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What’s Your Best Piece of Advice for Freelance Writers?

Carol Tice

In all these months of reading freelance writers’ comments on this blog, I’ve noticed something:

You know a lot about freelance writing, too.

Many of you are experienced journalists or copywriters.

You’ve tried different ways to market your writing. You’ve written for different types of clients.

You’ve had busy times and slow ones. Crummy clients and great ones.

You discovered some great resources and learned from some wonderful mentors.

Some of you write about technology, or parenting, or travel. You write for glossy print magazines, for content mills, for small businesses.

You’re just starting out as a freelancer, or as a writer. Or you’ve been at it for years.

You live in the Phillipines, or Malta, or New Jersey (or so Mailchimp tells me). You wear the hijab, or you wear a bikini.

The global reach of this blog and its usefulness for people from so many walks of life has frankly blown my mind.

Whatever road has brought you to this freelance-writing life, I welcome your participation. It’s an honor and privilege and really, a delight, to have your presence in my virtual home.

I know you have something valuable to teach all of us, from your own unique experience.

So — today I’d like to hear from you. It’s your day to be the expert.

Tell me your best piece of advice for freelance writers.

Leave it in the comments below. I’ll take the 20 best pieces of wisdom and make a post out of them later this month.

How to Make Money Writing: 113 Grow-Big Actions to Earn More

How to Make Money Writing: 113 Grow-Big Actions to Earn More

Long ago, I came up with a list of ways working freelancers can grow their writing income. If you’ve been wondering how to make money writing—serious money, that is—this list is for you. If you’re a newbie, you’ll find plenty of useful suggestions here, too.

Fire Up Your First Draft: 10 Time-Saving Ways to Boost Writing Speed

Fire Up Your First Draft: 10 Time-Saving Ways to Boost Writing Speed

The Blazing-Fast Way to Boost Writing Speed. Makealivingwriting.com

Are you struggling to boost your writing speed?

You’re not alone. Cranking out a first draft is agony for many freelance writers. It can kill your productivity and suck the joy out of your work. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

I used to hate first drafts, too. I could sweat for hours over one paragraph. Hours! My writing speed was so terrible, I even quit freelance writing for a while. Don’t do that, OK?

When I came back to freelance writing after a long break, I had a new attitude-and a new skill set. I learned how to triple my writing speed. I’m happier, I’m a better writer, and I make more money in less time.

No matter how slow, scared, and perfectionistic you are, you can light up your first-draft writing speed.

It’s not a mysterious, magical gift. It’s a skill, just like knowing where to put the commas or how to pitch an editor. And the better you get at it, the more you can earn.

Ready to fire up your first-draft writing speed? Check out these ten tips to write faster.