ΠΟΙΗΣΗ-ΣΥΓΓΡΑΦΗ-ΣΤΙΧΟΙ

Εμφάνιση αναρτήσεων με ετικέτα ARTICLES/EN. Εμφάνιση όλων των αναρτήσεων

We tend to think of a story’s most important characters as being the protagonist, antagonist, sidekick, or even love interest.

However, an equally integral character, though a little lesser known, is the ‘impact character’ – a term first used by authors Melanie Anne Phillips and Chris Huntley in their book Dramatica: New Theory of Story.

What is an impact character?

The impact character – also known as the ‘influence character’ or ‘catalyst character’ – is something I never even heard about in high school English, and it may be news to you too.

But despite its relative obscurity, the impact character can be crucial to the arc of your novel. Without them, nothing would happen!

An impact character can come in many different forms, but their purpose is simple. They inspire, enable, or just make another character change.

This sets the plot in motion, sweeping the protagonist along until they rise to action.

This character can easily be confused with the antagonist (and I don’t want to befuddle you too early, but occasionally they are the same character). However, their function is slightly different.

While an antagonist causes external conflict for the protagonist, an impact character causes internal conflict for them.

The external conflict is created by the opposing goals of the protagonist and the antagonist. The internal conflict arises from the opposing worldviews of the impact character and your protagonist.

We meet the protagonist when they already have an understanding of the world that they live in. But, guess what: this belief is a Lie.

Enter the impact character, who exposes the Lie, and then introduces the protagonist to the Truth.

A perfect example of this is Morpheus revealing to Neo that his world, which felt so real to him, is actually the Matrix. And then the story begins!

Usually, the protagonist doesn’t want to hear the Truth just yet. They may continue on their journey, happily believing the Lie, but they will continually run into the impact character.

Each time they do, it stirs up internal conflict within them as they are reminded of the Truth.

It is up to your discretion whether the impact character actively wants to change the protagonist’s worldview or not, and how much the protagonist resists this new information.

However, the Truth is what the protagonist needs to defeat the antagonist and any other external forces.

Over the course of the story, the protagonist must come to terms with this new reality if they are to achieve their goals, and have only completed their journey when they no longer believe the Lie.

So the impact character not only helps the protagonist to complete their mission, but fundamentally changes them along the way. Once you know this, they’re hard to miss – and hard to leave out of your story!

So, what might this impact character look like? Let’s look at some well-known examples, and ways to create impact characters for your own stories.

Examples of impact characters

You may already have identified some impact characters from previous stories you’ve read. Here are some of the many ways an impact character may show up, illustrated with popular examples.
The mentor

The most classic example of a mentor impact character is Obi Wan Kenobi in Star Wars.

He introduces Luke to the Force, and his advice to use the Force for good guides Luke through all two million films. (I’ve lost count with that franchise.)
The sidekick

The beloved Donkey from Shrek is a sidekick that really shakes up the protagonist’s world.

Throughout all the films, Donkey teaches Shrek patience and love for others, which allows him to fall in love with Fiona and defeat multiple villains.

Donkey destroys Shrek’s belief that he’s happier alone in his swamp, changing his life forever.

The love interest

This is your Mr Darcy character. He eventually shows Elizabeth that she has had the wrong idea about him all along, and that he in fact suits her as a romantic partner.

He also helps her realise that she has been wrongly believing in the goodness of nasty Wickham, who had been lying to her all along.

Sometimes, most noticeably in action books and films, the protagonist and love interest unite to defeat the antagonist together.
The antagonist

Antagonists that also serve as impact characters not only obstruct the protagonist from reaching their goals, but also show them they have been believing in the wrong things all along.

Veruca Salt in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory stirs up inner turmoil for Charlie Bucket when he sees her selfish and demanding attitude.

It is her behaviour (and that of the other spoilt, self-centred children) that interrupts his wondrous day at the Chocolate Factory.

1: Think about what you want to show

When a writer takes time to describe something in detail, they’re telling the reader: pay attention to this, it’s important. So when you describe a character’s hands, think about why this detail is so important.

Hands are an important way you can show the reader details about your character, rather than just telling them through exposition.

The details of hands can reveal as many things about a character as your imagination can create. For starters, descriptions of hands can reveal a character’s: History
Background (work or otherwise)
Age
Emotional state.

If a writer introduces a character with ‘strong, calloused hands clenched into fists’, we can see their emotional state (probably anger or tension), and infer their work history (probably a form of manual labor from the callouses and their strength).

You might infer a character’s age by mentioning hands that are frail, wrinkled, or lined deep with creases. You might infer important parts of their history by mentioning a scar, a tattoo, or even a missing finger.

The bottom line is to be intentional about the details you show your reader. Think about the why: what is this detail accomplishing for my story? How does this detail reflect my character?

2: Use props to add flair and personality

There’s no need to get too caught up in figuring out how to show details about your character through just the innate qualities of their hands. Using props gives you another huge toolbox of ways to reveal information.

What is a prop? A prop can be anything not innate to the character’s body, such as Gloves (gardening gloves, sailing gloves, leather biker gloves, satin dress gloves)
Rings (wedding rings, magic rings, decorative rings, a king’s or knight’s signet ring)
Bracelets or wristbands (a festival wristband, a medic alert bracelet, a friendship bracelet)
A bandage, wound, or prosthesis
A fitness band
What is coating their hands (chocolate, flour, blood, dirt, magical residue).

As you can see, there’s a huge number of possibilities for using props to reveal all kinds of different character traits.

Combining the right details with the right props can help you to nail a character introduction, or even cleverly drop hints to the reader about a character’s past.

Varying the ways you show details about characters in this way can make your writing more engaging and vivid. The right use of props can make characters feel truly alive.

3: Use variety

Variety is important. Using a wide vocabulary breathes life into the things you describe, and using variety in what you focus on in descriptions keeps them fresh.

If you introduce every character in your story by the hardness or softness of their hands, it can begin to feel all too similar. Instead, you can find different things to focus on.

One character might have dirty nails, another delicate wrist, and so on. The different parts of the hand present many opportunities for variety.

Some parts of the hand you might focus on in a description include: Fingers (slender, clever, thick, clumsy)
Fingernails (dirty, manicured, chewed)
Knuckles (bruised, prominent)
Wrists (slender, strong, bony)
The shape of the hand (thin, heavy)
Size of the hand (large, delicate)
The texture of the hand (rough, soft)
Color of the hand (pale, tanned, a faint line where a ring once sat)

Remember to vary your descriptions to keep them fresh.

4: Don’t just describe static hands – use hand gestures

Hands do things, and what they do can show the reader just as much as what they look like. Gestures can give life to both a character and the world they inhabit.

Using action in your descriptions can make them more engaging to read. It will also provide extra information about how your character relates to the culture they live in since hand gestures are culturally informed actions.

In Anglophone countries, for example, putting your thumb between your index and middle fingers is considered a ‘got your nose’ gesture – a game played with children where the adult pretends to have stolen the child’s nose. This gesture, therefore, comes off as playful.

However, in Turkey, this same gesture is considered insulting and disrespectful. A tourist trying to play ‘got-your-nose’ with a child in Turkey says a lot about that character with just their hand gesture (they’re out of place, unfamiliar with the local culture).

Similarly, the way in which a character makes a gesture can convey how they relate to the culture they live in.

A squeezing, over-long handshake might convey a character who is domineering. If they’re wearing a business suit, this might then convey a character who values success through beating the competition.

Alternately, a character in a business suit who offers a limp, brief handshake might suggest a character who struggles to fit in with these cultural norms.

