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One question I hear over and over again from the writing students I
coach is, "How do I get focused and stay that way?"
That's a good question. Even seasoned professional freelancers have
trouble staying focused from time to time. And they usually find
their writing careers start to suffer when that happens.
Here are some tips for getting focused on developing your freelance
writing career and staying that way:
1. Brainstorm for a few minutes and make a list of all the things
you like to write about. Once you've got several things on your
list, narrow the list down to just your top two areas of interest.
Stick with these two areas or topics for awhile. Any writing or
research activities that don't come within these two areas of focus
should be set aside - for now.
2. Every Sunday evening, or Monday morning, sketch out your
marketing plan for the week. And remember, keep your two areas of
interest in mind when you do this. Only put things on your marketing
plan for the week that relate to your two areas of interest. If
you've decided you love to write about parenting, for example, but
you'd like to finish that novel you started years ago, don't even
think about the novel right now. Instead, focus on the kinds of
parenting articles you want to write. Start studying the different
parenting publications you find at your local bookstore or library
to get a feel for the kinds of articles they publish. Then, get busy
and write some queries to a few of these markets.
3. Start small. Make just a few simple changes in your life that
give your writing priority. For example, if you're trying to develop
a freelance career while still holding down a full time job, don't
overwork yourself. You'll only end up frustrated and disappointed.
However, do plan on structuring your days to give yourself at least
15 to 30 minutes EACH day to write queries or articles, research
markets, or study books about writing techniques. Too many people
think they have to allocate huge amounts of time in order to get a
writing career started. And, since they don't have huge amounts of
time available for writing, they don't write at all, so they never
develop the freelance writing career of their dreams.
However, if you decide you absolutely MUST write for at least 15
minutes, every single day, and you stick to that, soon you'll see
some big improvements in your writing and you'll also begin to feel
more in control of your life. It doesn't matter when you schedule
the 15 to 30 minutes. It could be in the mornings, in the evenings,
or on your lunch hour at work. The important thing is, just do it.
4. Part of your weekly marketing plan should include how you will
network with other businesses and other writers each week. Don't
neglect this part of the marketing plan. Even if the only way you
network with other writers is through a listserv or private email
with another writer, make sure you do this each and every week.
Contact with other writers will keep your passion for writing alive,
even when the pressures of work and family threaten to make you lose
focus. And networking with other business people just might result
in a few writing assignments.
5. Have fun with your writing. Don't turn it into just another
chore. If you do, chances are you'll give up on the idea of
freelance writing very quickly. And, if that happens, you'll just
feel disappointed in yourself again for failing to follow through on
your dream.
Try all of the above tips for awhile. Then - if you find you can't
manage to stay focused, or develop a marketing plan each and every
week, or actually write queries or articles to submit to publishers
- hire a writing coach. A good coach can keep you focused, will help
you improve your writing skills, and will teach you insider tricks
to marketing your work.
About The Author
Suzanne Lieurance is a freelance writer, children's author, and "the
working writer's coach." Visit her website at
http://www.suzannelieurance.com to find out how to get her two
free e-books for writers, or check out her blog at
http://www.the-working-writers-coach.blogspot.com for more
coaching tips and learn how to get your free copy of 'The Working
Writers Marketing Plan'.
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