When you tell people you’re a freelancer writer, they immediately make a few assumptions:
I say, fine: Let them think this. Who needs the competition? The truth is, if you’re smart about it, you can make a lot more money working for yourself than working for someone else, and you don’t have to punch a time clock.
Yeah! Now, here are five tips for actually getting some work done.
As writers, many of us love to create, but not on someone else’s schedule.
For me, I get random bursts of inspiration at the strangest hours. Often in the middle of the night I can pump out some really thought provoking work.
But here’s the problem: If you’re a professional writer, you’re expected to finish each writing project on a given schedule.
I have rarely met a writer that can bang out excellent content, on schedule, all the time.
So the real question is this: How do you force yourself to regularly produce high quality written work?
If an alien were to look down from outer space and analyze the hierarchy of animals on the earth, who would be at the top: humans or dogs?
Think about it.
We bathe and groom them. We rub and scratch them. We supply them with food and water. In return, all they do is smile and wag.
Who’s really in charge?
When it comes to writing and other creative work, time management is crucial. For example, I have a certain writing “zone” when I can get the words out, and if I miss it, the day is pretty much shot as far as writing goes.
I just finished reading Time Management for Creative People, a free ebook released by writer and creativity coach Mark McGuinness. It’s a really well done 32-page download that provides practical time management and productivity tips tailored specifically for those performing creative work.
You can get your own free copy at Mark’s blog, grab the PDF directly, or read it online.
When it comes to the things that keep us from writing, you’ll see the usual villains pop up. Lack of time is a big one, as are the various other life distractions that take us away from the keyboard.
But based on my personal experience, there’s a nasty demon hiding behind the excuses we make. This four-letter word represents a condition we don’t like to admit to ourselves, much less utter in polite conversation.
Yep, it’s the “F” word.
Fear.
Are you burdened by the copywriter’s curse?
Many a copywriter is hindered with a trait that damages productivity and constrains our ultimate earning potential. We here at Copyblogger may actually be guilty of agitating this problem for you.
See if you recognize any of these seven symptoms in yourself:
