11 Things You Can Do to Achieve More Success as a Freelance Writer

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The life of a freelance writer is pretty amazing!

There are many benefits: you get to make your own schedule, choose which clients you prefer working for and even get to decide how much you’ll charge them. It’s all up to you.

The best of all? You get to choose your own location. If you want to sit around writing in your PJ’s all day, fine! Want to change scenery and go somewhere else to get the creative juices flowing? Just hop in the car and bring the laptop with you.

However, achieving (and sustaining) success as a freelancer isn’t always easy.

Like it or not, you are a business owner. There are many aspects to running a freelance writing business.

You’ll hit some bumps along the way. The success and the setbacks are all part of your unique journey. But you’re not going to a little setback allow you to sink your ship, are you?

Of course not!

You can’t be stopped. You’re unsinkable!

You know you can do this and you’re not alone. There’s plenty of guidance along the way.

Meet Jasper, a Freelance Writer

Jasper Oldersom headshot

That’s why I invited Jasper Oldersom (a freelance writer from Opportunity Building whom you can connect with on Twitter or on Google+) to be a guest on Wording Well, sharing 11 things that will help you to achieve more success as a freelance writer.

(I’m currently working on The Blind Writer – a new site that provides direction to writers of all types! Be sure to check it out when you get a chance… especially if you need additional guidance on your writing journey!)

So, are you ready for it?

Let’s dive in!

11 Things You Can Do to Achieve More Success as a Freelance Writer

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How Writing Changed My Life

 

 

Writing isn’t for everyone. It’s true. But writing can IMPACT you greatly, if you let it!

My guest today is going to share some of what she’s learned from writing. (Oh, and she writes for a living, too!)

So please welcome Samantha Wilson to center stage.

Take it away, Samantha!

I HATED Writing

Since childhood, one of the things I used to abhor was writing. It was like a repellent primarily because I thought it was repetitive, mundane and time consuming. I often used to get lost while writing, as there seemed to be no sense of direction, purpose or end to it.

It wasn’t until I entered college that I was forced to write all sorts of narratives, and before I knew it, writing actually became a habit!

One thing led to another and I started jotting down random thoughts on my phone, then pieces of paper and eventually my own personal diaries.

It was during this period that I realized the power of writing; something which starts as an intuition, then a thought and eventually a whole concept or piece of wisdom, once on paper. This written ‘piece’ then starts getting its derivatives and permutations until it actually takes the form of a masterpiece or sometimes utter non-sense, which only you can comprehend (yes – you get those “off” days or writer’s block every now and then!).

Writing is an Art Form

It can mean so many things to so many people.

We all have varying writing styles and even more complex views and interpretations of those write-ups.

It is the most expressive form in which you can explain or narrate your thoughts and feelings to the other person or the world in general.

It was this realization that made me fall in love with it and I am hooked on to it now “until death do us part” (fairly cheesy, but true!). Read More

How to Write Your Way to Your First $1K (hint: let my good friend Elna help you!)

Lorraine and Elna in an image created for the post on Wording Well titled Write Your Way to Your First 1K

Calling all  freelancers, bloggers, and writer wannabes!

Do you need a helping hand earning more money with your writing?

Are you stuck, and don’t know what to do next?

Do you need a push in the right direction from someone who’s “been there, done that”?

Good news!

Innovative Ink’s very own Elna Cain can help you find your way!

Who the Heck is Elna Cain?

Elna is a freelance writer. She’s also my friend. In fact, we live in the same city! Some of you might already know we get together regularly at Starbucks to plot, plan, and devise ways of helping you succeed.

Yeah, we shoot the shit, too. 😉 And hang out. And have fun. And learn from one another. 

Then we get asked to leave by the staff… because we stay so late!

Elna sitting by the fire in Starbucks

Who Elna Really Is…

Elna Cain is an online super-freelancer. No kidding. She’s a superstar, for sure!

She runs her business and blog, too, where she gives away a free 6-day email course to new writers.

