Since I was a little kid I knew I was different. Yes, I had a few friends, but I preferred to spend most of my time exploring outside by myself, or sitting alone reading.As I continued in school, I got really good grades. I was the "smart kid." I … [Continue reading]
Marketing is a key task for freelance writers: the quantity and pay of the assignments we land determines how much we earn.However, too many freelancers spend too much time contacting potential clients and filling out applications online. In … [Continue reading]
Do you want a successful career as a freelance writer? Then you must be very careful about what food you put in your body.What you eat determines how much energy you have and how much work you'll get done, and potentially how long you'll live -- … [Continue reading]
You know that I'm a strong advocate of freelance writers using LinkedIn. I'm back beating the drum again -- if you're not making the most of LinkedIn, you're missing out on some quality writing assignments.That's why I'm sharing great graphic … [Continue reading]
Whether you've already written an e-book or you are just thinking about it, you've certainly had concerns about whether or not unscrupulous people will distribute or download your e-book for free and thus violate your copyright.Of course, in this … [Continue reading]
Freelance writers doing research on the Internet often turn to Wikipedia to get started. Recently the Encylopedia Britannica, the 32-volume print monster, announced that it would no longer issue print editions and would only have an online version -- … [Continue reading]
Whether you are blessed with a home office or need to use a portion of another room, you need to organize your freelance writing space so that you are as productive as possible when you write. A Freelance Writer's Office and Desk Need to Be … [Continue reading]
Is having a college degree/college education necessary for a successful career as a freelance writer? My college degrees have been crucial for my writing career, but...I know several very successful freelance writers who don't have college … [Continue reading]
All freelance writers have to research information for magazine and newspaper articles, or for writing projects they're doing for business clients. True, freelance writers can do research the Internet, but sometimes important information just isn't … [Continue reading]
As writers we always seek the best way to say something, the best words to convey our meaning and trigger a response in our readers. It could be a lead for an article, it could be a title of a blog post, or it could be a headline on a sales … [Continue reading]
Lori Widmer is one of my absolute favorite freelance writing bloggers. She has a successful freelance career and she shares her experience and advice at her Words on the Page blog and at her membership site AboutWritingSquared.Lori just released … [Continue reading]
Well, I updated my freelance writer resume for two very good reasons: I had a bunch of new projects to add, and I wanted to make it more attractive to search engines, especially the big G. My Freelance Writer Resume Focuses on My Main Niche For … [Continue reading]
2011 was a great year for me as a freelance writer, as a blogger, and as a person doing his best to enjoy life. I had a lot of fun selecting these posts. I hope you enjoy them!And my deepest thanks to all of you who visit ProductiveWriters.com. … [Continue reading]
Social media continued its rapid growth in 2011. Many freelance writers are active users of social media, me included. In 2011 I focused on this blog, Twitter, and Linkedin, with some attention to Google+. 2011 Social Media Statistics … [Continue reading]
Post author Linda Formichelli is a top freelance writer and also a den mother alongside Carol Tice at the Freelance Writers Den. Take It Away Linda... People always ask me how I get so much done: I’m a highly diversified writer who is the main … [Continue reading]
We freelance writers deal with adversity daily. It's hard to keep plugging away, sending queries, making cold calls, updating your website. Sometimes you just want to crawl into bed and just stay there.But don't. Instead... Unleash Your Inner … [Continue reading]
Highly productive people -- and that should include you -- always prepare for potential problems. One problem likely to happen to most freelance writers eventually: loss of computer files, which could be anything from an article you just wrote, but … [Continue reading]
Freelance writers, journalists, and bloggers need to show editors and prospect clients examples of their work. It can be a hassle though -- you have to attach clips to an e-mail, or put them up on your own website, or try to direct that editor/client … [Continue reading]
Freelance writers who want successful writing careers must be on LinkedIn. I know some of you reading this are already there, but even if you are, do you take full advantage of the site? How LinkedIn Helps Freelance Writers I've gotten assignments … [Continue reading]
Should you edit as you write? It's a question every freelance writer must ask, and there is no set answer. It truly is a personal preference -- you just must do what works best for you. All Writers Are Editors You don't have to be a perfect editor, … [Continue reading]
Speed reading is a key time-management skill that boosts your productivity. When you read faster with a high level of comprehension, you have more time for making money in your business or profession, or for doing anything else you want to do.If … [Continue reading]
Last July I was interviewed by Carol Tice of the Freelance Writers Den about my main freelance specialty -- writing college textbook supplements and other educational materials -- and also about my best productivity techniques for writers.I wrote … [Continue reading]
Whenever something interrupts you from your writing, your concentration is broken and you lose time as your mind tries to recover that productive state you were in. And, of course, you also lose time dealing with whatever distracted you.Good time … [Continue reading]
The Girl Effect...Yes, we've come a long way toward gender equality in western countries like the United States, but discrimination against girls and women is still very pronounced in many developing countries, and it begins with the unequal … [Continue reading]
"The best way to have a good idea is to have lots of ideas." -- Linus Pauling.As writers, we all want good ideas about what freelance projects to pursue and what else to write -- nonfiction books, e-books, a novel. And we also want good ideas … [Continue reading]