5: Make descriptive language pop with metaphor

If we’re talking about the business of describing hands, we shouldn’t overlook the importance of symbolic writing techniques like metaphor and simile to make descriptions pop.

At first glance, metaphor and simile can be hard to get a handle on. What makes the difference between a good metaphor and a bad one can be a bit obscure.

Luckily, there are some tried and true methods for making these writing techniques work. And when they work, they can bring an entirely new dimension of life to your writing.

First, let’s look at what makes a metaphor or simile good or bad. Consider a character at a plant nursery introduced in the following way:

His hands were calloused like old roots, and dirt was wedged beneath his fingernails. “Hi,” he said, looking up from the plant. “What are you looking for?”

Compare this with the same scene described differently:

His hands were calloused, his skin grown hard like the armor of a tank, and dirt was wedged beneath his fingernails like bits of corn chips. “Hi,” he said, looking up from the plant. “What are you looking for?”

Good metaphors and similes: Flow well with the scene
Add to contextual information (such as a character’s personality, or the broader scene)
Avoid overuse
Are intuitive
Help readers understand the image.

Bad metaphors and similes, on the other hand: Feel out of place
Clash with contextual information (such as contradicting a character’s personality, or the atmosphere of a scene)
Might be overused in a scene
Are clunky and unintuitive
Get in the way of readers understanding the image.

A technique for coming up with metaphors that suit a scene is to think associationally: think about the image you’re trying to describe, and then think about things that look, feel or act similarly, or are otherwise associated with the scene.

For example, the character’s skin in the example above might be likened to the hardened bark of a tree trunk or an old root. The more effective an association your metaphor has with the scene and character, the better the metaphor.

In the above example, the metaphor of ‘old roots’ is physically associated with the hardness of the character’s skin, as well as with their personality as a gardener, and the scene of the nursery.

Layering associations like this can help to build stronger, more vivid scenes.

6: Don’t overdo it

As with any writing technique, if you spend too much time describing the hands and hand gestures of various characters, it will be offputting to your reader.

Don’t feel like you need to cram in every bit of information you can. Vivid writing doesn’t come from the amount of detail you give the reader, but from the careful placement of detail.

As a result, when you find your writing lingering on a character’s hands, think about what this detail is truly doing for your story. Is it giving personality to this character in an important way? Does it further the plot (perhaps it is an important clue in a mystery)?

Keep in mind that the same technique can work very differently in different kinds of stories. For example, if a writer introduced their character like this:

Jack was an office worker. He had clean hands, of average size. They were strong enough to open a stubborn pickle jar in a pinch, but he rarely found himself able to win an arm wrestle amongst his friends.

This description might suit certain kinds of stories in the right situations. It works when the writer is trying to emphasise how normal this character is.

Perhaps Jane, Jack’s wife, is a famous adventurer and the writer wants to emphasise Jack’s contrast to her.

Or perhaps it is not an adventure story at all, and the writer simply wants to signpost to the reader to expect that this will be a story about everyday things, and everyday people.

It might even be the opening of a horror story, where emphasising how much of a normal person Jack is only heightens the terror when unexplainable things start happening to him in his otherwise perfectly ordinary life.

However, in other stories, this introduction to Jack might actually not work at all namely if it doesn’t give readers any effective or useful insight into the character or story.

It’s also important not to overdo the description of hands as physical objects. Notice how in the example of Jack above, the description works in various ways of describing his hands.

For example, you can describe strength through how many arm wrestles a person is able to win, or whether they’re able to open stubborn pickle jars or need to turn to a housemate for help.

You don’t need to describe everything with painstaking detail – this scene might not work as well if the writer decided to instead describe the moderate but noticeable bulge of musculature and the veins clearly visible along his hands.

However, for a different kind of story, this kind of description might work better. In an action story, focusing on the physical traits of a character can paint them in an intimidating light, whereas talking about how many pickle jars they can open would simply be comical.

7: Practise putting it all together

With any good description, there’s a lot of thought going on behind the scenes. It can be difficult to pull off successfully.

The best way to learn how to handle so many elements at once is to practise putting them all together with short exercises.

You could try some of the following exercise prompts, or come up with your own: Describe your current protagonist’s hands. How are their history, their personality and their physical characteristics present in what their hands look like and the way they use them?
If you were a character in a story, how would the writer describe your hands? In what ways do your hands reflect your life and personality? (And in what ways do they not?) What would be important to describe in a story, and what could you leave out?
Think of a character from a book, TV show, movie, video game etc. that you like. Write about what it would feel like to receive a handshake from them. How does this reflect who they are?

If you feel like you have a particular weakness in your writing, home in on that specifically.

Perhaps you feel fine describing a character’s hands but you never think to use props. You may like to take some of your old descriptions and think about what a clever use of props might add to these scenes.

Or perhaps you struggle to come up with different ways of describing things. Try brainstorming a list of different hand descriptions, just letting your imagination flow. You might be surprised at what you can come up with.

Using these top tips, hand descriptions become more than just a moment of exposition, but a tool that in the hands (pardon the pun) of a skillful writer can bring vibrancy and personality to any story.

Being able to carefully integrate details like these is essential to writer’s ability to show things to the reader rather than telling through exposition.

The use of props is an often-overlooked part of this kind of description, and can be used to further add variety and relevant information to a scene – whether it’s a wedding ring (or lack thereof) on a man’s finger, or dirt-covered gardening gloves.

It’s important to also remember all the different parts of a hand that can be described. This helps prevent descriptions from becoming monotonous and focusing on the same things.

Hand gestures are a great way to add detail to a character’s personality. Since hand gestures are culturally specific, they can reflect what culture a character is from and how they relate to that culture (or others).

Hand gestures also give life to scenes by showing how characters move rather than solely focusing on what they physically look like.

Good metaphor and simile is a vital element of any kind of description. It adds clarity to the image the writer is trying to evoke, while creating interest and variety for the reader.

Speaking of variety, it’s important not to overuse this tool – an obsessive focus on hands might drive a reader mad!

Finally, it’s important to remember that practice makes perfect. Writing is challenging work at the best of times, and crafting quality descriptions for your scenes is no exception.

There are so many elements to consider and it can feel overwhelming. The best way to feel confident in your ability to juggle all these is to practice, practice, practice!

1. Set up as a Professional

If you’re truly serious about freelancing, you’ll need to start thinking of yourself as a business person. You may have workshopped with friends or edit documents for your office day job but you’re essentially becoming your own business as a freelancer.

People will be coming to you for your services, and they’re unlikely to part with their money or hire you for ongoing work if you don’t look professional.
Get an ABN (Australian Business Number or Equivalent)

This sounds scary but it’s just a number. If you’re going to be charging people for your editing services, you’ll need to get an ABN or the equivalent in your home country.

ABNs not only show that you’re legit and ‘in the system’ but they’re essential at tax time when you need to organize your finances (especially if you make money from more than one source).

Buy a Domain Name

Another must-have for any freelancer is a website. And we don’t mean anything with WordPress or Weebly in the URL

Buying a domain name is fairly easy. We’d recommend signing up with WordPress as it’s easy to build your website and navigate the design (no IT degrees or coding experience necessary), and they’re a very reputable company in themselves.

Your rights to a domain name usually last for a year, although you can buy longer contracts. It’s not super expensive, and you can claim it as an expense on your tax return (because of that ABN!).

Design and Print Business Cards

I didn’t realize how important business cards were until I went to a writing event, met lots of great contacts, and had nothing to hand out. It may seem small, but you’ll be thankful when you’re swapping details with your next paying client!

You can design business cards online through several companies, including VistaPrint which is quite popular. However, the Writer’s Edit gang is hooked on Moo.com which is a UK printer that has a wider range of super cute designs.

