by Susan Lovett | Oct 9, 2018 | Blog, Freelancing, Writing Career |
I’m in the last days of polishing my manuscript and am gearing up to jump into research for my next one. It’s been a long haul for this manuscript. I love the characters and story, but struggled with the usual things—self-doubt, length, setting, how to transfer the story I had in my head to paper, getting it right. Writing is never an easy process. We fling words on a page and then rearrange them until they feel right. Sometimes it takes no time at all and other times it takes what seems a lifetime. In the end, all that matters is that we finish.
by Susan Lovett | Feb 13, 2018 | Blog, Business Advice, Freelancing, Writing, Writing Career |
It is conventional wisdom in the industry that all writers need a platform to succeed. While this isn’t necessarily the case, it is something that most writers will need to understand. The problem with this concept is that it suggests that having a platform is the most important part of publishing and it is not.
by Susan Lovett | Jan 23, 2018 | Blog, Business Advice, Freelancing, Writing Career |
Last week we talked about what being previously published means. This week we’re looking at options for work that falls into that category and your options for moving forward.
by Susan Lovett | Jan 16, 2018 | A Writer's Life, Blog, Business Advice, Freelancing, Writing, Writing Career |
You want to get your work out there. You want to gain an audience. You want to build a platform. And so you post. It’s so easy. There are countless platforms and opportunities from personal blogs and websites to sharing sites, like Wattpad, not to mention digital media outlets. The problem is reckless posting can undermine your ultimate goal.
by Susan Lovett | Aug 15, 2017 | Blog, Business Advice, Freelancing, Writing Career |
Blogging is fun. I love writing my blog. But it is more than that. It’s a commitment to my readers and my industry. It’s a commitment I take seriously.
Writing a blog takes discipline. You owe your readers consistently good content that can be found on a regular basis. As a working writer, it’s not always easy to honor that commitment. Life gets in the way, which is why discipline matters. It helps to be organized too.
by Susan Lovett | Aug 8, 2017 | Blog, Freelancing, Writing, Writing Career |
Writers write. It’s what we do. These days the easiest way to do that is to write a blog. Most writers have one. Some use it to post news and updates on their work. Others write about their families and lives. Then there are those, like me, who write about writing, which makes sense since writing is my passion. It’s also a great way to give back to the industry and share what I know while meeting other writers and writers in training.
by Susan Lovett | Jul 25, 2017 | Blog, Business Advice, Freelancing, Writing Career |
No matter what you write, earning money from your writing means you are running a business. If you want to be serious about having a writing career, one that will allow you to pay your mortgage and eat, then you need to know what you are getting into and plan accordingly. Here are 15 tips for setting up a professional freelance writing business.
by Susan Lovett | Jul 18, 2017 | Blog, Freelancing, Writing Career |
Through the years, I’ve known a lot of people who were freelance writers. Some of them did it on the side and others wrote for a living. The big difference between the two groups was how they approached the work. The ones looking at it as extra money, typically didn’t approach it like a business. It was just a part-time gig that brought in a bit of extra cash. It was not how they paid the mortgage or put food on the table.
by Susan Lovett | Jul 11, 2017 | Blog, Business Advice, Freelancing, Writing Career |
Working with an editor is like any other business relationship. It requires professionalism and courtesy. Never forget that writing is a business. Just as you would hire a lawyer to negotiate your contracts, you need an editor to publish your work. They are there to partner with you to create something better.
by Susan Lovett | Jul 5, 2017 | Blog, Freelancing, Writing Career |
The traditional view of a freelance writer is someone who spends her day querying magazines and writing articles and many do. But the majority of independent writers earn their money through client work. It’s more consistent and offers more opportunity than the magazine market.
by Susan Lovett | Jun 20, 2017 | Blog, Freelancing, Writing Career |
There are those in freelance writing who advocate (loudly, I might add) to choose a niche and stick to it if you want to make money. I get it. It’s easier to market yourself if you have a specialty. But being a freelance writer should be about more than the money. It should be about the writing. Choosing a niche is not always the best option.
by Susan Lovett | May 23, 2017 | Blog, Freelancing, Writing Career |
Oh, the dreams are big. Quit your job. Write all day. Make a living in your PJs, working your own hours. It’s so romantic. So appealing. The image of the writer is part of why so many people want to embrace the life of a freelance writer or novelist.
