Strive for the Best and Shine through Tough Times

Every writer’s site I have gone to recently has been discussing grammar or lack of it and generally poor writing appearing throughout the web. After all, there are more freelance writers on board these days due to the appearance of numerous ads stating one can earn money easily by writing. Well meaning friends and relatives will say, “well you do it; how difficult can it be, so why can’t I?“

Don’t discourage them but instead let them in on the secret that writing is a full time job. Yes, you can work your own hours but there is much responsibility to writing if you want to earn a living.

Freelance writing takes time for factual research, coming up with unique ideas and the dreaded edits. Everything has been said already, so writing becomes a matter of expanding a flow of words that speaks your true inner voice. Every day you will be job hunting and composing effective cover letters and clips in order to secure another new writing job.

The web may be the instigator of poor writing skills and undervaluing writers. I read recently that approximately 150,000 articles are needed per day. The good news is that there will always be plenty of work for all of us. The bad news is that under-bidders who either spin existing article or have poorer writing skills are getting through and clients do not seem to care. Personally I believe this to be a temporary setback for writers who do widen their knowledge and training.

Many of these a articles appear to be based on rich SEO content with clients wanting the same key words plastered 20 times in a 200 word blurb in some cases. Talk about redundancy! So besides complaints of grammatical problems, what many are finding is the writing is beginning to become boring.

What is written without effort is in general read without pleasure - Samuel Johnson

Boring sites mean fewer hits and less income for those who own them. Perhaps those who hire will now realize that quality work will always reign.

We all started out as novices but cultivated our craft, while taking pride in our work as it improved. We are open to learn from others and continue to do so, probably to our last typed sentence.

Developing your craft will always be a continual objective; write everyday, brush up on your vocabulary and grammar and add that little extra that comes from deep inside you that sets you apart from the rest.

Begin as a Part-time Writer

Since the popularity of the Internet, more and more people are venturing into professional writing. The great news is there are numerous opportunities abound, even for a novice writer. For many of these novices, undertaking writing can gradually lead to a part-time business while they still maintaining a day job. This makes sense given the economic downturn right now.

Writing should be a contrast from the drudgery of the “day job,” but there can be set backs with part-time writing.

The number one culprit is “burn out.” In fact, many part-time freelancers never make it past a few on-line or print gigs, without throwing in the towel. A budding writer with the potential to make the transition to a full-time time writer can be easily discouraged.

There is no denying that set backs can happen even for full time writers. As a new part-time freelance writer on the block, take note of these tips to assure you do not get used up before you even begin.

• Begin your part time writing with one of the on-line writing sites. Not only can your earn some money but can gain knowledge and build a portfolio.

• Find where to look for work as you gain more experience. Several freelance writing blogs have job listings each day. Set some time to go through these listings, apply and make sure your cover letter is error free. You are presenting you and your talent.

• Rushing into the world of writing too fast only to make a quick buck never works. Quality work is always better than quantity. Trying to do twenty articles a day is exhaustion and you want to have a steady clientele.

• Remember you are a professional writer first in a legitimate business. Set aside a dedicated area to write in, free from distraction.

• Invest in your craft by making sure you have all the proper and powerful equipment and software for your freelance writing business.

• Join some social networking sites. Get to know other freelance writers with sites such as LinkedIn, Twitter and Hack Writers Guild. A circle of peers who share valuable tips will never let you feel as though you are alone.

• Never on Sunday or whatever day you choose. Having both a day job and a part-time freelancing can take away from your personal life. Schedule a day or time frame to chill out; otherwise you will resent being a freelance writer.

• Monitor of your successes. Keeping a log of successful projects completed is an important task for the beginning freelancer. Not only this record encourage you when you feel discouraged, but will form the basis for your professional portfolio.

The rest is up to you. A transition may take place for you to become a full time freelance writer.