Fab Freelance Writing Blog

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Want to sell your writing? You need a writing checklist. Many writers, both new and experienced, get ideas and start writing, but then get stuck. When you have a checklist, you know exactly what you’re writing, and you eliminate procrastination.

Here’s a simple checklist of tasks which will help you to sell your writing:

1. Is there a market for this article/ book/ screenplay? List the markets

Start by asking yourself what the market is for this piece of writing. Who will buy it? Write down as many potential markets as you can think of.

2. Create a timeline for completion: enter the tasks into your calendar

This step is vital. Enter the tasks of the checklist into your calendar: schedule the time for them. Then, when the time you’ve blocked out for the task comes, sit down and write.

Training yourself to sit down and write when it’s time to write is vital. Refuse to allow yourself to procrastinate, and within weeks, writing when you sit down to write will become a habit.

3. Pre-write - you can only keep five to nine pieces of information in your head at a time

Your next step is to “pre-write.” Pre-writing can include brainstorming, free writing (when you write for five to ten minutes without lifting your pen from the page), and creating mind maps.

Don’t skip or skimp on pre-writing. Memory theory holds that you can only keep five to nine pieces of information in your working memory at a time.

Pre-writing mines your memory for relevant thoughts and ideas. Not only does it make writing easier, it also helps you to write more effectively.

4. Question: what additional information do you need?

If you need additional information, now’s the time to research. Never make your research open-ended. Write down what you need to know, and find the information, whether it’s by researching online, or interviewing people.

5. Write a fast first draft

Write your first draft as fast as you can. Your aim here is just to write - forget about quality. If you need more information, just type “XXX” to mark the spot, and keep writing.

6. Write a query letter (if necessary)

If you’re writing an article for a print publication or are writing a book, you’ll need to write a query letter (also known as a proposal.) Write it now.

7. Revision - slash and burn, rewrite

Revise. Cut material, add material. At this stage, you’re not tinkering with word choices. Revision means to “re-view” to look at your material again.

8. Final draft

Write the final draft.

There you have it. An eight-point checklist which will help you both to think like a writer, and to sell your writing.

Are you making enough money writing?

Or is your writing just a hobby, costing you more in computers, Internet connection fees and writing supplies than you’re earning?

The Secret, Unlimited Market For Your Writing Which Generates A Fantastic Writing Income

I’ll let you in to a secret. The top earners in writing are copywriters. That is, commercial writers – they write for businesses. (Writing for business is known as copywriting.)

Discover how you can become a top-earning copywriter, making a six-figure income, with “Seven Days To Easy Money: Copywriting Success”.

Technorati Tags: writing, writing process, writing tips, writing skills, freelance writing, creativity, prewriting

The more time and energy you devote to promoting your freelance writing business the more successful you will be.

Unfortunately, many otherwise competent writers give up marketing their writing just after they’ve made a good start. They fail to understand that marketing is cumulative.

What does “cumulative” mean? It means that the first time someone hears your name they’ll forget it. By the seventh time, they may remember your name, but chances are they won’t need your services. If they hear your name 100 times, not only will they remember it, but they’ll remember it when they NEED you.

There’s nothing complex about this - it’s strictly a numbers game. If you understand this, you’ll become a successful marketer of your services, AND a successful writer, because if you’re a success at marketing, you’ll get more and better writing opportunities.

Article marketing is a great way to promote your freelance writing services. I’ve just posted “Article Marketing Checklist” on Writing Hacker, which will help you.

Get Copywriting Clients In Seven Days

You can earn $250 an hour as an in-demand copywriter…

My ebook/ course “Seven Days To Easy Money: Copywriting Success” has been taking the mystery out of copywriting for new copywriters for five years.

I love it when writers call me and say “I got a client!” or “I’m booked solid for three months” – I expect that, so it’s very satisfying.

The fact is – if you can write copy, you can write your own ticket. You WILL get clients, you WILL make as much money as you want to make. Copywriting is a necessity for every business. In just a week, your life can change.

“Seven Days To Easy Money: Copywriting Success” is your key a great lifestyle and security for you and your family - start building a wonderful, exciting career today.

Technorati Tags: article marketing, articles, ezine articles, article, marketing, Internet marketing, search engine marketing, marketing strategies, web marketing

The world of writing - journalism, traditional book publishing, and freelance writing - is changing fast.

Here in Australia, this week brought the sad demise of The Bulletin magazine, a quality news magazine that’s been published for 128 years. As a very young writer, my ambition was to be published in The Bulletin.

Newspapers and magazines are not what they once were, and it’s sad.

TechCrunch’s article “If “Real Journalism” Fails As A Business, Should Government Step In?” notes:

The chart to the right, which shows the stock price of the New York Times Company over the last five years, is somewhat representative of the state of print journalism in general. They’re getting their lunch eaten on the revenue end by Craigslist and (to a lesser extent) on the page view end by blogs and other alternative news sources.

What does this mean to you as a freelance writer?

Essentially it means that you need to be aware of what’s happening, and plan for rapid change.

Discover:

* Writing for the Web - the Web and the online world is the future of freelance writing;

* Learn about tools like blogging - blogging is instant publishing. You can take your words directly to readers via blogs. This makes blogging the ultimate freedom;

* Ebooks - again, you’re taking your words directly to readers.

You’re a freelance writer and an entrepreneur, with unlimited opportunities

Traditionally writers depended on others to get their words to readers. That’s no longer the case. The “others” are fighting for their lives.

Ready or not, freelance writers are entrepreneurs. If you embrace your creative freedom, there are unlimited opportunities open to you.

PLR content is just one of those many opportunities.

Discover Private Label Rights (PLR) , a sizzling HOT new way to make money as a writer

The basic idea of PLR content is that it’s content which is sold to people to edit, mash up, or use directly on their Web sites. PLR content may be articles, ebooks, reports, or even audio. It’s CONTENT - stuff for Web sites - in its generic form.

If you can write ten PLR articles in a week, you can make $4000 a week

Sounds weird, but it’s true. Many writers are already cashing in on PLR, and you can too.

“Instant PLR Author: Make Money Writing Private Label Rights Products” shows you how.

Technorati Tags: writing, freelance writing, marketing, markets