She runs Freelancer FAQs with Alicia Rades (another freelance writer whom you’ve met before).

And to top it all off, she is a mom to twins (a boy and a girl).

So… in her spare time (ha, right!), she runs TwinsMommy, where she dishes out all kinds of advice on not just raising kids, but how to multiply your productivity when you’re a WAHM (work-at-home-mom), and how to work from home when you’re sick!

Elna’s a true star, I’ll give her that!

She also introduced me to Gina Horkey, another freelancer. Gina created 30 Days or Less to Freelance Writing Success.

Elna at Starbucks

This freelancer is amazing! Wow! Look at all she does!

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How Elna Can Help YOU

Elna, the true genius that she is, has taken what she learned during her years as a freelance writer and put together a course just for you, so that YOU don’t make the same mistakes she did along the way.

The course is called Write Your Way to Your First #1K.

logo for Write Your Way to Your First 1K

Introducing Write Your Way to Your First $1k

This course is modeled after Elna’s journey from a stay-at-home mom to a professional writer who now gets paid $1200 per article!

It’s essentially a blueprint of the freelance writing success she has experienced, wherein she teaches YOU how to replicate her success (a success which I am jealous of, by the way!). 😉

It’s a course that is carried out over seven modules that include 41 lessons.

It spans 7 weeks.

In this course, you will learn how to go from a writer/blogger/freelancer who earns mere pennies to a successful person.

Seriously.

You all know me by now, and know that I don’t promote garbage.

Elna’s course works.

Write your way to your first $1K with help from @ecain­writes­!

Click to tweet

And to prove that Elna knows her stuff, here are a few links to some of her posts:

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A Personal Note From Lorraine (and Advertising Opportunities!)

Image that says: A Personal Note from Lorraine

We all have problems, don’t we?

Let me tell you, I’ve had a rough few months. First, my computer got hacked. (Give this a read and learn how to protect yourself from falling victim to a scam! I’m sure Carolyn from The Wonder of Tech would appreciate a few new readers!)

Then my parents decided to sell my childhood home.

Then I moved back to my apartment (I had been staying with them because my mom broke her arm).

However, I managed to take a breather and go on an actual, honest-to-goodness vacation. (More on this later!)

For now, just let me say, I lived my dream. 🙂

And took the following picture with my phone. It’s a palm tree on the beach in Punta Cana.

 

A palm tree on the beach in Punta Cana.

What’s New on Wording Well

Now let’s talk design and accessibility for a minute.

Some of you may have noticed that Wording Well has a new look. (Do you like it?)

To go with this new look is a new newsletter, with a new design. (I’d appreciate feedback on it, too!)

If you are NOT on my mailing list yet, then join it now! (You get a free e-book, too.) 😉

As far as the blog goes, it’s a good thing that I am a person who knows how to plan ahead!

It’s also good that I know a lot of people (remember, always be networking!!!) and that I have had some of these people write for my blog.

But… you probably still want to hear from me, too, right?

I can assure you, then, that a lot of the information coming up on Wording Well has been written and assembled by yours truly.

I’m not superwoman, despite what many people think, but I am organized!

This past week, in fact, I published not one, but two, posts (although they’ve been written by others):

I also re-vamped my site. A bit.
I created a Resource Kit (it’s on its own page).
I re-did my home page (it’s now called All About Wording Well).
I optimized my SEO for my Freelancing Services page, which links to the four different services Wording Well offers.
And I have attempted to make it easier for readers to comment on my site. (Turns out, people were having problems AND DIDN’T TELL ME!)

So I enabled the free version of CommentLuv. I hope it’s easier for you to speak your mind now! (IF IT ISN’T, PLEASE TELL ME! Email me, talk to me on Facebook, use Twitter, but TELL ME!)

Resources for You (and an Advertising Opportunity!)

I also updated the post Resources for #Writers (#Authors and #Freelancers) with a few new links.

Some people have paid me to “advertise” on this page via a link, too. Because their content is awesome, I allowed this.

