Articles written by Kimberlee Ferrell

Freelance writers quickly create a massive to-do list for themselves when growing their writing business. After all, there is so much to do! Promoting our writing, sending queries, marketing, and networking on Twitter, let alone actually writing. Add in household chores and real life matters and it all becomes completely overwhelming.

How to Put the First Thing First

Where do you begin to tackle your to-do list? How do you really know what matters most, and what can be left by the wayside? Does it really matter what order you put things in, as long as you get things done?

When I find myself wondering what to do first, I try to step outside of my current circumstances. I have literally become swamped with all of my goals, projects, and dreams, and cannot wade through the mire on my own.

Become Your Own Adviser

Imagine that a good friend of yours came to you for advice. She has so many projects, to-do’s, and deadlines, that she doesn’t know where to begin. The longer it takes her to make a decision, the more difficult it will be to meet all her business needs.

What advice would you give her? If you’re anything like me, you might suggest that she pair up her deadlines with all the actions necessary to meet those deadlines, and schedule them throughout the upcoming days to get the job done.

Put that loving, friendly advice to work on your own stifling schedule. Look over all of your tasks with a caring, yet objective eye. Pretend that you were making up such a schedule for a friend, not for yourself.

How to Objectively Prioritize Your Writing

If you were writing a to-do list for a friend, you wouldn’t pile up forty tasks in one afternoon, would you? Yet we effectively do it to ourselves all the time. We put so much pressure on ourselves to succeed, that we smother ourselves and our creativity in the process.

Actual writing time should always have a writer’s highest priority. It may be scheduled first in the day, or during the writer’s peak working times. Writing for clients can be organized by deadline, including false deadlines if you think you are going to encounter roadblocks.

Personal projects also go high on the list, and ought to have their own deadlines so you don’t fall too far behind. Writing what you love is critical for a healthy and happy writer! Also, many personal writing projects can pay off monetarily in the long run, such as books or websites.

Queries, marketing, promotions, and the like can be done in the off hours, when our writing streak has begun to wind down. You can make vital connections while relaxing and Twittering away. Of course, you may want to write those queries when you can still string two words together, and give yourself some leeway time so you can proofread it before hitting send.

Real life tasks are a different breed altogether. You have to deal with others’ hours of operation, your availability, and coordinating with your family. Often, your best writing time has to be shoved aside to get your son to soccer practice on time. As long as you are aware of when these tasks have to be done, you can make concessions in the rest of your schedule.

Review Your Objective Writing Priorities

Before you commit to any of the above tasks, look at the schedule you have set for yourself. Is this a realistic to-do list, one you are able to keep? Would you expect a friend or colleague to work this hard on a daily basis?

If not, rework your priorities yet again. Make sure there are adequate breaks for meals, relaxation, and the inevitable interruptions. Once you find a workable schedule for your writing projects, life will flow a lot more smoothly.

Can you look at your writing priorities with an objective eye? Do you need the outside influence of a friend or mentor to set your business straight? Share your prioritization methods!

Photo Credit: Redvers

Okay, I admit it, I am absolutely passionate about writing! From poetry at age three to yellow legal pads full of screenplays and short stories, I was a pretty prolific writer at a young age! Words have always been my favorite plaything, and crafting them into a cohesive piece is a satisfying way to spend an afternoon – and a lifetime!

However, not all writing strikes excitement into the depths of your heart. Let’s face it, highly technical writing can be dry and lifeless, and it takes a special breed of writer to get excited about articles stuffed with SEO keywords. Many assignments that will cross your path won’t breech your wealth of knowledge or interest.

Stoke Your Writing Passion

How to keep the writing fires burning? Like any loving relationship, tending to your writing passion requires tenderness and care. Trudging through one incredibly dull writing project after another will snuff out the last smoldering remains of your writing passion! Yet we all have to accept some uninspiring writing assignments once in awhile. Even the flame of writing passion that burns brightly at the beginning of the best writing projects can grow dim over time.

