Category: Support

These posts provide stories–famous authors, community members, my personal experiences–and quotes which are supposed to encourage writers to keep going, even when they feel that they can’t write another word.

Freelancer Tip: Don’t Rush Book Reviews

From a business perspective, it’s a good idea to keep tabs on the competition. In freelance book reviews, there’s not so much a sense of “competition.” Each reviewer brings a new perspective and reaches a different audience, so overlapping business is not uncommon. I encourage it, considering the exposure such a wide reach would give the book. Nevertheless, it’s still a good idea to watch other reviewers for a grasp on fair prices, time frames, etc. From a cursory look on Fiverr, I’ve noticed an unsettling pattern that could affect the quality of reviews. This pattern has led to a freelancer tip which I want to share with my readers: don’t rush book reviews.

I’ve noticed more than a handful of book review gigs on Fiverr which promise a one- or two-day delivery time. Mind you, not all of them; I’ve seen time frames as long as twenty days, which is perfectly acceptable given all the effort that should go into a decent book review. That’s actually the bone I have to pick with the one- and two-day book review gigs, or reviews for any product or service, for that matter.

With some products and services, specifically ones which are a one-time use, you can write a great review in one or two days if the stars align and you’re able to receive the product or book the service quickly. Books, however, are not one of those products. I’ve found that most books submitted for reviews are not a one- or two-day read. When I do get such short books, life ends up getting in the way and it takes a few days after the gig is ordered for me to have the time to read it, and that’s when I don’t have any other review or editing gigs.

Most freelance reviewers are also writers in their own right, whether they’re fiction writers, poets, playwrights/screenwriters, biographers, essayists, journalists, or bloggers. Then there’s the fact that most reviewers have day jobs to fund their writing with reviews and other freelance work as side gigs. They also have family and friends that require attention, chores that need to be done, food that needs to be eaten, and sleep that needs to be caught. Some, such as myself, are working for their Bachelor’s or Master’s degree, which leaves even less time in the day.


Image retrieved from IPWatchDog

How do some of these Fiverr reviewers get the books read and reviewed in one or two days? I honestly don’t know. Most receive fairly positive feedback from their customers, so they must have either found a way to handle it all or they’ve found a way to fake it.

That’s the problem with a one- or two-day book review gig. You can never be certain that the reviews will be high-quality or that they will even read your book before reviewing it. For all the author knows, the reviewer may have just skimmed the book for important details and pulled together some puff piece that, while it will look appealing to readers, may not be trustworthy.

I’m not trying to rip apart those who have such short delivery times. As I said, some people really can handle such a quick turnaround and feedback from customers usually reflect that. However, as both a reader and a writer, I’m suspicious of such quick reviews and would probably choose someone with good reviews and a longer delivery time. At least then I can feel comfortable that my book was actually read and given the time and effort it deserves.

My ultimate tip, then, is this: choose quality over speed, both in what you deliver and what you pay for. Slower delivery times are annoying, but at least you have a better chance of your work getting the attention it deserves, no matter how many other projects or how tumultuous a life the reviewer has at that moment.

Are you a freelancer–writer, editor, reviewer, whatever–with tips to share? Leave them in the comments below or contact me at thewritersscrapbin@gmail.com for a chance to have your wisdom featured in a future post.

Also, if you are looking for an editor, writer, or book reviewer, feel free to contact me at thewritersscrapbin@gmail.com or look me up on Fiverr.

 


Designed by Stephanie Hoogstad circa 2011

Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night by Dylan Thomas

I’m in a sombre mood today. First thing this morning, I discovered that my feisty, beloved cat, Hunter, had passed away. I had him for over eighteen years and he was almost nineteen years old. He was old, sick, and in pain but it still hurts that he’s gone. As with most people, my pets are my family and losing them has not gotten any easier over the years, even when they die of old age. Anyway, I’m not up for writing a full-blown post today but I figured I could still share a good poem with you: “Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night” by Dylan Thomas.

