If you’re writing for a Christian magazine, or you’re publishing flash fiction for a horror site, it’s important to not only know what you write, but what others are writing as well. Understanding whatever market you’ve immersed yourself in can be vital to your goals. Some of your understanding will, no doubt, come from your own experiences, but don’t be afraid to ask questions from established writers, educators, and folks in that sector. The faster you learn your market, the less chance you’ll have of making costly mistakes.
Freelance Writing Tip #9: Track Your Income & Expenses
Whether you’ve set yourself up as an independent contractor or an LLC, you’ll need to track your financial progress throughout the year. If you can’t afford to hire a bookkeeper, a well-designed spreadsheet is a great budgeting tool. Quicken and QuickBooks can help you stay organized as well; PayPal can help you receive income quickly and safely. Regardless of how savvy you are, if you stay organized tax time and budgeting will be painless.
Freelance Writing Tip #8: Think You’re a Writer? Write!
Many, many people claim to be a writer. They say they’ve written a book, hidden in their attic, or they say that they published a poem four years ago that rivals Emily Dickinson’s Poems. No matter how you sugar-coat it, you can’t really call yourself a writer if you don’t write on a consistent basis. Writing isn’t like riding a bike; the only way you get any writing done, and improve your writing, is if you write a little bit every day whether you’re writing-for-hire or writing for yourself. So what are you waiting for? Get writing today!
Freelance Writing Tip #7: Verify Your Online Sources
Check out online entry’s bibliographies; the more accurate the entry, the more detailed the cited sources are. Wikipedia has a full reference guide at the bottom of every entry; make sure you read through the list. Get different points-of-view before you make a judgment call—especially on controversial topics—to help you be more objective before you write. Keep a good list of your sources for an assignment whenever possible; you may be required to list them for your publication.
Freelance Writing Tip #6: Read Other Authors Carefully
One of the best ways to hone your own writing is to read other authors you admire. If you know that you need to improve your pacing, read short fiction anthologies like the Book of Final Flesh or Voices from the Web 2006. Dialogue? Read screenplays like Gladiator Screenplay, plays like A Streetcar Named Desire or comic books like Marvel’s Civil War. If you’re interested in technical writing or business writing, read free annual reports for companies listed on Nasdaq, computer program instructions from Microsoft or Open Office, or even appliance booklets. By analyzing other writer’s works, you can infuse your writing with great techniques and stretch your writing muscles.