Advice for the New Freelancer

Family Fun Day (Photo credit: Peter Liu – Kaiscapes Media)

Whether you want to be a freelance writer, photographer or (insert career here), I would like to give you some advice to get you started along your path.

1. Find your motivation, and keep it in mind at all times. This may be anything from ‘I need to eat!’ to ‘I want a better life for my family.’ Whatever it is, hold onto it at all times.

Why?

Because sometimes you will want to give up.

2. Stay on course. Sometimes you will wake up and say, I just don’t want to do it today. While this is okay once in a while, don’t let it become habit… at least not in the beginning.

Why?

Because you need to keep your momentum in order to build a successful career. Do at least one quick, easy thing to further your career on these days. This will usually take you out of your funk and get you moving.

3. Be professional, but have some fun with it. Don’t be too serious.

Why?

Because too much stress can be a contributing factor in loss of sleep, weight gain and high blood pressure.

4. Eat well and get your exercise. This is especially important if your career of choice has you sitting a lot.

Why?

To help you stay in shape and maintain overall health. This will lead to a happier you!

5. Stay positive. Keep positive thoughts flowing in your head throughout the day. Do things that keep you happy, such as taking an hour to read or socializing with your neighbors.

Why?

This will also help you to live a happier, healthier lifestyle.

6. Spend time with your loved ones.

Why?

It is important to nurture relationships. This keeps everyone happy.

So, stay on course. Be happy. And strive for a healthy lifestyle. 

These actions will aid you in creating a successful personal and professional lifestyle.

Take Chances!

{Take A Chance} (Photo credit: SweetOnVeg)

Last week I made a post about theme words. Mine, for the 2013 year, is Prepare. My desire to be prepared for the next busy season at the inn will have me writing and doing other busy tasks like crazy over the next few months. I am determined to get as much done as possible ahead of time, so my freelancing does not suffer while I am so busy at my day job.

I also have a motto for this year.

Take Chances!

Short and sweet, right?

Last year I felt bad that I did not take any real chances. There were a couple of opportunities that I let slip by because of time restraints, as well as insecurity. i am bound and determined that I will not let this happen again.

I will take chances!

Will I get everything I want? Maybe not. But at least I will know that I tried.

What is your motto for 2013? Thank about the possibilities for a while, then decide. And share your motto with others!

Shannon L. Buck

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• What is Your Theme Word? Mine is Prepare. (howtolivethefreelancelife.wordpress.com)
• 2013 Writing Goals (howtolivethefreelancelife.wordpress.com)

Schedule Time for Marketing and Promotion

Marketing communications planning framework (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

One of my goals for Year 4 is to learn more about marketing and promotion. As a writer, I prefer the act of writing. I do not generally even like to think about M or P. Seriously. The whole thing seems too much like work to me

At any rate, I am learning. I am making the time to learn what I can about marketing and promoting, and I am trying to figure out how much time I will spend on these tasks. One the one hand, I do not want to take away too much time from the actual writing. On the other, I want to make sure my work gets recognized.

So, how am I going about this? I am scheduling time at least twice a month (at this point) for M and P. It has to be done if I expect to be successful. As I learn more about these tasks, I will likely increase these tasks.

Expect to see at least a few blog posts this year about how to market and promote your work and yourself.

Shannon L. Buck

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• Welcome to Year 4! (howtolivethefreelancelife.wordpress.com)

Finding Time for A Freelance Career

“Writing”, 22 November 2008 (Photo credit: dr_ed_needs_a_bicycle)

It can sometimes be difficult to find time to work on a freelance business, if you have another job as well or family responsibilities. I work a ‘day job’ then come home to work on my writing business, clean my home, run my errands and try to relax. Sometimes, I would rather be relaxing than working on the business. And I rarely have time to hang out and enjoy the company of friends and family.

With two daughters grown and out on their own, you’d think I would have plenty of time for the writing business. This is not always the case, though. I try to keep up with everything, but it is hard.