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

–Dylan Thomas, retrieved from poets.org


R.I.P. Hunter

Friend, Family Member, World’s Craziest Cat

While I lost a four-legged family member rather than a two-legged one, I still thought Thomas’s poem appropriate given my feelings about the situation. I don’t have any deep thoughts or analysis regarding the work right now, but hopefully it will resonate with anyone who has lost a loved one, either human or animal.

I’ll try and bring you a more uplifting–or at least not depressing–post next time. For now, I will leave you to rage against the dying of the light.

 


Designed by Stephanie Hoogstad circa 2011

Writing and the Persistence of Eye Strain

In an average week, I read over 200 pages. During my busiest weeks, that number can easily reach 1,000. Schoolwork, editing jobs, book reviews, and reading for this blog–not to mention reading for fun–can really add up. I shouldn’t complain; reading is, after all, one of my favorite things to do and I love my work and education. Still, there is one huge side effect common to all writers and avid readers, one which can hinder our writing and reading pursuits, if not put a stop to them: eye strain.

We’re all familiar with the headaches, burning eyes, fatigue, and other symptoms which come with eye strain. Whether it’s from reading too much or writing too much, all writers have experienced the phenomenon at least once, no matter how minor the case may seem. Sometimes it can even lead to–or be a symptom of–a larger problem. For some migraineurs, eye strain can go so far as to trigger a migraine attack.

Fortunately, Mayo Clinic claims that eye strain usually doesn’t cause any long-term damage. It’s just irritating as all heck and can bring a grinding halt to our work as we try and alleviate the issue.

Still, writers–as both writers and enthusiastic readers–can suffer much more damage than eye strain. John Milton went blind before he even wrote Paradise Lost. As I type this post, my eyes are starting to hurt and I can hardly concentrate. The digital age has brought on a new slew of sources for eye strain, the most notable ones for readers and writers being e-books and laptops.


Image retrieved from The Eye Solution

What can we do to combat this menace?

Some people need to see an optometrist if the eye strain becomes too severe. In those cases, glasses for reading and/or screen time may be necessary. Most times, however, lifestyle changes are all that you need to prevent and alleviate the irritation. Mayo Clinic has an extensive list of these measures, but I think the following are particularly useful for writers in the modern era:

  1. Blink often. This may sound obvious but it can be pretty easy to forget to blink. Mayo Clinic points out that people tend to blink less when staring at electronic screens, and I can personally vouch for that. How often have you blinked while reading this post? I’m guessing not as much as you would expect. Blinking often will refresh your eyes by producing more tears, which will help keep your eyes moist while staring at a computer, tablet, e-reader, TV, or phone.
  2. Take breaks. Again, obvious but not always the first thing that comes to mind. It’s also not the easiest thing to do. We’re busy and working under deadlines, how can we afford to take breaks? Suffice to say, ten-minute breaks here and there will save a lot more time and preserve the quality of your work better than headaches, blurred vision, and eyes that won’t stay open.


    Image retrieved from Pinterest
  3. Adjust the lights. My dad is particularly fond of this one, although he alternates between it being because the lights hurt his eyes and because he thinks even two fluorescent bulbs heat up a room. He insists on most–often all–lights being off when he’s in a room, day or night. This approach doesn’t help eye strain, either. Trying to see in such little light is just as bad for your eyes as lights that are too bright. You have to adjust the lights depending on your activity and what’s comfortable for your eyes. If you’re in a room with someone whose eyes are as different from yours as my dad’s are from mine, good luck. That’s all I can say.
  4. Adjust your screen. I don’t just mean the back light, although adjusting that according to how your eyes feel can really help. You should also experiment with how the screen is positioned, the angle and amount of external light surrounding it, and even the font size can make a huge difference. On top of that, you need to keep the screen clean in order to keep dust from messing with the contrast and worsening any glare issues.

All in all, the best thing anyone can do for eye strain is to not focus on any one surface too long, especially if that surface is an electronic screen. It’s easier said than done, especially for writers. We eat, breathe, and sleep the written word (and often the moving pictures, too), and most of our days are spent staring at screens, books, and papers. Nevertheless, unless you want to get a patient relative or friend to transcribe your work like Milton did, you should preserve your sight now for your future writing endeavors.