The most important thing to remember is to limit the number of cards you get on your first run. Don’t go for a crazy number like 200. Start small. You can always order more!

Set Up Social Media Accounts

In this modern world, we live in, you need to be on social media to make contacts, set up a brand for yourself, and communicate with the world. Branding is very important as a freelancer, and you need to be visible to your audience.

The top three accounts you should be setting up are Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Instagram, Tumblr, and Pinterest are great if you have them. But the three above are essential in both reaching people and providing a professional avenue for people to find you.

We could talk forever about social media, so check out our post on mastering your online author presence for tips.

2. Know Who Your Target Client Is

You’ll need to use your website and social media accounts to create a name for yourself, to project yourself as a professional freelancer – to the right people.

If you want to freelance edit books, it’s no good focussing all your energy on following and tweeting to established authors. You need to target emerging writers and self-published authors – the people who need you!

And if you’re not interested in editing books but are more about technical writing, approaching small businesses directly can be a good place to start – if you see a website with copy that needs improving, don’t be afraid to get in touch! Promote yourself on job sites and LinkedIn, where people will be actively searching for an editor to help them.

3. Start Networking

So you’ve set yourself up in your editing business, you’re ready for clients (and you definitely know what sort of clients you’re looking for). The next stop is networking.

You can network online through social media or the old-fashioned, face-to-face way. A balance of both is best. It can be tough to start out networking with people at writing events like book launches and festivals, but with those business cards handy you’ll do just fine.

Get along to writing festivals when you can. You might just find your target clients walking around or waiting in line. If you’re a bit nervous about making conversations, take a friend along with you for a casual approach. This isn’t big business after all!

4. Get Experience

This is the tricky part if you’re just starting out as an editor. It’s one of those head-scratching questions: where do I get experience? The answer is tough. You may have to charge less or even do a little (very little!) for free.

There’s no reason that you should give your services away for pittance forever. Most definitely not. But there are ways to get a few jobs under your belt (and use them as testimonials or feedback!) without having to sell out. You need to make money, after all!

Volunteer for Friends

Ask your writer friends if they have any stories or poems they’re looking to submit to journals or competitions and offer to help them edit the work.

This works out well for you and your friend because you get used to the editing process (and how different clients may respond) and your friend’s writing improves.

You could also ask people you know if they need any technical writing edited. You’d be surprised how many small business owners and office workers need someone to look over their website, business proposal, or grant application (especially when they aren’t writers themselves!).

Get Involved in the Industry

If you have a little more time on your hands and don’t mind working for next to nothing, try getting an internship or a small role on an editorial team.

Getting involved in the industry in this way allows you to be part of a wider community of writers and editors. You can easily bounce off others who are probably in similar freelancing positions, ask for advice and include your work on your website.

If your client sees that you’re not only a freelancer, but you also edit for others in the industry, it gives you an edge in experience over others. As we’ve mentioned, you obviously can’t intern forever but it is an option if you’re just starting out.

5. What To Do When You Get Work

The seemingly impossible has happened – you’ve got an email from someone who wants to pay you to edit their writing. Take a minute to jump up and down, pop the champagne, and be proud of yourself. You did it!

Now comes the (real) work. You’ll need to negotiate prices, and deadlines, and be briefed on the work involved. There are a lot of technical bits to tick off and it’s easy to fall into a trap of niceties and get stung.

Be Clear About What is Expected

Above anything else, you need to be extremely clear with your client about what work you’ll be doing and for how much.

It may seem obvious but an edit can easily turn into three rounds of structural edits, proofreading, and formatting. And when you’ve already been paid upfront, it’s difficult to ask for more money.

This is when you need to put your business hat on and be firm yet friendly in your emails or discussions. Outline exactly what you’ll be doing, and make it clear that if you need to do more, then the price may go up. And if they don’t pay you on time? The price might go up then, too.

Write a Tax Invoice

This bit sounds just as scary as getting an ABN, but once you’ve written a few invoices you’ll be a total pro. If you’re going to claim tax on your freelancing, or if your client wants to claim it on theirs, you’ll need to whip up an invoice.

You can find tax invoice templates online with a simple search and the best way to go is by designing it in Word or Excel. Once you’ve created a blank template of your own, save it to your computer, and then you’ll only need to fill in the details whenever you need a new invoice. Always turn your docs into PDFs if you’re sending them via email. That way your client can’t mess with the details too easily.

Communicate

It’s easy to get carried away with working on a project so make sure you keep in touch with your clients about how the work is going and how you’re dealing with the deadline.

You obviously don’t need to bombard them with updates every day, but if the project is a long one then just keep in touch at least once a week.

You’re essentially building a relationship with your clients because you want to keep working with them in the future (or at least refer you to a friend!). So reassuring them that the work they paid for is going swimmingly is a good thing.

Every freelancer’s journey will be different. It’s not an easy road to start on, but it is extremely rewarding.

With the right knowledge base and growing experience in the field, you’ll be on your way to becoming a successful and self-sufficient freelance editor.

1. Article/Feature writing

This is perhaps the most common type of writing that comes to mind when people think about freelancing. Many freelancers work on an individual article basis, whether for print or online mediums or a combination of the two.

As an article or feature writer, you’re able to write about things that interest you, things you’re an expert on, and things you’re passionate about. You’re able to chase the stories you want to write and carve yourself a niche if you so desire.

However, if you’re considering going down this road, you will most likely need to diversify your income stream to supplement the money you make from article and feature writing.

Yes, there are established feature writers who make enough money with this as their sole freelance focus. But the reality for most freelance writers is that you’ll need to take on other writing jobs in addition to feature writing.

Be aware that freelance articles or feature writing work won’t magically come to you. More on that below, but first, let’s take a look at what’s involved in the two main types of article and feature writing.

Magazines/Newspapers

This is perhaps the most traditional type of freelance writing: contributing articles to print publications like magazines or newspapers.

If you’re wondering whether this is still a viable freelance path in the digital age – we can assure you it is! Don’t be put off by the myth that print journalism is dying. While of course, it isn’t as widespread as it once was, there is definitely still a place for freelance writers in the world of print publications.

However, as we discussed above, it’s a good idea to diversify and expand your income stream to ensure you can make a living as a freelance writer. Don’t rely on magazine and newspaper work alone, at least at first, or you may find yourself disheartened and desperate for work.

So what exactly is involved in being a freelance writer for a magazine or newspaper?

Magazines are usually created with a specific or niche audience in mind. There are several different types, including

Consumer/popular magazines produced for the general population; you’re likely to see these at your local newsagency or supermarket

Industry/trade magazines produced for members of specific industries or professions, who maintain subscriptions.

Custom publications magazines produced by businesses for their customers/clients as part of a marketing strategy

Many of these types of magazines rely on pieces contributed by freelance writers. Articles need to be well-researched and written to a specific brief; if you’re writing for a trade magazine, obviously you will need to be extremely well-versed in that particular industry or topic.

Newspapers, on the other hand, are less likely to take on freelance writers for general news stories. However, many newspapers have columns or supplementary sections, such as an entertainment or lifestyle liftout, which will often contain pieces from freelance writers.

Websites

The majority of magazines, journals, and news outlets have an online presence these days, where they’ll publish content in addition to their print counterparts. There are also countless ‘online magazine’-style websites existing entirely online, which publish articles, features, and news pieces.

For many freelance writers, writing pieces for websites is a more viable and lucrative option than concentrating solely on print magazines or newspapers. There are thousands upon thousands of websites out there, covering every topic and type of audience, and this makes it a little easier to find freelance writing work online.

How do I get this type of writing job?