Here are some of the hottest (!) tips to stoke your love of writing to new heights:

• Schedule your writing first. Start your writing day off right by working on your favorite type of writing first. It stretches those early morning creative muscles and the inspiration can spread to your other writing projects throughout the day. Do you have a budding novel that you don’t have much time to write? A quick 30 minutes will jumpstart your writing day and bring steady progress as well.
• Alternate between dull and exciting writing. Dragging through a mundane piece? Take a break and switch off to something more lively. Even if you need to complete the harder project immediately, it won’t get done quickly if you’re scraping the bottom of your creativity. Working on an engaging piece can get the pen or keyboard moving, and you can switch back to your higher priority (but less lovely) writing when you are ready.
• Remember why you love writing. Do you love crafting interesting characters? Make your real life subjects come alive in your non-fiction writing, by learning what motivates them and how they are changing the world. Can you describe anything with clarity and attention to detail? Transfer your exposition talents to mundane topics, to capture your audience’s attention. Your writing passion can carry over to all forms of writing, with a little creativity.

With time and attention, your writing passion can be sustained throughout your writing career. Don’t let the writing doldrums get you down! All of our writing deserves our best effort, and the rewards of a passionate relationship with our writing can last a lifetime.

How do you keep the writing home fires burning? What area of writing really excites you? Share your love of writing here!

Photo Credit: Photos8.com

Freelancers live life behind the scenes, plugging away at a computer to craft masterful content, be it in writing or web design (or virtual assistance, PR, or marketing!) It is a solitary life, and your fellow freelancers deserve a little love, especially if they have made a difference in your life.

However, we can be so wrapped up in our own freelance career, that our dearest online friends may never know how much they mean to us! We are all rushing to meet deadlines and please our clients. How can we find time to connect with those who have supported us throughout our freelance career?

Make Yourself Available

If you want to support your fellow freelancers, you have to be present. Carve out some time each day to spend showing your freelance friends that you are there for them. Hang out on Twitter, Facebook, or Plurk and catch up on the day’s events. Socialize, laugh, and offer help when it is needed.

Don’t worry if you only have ten spare minutes at the end of your day. That is enough time to keep friendly connections kindled, as long as you make a regular effort. They will be more than happy to see you, and hear about your freelancing adventures! Camaraderie and support are the small things that keep us going, all throughout the year.

Connect The Freelance Dots

Bring together those freelancers in your online communities who need to meet each other. Have a writer friend who needs a custom website design? Introduce her to the web tech who designed your website. Do a few of your freelance friends need daily doses of inspiration and accountability? Partner them up and watch the creative sparks fly!

This step only requires paying attention to your friends’ needs and abilities. Put in a good word for each freelancer in the other’s ear, and give them a chance to get to know each other. The possibilities are endless – but don’t worry if they decide that they are not the right match for each other. Your attentive concern for their success will be noticed and appreciated.

Spread The Word

Do you know some rockstar freelancers? I bet we all do! Share their accomplishments and links with everyone in your social streams. A link love blog post or #FollowFriday tweet shows your appreciation and can bring unexpected opportunities to your friends – and you as well!

Some freelance people I couldn’t do without:

• Rebecca Laffar-Smith: Our lovely hostess here at Writer’s Round-About! Excellent writer and web tech, filled with Aussie charm.
• Michele Tune: Fellow WRA writer and Raw Foodie, she’s so busy writing yet takes time to help others succeed. A true freelance friend unlike any other!
• Amy Sey Brown: A crafty gal who is on her way to help others succeed in their own artistic endeavors. Plus she can brainstorm like a madwoman!

Of course, there are so many of you wildly successful freelancers who have made my life great, I couldn’t possibly list you all. But I want to take the time now to send out a big “Thank You!” for sending encouragement and support my way exactly when I need it the most.

A little love makes all the difference!