Do you suffer from eye strain frequently? How do you deal with it? What was your worst experience with eye strain to date? Leave your thoughts and stories in the comments below!

 


Designed by Stephanie Hoogstad circa 2011

Commercial Writing Prospects

Many writers dream of making writing their sole jobs. There are some who genuinely enjoy their day jobs and are lucky enough to have the best of both worlds. Kudos to them. Still, several writers would prefer to paying the bills with their books, short stories, poems, or essays. Unfortunately, most of us won’t be as lucky as J.K. Rowling. That’s where commercial writing steps in.

You probably already know about many commercial writing opportunities: magazine/newspaper articles, guest blog posts, general website content, résumé writing, etc. Yet far more opportunities await freelance writers than the obvious choices.

The world is full of commercial writing prospects. You just have to know where to look. Fortunately, you don’t have to look hard but smart. Even the technology and medical sectors need writers from time to time.

What sorts of commercial writing opportunities are there?

  1. Slogans: Every service and product needs a slogan, and those catchy one-liners have to come from somewhere. While many of the larger companies have their own slogan writers, the smaller ones often have to outsource the project to freelancers who charge less. (Be careful not to undersell yourself.) I have two tips for this option: research the product/service before writing the slogan and provide your client multiple slogans from which to choose.

    Image retrieved from S-USIH
  2. Product Descriptions: It’s not glamorous but it’s necessary. From the specifics of a landscaping service on the business’s website to the Amazon description for nail clippers, every product and service must be described succinctly, accurately, and persuasively in order to sell. That’s where writers come in. Again, larger companies will most likely hire from within to write product descriptions. However, smaller companies and their owners do not have the time, money, and/or the skill necessary to write these descriptions themselves or hire a high-rate marketing professional. Freelancers once more shine.
  3. Brochures: From tourist traps to hospitals, almost every business uses brochures to get the word out about their service or product. The larger companies have built-in departments for that sort of thing and the owners or employees of small companies may design brochures themselves to save money; middle-of-the-road companies, those that aren’t quite big-time but aren’t necessarily new to the game, will probably look for cheap(er) freelance writers to write the text of brochures and designers to do the rest. The same goes with e-newsletters, e-mail campaigns, mailers, magazine inserts, etc.
  4. Book Reviews: You can be paid to write book reviews for magazines, websites, blogs, etc. Rates depend on the place you want to be published, the length and genre of the book, and so on, so research such services before looking for any openings. You also have to be careful with this commercial writing prospect. Mostly, you have to know where not to put your reviews. Namely, don’t advertise paid reviews for Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Goodreads, or similar places. Most importantly, it’s often a violation of their terms and services. No use getting into trouble over one review. You can post reviews of books on these websites once you’ve finished reading them just because you want to, but I suggest avoiding advertising it as something authors, publishers, agents, or editors can pay for. Instead, make it a nice surprise out of your desire to let others know your opinion of the book.
  5. Book Blurbs: Indie writers and publishers can’t do everything themselves. They need to outsource many steps in the publishing process, from editing to book cover design. Sometimes they also need help with something as seemingly-mundane as the blurb at the back of the book or in the sleeve of the cover. Don’t be fooled; writing a blurb that both represents the book and makes it appealing to the potential reader isn’t as easy as it sounds.

Where can you find such jobs? To start out, I would suggest checking out freelancing websites. You can find information on these websites on my earlier post about side-jobs for struggling writers. However, my recommendation is to try Fiverr first. It’s easier, more freelancer-friendly, and the customers come to you.

I’m not going to lie, commercial writing isn’t the most glorious of freelancing jobs. Heck, it’s not always the most rewarding, either. I’ve jumped into commercial writing a lot the last few months. I’ve written book reviews, slogans, answers for quiz sites, and even hashtags.