There are generally two ways you can write articles for magazines, newspapers, or websites: by the commission, or by pitching directly to editors.

More experienced writers may receive commissions for articles, but most freelance writers need to pitch to find work. As we said above, don’t expect this type of work to come to you – you need to get out there and actively seek it!

2. Copy/Content writing

In business nowadays, content marketing is king. And luckily for freelancers, this has meant a surge in demand for services such as copywriting and content writing.

As a freelance copywriter or content writer, you’ll write for businesses to help establish and promote their brand, engage consumers and clients, and market products and services.

Some of the content you may create as a copy or content writer include: Advertising copy
Website content
Blog posts
EDMs
Press releases
White papers

How do I get this type of writing job?

Getting content and copywriting jobs doesn’t involve the same sort of process that article writing does. You won’t really be pitching ideas to businesses; you’re more likely to be applying for jobs advertised online.

You can also reach out to businesses with an offer of your services, but don’t rely solely on this cold-calling approach to secure a steady stream of work.

Content agencies are also a place you can start with this type of writing. Agencies will hire freelancers to complete content assignments for their clients (but beware the possibility of being underpaid or exploited – ensure you’re only working with reputable agencies).

As with any freelancing service, word-of-mouth will also serve you well here. Be sure to network wherever possible and maintain a solid online presence so that people can find you and your services.

3. Blogging

Blogging can be considered a sub-category of content writing when you’re creating blog posts for businesses as part of a content marketing strategy. However, it can also be a standalone freelance activity.

The type of blogging we’re talking about here is an individual blog and/or a guest blogging strategy through which a freelancer makes money.

Once you have established your own blog and grown a community of readers, there are a number of ways you can monetize your blog, as well as write posts for other websites (and get paid for it!).

Guest blogging is a key component in this type of job, and paired with your other income streams, it can be a great way to make money as a freelance writer.

How do I get this type of writing job?

To be a successful freelance blogger, you really need to establish your particular niche – your point of difference from the countless other bloggers out there.

If you specialize in writing about a particular topic, it’s much easier to establish yourself as a successful freelance blogger. Creating valuable content that reaches a specific audience of readers is the best way to ensure your blog will be successful.

Once your own blog is established, you can pitch to other blogs or websites as a guest or regular blogger. You may even be approached via your own blog.

4. Social media content creation

We are living in the age of social media. Every business has (or should have) a social media presence these days, and as a freelance writer, you can really capitalize on this!

While a lot of businesses manage their social media presence in-house, many choose to outsource their content creation to freelancers. Planning, writing, and scheduling social media posts across a variety of platforms can be a tricky and time-consuming job one that’s perfect for freelance writers.

How do I get this type of writing job?

To really succeed in picking up freelance social media jobs, you’ll need to be a bit of an all-rounder. It’s not just writing that’s involved.

Social media is largely a visual medium, so there’ll likely be some design aspects attached to a social media gig as well – think images and videos as well as written content.

You’ll also need to have an understanding of how various social media platforms work, and how audiences respond to and interact with social content.

To find social media jobs, again, we recommend searching online job boards, as well as reaching out to local businesses that may require social media management.

It’s also a good idea to specifically advertise and promote the fact that social media content creation is part of your freelance repertoire. This way, people know for sure that they can approach you for these kinds of jobs.

5. Editing

We know – this isn’t technically a type of freelance writing job! But if you’re a writer, there may be a good chance you’re interested in editing as well.

Freelance editors and proofreaders provide services to all manner of clients, from businesses who want their content checked to individuals seeking an editor for their books.

If you’re dedicated enough, you can combine freelance editing with freelance writing as a way to diversify and extend your income stream.

How do I get this type of job?

First of all, we strongly recommend undertaking the right training before trying to find freelance editing jobs. Just because you’re a writer doesn’t mean you automatically know what you’re doing when it comes to editing! If you’re serious about branching out into editing, you need to do the right groundwork first.

If you haven’t already done so, take a course that covers the ins and outs of all the different types of editing. Not only will you need this in order to be a successful editor, but clients will have more confidence in your abilities if they know you’ve undertaken specific education and training in editing.

For those just starting out as freelance writers, we hope this post has been helpful in getting you on your way.

For those who have already established freelance careers, we’d love to hear about your freelancing experiences in the comments! Which type of freelance writing do you get the most work from?

Let’s be real, freelancers: setting freelance writing rates can be one of the most difficult and stressful parts of the job.

What if my rate’s considered ‘too high’, and I don’t land the gig? What if my rate’s too low, and I end up earning less than I should? What if my initial quote ends up being inaccurate?

These are questions every freelancer has asked themselves at one stage or another, particularly when they’re new to the freelance writing life. So if you’re stressing about setting your rates, don’t worry; we’re here to help.

Let’s delve into the three main methods for setting freelance writing rates, looking at the pros, cons, and best-suited types of projects for each method.

Method 1: Hourly rate

Perhaps the most common method of setting freelance writing rates is stipulating an hourly rate.

Even if you don’t choose to charge via this matrix, we do recommend having a general idea of what your hourly rate would be. This can help you determine whether a flat project fee matches up with the amount of time you’re spending on it.

What types of projects is this method best suited to?

Charging by the hour is usually the best option when: The scope of a project isn’t entirely clear or has the potential to expand.
You have ongoing or long-term work for a client.
You have the type of client who needs a lot of meetings/phone calls/emails. (See the ‘pros’ section below for more on this.)

Pros of hourly rates

Setting a solid hourly rate means that you’re guaranteed to be paid what you believe you are worth. You can set the minimum hourly rate you know you deserve (and need to get by), and stick with it. Even if the original scope of the project increases, you’ll still be paid the same amount for each hour of your time.
Charging by the hour will reinforce the value of your time to clients, and will help you ensure you are paid for the time you spend communicating with the client outside of actually working on the project.
There are often recommended rate guides available online as to what freelance writers should charge as a minimum hourly rate. This can be helpful for newbies who are struggling with setting freelance writing rates.

Cons of hourly rates

The better you get at particular types of freelance writing, the faster you will work – and, effectively, the less you will earn for that work if you’re charging an hourly rate. You might end up earning half of what a less experienced writer does for the same job, simply because you’re able to complete it in half the time! On the flip side, though, businesses are likely to see your speed as an advantage and will be more likely to come to you with repeat work which you’ll have more hours in the day to complete than that less experienced writer would.
Clients are likely to be uncomfortable with an open-ended hourly rate quote. Many will request at least a basic estimate of the total hours the project will take you (and therefore the total cost of the project). This can be tricky to guess correctly, and if you underestimate the hours, your client might become irate or refuse to pay more than your original estimate.
Raising your prices can be harder when you charge an hourly rate. Clients are more likely to be apprehensive about an increase in hourly rate than they would if you were quoting by the project. If you make the mistake of starting out at a too-low hourly rate and need to increase it later, you’ll be pushed to really justify it to your clients, and you might risk losing them.

Method 2: Per-word rate

Charging by the word is another common method of setting freelance writing rates. Depending on the type of job, the effort required and the level of experience a writer has, per-word rates can range from anywhere between $0.05 to $1 a word.

What types of projects is this method best suited to?

Charging by the word is usually the best option when: Working with publications such as magazines or newspapers. When pitching freelance articles, you’ll actually find you won’t often have a choice in this case many publications stipulate a set per-word rate that all their contributors are paid.
Working with clients who may be ‘scared off’ by an hourly rate. (See the ‘pros’ section below for more on this.)