What are your favorite ways for sharing the freelance love? Who deserves a shout out and a big hug for all of their support “above and beyond the freelance call of duty”? Bring your best freelance love ideas to the table!

Photo Credit: Jessica.Garro

Freelance writers rely on their computers almost exclusively, and with good reason. With blogging, clients from around the world, and amazing computer programs, writing on the computer is streamlined and effortless. Nothing could go wrong, no?

Danger, Writer, Danger!

Today, I had to do a complete wipe of my computer. I’ll spare you the details, but the problem ate up 24 hours of my time and all my favorite programs, saved passwords, and documents. Everything was gone.

Now, I did have some of my files saved to disk, but I hadn’t made an effort to backup my computer regularly. I’m not even sure what was saved and what wasn’t. Programs are easy enough to find and download again, but it is incredibly time consuming. Passwords aren’t too much trouble for me, but I know I’ll have to search through my email archive to find a few!

Make a Writer’s Emergency Preparedness Plan

Although no one plans on having their computer crash on them, it does happen. So do dead laptop batteries, failed disc drives, and overloaded website servers. To make the most of an incredibly frustrating situation, you need an emergency plan that can cover most of your tracks while you offline.

Here are a few of the things I wish I had done:

• Schedule computer maintenance regularly. Defragmenting your hard drive is certainly not the most glorious part of being a freelancer. Yet a properly functioning computer can avoid many common pitfalls. Most computers allow you to schedule computer maintenance tasks, so it can be running in your sleep if you prefer. There are also programs available to help you through the process.
• Backup your files. Anything that you want to see again needs to be backed up in some fashion. You can burn CDs regularly for personal files, or use an online backup utility that can work in the background. Your personal work is something you cannot get back, so just do it! You could even create a disc that holds all of your program install files, so you don’t have to search the whole internet to find them again.
• Create an emergency writing schedule. While your computer is being troubleshooted by your local neighborhood tech guy, you can still be writing. Have an idea of what needs to be done, and just write away in a notebook. Mark where you need to fact check online, and just go right on past it. You may have a lot of editing ahead of you, but you are still making progress!
• Have an alternate way to get online. Your local library, wi-fi connection, or even your cell phone can send messages to clients if needed. You can also connect with your writing friends, to see if they are available to help you out.

You Could Be Next – Knock on Wood!

No one expects this to happen to them, until it does. To preserve all of your hard work, create a plan to keep your files backed up and available for use at any place, any time.

Do you have a computer horror story? What emergency preparations have you made as a writer? Let’s put our heads together to prevent this from happening to anyone else!

Photo Credit: Dumbledad

So many writers find themselves pushing too hard and getting nowhere. After all, many of us began freelancing to escape office politics and spend more time with our families. So why work yourself harder than any employer would?

After beating my head against the proverbial wall for a long time, I finally realized that I couldn’t force myself to write, even if I kept a strict schedule and eliminated all distractions. So I began to treat myself better, with writing rituals that are fun and encourage productivity instead of demanding it.

Tracking My Writing With Stickers

Yes, stickers. Usually found on third grade spelling papers, the simple gold star or thumbs up sticker is a major motivator for me. I reward myself after I’ve completed each writing task of the day, which for me is a list of articles and blog posts.

Here’s my sticker tracking process:

• Ditch the to-do list. Anything time related is scheduled in as an appointment. For my other projects, I check my email and other online “inboxes” to determine what needs to be written that day.
• Grab a notebook. For me, it’s an inexpensive red journal. I write in today’s date and quick abbreviations of the titles I’m working on. I also jot down any notes about my day, whether I’ve woken up with a headache or I have an appointment to remember.
• Turn on the tunes. My MP3 player is the best gift I’ve given myself! Having a stream of my favorite music playing blocks out the rest of the world and gives me additional focus. (One earphone is out if the kids are awake!)
• Light a candle. This provides my visual focus, along with a quick break from staring at the computer screen all day. You could easily substitute a family photo or vision board to inspire you as well.
• Set a timer. A timer provides instant motivation as I race to see how fast I can complete my articles. I use a free program, but a kitchen timer works just as well. I set mine to one hour, and I’m off!
• Track the results. After each article, I check my timer, write down my time, and choose a sticker. I have made progress, even if it’s just one article, and I deserve a mini-reward! (Plus stickers are terribly cute!)

