My Writing Week.

Just keep swimming. Just keep writing. Goodnight, everyone! :)

Start writing, no matter what. The water does not flow until the faucet is turned on.

— Louis L'Amour

What I’ve Learned As A Freelance Writer

Hello, hello, helloooo. I hope you’re all doing well. :) I’ve been freelance writing for over 10 years, and I thought I’d share what I’ve learned as a freelance writer.

Don’t Put All Your Eggs In One Basket I’ve seen websites go under, and I’ve had clients disappear on me. It used to send me into panic mode, but I’ve learned not to put all my eggs in one basket. Now, I always make sure I’m on enough writing teams and keeping in touch with my regular clients. I also bookmark other freelance/content writing websites to research as needed. Always Do Your Research Sometimes, a writing website sounds too good to be true because it IS too good to be true. Whether it’s for blogging or content writing, you should always research a website and/or ask for opinions before diving right in. At least that’s what I do. Don’t Be Afraid To Try Something New Even though I had an account for years, it took me until 2018/2019 to even post a gig on Fiverr. It was different from the websites I’m used to, so I wasn’t ready until then. I’m glad I made that leap because that’s where I land some of my writing clients. The same can also be said for joining new writing teams and websites, or taking on a new client. If it’s possible and legit, do not be afraid to take the leap because it could lead to something great. However, Learn When To Say No When my Fiverr gigs started picking up traction, I would try to do anything. If I didn’t feel qualified? I’d turn it down. If I was already swamped with work? I would do it and cut it close to my deadlines, or I’d pull an all-nighter to get things done. I’ve learned when to say “no” and/or put up my away message. It’s good to be productive, but you don’t want to overextend yourself and risk burnout. It’s Okay To Make Mistakes - But Make Sure You Learn From Them When I first joined Textbroker, I made a lot of comma mistakes because I wasn’t knowledgeable in the AP Style. I went from avoiding commas (unless I was sure I was right) to taking the time to learn how to properly use the commas. If I’m unsure of anything in general, I hit up Google to double-check it. I also read out loud when proofreading, and I proofread my longer writing orders twice. You’re a human being. You’re going to make mistakes, and that’s okay, but you want to make sure you learn from them. Write Outside Your Freelance Work It’s good to write for fun and as a hobby. I run this blog, as well as a grief-related blog (because I lost my parents) and a fan blog for my favorite band. I’m a member of MyLot, and I have multiple online/offline journals for sharing my thoughts. Write outside of your work. Express yourself. Keep the creative juices flowing. And mostly, don’t lose your passion for writing.

Those are just a few things I’ve learned as a freelance writer, and I hope they help you to grow into the writer you wish to be. :) What have you learned as a freelance or creative writer?

The one true thing that makes you a writer is that you write. 🧚🏻‍♂️✨✨

Introduction.

Recently, I realized that I have shared a few posts on here, but I never actually introduced myself. For starters, I'm Tammy! :)

I have always loved writing. I can remember writing stories (alone and with my younger sister) as a child. As a teenager, I enjoyed writing poetry, and I loved the creative writing class I took as a sophmore in high school. Throughout my teenage years and early 20s, I was constantly writing in online journals because I love being able to express myself through words on a screen (or even on paper).

Now, at 37 years old, I am a freelance writer on various websites. I am a member of a discussion website that allows you to practically blog for a small payment (spare change, basically, but a great website). I also have several non-work-related blogs for no reason other than the fact that I wanted to blog. Finally, I recently started journaling offline again, as a way to get my thoughts off my chest, but for my eyes only.

I've often said that if I won the lottery tomorrow, I'd still take on my writing orders with my clients, and I'd still run my other blogs for fun. I would get bored otherwise.

Writing as always been a part of me. Being a writer is who I am.

I am not sure where I am going with this blog, or what order my experiences, memories and thoughts will be posted in. It's just a way for me to share my journey as a freelance writer, and as someone who enjoys writing for fun.

Speaking of which, I have an order on Fiverr to work on soon. I hope everyone reading this has a great day! :)

Agreed. Sometimes, I'm so focused on orders on the job board or deadlines, that I forget that I need to take care of myself as well. Remember, you can't pour from an empty cup.

By Top Girl studio.

https://www.instagram.com/topgirl.studio/

Swamped With Work, But Still Swimming.

Just keep swimming? Or just keep writing? ;) It's Sunday, and I don't normally work weekends if I can help it, but I fell a little behind over the week... so here I am. It's okay though. I didn't have anything else planned for the weekend, other than running an errand yesterday, so I'm fine with working today. I'm kind of swamped with work. Here's what's on my plate: - Finishing up a 4,000-word order on a kitchen appliance. I have already written over 2,000 words, so I have no doubt I'll finish it tonight. It's due on Tuesday, but I would rather submit it before the weekend ends. - Completing a 700-word order on home decor/furniture. I've been receiving work from this client at least once or twice a week for several weeks now, so I found my groove with writing it. It's due by 3am (tonight into tomorrow), but I know I'll get it done on time. And that's what's on the agenda today. If you're writing anything this weekend, I hope the gears are turning well! As for me, I need to stop procrastinating and get my work done. :)

“Start writing, no matter what. The water does not flow until the faucet is turned on.”

— Louis L'Amour

I Hope You Have A Great Writing Week!

Hey there, everyone. I wanted to post something besides a reblog, but I’m also too tired to get into past experiences and whatnot with writing. So, I’m simply going to wish you all a great writing week. I hope you meet all your writing goals, but if you don’t, please don’t be hard on yourself. Tomorrow is another day, and there is always next week. I just want you to love what you do and do what you love. Take care, fellow writers! :)

My First Experience On A Writing Website

Aside from online journals and diaries, my first experience on a writing website was Associated Content (later known as Yahoo! Contributor Network). I submitted a few articles here and there in 2009, and in 2010, I decided to start writing and submitting articles to AC/YCN weekly. I’m not going to lie and say that I made a ton of money off those articles. I received upfront payments for a lot of them, as well as monthly payments for article views. What I really received from my time on AC/YCN was (freelance) writing experience. My articles were mainly things such as “Top 5 Toys For Infants” and “5 Craft Ideas For Valentine’s Day” because those were familiar topics for me. My late Father introduced me to “Top X” articles, and I knew of craft projects because I used to work with children. Other topics were local and seasonal, from museums in my area to autumn-themed activities. Even when I moved on from submitting articles for upfront payments to working on other websites, I would still receive a little each month for views, so I thought that was cool. I did try out other websites, such as Triond and Bukisa, but I still preferred Associated Content. Associated Content/Yahoo! Contributor Network has been gone for several years now, but I’m grateful for my time on that website. I feel it helped me to learn and grow as a writer, and I got my feet wet in freelance writing.

Where did you first get your start in freelance writing? If you’re just getting started, keep at it. I know you can gain experience, grow as a writer and reach your goals. :)

Hey, hey, hey, everyone! It's Monday (evening on my end), and a new week is a fresh start. I'm going to work on a few writing orders today, but I don't have any tight deadlines, so yippy-skippy lol!

Regardless of what's on your agenda, I hope it's an amazing writing week for all of you! 😊

Photo Credit: Bellahu123 on Pixabay.