Pros of per-word rates

A per-word rate can often seem less intimidating to clients who don’t really understand the value of a freelance writer’s time. If it takes you an hour to write a 600-word article, and you charge $0.20 per word, quoting your per-word cost is likely to sound like a ‘better value’ to them than a rate of $120 per hour.
If you know roughly how quickly you’re able to write (words per hour), it’s fairly easy to determine what an acceptable per-word rate is if you have a base hourly rate figure to go by.
Per-word rates can be particularly lucrative if you have a freelance writing niche – an area in which you’re basically an expert. Many publications pay very well by the word for expert articles, so the better you know your stuff, the better-earning potential you have!

Cons of per-word

ratesUnlike hourly rates, per-word pricing isn’t a case of one-size-fits-all. You’ll be doing yourself a disservice if you charge the same per-word rate for a simple blog post and an in-depth article requiring a lot of research. This means you can’t rely on a standard quote for all clients – you have to work out different per-word rates for different types of work.
It’s sometimes hard to estimate how many words a project will end up being, so it can be hard to get an idea of how much you’ll be earning. Agreeing on a rough final word count with the client beforehand is essential if they’re budgeting for a 500-word piece, and you turn in 1500 words, things might get a little tricky.
Unfortunately, the rise of content mills has meant that many freelance writers’ per-word rates can be undercut by people charging ridiculously low rates. Your very reasonable rate of $0.20 per word could be dismissed by a not-particularly-savvy client who chooses to outsource the work to a content mill at a measly $0.02/word rate.

Method 3: Project fee

The third and equally popular method of setting freelance writing rates is stipulating a flat project fee. This means providing a final quote for the entire cost before starting the job.

What types of projects is this method best suited to?

Charging a flat project fee is usually the best option when: The scope and boundaries of the project have been clearly defined.
You have a lot of different clients, for whom you do different types of work. A standard hourly rate might not work out best for you across all clients, but charging per project means you can ensure you’re being paid what you’re worth.
You can complete a project faster than usual, meaning you wouldn’t really be paid what your work is worth if you charged your usual hourly rate.

Pros of project fees

As we mentioned above, many clients might not understand the value of a freelancer’s time, believing that your hourly rate is ‘too high’. They often think of it in terms of a regular job’s hourly rate, but a freelancer has to factor many more overheads and considerations into that rate, so the two aren’t really comparable. However, if you quote a project fee instead, they will be focused on the value of the project rather than the time it takes to do it. It’s a strange psychological factor, but trust us – many clients who baulk at paying a rate of $60/hour for a ten-hour job would have no objection to a flat quote for a $600 project!
In the same client-focused vein, charging a flat project fee is a good way of managing freelance client expectations. Setting the project fee and clearly establishing what work is involved in that quote can help both parties go into a job with clear expectations and less potential for disagreement.
No matter how long a project takes you, you will receive the total price you quoted at the outset. While this can be a con as well (as we outline below), if you work quickly and efficiently, you can achieve a very lucrative rate for your work!

Cons of project fees

The biggest potential downside of charging a flat project cost is the potential for the time spent on the project to exceed your original estimate. This means that the base hourly rate you had in mind is diluted, and you effectively end up earning less than what you’re worth for a project.
It can be hard to estimate a reasonable project fee, especially when you’re first starting out with setting freelance writing rates, or when you’re working with a brand-new client. It might take a few jobs before you feel confident quoting the right amount for a project.
You have to learn to face occasional conflict when charged by the project. Clients might want to come back with several revisions after you’ve completed a job, which, as we discussed above, leads to more time spent than planned and effectively dilutes your rate. In these cases, you need to be firm about either charging more for the additional work or finishing the job where you originally agreed you would.

(writers edit )

Get Back Into Books

When I fall into a creative slump, one of the first habits to go is my nightly reading. It’s a subtle warning that often goes unnoticed for days (or even weeks…) before I realise something is not quite right.

Reading is fundamental (and no, I’m not talking about throwing shade). Not just for writers, but for success in general. Many noteworthy and successful people are known to be avid readers.

Mark Zuckerberg reads a book a fortnight; Bill Gates one a week; and, before his success, young Elon Musk was known to spend up to 10 hours a day immersed in science fiction novels.

While the preferred genre of the ultra-wealthy leans towards non-fiction, novels are generally the go-to for emerging and established authors alike.

In fact, horror-writing juggernaut Stephen King averages about 80 books a year (or 1.5 a week for those playing at home). That’s a pretty impressive feat for an author who publishes a book every six to twelve months.

But this can seem almost impossible to the emerging writer who has to hold down a 9–5, or one who, like me, has 500 other hobbies (and a toddler) demanding attention.

But it all comes down to discipline. If you want to write, you’ve got to read, and immersing yourself in a good book is a great stepping stone back to creative bliss.

As the King himself says: ‘If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write.’

2: Don’t Beat Yourself Up

There is no holiday as big a waste of time as the guilt trip. Not only do you achieve nothing, but you also suck up vital mental energy that could be used elsewhere – like, you know, your writing.

We all have lazy days (or weeks…). We all procrastinate. And like it or not, we all make mistakes.

Chances are, if you’re super passionate about writing and making a career out of it, you probably feel pretty darn guilty every time you make a decision that leads you away from your goal.

Guilt is a complex emotion that essentially manifests in two ways: healthy guilt and unhealthy guilt.

Putting it simply, healthy guilt is your conscience acknowledging that you’ve legitimately done something wrong, like hurt someone or stolen something. Or, in this case, squandered your precious writing time.

While you may not be able to control the initial onset of guilt, there are ways to combat it and move beyond once it sets in. You can jump straight to making amends and, most importantly, changing your behaviour.

For example, if you made the decision to use your child-free day off to play PS4 all day instead of working on your manuscript, you can make amends by writing in smaller intervals throughout the week to compensate for the ‘wasted time’.

And, to change your behaviour moving forward, you might incorporate an additional step into your morning routine to allow for this extra writing time on the regular – leaving weekends a guilt-free gaming zone.

3: Revisit Your Work

If writers’ block has got you down and the muse just ain’t chattering, then it may be time to start digging through the archives of your unfinished drafts and half-baked ideas to see if any of them are worth sticking back in the oven.

While it’s true that some story kernels or characters never amount to anything, others are simply prematurely conceived. In other words, the idea might be great, but the execution… less than impressive.

For example, a ten-year-old writing a classroom melodrama featuring drunken parties and a murder mystery on the eve of the big exam is not going to have enough lived experience to convincingly tell this tale.

However, if you as a now-twenty-something – happen upon something like this in your archives, you may very well have a Young Adult gem on your hands.

This lack of experience also applies to the craft of writing itself.

Characters or storylines may not have been as competently executed in your early writing days, causing you to step aside in frustration. P(l)ot holes can break the wheels of the best of ideas, after all.

But if you’ve maintained your reading habits (or picked them back up again), chances are this exposure to different styles and stories will have sharpened your eyes enough to pick up on errors that may have derailed the project in the first place.

Planning on jumping back into that half-complete manuscript? Going back is the best way forward.

If you’re wanting to stay on track and not be distracted by shiny new ideas, then simply rereading the last few chapters you wrote can remind you of the passion and excitement you once felt for your project.

4: (Re)establish Your Routine

Let’s talk about why it’s important for every successful writer to establish a routine and not just when it comes to carving out time for your craft.

Humans are creatures of habit, so it’s little wonder that some of the most successful business entrepreneurs can identify rituals and routines that contribute to their overall productivity and wellbeing.

If your writing has hit a wall, it may be time to bring in a little order. This can be as simple as making your bed, sitting down with a quiet cuppa or meditating first thing in the moring –anything to set you up for a positive day of productivity.

A great time to sneak a writing session into your daily routine is first thing in the morning the earlier the better. Now, before you start groaning about losing sleep, research has indicated there are decisive benefits to rising at an ungodly hour.