This is my ideal way to progress through my writing day. I can flip through my notebook, and instantly see how productive I was by how many stickers I’ve collected. If a day didn’t go so well, I can read my notes and see what happened.

Benefits of Creating Your Own Writing Rituals

Obviously, my writing ritual may not be right for you. So I encourage you to create your own rituals, to ease into your writing day. You will reap many rewards by treating yourself right, and encouraging the muse to visit from time to time.

• Increased productivity. If you do the same things daily, you will develop good writing habits, and naturally speed up as you write. Your mind will know when it’s time to work, and when you put your accouterments away, your mind will know when to rest.
• Peace of mind. You don’t have a boss standing over your shoulder, expecting you to be productive. You certainly don’t want to become that kind of boss either! You can rest easy knowing that you are still getting things done, in a manner that is customized to your working style and is not stress-inducing in itself.
• Enjoy your writing. Although we all love writing, there are days where the act of writing is not fun. Even when it seems that pulling teeth would be easier than pulling words out of your brain, you can give yourself small rewards to keep yourself going.
• Embrace your competitive nature. Without co-workers, many of us have no measuring stick to compare ourselves to. If you track your progress, you can compete with yourself to get “just one more” article done, or cut down your time by “just five minutes”.

Do you already have writing rituals? Share them here. Planning to make your own rituals? Bring your ideas to the table.

Photo Credit: Love Janine

My Writing Career, Take One

I have been a professional freelance writer since August 2008. I’ve learned a lot about the craft and business of writing, especially writing for the web and connecting with others via social media. My freelance writing career took off in fits and starts, and I was elated. Everything was turning out great.

Then real life hit me, full force. A lot of unexpected occurrences piled up at once, and were not conducive to nurturing a fledgling writing business. I was juggling too many balls in the air, and when life knocked me over, they all came crashing down around me.

In Spring 2009, I lost my internet connection for six months. Obviously this was devastating to my freelancing. All of my clients, assignments, and contacts were web based! There was no way for me to continue until I corrected this issue, and many other issues that led up to this point.

What Would You Do?

So, I gathered up all the pride I could muster, and went out and got a real world job. Minimum wage at a retail store, it certainly couldn’t do more for me but keep my head above water until I could deal with everything going on. It was a slow, painful process. The job even took time away from my writing, which I was continuing to do on the side as practice until I could get back online.

I had a lot of interior work to do as well. This could easily be considered a “failure” by most people, and all the emotions surrounding this unintended break were affecting me deeply as well. I had to take time out for me, to evaluate my position in life, and whether I wanted to give freelance writing another try.

So I carefully made a plan, based on what I knew worked and what didn’t. I explored all my options, and decided to be more selective in the kind of freelance writing projects I took on. I knew I needed reliable, consistent writing gigs, and I needed to trust my clients, and not work with “fly-by-night” gigs that held absolutely no security, or even no guarantee that I’d get paid.

My Writing Career, Take Two

I’ve been back online for a few months now, and have slowly been rebuilding my client base. I am taking the time to find out what works for me, and not being tossed about by every gig that comes to call. I am rebuilding my social networks, as time allows. I’m reuniting with old friends, who never left my side, at least in spirit.

I have been doing what’s right for me, and not letting one setback (no matter how large it appears in my eyes) get me down. I got up, and I am trying again. I am a success, simply because I refuse to stay down, refuse to wallow in the pain of a “failure”. I will continue to press on, no matter what life tosses my way.

