Writing with a buddy – getting the most from your relationship

New freelance writers often choose to write with a buddy, and this is a good idea, because until you’re selling your writing, you don’t have anyone else to crack the whip.

Here are a couple of tips to help you and your buddy get the most from your relationship.

Be clear about what you want when you send each other writing for comment and/ or critique

Writing is a process. It’s not appropriate to do a line edit on a first draft, because whole sections of the article or chapters of a novel may be junked in a later draft. So if you’re asking for a critique of a first draft tell your buddy what you want – it may be input on the ideas and structure, for example.

Focus on six-month and yearly goals

Work out where you want to be in six months. How many sales do you want to have made? Create another projection for 12 months.

Make these projections detailed – be precise. List the magazines, clients, Web sites etc for which you want to work. You’ll be amazed at how much being specific helps.

For example, I once desperately wanted to write for a particular women’s magazine. I loved the magazine, and read it from cover to cover every month. I sent the editor a query or two each month. I was determined to land a steady writing gig with this magazine, and it featured in my six-months’ goals.

Although I never did write for that particular magazine, the editor called me one day just to talk. She’d sent my latest query to a new magazine startup, and said the editor would call. The new editor did, and we worked happily together for several years.

So always be specific: you may not get precisely what you’re aiming at: you’ll often achieve something much better.

Enjoy writing with a buddy. Writing’s lonely when you’re starting out, and sharing your enthusiasm with a buddy helps you both and will propel you to success.

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