Daytime distractions people, emails, social media play a huge role in decreased productivity, which is what drives some people to start their day so early. Psychologist Josh Davis, director of research at the NeuroLeadership Institute, writes:

By waking up at 4am, they’ve essentially wiped a lot of those distractions off their plate. No one is expecting you to email or answer the phone at 4am. No one will be posting on Facebook. You’ve removed the internal temptation and the external temptation.”

Long story short: nothing solves a problem like removing it all together.

Of course, if you’re a shift worker, a parent, or have any other commitment that does not allow for early starts (your love of bed doesn’t count), then you may need to get a little more creative with your block-out period.

Try utilising productivity apps like Forest, or social media blocks such as Cold Turkey to keep the distractions at bay.

If the thought of the same monotony day in day out is bringing you to tears, then there are ways to maintain some flexibility. Jack Dorsey (CEO of Twitter and Square) keeps things fresh by assigning ‘themes’ to his weekdays.

For a writer, this technique may look something like this:Monday: Editing
Tuesday: Drafting
Wednesday: Short stories
Thursday: Freelancing
Friday: Blog/social media
Saturday: Break
Sunday: Rereading the week’s work

This can be broken up even further into morning, afternoon and evening sessions, depending on the time you have available and the number of things you need to achieve.

The point of building a routine is not necessarily to schedule every waking moment of your life. It’s about building structure and goals and holding yourself accountable for obligations, whether externally or internally imposed.

Unfortunately, it takes 66, not 21 days of persistence to create a habit, which can sound like an eternity if you’re trying to drag your butt out of bed at 5am during winter.

But once writing becomes a habit, you’ll simply get it done.

5: Start Small, Aim Big

Are you a short story writer or a poet looking to try your hand at a full-length novel? Or perhaps someone familiar with extended prose who has been on the sidelines for some time?

If so, jumping into an ambitious program like NaNoWriMo might seem like far too much too soon. You’ve gotta walk before you can run, right?

Writing is a skill honed through exercise. And like exercise, the more you do, the more you can do. Fitness initiative Couch to 5K, for example, encourages you to get up and get moving by gradually increasing your weekly activity.

Asking someone horridly unfit to run a marathon is not going to end well, and getting a rusty writer to churn out a complete manuscript in a small timeframe will likely have similar results.

Chances are there will be injury, insult and a further aversion. So, like Couch to 5K, start with a small, achievable goal.

Aim to write a sentence three times a week. Then move on to a paragraph. A scene. A chapter. Repeat whatever phase feels necessary before moving on, or stay at a level that fits in with your routine.

Of course, you don’t need to start as small as a single sentence. Measure increments however feels comfortable to you: 10-minute writing sessions; 200 words day/500 words a week – it doesn’t matter.

The point is to start with small, achievable goals in order to work towards a bigger picture.

While it might seem like you’re deliberately taking even longer to return to that regular writing routine (or may even feel like you’re procrastinating), there is method to the madness. Or in this case – science!

“The satisfaction of ticking off a small task is linked with a flood of dopamine. Each time your brain gets a whiff of this rewarding neurotransmitter, it will want you to repeat the associated behavior.” —Dr Ralph Ryback, Psychology Today

Even if the goal is so small it’s not possible for you to fail, you’ll still manipulate your brain into releasing that motivating dopamine. Talk about life hacks!

6: Stretch Your Mental Muscles With A Writing Exercise

Writing exercises can be the first small step to get you back on track, or incorporated into your daily goals. Either way, setting aside time to ‘warm up’ is a useful practice that encourages productivity in the long run.

Julia Cameron, best-selling author of The Artist’s Way, lives by the practice of Morning Pages, an activity she designed to prepare herself for the day ahead.

“The bedrock tool of a creative recovery is a daily practice called Morning Pages.” —Julia Cameron

The stream-of-consciousness, non-specific writing activity instructs you to hand-write three pages every single morning to awaken your creative self.

Done efficiently, the practice takes about ten minutes and yields approximately 750 words, depending on the size of your notebook.

Morning Pages are a great way to teach you to write on demand – something that will prove very handy indeed when sitting down to your scheduled writing time.

If you’re not a fan of writing the old-fashioned way (or, somehow, you’re a writer who hasn’t managed to accrue a random assortment of notebooks), online writing tool 750words has got you covered.

Inspired by The Artist’s Way, the website is used by over half a million writers worldwide who seek to get more out of Morning Pages through various stats and insights relating to their mood, writing habits, speed and themes.

As with all exercises, it’s important to stretch first. So if you’re looking to be more productive by actually writing when you sit down at your computer, writing exercises like these can help get you started.

7: Reach Out To A Writing Buddy (Or Find A New One)

Everyone likes a wingman (or woman), right? Nothing boosts your confidence better than someone who’s got your back.

If you’ve withdrawn from your writing thanks to self-doubt or confusion over the story, engaging the services of a writing buddy can be the first step to rebuilding an amicable relationship with your art.

Sometimes referred to as a critique partner, a writing buddy is a similarly-minded friend (or stranger, if you’re game!) who can review your work, provide suggestions, and give that all important pep talk.

Unlike a copyeditor, critique partners know that this is an unpolished offering – perhaps even a first draft.

They know not to sweat the typos or grammatical errors and instead focus on providing the feedback that will help you move forward – or get started again.

Fellow writers are also great soundboards for brainstorming ideas. If you wrote yourself into a corner and aren’t quite sure how to back out, throwing a couple of thoughts at a buddy can help identify the best solution.

Having a critique partner to hold you accountable for your progress is also a great way to get back into the routine of regular writing.

If your buddy is also an active writer, consider exchanging work every week or so. That way, you’re not the only one who benefits.

8: Remind Yourself Why You Write

Forcing yourself to write when you don’t want to can quickly see your beloved passion turn into a chore.

Of course, pushing through the writer’s block and procrastination is essential to turning those small goals into a consistent habit. But what if you fall out of love with the craft in the meantime?

It’s bound to happen. After all, you often hear stories of people who managed to turn their passion projects into employment and ultimately don’t end up doing it for fun anymore, or even resenting it.

But this doesn’t happen to everyone, especially if they’ve kept a healthy relationship with the craft. So how do you do that?

One of the best things to help get us back into writing is reminding ourselves why we want to. Time to think back: what inspired you to write in the first place?

Was it a whirlwind adventure about princesses and dragons you devoured as a schoolkid? If so, maybe it’s time to revisit that particular book or something of a similar vein to rekindle that flame.

Bathing in a little nostalgia might be just what you need to wash off the grime of writer’s block.

If you’ve stopped writing because you fell out of love with your manuscript, give it a thorough read-through, start to finish.

Don’t get hung up on what’s wrong with it; focus on what can and does work. Seeing hope in the picture at large can inspire you to drive back in and work out those kinks.

And finally, get yourself that pep talk. Enlist a friend to read over your work to get some feedback and all-important motivation. Hearing your project’s merits from a third party is a huge self-doubt blaster.

Chances are, they’ll fall in love with the characters and story as much as you did – and listening to them gush will drag you right back in.

We writers can be a fickle bunch, and the smallest of hiccups can seemingly throw us off course or turn into an oppressive block. But you can and will get through this.

Encountering a writing slump is an inevitable obstacle, and how you choose to get yourself through it will strengthen your craft in the long run.

Sure, you can wait it out until the muse returns, or until you have ‘time’ again. However, this is an indefinite solution, and there’s no guarantee if and when it will even happen.

If you’re serious about ending the hiatus on your own terms, then this is your call to action.