I love writing book reviews; there’s nothing like being able to tell people that you have to read a science fiction book for work. I also like slogan writing and don’t mind the social media jobs. Still, it’s not what I thought I’d be doing at this point. I thought I’d be writing and selling books and short stories. Until I get my first book/story written and sold, commercial writing isn’t a bad way to go. I get to flex my writing and creativity muscles and earn some money to pay the bills, all while writing my stories and running this blog. Commercial writing may not be the most dignified option for “serious” writers, but no one really wants to be a starving artist, either.

What kinds of commercial writing opportunities have you encountered? Would you use commercial writing to supplement your other income, whether your main income be writing or a standard 9-to-5 job? What’s the one job, writing or not, that you absolutely refuse to do no matter how much you need the money? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.

If you would like to hire me for book reviews, pun writing, slogans, editing, or something similar, check out my profile on Fiverr.

 


Designed by Stephanie Hoogstad circa 2011

Publishing Opportunity: DAW Books

Happy Friday, everyone! Sorry for the late post; I’m knee-deep in projects right now and, unfortunately, I can only do so much at once. Nevertheless, I wanted to take some time to tell you about a publishing opportunity for science fiction and fantasy novelists. It’s not a contest but it’s unique for a modern publishing company in that it accepts manuscripts without a literary agent. I’m talking about a branch of Penguin Books USA called DAW Books.

DAW Books was founded by paperback editor Donald A. Wollheim and his wife, Elsie B. Wollhein, as the first publishing company exclusively for science fiction and fantasy novels. They’ve published such authors as Mercedes Lackey, author of the Heralds of Valdemar series, and Patrick Rothfuss, whose first novel–The Name of the Wind–was Publisher’s Weekly Best Book of the Year in 2007.

So, a science fiction and fantasy publisher that accepts unsolicited manuscripts? OK, what’s the catch? After looking at their website, I could only find two:

  1. DAW books does not accept manuscripts which are currently on submission with another publisher unless a prior arrangement has been made with an agent.
  2. They do not accept short stories, short story collections, or novellas. While the average length of the novels varies, most of them aren’t fewer than 80,000 words.

There are also requirements for formatting and DAW books accepts electronic submissions only through Submittable, but you can found out all about that on their website.

A big thank you to Ameel for the tip!

If you know of any writing contests or publishing opportunities that you wish to share with other writers, feel free to drop a line in the comments below or e-mail me at thewritersscrapbin@gmail.com

I’ll be back with a book review and more Banned Books Week material soon, but until then, happy writing!

 


Designed by Stephanie Hoogstad circa 2011

Fame, Fortune, or Fun: Why Do We Write?

Why do we write? It’s a question writers are asked over and over again, and no one asks us that question more than writers themselves. Why bother? Why write? Are we all looking to be the next J.K. Rowling, struggling to fulfill a dream of fame and fortune which, typically, turns out to be a fluke? Or is there a deeper reason for the desire to write, such as we see with the typical image of the “tortured artist”?


Image retrieved from Musecraft

I’m not going to sugarcoat it; I don’t know why I write. It’s one of the more prominent reasons for my on-going writer’s block. Lately, I’ve been focused on earning praise and making money through my writing but that has only served to stall my work. I worry that others won’t like my work which, in turn, would lead to a lack of praise and a lack of pay. The worry consumes me until I can’t write anything at all.

So, why do we write?

I subscribe to newsletters from American Writers & Artists, Inc., also known as AWAI. At the beginning of August, one of their newsletters covered this very subject. The writer of the article within the e-mail, Mindy McHorse, narrowed the most popular answers to “why do we write” to the “4-F’s”: fame, fortune, family, and fire.

For the most part, the 4-F’s are pretty self-explanatory. You want recognition, you want to make money from writing, you want to build a legacy, you have an overwhelming passion which won’t leave you be, or any combination of these. I suppose, in a nutshell, these are the main reasons why anyone would write.

The problem isn’t finding answers to “why do we write”; it’s deciding what our truest motives are. We can have more than one reason to write, even more than one primary reason, but that doesn’t make expressing our motives any easier.


