Blog Archives

Need a Vacation? Escape-Planning Tips for Freelance Writers

Posted by: Evan Jensen — Be the first to comment ↓

Vacation Planning for Freelance Writers. Makealivingwriting.com

Are you one of those freelance writers hustling every day to meet your deadlines, write great copy, and keep your clients happy?

That’s a good thing…unless you never take a break.

If you had a day job, you’d probably get at least two weeks of paid vacation a year. You know, you put in a request for your days off, catch a plane to Hawaii, and leave work behind.

But it’s not quite that simple for freelance writers. You’re the boss. You’re running your own business. You have client deadlines, marketing, administrative stuff to take care of.

If you’re always hustling just trying to keep up, you might think you don’t have time for a vacation. But that’s just ridiculous.

One of the perks freelance writers should enjoy is being in control of your own schedule.

If you don’t take time to relax, chill out, and recharge, it’s going to take a toll on your productivity, creative mojo, and happiness.

Need a vacation? Check out these tips from freelance writers to create your own escape plan.

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Writing Jobs From Hell Contest: Share Your Worst Client Horror Stories

Posted by: Evan Jensen — 28 Comments ↓

Writing Jobs From Hell Contest. Makealivingwriting.com

Ever had one of those writing jobs that made you want to vomit, smash something with a hammer, or scream profanities into a pillow?

It happens. Just about every freelance writer has at least one horror story to tell about terrible clients, deranged editors, ever-changing demands, slave-labor wages, or maybe even no payment at all.

What’s one of your worst writing jobs?

If your blood pressure is on the rise just thinking about it, hopefully you learned a thing or two from the experience. You know what I mean: Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

If you do your part to find great clients, you’re a lot less likely to work with the kind of crazy-making clients that give you nightmares months after you severed ties and swore off working for them ever again.

But before you cut up that worst-writing-job assignment into tiny little pieces, douse it in gasoline, and laugh maniacally as it burns to ashes, we want to hear about it.

Share your worst client horror story for a chance to win. Here’s what you need to know about the “writing jobs from hell” contest:

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You Hungry? The Double-Your-Income Diet for Freelance Writers

Posted by: Evan Jensen — Be the first to comment ↓

Double-Your-Income Diet for Freelance Writers. Makealivingwriting.com

Ever wonder how some freelance writers move up, earn more, and even pass the six-figure income mark?

It’s a lot like watching late-night infomercials wondering what the secret is to those weight-loss transformations. How do they do it?

Here’s a hint. For most people who lose weight and keep it off, there is no secret. It’s hard work, healthy eating, smart habits, and consistently following a proven plan that gets results.

And if you want to be one of those freelance writers, you can.

  • Weigh in and take a look at your freelance writing business
  • Throw away junk clients
  • Replace procrastination, self-doubt, and fear with taking action
  • Model the habits of successful freelance writers
  • Commit to being successful, no matter how long it takes

Want to know how to claw your way out of the content mills, make more money, write for national magazines, land $1/word assignments, or be a six-figure freelancer?

Take a closer look at these double-your-income diet tips for freelance writers:

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Grammar Rules for Freelancers: An English Teacher’s Dirty Little Secret

Posted by: Evan Jensen — 44 Comments ↓

The Dirty Little Secret About Grammar Rules

Do you ever feel conflicted about grammar rules?

I do. When I teach university English and when I write for freelance clients.

I’m torn between the need to follow all the grammar rules taught in school, and the need to break them. It’s like I’m living a double life.

On one hand, it feels like being a concert violinist, sitting stiffly in a black tuxedo on a black metal chair, violin wedged against a black bowtie, playing full concertos in the key of E minor. It’s lovely…

But I’d rather be down at the pub. Fiddling hornpipes, reels, and jigs. Stomping my foot. Jammin’ with mates on guitar. Mandolin. And whistle.

Expressive. Emotional. And free.

But if you’re always stuck on grammar rules that hold you back, you’ll never be that kind of freelance writer.

I may be a university English teacher, but if you want to be a better freelance writer, you need to know this dirty little secret about grammar rules:

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Digital Marketing Agencies: 11 Places to Land Well-Paid Freelance Work

Posted by: Evan Jensen — 15 Comments ↓

Digital Marketing Agencies for Freelance Writers. Makealivingwriting.com

Can you make money writing for digital marketing agencies?

Yes. How about easy $100 assignments, $400 blog posts, or $1,000 long-form projects, and plenty of ongoing work?

Find a good digital marketing agency to work with, and it’s totally possible.

In theory, here’s how it works:

  • A digital marketing agency does all the heavy lifting to find clients in your niche.
  • Then the digital marketing agency hires you to write content for their clients…blog posts, white papers, case studies, website content, marketing materials, etc.

Sounds pretty good, right? All you need to do is find some digital marketing agencies, and you’re set. Lots of work, less marketing, steady pay.

Hold on…Some digital marketing agencies have a track record for paying writers respectable rates. But some are nothing more than low-paying content mills disguised as a digital marketing agency, and we want you to avoid those.

Want to write for a digital marketing agency? Check out these freelance writer recommendations:

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The Unexpected Path to Becoming a Six-Figure Freelance Writer

Posted by: Evan Jensen — 3 Comments ↓

Follow the Six-Figure Freelance Writer Path. Makealivingwriting.com

Ever wonder if there’s a well-trodden path to being a six-figure freelance writer?

You know…a step-by-step plan, without any twists and turns, that leads you straight to that sought-after income goal for a lot of freelance writers.

If you’re just starting out or you’ve been a freelance writer for some time, you’ve probably experienced the ups and downs of freelancing. It’s part of the gig.

So how do you get to be a six-figure freelance writer?

Here’s the thing. There’s more than one way to get there. Everybody’s path is a little different.

In fact, one freelancer almost gave up on writing for a living to teach English in Asia. And then unexpectedly found her way back.

At first it was a rough and winding road that included a stint on food stamps. But she hustled. She worked hard. She got some help along the way. Last year she broke the six-figure mark as a freelance writer. And so can you.

Want to be a six-figure freelance writer? The path is this way…

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