I try to schedule out time whenever I can, though. I do want to concentrate more on fiction writing this year, and keep up with the freelance work. I usually have two days off, and these are generally spent writing part of the day and at the library working on other writing tasks the rest.

The important thing to remember is that you cannot do everything. Don’t stress because you don’t have enough time for the business, just keep plucking away at it.

Possible goals may be:

• Work on the freelance career at least half the day on days off from the ‘day job’.

• Spend a couple hours in the evenings, after coming home from work.

• Keep a notebook available to make notes in, so as not to forget the important business tasks.

• Bring the laptop to work, so tasks can be worked on at lunch or while waiting for the bus.

• Schedule specific days for writing, and other days for internet use. (I do not have internet at home, so I have to schedule online use around my job and two separate libraries.)

Do what you can, in between or doing other tasks. For instance:

• Brainstorm business ideas while watching television during the evening hours.

• Do other household chores while doing laundry, so you can have time later to work on a story.

How do you fond time for a freelance career?

Shannon L. Buck

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April 2012 E-Book Challenge: Begin Writing

Strataware Version 2 word processor screenshot (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

And the second week of the 4 Week Write Your Own E-Book Challenge begins…

Are your ready for another productive week?

Remember: Productivity is key.

Now that you have completed the brainstorming, organizing and outlining tasks, it is time to move onto the actual writing. I know that some people prefer to write out a manuscript on paper before typing it into there word processor. However, the process really does go significantly faster if you enter the words directly into the processor. You may not be able to finish the e-book otherwise.

You have two weeks to complete the actual writing.

The last week of this challenge is reserved for editing.

Research

Before beginning the first day of writing. Do a quick search online for any information you may need to write your e-book. This should not take a long time, because you are writing on a topic you are already passionate about. Note sources, in case you have to site them in the book.

Scheduling Time

If you are lucky, you will be able to work on the writing aspect of this challenge all day each day. Or most of the day Many of us have day jobs, though, so we will have to come up with a schedule for writing.

Set a specific block of time, if possible, for each day (starting today!) of the next two weeks for this task. Maybe two hours a day. Maybe four. The amount of time spent may vary by day. For instance, you may only have one hour to spend writing on Monday and Tuesday of the first week, three hours Wednesday through Friday, then all day on Saturday and Sunday. This is fine.

The amount of time needed will depend on how quickly you type, how long the manuscript will be, and your daily responsibilities. This time block can be adjusted part way through the second week, to give you more time or less, dependent on how the manuscript is coming along by that time.

Note that some people prefer to schedule writing so many words a day, or even a chapter a day.

Let Everyone Know

Tell people you cannot be interrupted at these times, unless there is an emergency. Turn the cell phone off. Turn the answering machine on. Hang a note on the front door as a reminder. And let your immediate family know that you love them but you are working on a project that needs your attention.

Begin Writing!

Sit down at the computer and urn it on. Open your idea notebook. Go into your word processor and begin writing! Use this initial block of time to write a Dedication and About the Author page, as well as an introduction to the book. If you have the time, begin writing the first part or chapter to the book. If not, rest assured that you have completed the first two or three pages of the book.

Each day, write during your scheduled block of time. (Or, write however many words you have scheduled. Or, write the chapter for that day.) Do not worry about editing. This will come later.

NOTE: Note that single parents with young children/babies will have to schedule their time accordingly. This may mean writing during naps or after the children are in bed for the night.

ACTION STEPS:

1. Write each day during your scheduled time!

2. You may notice, as you write, that new ideas pop into your head. This is fine. Go with it.

UP NEXT: Second Weekly Follow Up

Happy Brainstorming!

Shannon L. Buck

http://thefitnessjournal.wordpress.com

http://frugalrecipes.wordpress.com

http://livingthelowincomelife.wordpress.com

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• April 2012 E-Book Challenge: Brainstorming, Organizing and Outlining (howtolivethefreelancelife.wordpress.com)