Image retrieved from Mad Genius Club

Unfortunately, being unable to express our motives can throw a wrench in our efforts to achieve our goals. If we don’t clearly know what motivates us, how can we feel driven enough to put the work into our dreams?

I’m still trying to pinpoint the driving force behind my writing. I know it’s not the possibility of fame and fortune because of how the expectations freeze me. Do I want to leave a legacy? Do I just have a passion for my writing and my subjects? Right now, the latter seems to be the most likely cause, but until I can express that motivation with complete conviction, it will continue to block my writing flow.

Why do you write? Do you just want fame and fortune, or do you truly have a nagging desire to write your story, poem, or essay? Can you express your motivation? If not, do you think that inability is holding you back? Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments below.

Also be sure to check out the AWAI for helpful advice on advancing your career and navigating/surviving the insane world of the writing industry.

 


Designed by Stephanie Hoogstad circa 2011

Imposter Syndrome, or I’m Not a “Real” Writer

I’m not a real writer. I’ll never succeed. Why do I continue trying? I’ll never be published. Why would anyone care what I have to say? These thoughts and more pass through my mind on any given day. You’d think it’d get better the more jobs and recognition I get but, counter-intuitively, it gets worse. After all, what have I done to deserve any attention or praise? This train of thought is quite common among writers, often known as “imposter syndrome.”

The magazine Poets & Writers published an interesting article on the matter back in April 2016. I immediately connect with the experiences and doubts expressed by published poet Leigh Stein. The process which Stein went through when commissioned to write an essay on an artist’s work is the exact process I go through with everything from writing contests to book reviews and even school essays. I think that there’s no way I can do well, no matter how many times I’ve done it before, and convince myself that the worst will happen. Then, when I receive an honorable mention, praise from the author, or a high grade, I ride a new high. (Immediately after I usually berate myself and tell myself that I can do better, but that has nothing to do with imposter syndrome and everything to do with my anxiety and depression.)


Image retrieved from LinkedIn

I’m pretty sure my readers are familiar with this pride-desperation-pride cycle from their own writing. After all, a writer who grows too comfortable with his/her success will soon see their work suffer. Still, the mental anguish of imposter syndrome–the feeling that we’re not “real” writers and therefore will fail or are unworthy of praise–can be too much to handle.

Everyone will encounter this issue at some point in their lives, whether they’re writers or not. Even Maya Angelou once said, regarding herself as a writer:

I have written eleven books, but each time I think, “Uh oh, they’re going to find out now. I’ve run a game on everybody, and they’re going to find me out.”

Everyone around you will think you know what you’re doing but, deep down, you feel like you’re drowning it. The important thing is to not let self-doubt or success get to your head. Too little confidence and you’ll freeze up, unable to do anything; too much confidence and you’ll grow sloppy, producing half-baked work that will make readers wonder what happened to you.

What do you think? Have you encountered imposter syndrome? How do you overcome it? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.

 


Designed by Stephanie Hoogstad circa 2011

Mental Health Day: A Writer’s Best Friend

Since reading Matthew J. Murphy’s Remedy: How I Cured the Incurable, I’ve been thinking a lot about health. Obviously, based on the subject matter of the book, digestive health has been at the forefront. However, another health matter has been plaguing my mind more prominently: mental health.

I have discussed before how writers and artists are prone to mental health problems such as anxiety and depression. I’ve also established the fact that I suffer from severe anxiety and mild depression, and I strongly advocate seeking help for such issues. Still, that’s easier said than done. Therapy, medication, self-help books, where should you start?

Healing is a personal experience, and even more so when you’re struggling to maintain your mental health. No one can tell you where to start, only give you suggestions. With that in mind, I have a suggestion on my own based on a trend which has been gaining in popularity recently: take a mental health day.

We’ve all taken a sick day, whether it’s been from work or from school, often both. Most people reserve sick leave for physical illness (or a surprise trip if they’ve run out of vacation days, but they’ll never tell their bosses that). But what about when you’re experiencing a bout of depression or crippling anxiety? Should we just “suck it up,” even if that means our work could suffer?