Pick up your favourite novel. Open an old notebook and do some writing exercises. Edit the final chapters you wrote before you left off. Have a chat with a writing bud and remember why you started.

You’ll be back in the game before you know it!

In this article, I'll show you the fundamental steps you need to write a book. I've worked hard to make this easy to digest and super practical, so you can start making progress.

And just a heads up: if you dream of authoring a bestselling book like I have and you're looking for a structured plan to guide you through the writing process, I have a special opportunity for you at the end of this post where I break the process down.

But first, let's look at the big picture. What does it take to write a book? It happens in three phases:
Beginning: You have to start writing. This sounds obvious, but it may be the most overlooked step in the process. You write a book by deciding first what you’re going to write and how you’re going to write it.
Staying motivated: Once you start writing, you will face self-doubt and overwhelm, and a hundred other adversaries. Planning ahead for those obstacles ensures you won’t quit when they come.
Finishing: Nobody cares about the book that you almost wrote. We want to read the one you actually finished, which means no matter what, the thing that makes you a writer is your ability not to start a project, but to complete one.

Below are 10 ridiculously simple tips that fall under each of these three major phases plus an additional 10 bonus tips. I hope they help you tackle and finish the book you dream of writing.

Part1: Getting started

We all have to start somewhere. With writing a book, the first phase is made up of four parts:

1. Decide what the book is about

Good writing is always about something. Write the argument of your book in a sentence, then stretch that out to a paragraph, and then to a one-page outline. After that, write a table of contents to help guide you as you write, then break each chapter into a few sections. Think of your book in terms of beginning, middle, and end. Anything more complicated will get you lost.

2. Set a daily word count goal

John Grisham began his writing career as a lawyer and new dad, in other words, he was really busy. Nonetheless, he got up an hour or two early every morning and wrote a page a day. After a couple of years, he had a novel. A page a day is only about 300 words. You don’t need to write a lot. You just need to write often. Setting a daily goal will give you something to aim for. Make it small and attainable so that you can hit your goal each day and start building momentum.

3. Set a time to work on your book every day

Consistency makes creativity easier. You need a daily deadline to do your work that’s how you’ll finish writing a book. Feel free to take a day off, if you want, but schedule that ahead of time. Never let a deadline pass; don’t let yourself off the hook so easily. Setting a daily deadline and regular writing time will ensure that you don’t have to think about when you will write. When it’s time to write, it’s time to write.

4. Write in the same place every time

It doesn’t matter if it’s a desk or a restaurant or the kitchen table. It just needs to be different from where you do other activities. Make your writing location a special space, so that when you enter it, you’re ready to work. It should remind you of your commitment to finish this book. Again, the goal here is to not think and just start writing.

Part 2: Doing the work

Now, it's time to get down to business. Here, we are going to focus on the next three tips to help you get the book done:

5. Set a total word count

Begin with the end in mind. Once you’ve started writing, you need a total word count for your book. Think in terms of 10-thousand work increments and break each chapter into roughly equal lengths. Here are some general guiding principles:
10,000 words = a pamphlet or business white paper. Read time = 30-60 minutes.
20,000 words = short eBook or manifesto. The Communist Manifesto is an example of this, at about 18,000 words. Read time = 1-2 hours.
40,000–60,000 words = standard nonfiction book / novella. The Great Gatsby is an example of this. Read time = three to four hours.
60,000–80,000 words = long nonfiction book / standard-length novel. Most Malcolm Gladwell books fit in this range. Read time = four to six hours.
80,000 words–100,000 words = very long nonfiction book / long novel. The Four-Hour Work Week falls in this range.
100,000+ words = epic-length novel / academic book / biography. Read time = six to eight hours. The Steve Jobs biography would fit this category.

6. Give yourself weekly deadlines

You need a weekly goal. Make it a word count to keep things objective. Celebrate the progress you’ve made while still being honest about how much work is left to do. You need to have something to aim for and a way to measure yourself. This is the only way I ever get any work done: with a deadline.

7. Get early feedback

Nothing stings worse than writing a book and then having to rewrite it, because you didn’t let anyone look at it. Have a few trusted advisers to help you discern what’s worth writing. These can be friends, editors, family. Just try to find someone who will give you honest feedback early on to make sure you’re headed in the right direction.

Part 3: Finishing

How do you know when you're done? Short answer: you don't. Not really. So here's what you do to end this book-writing process well:

8. Commit to shipping

No matter what, finish the book. Set a deadline or have one set for you. Then release it to the world. Send it to the publisher, release it on Amazon, do whatever you need to do to get it in front of people. Just don’t put it in your drawer. The worst thing would be for you to quit once this thing is written. That won’t make you do your best work and it won’t allow you to share your ideas with the world.

9. Embrace failure

As you approach the end of this project, know that this will be hard and you will most certainly mess up. Just be okay with failing, and give yourself grace. That’s what will sustain you — the determination to continue, not your elusive standards of perfection.

10. Write another book

Most authors are embarrassed by their first book. I certainly was. But without that first book, you will never learn the lessons you might otherwise miss out on. So, put your work out there, fail early, and try again. This is the only way you get better. You have to practice, which means you have to keep writing.

Every writer started somewhere, and most of them started by squeezing their writing into the cracks of their daily lives. That’s how I began, and it may be where you begin, as well. The ones who make it are the ones who show up day after day. You can do the same.
The reason most people never finish their books

Every year, millions of books go unfinished. Books that could have helped people, brought beauty or wisdom into the world. But they never came to be. And in one way or another, the reason is always the same: the author quit.

Maybe you've dealt with this. You started writing a book but never completed it. You got stuck and didn't know how to finish. Or you completed your manuscript but didn't know what to do after. Worse yet, you wrote a book, but nobody cared about it. Nobody bought or read it.

I've been there before.

In fact, the first couple of books I wrote didn't do that well at all — even with a traditional publisher. It took me years to learn this, but here's what nobody ever told me:

Before you can launch a bestseller, first you have to write one.

Before you can launch a bestseller, you have to write a bestseller.

What I mean by that is so many writers sit down to write their masterpiece, assuming that's all there is to it. Just sit down and write. But as I've studied the world's most gifted and successful authors, I've noticed this is not what the masters do. They are far more intentional than simply sitting and letting the words flow.

Every great writer needs a system they can trust. You and I are no different. But an author's system for how they produce bestselling book after bestselling book is not always the easiest thing to access. So, as a matter of survival, I've had to figure it out for myself and create a clear book-writing framework that works. This is what I call the “Write a Bestseller Method” which helps me get a book written and ready to launch.

This is the part that I never learned in any English class. Producing work that sells is not just about writing what you think is good. It's about finding an idea that will both excite you and excite an audience. It's about being intentional and thinking through the whole process while having proper accountability to keep you going.

In other words, the writing process matters. It matters a lot. You have to not only finish your book but write one worthy of being sold. And if you want to maximize your chances of finishing your book, you need a proven plan.

Writing books has changed my life. It helped me clarify my thinking, find my calling as an author, and has provided endless opportunities to make an impact on the world and a living for my family.

If you need some help staying motivated, here are another 10 tips to help you keep going in the process:

11. Only write one chapter at a time

Write and publish a novel, one chapter at a time, using Amazon Kindle Singles, Wattpad, or sharing with your email list subscribers.

12. Write a shorter book

The idea of writing a 500-page masterpiece can be paralyzing. Instead, write a short book of poems or stories. Long projects are daunting. Start small.

13. Start a blog to get feedback early

Getting feedback early and often helps break up the overwhelm. Start a website on WordPress or Tumblr and use it to write your book a chapter or scene at a time. Then eventually publish all the posts in a hardcopy book. This is a little different than traditional blogging, but the same concepts apply. We created a free tool to help you know when your blog posts are ready to publish. Check out Don't Hit Publish.