I will extend the same courtesy to YOU. If you have a post that contains a plethora of information and is helpful, and want me to add a link to your site from one of my pages or posts, please contact me with your query.

Tell me which post you want to advertise on, and send me the link of the post you want me to link to. If it’s Wording Well-worthy, I’ll send you an invoice via PayPal, which is safe, secure, and free to use. It does not require an account and accepts credit cards.

For more information, see my Write/Advertise page.

Freelancing Resources for You

I’ve come across a few SUPERB resources that other freelancers I know have created… such as Gina Horkey’s courses, Elna Cain’s courses, and a post by Brent Jones (which you surely MUST”VE seen by now…)

In case you haven’t, give it a read.

It’s called 70 Freelancers Reveal Their Best Source of New Business.

Brent also has a special offer for you, and I’m excited to tell you that IF YOU CLICK THIS LINK AND BUY HIS $9 PRODUCT, I make a small commission for helping you out.

That’s the kinda guy Brent is. 😉

Find out everything at:
http://lreguly.bhxm290.hop.clickbank.net

(Brent Jones’ post for freelancers)

Apparently, the freelancers who contributed to this article earned an average of OVER $40K in 2015, and are earning even more this year!

I highly suggest that you check this out if you are a freelancer (either new or established) who is looking for new ideas on how and where to earn money!

Brent has also created a premium product, 62 Strategies to Establish or Increase Your Prices.

It’s only $9 and features many of the same freelancers who contributed to his post.

Check it out OR just READ THE POST FOR FREE!

Did You Know…?

You can use your life experiences to move yourself and your business forward.
I did! (And I’m still doing it!)

You can also start earning money with your blog using AdSense.

You can also earn affiliate income by promoting others’ products… such as Gina Horkey’s 30 Days or Less to Freelancing Writing Success.

I do this from time to time. It probably won’t pay the bills, but it’ll give you some extra spending money (and who doesn’t want that, right!).

Wording Well CAN Solve Your Problems

Now, just to remind you on who I am and what I do…

Wording Well is the solution to your stress, especially if you are a blogger or business owner who is…

  • stuck for time
  • in need of a writer/ghostwriter, editor, or blogger
  • in need of a helping hand OR some guidance
  • too busy to “do it all” on your own
  • wants to write a book or an e-book but doesn’t know where to start or how to publish it

I offer 4 distinct services that will help relieve you of your work stress.

I can also help you increase your monthly income and grow your business!

I do all of the following:

Contact me. Let’s talk!

Or drop me a line in the comments. If you can. 😉

I look forward to hearing from you!

Sincerely,
Lorraine Reguly, owner of Wording Well

This is an image of Lorraine Reguly, owner of Wording Well.

10 Editing Tools No Freelancer Should Be Without + 10 Editing Tips To Push Your Talents To The Next Level

Pixabay image for post on Best Editing Tips and Tools for Writers

I want to give you access to the 10 best editing tips and 10 best editing tools for writers, and that’s why I accepted Kenneth Waldman’s proposal for an article on this topic.

Here it is!

Do You Need an Editor?

Yes. Every writer needs an editor; it’s essential for success.

Technology is providing an endless amount of resources and there is no shame in receiving support. Everyone has their own unique practices, but even for the best it can become overwhelming.

Mistakes are human, as is writer’s block. The web is basically making the entire ordeal more manageable. There are several user-friendly choices that can save you time and increase productivity.

But since no writer is created equal, neither are the tools and tips presented. Start with determining your weaknesses to achieve your objectives.

The following list has narrowed down some of the most recommended options and beneficial advice. There is likely an advantageous source for everyone.

We all know the editing struggle is real. Find some solace and expand your skill with these suggestions. Continue reading to check out the 10 best editing tools for writers and the 10 awesome editing tips!

You can also download my bonus checklist of 17 Editing Tips for Writers!

DOWNLOAD
CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR 17 BONUS TIPS!

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