Tweet photo by: Tomm (hmm at Rosa tint) Over the past 3 months I’ve learned more as a freelance writer, than I ever did working in a cubicle. Learning things that I’m passionate about is fun and so I’ve been absorbing everything around me, attempting to learn as much about the freelance writing world as I can. From months of reading, writing and learning, I’ve compiled a list of resources that has helped me and will hopefully help you, get a head-start on becoming a successful freelance writer.
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Tweet photo by: HarryAlverson It’s time to say goodbye to October and hello to November! My how time flies. One of my past co-workers shot me an email, giving me an update on his life. Since I left the corporate world about three months ago, he happily received a promotion. That got me thinking-what have I been up to since then?
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Tweet Photo by: TCM Hitchhiker Sometimes the word writer and monster feels like one and the same. You’re all alone. People think you’re weird-at least you think they think you’re weird. You spend all of your time holed up researching online, in the library, reading at cafes. You send out letters asking people for work like a desperate fiend needing his next fix. Most of the time you wonder if, like Shrek, you’re the only monster in the woods. Is there anyone else out there going through the same things as you?
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Tweet Photo by: Vicki’s Pics Sherri Shepherd has a book coming out entitled, “Permission Slips.” If I had a book coming out, I’d call it, “Rejection Slips.” I’m sure every writer gets them. Those standard letters or brief emails that says, “Sorry the position is filled. We liked you but…” So close, and yet so far. How do you keep querying, writing, and pursuing your dream as a freelance writer, when you keep getting those heartbreaking slips?
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Tweet In elementary school, we had to write a journal article entitled, “What is my worst habit.” I cringed when I reread it, crossing my fingers that I didn’t declare something utterly embarrassing. When I read “nail biter,” I thought “guess not much has changed.” Although I have been known to grow these nails long enough to get a mani pedi once in awhile, I did choose a nail biter of a career so my habit is understandable. What is it about writing that makes me bite the tips of my poor fingernails?
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Tweet 1. That you need be thick-skinned to handle a mind-blowing number of rejections but be thin-skinned enough to be an observant, sensitive, intuitive and honest writer. 2. Publishers can get away with a lot like promising to pay you and then suddenly disappearing into thin air. 3. That you need to have an insane amount of faith (comparable to the number of rejections you receive). 4. That this would be the best and yet the hardest job of my life. I’m talking 10 hrs a night and weekends. 5. That you need to be good at everything (marketing, accounting,…