New Beginnings

One thing you should remember, if you find yourself in a similar situation: it is never easy to get back up. There is so much wounded pride, so many “what ifs” floating around in your mind. It is much easier to let it go and find a different path.

But I’m a writer. I always have been. Writing is my life blood, and I cannot turn away from it. I suspect it is the same for many of you. If writing is your calling, you will find a way to make it work. I encourage you, dare you to fulfill every one of your writing dreams, and then make new ones!

Have you overcome adversity, in your freelance writing or in other aspects of your life? Share your story, so we may all learn from your shining example!

Photo Credit: SpecialKRB

A Guest Post By Kimberlee Ferrell.
Enjoying small town life and her two daughters, Kimberlee Ferrell still carves out time to write. Her blog, Freedom Writing, explores writing, parenting, and anything that flows out of her pen. Stop by to investigate the inner workings of her mind, and to learn more about her copywriting, proofreading, and editing expertise. Strong coffee and walnut brownies will be provided.

The blank page stares me in the face again. I am trying to write this post, but the lack of words on the screen paralyzes me. It causes the greatest writers among us to freeze up, and decide to wash the dishes, walk the dog, or do anything else but stare back at the empty canvas.

As writers, we face this on a daily basis. With each new article, blog post, or short story, we come full circle, to give birth to a new idea, to share our words with others. We turn to a fresh page in our notebooks or turn on our processing program, then stop. The glaring white page is empty, and our minds fill with doubts. “Where should I begin?” “What should I write about?” “Does anyone care about what I have to say?” “Are there really any original ideas?”

These thoughts and doubts can instantly send your muse to a vacation in the Bahamas, without you. There is a way to rekindle your writing: the free write. Many writers have used this technique to work past their writer’s block, and write no matter how they feel. I first discovered this exercise in Natalie Goldberg’s book, Writing Down the Bones. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in free writing, or just looking for an excellent read. She illustrates how to free write without expectations, and how to mine your first draft for those golden nuggets of exposition.

There are many ways to free write, and there is no one right way. There are two key techniques that I use when free writing. I set a timer in my head or on my desk, to give myself an immediate deadline. I also never stop writing for any reason. Do not be tempted to fix your spelling or grammar, save it for the editing phase. Choose one of these free writes the next time your fingers refuse to hit the keyboard.

Write the thoughts running through your head. When your inner editor casts doubts on everything from your lack of vocabulary to what you ate for breakfast, get it out on paper. Write whatever is bothering you at this moment. Set a timer for 10 minutes, and just keep writing every random thought that enters your head, whether it is related to writing or not. Let your mind dump its cluttered thoughts onto the page, and then set it aside. Your mind can relax, knowing you have addressed whatever was bothering you. Plus, you have written a few hundred words. Keep the momentum going, and dive into your writing project.

Write anything about your chosen topic. Sometimes you don’t know where to begin. Give yourself permission to dive headfirst into your topic, and write anything about it. Don’t worry about writing a captivating lead, or placing your thoughts into logical order. Cover the length and breadth of your topic, as the ideas come to you. You can always organize it later. This technique unearths new ideas I hadn’t considered before, adding depth to the final draft.

Write down topic ideas. This free write can be written traditionally, or in list form. Brainstorm a list of anything you want to write about. You can write a list of article titles, blog ideas, or conflicts for your main character. Once you have exhausted your list of ideas, go back over each and write a few sentences to flesh out your idea in more detail. This technique generates a lot of new leads over a short period of time.

Write something completely different. When your current project is wholly uninspiring, try writing something in a different topic, genre, or format. For example, if you are having trouble writing another SEO article, write a few pages of your novel instead. Once you’ve given your brain some free time, you can switch back to your project and get to work.

These are just a few of the possible ways you can use free writing to rejuvenate your writing juices. Once you start to write, the words come quick and easy.

The key is to sit down, and just write.

How have you incorporated free writes into your writing life? Do you have any other types of free writes to share? Leave a comment to let everyone know what works for you when you encounter the blank page.