thing each week to do besides read and critique. And if someone has a submission they need input on out of rotation sequence, most of us are willing to take the time to read and comment.

More than a Critique Group

We are so much more than a critique group as we share personal struggles, encouragement, writing opportunities, and resources. We have built and expanded our blog and soon will add pillar articles written by each of us. This is part of our plan to create a group platform that not only will help our group, but each of us as individual writers.

Dreams

We have long term goals of writing a book together and mentoring others on the writer’s journey.

Writing can be lonely business and having a group that supports, encourages and even celebrates with you is priceless.

About Jean Wise:

Jean Wise is a freelance writer, speaker and spiritual director in northwest Ohio. You can meet all of the Kindred Heart Writers at their web site/blog: www.kindredheartwriters.com.

Are you part of a writing group, either on-line or in person? Jump right in the comments and share your experiences, questions, and feedback with Jean. I’m sure she’d love that!