Image retrieved from Mental Health Tips

A mental health day should come into play here. I say “should” because, sadly, the stigma surrounding mental illness still makes it incredibly difficult to get the people around us, including our employers, to understand the necessity of taking a day off to heal mentally. Nevertheless, when mental illness spikes, we aren’t up to snuff and it shows in everything we do. We aren’t as useful to our employers, and it’s better to explain the problem to our bosses and ask for some time off than to let our work deteriorate and risk losing our jobs.

Writers need mental health days as much as the typical 9-5 worker. In fact, we’re among those workers who need a day off most. After all, our work comes from our minds; if our minds aren’t up to normal standards, it will show in our writing (or lack of writing, depending on how we handle mental illness).

Why do I bring this up as a starting point? Mental health days can help us understand our condition more. We can stop, breathe, and analyze what’s going on with us. We can make appointments with our primary physicians or therapists and get a leg up on the issue. Just a day of rest away from stress could do people a load of good.

What do you think of “mental health days”? Are they a necessity or an excuse to get out of work? What should we do when mental illness overwhelms us? Leave your thoughts and suggestions in the comments below.

 


Designed by Stephanie Hoogstad circa 2011

How Much Should You Write Each Day

A writer needs to write to be a writer, right? The obvious answer is “yes” but, as I’ve pointed out in a previous post, we don’t all have endless hours each day to dedicate to writing. Unfortunately, the average writer’s life involves much more than the pursuit of word counts, and yet we encounter all of these success stories in which writers claim to produce 20+ pages each day. Who can keep up with that sort of volume? More importantly, should all writers aim that high?

I read an interesting article on this matter on the website for Author magazine. In it, James Thayer outlines different examples of successful writers, some of whom compose(d) ridiculous amounts of pages each work day, others who are/were about as slow as a tortoise, and still others who fall/fell somewhere in between. Thayer points out that Ezra Pound produced eight books and a hundred magazine articles in just six years, Stephen King writes about 2,000 words a day, and that it took J.R.R. Tolkien eleven years to write The Lord of the Rings trilogy (which, at the time, was one long book).

Clearly, every writer works at his/her own pace. But how do you decide your own pace? Slow and steady like Tolkien, frenzied and frightening like Pound, or some middle ground like King?


Image retrieved from Dreams of QaiMaj
In truth, no one can solve that riddle for you. Ask a hundred writers and you’ll get a hundred different answers. Ask people who don’t write? You can forget about that right now; they aren’t familiar enough with the process and certainly aren’t familiar enough with your process to help you make a decision.

For some writers, it may be best to not set a word or page goal at all. Some people don’t operate well under pressure while others need it to thrive. If you don’t do well with pressure–think back to timed tests in compulsory school–then you shouldn’t even bother setting that sort of goal. It may sound counterproductive and lazy, but sometimes a deadline or threshold isn’t needed.

If you do work better  under some pressure and want to set yourself a goal, pay attention to how quickly you write. How many words or pages can you crank out in an hour? Two? An entire afternoon? Once you’ve figured out your pace, match it with the average amount of free time you can make in your schedule each day. Your rate multiplied by that time will get you your ideal goal.

You can even change your goal depending on the day of the week or the season. New commitments pop up all the time, making it unrealistic to try and maintain a constant writing schedule 365 days a year. Most people say a consistent schedule forms a habit, which in turn makes it easier for you to ensure you write each day. We all know that life doesn’t let much go as planned, so you have to be flexible.

While swimming through the sea of word counts and deadlines, don’t lose track of why you started this process: for the love of writing. Writing, like life, is full of trial-and-error. You can’t be too upset if you don’t make your goal a few days or you don’t write that bestseller in three months. It takes a while to learn your process; I’m still learning the best methods for my writing. Be patient and, while you shouldn’t let yourself get away with too much, cut yourself some slack every now and then.

