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Productivity Tips: How One Pro Cranks Out 2 Novels a Year

Posted by: Editor — 15 Comments ↓

Productivity Tips for Writers From a Pro Novelist. Makealivingwriting.com

Ever wonder what productivity tips help some writers crank out a ton of content?

You know…maybe it seems like it takes you forever to write a blog post, an article, or a letter of introduction.

And while you’re struggling, there seems to be other writers who keep churning out great content…and making more money. Yes?

So what’s the secret? Is there some mysterious book of productivity tips you haven’t heard about? Or some sinister plot to keep those secrets hidden from freelancers trying to move up and earn more?

If the thought has crossed your mind, you’re not alone.

So what if you could peek inside the mind of a highly-productive writer and learn their productivity tips for success?

You might see your own journey as a freelancer a little differently. Maybe even shed some old habits, change the story you’re telling yourself, and get more work done.

Looking for productivity tips? Here’s how one freelance writer cranks out two novels a year, publishes a weekly newsletter, and inspires hope for freelance writers everywhere…

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Getting Ghosted? Use This Writer’s Script to Break the Silence

Posted by: Editor — 5 Comments ↓

Getting Ghosted? Use This Writer's Script. Makealivingwriting.com

Getting ghosted by freelance writing prospects?

It happens. And it’s happening a lot more during the COVID-19 craziness.

Some businesses have closed or downsized. Editors and marketing directors are scrambling to adjust to a different publishing environment.

And even without a pandemic in process, there’s a million other reasons you might be getting ghosted by a prospect that sounded promising.

What can you do if a hot prospect goes quiet? How do you follow up without sounding desperate or pushy? The right answers to these questions can turn dead ends into paying gigs.

Ghosting happens to everyone, even to top-earning freelance writers. Ever experienced a scenario like this? You land a discovery call with a solid prospect. You listen and ask pro questions and have a great conversation. You get off the call, send a budget-friendly proposal, and…crickets.

For the next two weeks you tell yourself patience is a virtue. You stay busy with other work and regular marketing. But you can’t stop thinking about getting ghosted.

Want to know how to handle getting ghosted? Here’s the script to break the silence.

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Freelance Writing Jobs: 39 Online Magazines That Pay $100+

Posted by: Editor — 16 Comments ↓

Freelance Writing Jobs for Online Magazines. Makealivingwriting.com.

Wondering where to find your next freelance writing jobs during COVID-19 craziness?

You’re not the only one. It’s a volatile time for almost everybody. But businesses, magazines, and digital publications still have freelance writing jobs they need to fill.

In many niches, the demand for well-written articles and writers who know how to dig up solid research, interview sources, and hit tight deadlines is even greater than pre-pandemic.

How do you get some of that work? There’s an old-school skill that works in any economic environment. Pitch great story ideas to editors.

And if you don’t get a response right away…keep going. Just about every editor is scrambling to fill their editorial calendars right now.

Show up in their inbox with a fresh idea, and you’re a lot more likely to land an assignment than if you sit back and do nothing until “things get better.” Make sense? Good.

To save you some time, we’ve compiled a list of 43 digital magazines you can pitch right now. Check out the list and get to work.

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LinkedIn Marketing: A Freelancer’s 17 Creative Tweaks to Get Leads

Posted by: Editor — 17 Comments ↓

LinkedIn Marketing: Creative Tweaks to Get Leads. Makealivingwriting.com

Ever wonder how to leverage LinkedIn marketing to get freelance leads?

Yes. Businesses are still hiring. Companies still need content. And if you’re showing up on LinkedIn, you’re one step closer to connecting with prospects and landing assignments.

Not convinced this social media and business networking platform is worth your time?

Consider this…With more than 500 million members, LinkedIn is one of the best platforms for getting your name in front of millions of professionals who need freelance writers, or can refer you to someone who does.

Got your attention?

When I got fed up with spaghetti-at-the-wall marketing tactics, and trying to figure out how to show up on a long list of social media platforms, I decided to simplify and focus my efforts on LinkedIn marketing.

With a few creative tweaks you can use LinkedIn to grow your freelance writing business. Here’s how:

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Quit Your Job to Freelance? A Teacher’s 5 Sink-or-Swim Moves

Posted by: Evan Jensen — 16 Comments ↓

Quit Your Job to Freelance? Here's the Plan. Makealivingwriting.com

If you’ve been thinking about ways to quit your job and freelance full time, you’re not alone.

There’s a lot of unknowns right now. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a little more control over your income, your schedule, and your life?

When you’re a freelancer, you’re not at the mercy of a global pandemic, a hard-to-work-with manager, or the day-to-day drudgery of work you hate.

You make the rules. You’re the boss. Your schedule, your workload, and your income depends on you.

If you’re thinking about this, chances are pretty good you’ve got questions:

Do you have what it takes? Can you get freelance writing clients? Will you be able to pay your bills and do meaningful work?

The answer: Yes, you can. I quit my job as a mid-career teacher to be a freelancer. But instead of taking the side-hustle-for-years route, I decided to go with the sink-or-swim approach.

Ready to quit your job to be a freelance writer? Here’s what you need to know:

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Content Strategy: A Vital 6-Point Quiz from a Six-Figure Freelancer

Posted by: Editor — 5 Comments ↓

The Content Strategy Quiz for Freelancers. Makealivingwriting.com

Are you staying up into the wee hours of the morning trying to finish projects? Or wide awake worrying about money, content strategy, deadlines, or your empty client calendar?

That was me. And I realized pretty quickly that focusing on finding the perfect number of clients (Is six the perfect number? Or is it eight?) wasn’t the answer.

Maybe you know the feeling. Or maybe you struggle with getting even one good-paying client.

I’ve been there. I know what it’s like. But five years ago, I broke the six-figure mark for the first time by landing some better anchor clients. And I’ve earned over $100K every year since then.

But it was still a hustle. I was working too much, and I wasn’t sure how to change that. And then out of the blue one of my clients asked me a question:

“Jennifer, can you help us with content strategy?” What happened next changed everything…my income…my work hours…and my happiness with being a full-time freelancer.

What’s content strategy, and can you do this type of freelance work? Take the quiz to find out.

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