14. Keep an inspiration list

You need it in order to keep fresh ideas flowing. Read constantly, and use a system to capture, organize and find the content you’ve curated. I use Evernote, but use a system that works for you.

15. Keep a journal

Then, rewrite the entries in a much more polished book format, but use some photocopies or scans of the journal pages as illustrations in the book. You could even sell “deluxe” editions that come with photocopied versions of the journal.

16. Deliver consistently

Some days, it’s easy to write. Some days, it’s incredibly hard. The truth is: inspiration is merely a byproduct of your hard work. You can’t wait for inspiration. The Muse is really an out-of-work bum who won’t move until you do. Show her who’s boss and that you mean business.

17. Take frequent breaks

Niel Fiore, the author of The Now Habit, says, “There is one main reason why we procrastinate: It rewards us with temporary relief from stress.” If you’re constantly stressed about your unfinished book, you’ll end up breaking your schedule. Instead, plan for breaks ahead of time so you stay fresh: minute breaks, hour breaks, or even multiple day breaks.

18. Remove distractions

Try tools like Bear or Scrivener to let you write in a totally distraction-free environment. That way, email, Facebook, and Twitter won’t interrupt your flow.

19. Write where others are writing (or working)

If you’re having trouble writing consistently by yourself, write where other people are also working. A coffee shop or library where people are actually working and not just socializing can help. If you’re in a place where other people are getting things done, then you’ll have no choice but to join them.

20. Don’t edit as you go

Instead, write without judgment first, then go back and edit later. You’ll keep a better flow and won’t be interrupted by constant criticism of your own work. And you’ll have a lot more writing to edit when it’s time to do so.

Being labeled a perfectionist was once universally considered a badge of honor.

Countless highly successful people have proudly proclaimed their perfectionist tendencies, and it was long the classic “weakness-that’s-not-really-a-weakness” provided in job interviews.

But recent years have reassessed perfectionism as a strength.

More and more people have spoken about the damaging effect that pursuing perfection has had on their happiness, mental health, and productivity.

And writers, it seems, are particularly prone.

Fear of producing less-than-perfect work is cited by many as the main cause of their writer’s block, leading sufferers to quit sometimes before they’ve even begun.

This might suggest that perfectionism is incompatible with creative productivity, but it doesn’t have to be this way!

There’s already plenty of advice out there for overcoming perfectionism, but I want to take a slightly different approach.

Instead of ways to battle against your perfectionism, I’m here to suggest some ways you can harness that perfectionism and use it to improve your writing, both in terms of quality and quantity.

1. Let being goal-oriented drive you — in a healthier way

Perfectionists are usually highly goal-oriented and will work hard to reach targets.

This might sound like a good thing, but it can be a real hindrance when you’re only looking at the big picture.

If you set yourself a seemingly insurmountable goal from the outset, not hitting it “fast enough” can quickly zap your motivation.

So instead of setting yourself the goal of, say, writing an entire novel, try breaking that goal down into manageable chunks: first planning your novel, then writing the first chapter, then editing it (because let’s be real, what perfectionist is going to write a whole draft without doing any editing?) and so on.

This way, you can tick off smaller-scale accomplishments to motivate you day by day.

By treating each step of the journey as an accomplishment in itself, you’ll begin to enjoy the process more, making it easier both to get started and keep going and to produce good work overall.

2. Use your high standards to discern among ideas

Throwing mud at the wall and seeing what sticks might sound like a perfectionist’s worst nightmare.

However, sometimes mud is the only way to get the ball rolling on ideas.

By putting your perfectionism on pause, you can get the best of both worlds. Here’s how it works.

Tell yourself that you must come up with five ideas before you’re allowed to start developing a single one even if you’re struggling to get one idea off the ground.

Sounds impossible, right? Most of us are going to be scraping the bottom of the barrel by the fourth or fifth idea. But this is precisely the point.

By setting yourself the arbitrary limit of five, you know that these ideas aren’t going to be organic and that most of them are going to be throwaway filler.

By creating a controlled (and private) environment for “failure” — that is, not getting something 100% perfect right away — and embracing that “failure” as part of the writing process, you can foster a space for yourself to experiment and take risks with incredibly low stakes.

So where does your “perfectionist self” come in?

Well, it gets to choose among all those ideas, and select which one you’re going to continue with.

So if you genuinely come up with five great ideas, hooray! You’re spoiled for choice.

But if you don’t, the fact that you’ve already set that expectation for yourself will prevent it from feeling like a disappointment.

By giving “perfectionist you” the choice among several options, you can use that exacting critical eye in a constructive way, rather than a destructive one.

Scrapping the burner ideas will allow you to scratch that “this is awful, I’m throwing it away” itch — minus the part where you’re left at square one again.

At the end of the day, you’ll be left with a solid idea, and that’s always the biggest hurdle as you’re starting to write.

3. Channel that energy into a different activity

Perfectionists tend to be pretty driven and hardworking as a species.

However, that drive can quickly turn to burnout if you don’t set parameters for it.

Instead of working days and days trying to perfect a single piece, or agonizing over the same sentence for hours, try and channel your frenetic writing energy into different avenues.

One excellent way to do this is through writing sprints. Set a timer for 20 minutes and push yourself to write as much as possible within that time.

A productive sprint will give you the rush of a job well done, while still being a manageable and self-contained task.

Writing faster may also help dull that part of your brain that insists on editing yourself as you go, easing you out of the mindset that everything needs to be perfect in the first draft.

After all, to quote Jodi Picoult, “You can always edit a bad page. You can’t edit a blank page.”

4. Embrace your inner critic when it’s time to edit

There is one time when being a perfectionist is a natural advantage, and that’s when it comes to critiquing.

A perfectionist’s meticulous attention to detail is very handy when you’re editing especially for proofing and the finer points of spelling and grammar.

Read up on how to edit before you get started to make sure you’re focusing your efforts in the right direction.

But after that, let your perfection-seeking self run free!

A word of warning: you don’t want to over-edit (classic mistake authors make).

There is such a thing as too much editing, not to mention that endless drafts can make your prose sound clunky and unnatural.

To sidestep this pitfall, consider setting yourself a time limit for the amount of self-editing you’re going to do before passing your work off to a beta reader or editor.

That way, you can make the most of your critical eye without going overboard.

5. Allow your desire to get better to improve your next project

At some point, every writer ought to (and should!) put their writing out into the world.

This can be especially stressful for a perfectionist, who may never be fully satisfied with their work.

But instead of letting that anxiety prevent you from ever putting yourself out there, try and embrace it as part of a growth mindset.

Even if you’re not 100% satisfied with your finished product, once you’re fairly confident you’ve done your best, just publish it.

You can use any dissatisfaction that you do have as a learning experience to fuel your next project.

That way, instead of experiencing the classic second book syndrome, you’ll be raring to produce even better work than before, equipped with the confidence that only a published piece of work under your belt (even if you weren’t completely happy with it) can give you.

Rather than holding you back, let perfectionism drive you in new ways!

So long as you’re kind to yourself and embrace the process, you can healthily channel your perfection-seeking tendencies and reap the writing rewards.

writersedit.com

Pages

1. Let being goal-oriented drive you — in a healthier way

4. Embrace your inner critic when it’s time to edit

Search

Popular Posts

Φόρμα επικοινωνίας

Labels with list

Spotify

Technes Kai Theamata

diplamas.com

ergasiajobs.eu

Latest Posts

Labels Cloud

12 βήματα για να γράψεις μυθιστόρημα