 


Designed by Stephanie Hoogstad circa 2011

The Pitfalls of Self-Employment

For this Friday Fun-Day, I’ve decided to post a more serious topic alongside the weekly writing prompt. Mainly, I want to talk about my experiences with self-employment and use my mistakes thus far as a horrible warning for those who are looking to work for themselves. Mind you, the experience has been great for me; I’m making some money, meeting new people, and getting to read some interesting books and short stories I otherwise wouldn’t have come across. Still, I’ve made enough mistakes these past 3-5 months to share nuggets of wisdom with my readers.

You can’t take self-employment lightly. Even if it’s just a side gig, there’s a lot to it: pricing, customer service, taxes, schedules, just to name a few. There are many materials across the web and in print about this subject, but none of them can fully prepare you for the reality. Some things you have to learn first-hand.

I don’t have any big “this mistake could’ve ruined my financial life and career” stories. Instead, I have a few smaller, more general pieces of advice that I think can help others looking to start self-employment:

  • Find the appropriate platform to promote your services. When talking about side jobs for struggling writers, I mentioned Fiverr, Freelancer.com, and Upwork. I’ve heard that more options exist, but I’ve only tried these. It took trying each one for me to realize that Fiverr is the best option for me. Because customers come to me primarily, I’ve been able to get many more orders at better prices. Fiverr is also more understanding when people make mistakes, usually removing gigs rather than users unless there’s a clear scam, trolling, or abuse. Freelancer.com never yielded any jobs; Upwork gave me one good connection, one unprofessional experience, and multiple scam attempts before I made a mistake and they deactivated my account. You can’t take my word for it, though. Fiverr works best for my freelancing efforts but that won’t be true for everyone. You just have to try each one on for size. Heck, you may find that your best option is to use as many as you can handle.
  • Word your gig postings appropriately. One of the biggest problems I’ve had on Fiverr has been writing the descriptions for each gig. If you’re not careful, one word or phrase can be misinterpreted as breaking a rule and be removed. Fortunately, Fiverr only removes them. Other similar sites aren’t so lenient. You must also make sure to read the site’s rules for gig postings carefully as well as the rules for any other website you may mention within the gig posting. Some don’t actually allow the service you’re offering or otherwise don’t want to be associated with certain gigs. If you’re not sure about your posting, save a draft and ask the website customer service or admin to look it over. They don’t want to spend time removing gigs any more than we want our gigs removed, so they’ll most likely not have a problem with letting you know about any issues.
  • Price your gigs fairly. I’m not only talking about fair prices for your customers; the prices have to work for you, too. I’ve been horrible about underselling my skills. Two different customers have suggested that I raise my prices. When your customers, without consulting each other, tell you that, you should probably listen. You can’t gouge your clients but you can’t rip yourself off, either. Your time and effort are valuable. If your skills are worth paying for, they’re worth paying a fair price.

    Image retrieved from surelyjobs.com
  • Set a schedule. It’s so easy for your personal life to invade your work life and vice versa, even more so when you’re self-employed. Setting a schedule helps to separate these aspects a little better. The line still blurs but at least you can tell your loved ones that you have to work and then you can tell yourself that you’re off the clock with minimal guilt. I’m still working on this lesson, along with fair pricing. Modern culture, at least in the U.S., encourages people to take their work home with them and essentially become workaholics. Writers and other freelancers know this all too well, especially since we usually love our work. For our mental health, we have to force the separation. Writers often have to separate regular work from writing as well, and that’s what I’m most struggling with right now.
  • Remember it’s a learning process. As a perfectionist, I have a hard time accepting this fact. Self-employment is a matter of trial and error. You learn something new every day and you can’t beat yourself up for every tiny mistake. Learn from it and move on. Don’t stop the process at your own experiences, either; search out resources talking about self-employment and learn some tricks from seasoned veterans. It may seem like a lot of extra work but you’ll be glad you did it.

Writing and self-employment can be very similar. They can both take over other aspects of your life and require a lot of trial-and-error before you feel comfortable with your work. You have to remain resilient and never give up. You know what they say: if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.

What are your experiences with self-employment, both as a writer and in other areas? Any advice I forgot to mention? Leave your thoughts in the comments so others may benefit from your wisdom.

 


Designed by Stephanie Hoogstad circa 2011