6 Ways To Excel As A Freelance Writer
I have received more messages from my firm’s remote writers more than ever in recent times. Some of them would message me in the early hours of the day, even before I get out of my bed, just to ask one question, "Is there any job for me?"
While some would send funny emojis as a reply to my status, just so I know that they are still existing.
Unlike early March, whenever I needed someone to help with a task, most of them would tell me they had school work, or chores, or work, thus they could not write for me. Unfortunately, everything is on lockdown, students have to return to their parents houses, young employees are at home, with neither food, nor money. Hence almost everyone is willing to write at this time, even the fee is a token, but enough to recharge their cellphones.
Having seen the trend in the past one week, I am opinionated to say that the more willing you are to write, or do any job for a token, the more willing someone is able to write, or do the same job for free.
Simply put, there are lots of competition out right now.
I received countless messages from different guys over the weekend, but guess what? I told them I would get back to them when there is a job, even though there was a job. But, the job was for the best of them all -- the best who is efficient, creative and professional.
Get this straight Darling, there are over a hundred young folks like you who can do what you do presently, why then should I pay you? That is basically what my article is about.
If you call yourself a writer, I have a list of over 20 different young writers who can do the exact thing you do, why then should I pay you to get the job done.
Everyone wants a good writer, at least a client wouldn't pay you to write his story in the same crappy way he would have done it.
Here are few tips to help you write excellent stuff this season. Well, these tips would help you with or without laptop, nonetheless.
1. Be familiar with the subject of the matter: I have learnt over time to ask from remote writers if they can write on a subject matter.
Why is that important? Not everyone can write on business, stock exchange, leadership, romance or even the supposedly most popular topic now -- COVID-19.
If you must make money from writing this period, get familiar with your kind of subject.
You may need the money so badly that you have to take a job you know nothing about, the best thing is to spend enough time researching on the subject matter before delving into the work.
2. Communicate effectively: I worked as a copy-editor at my former place of work, so I had the privilege to work hand-in-hand with remote writers, and some of them were too fast to get the job done, because of the pay, so they often time missed the most important information I had for them.
Then they would submit just few minutes before the deadline, and then I realize they went out the way I wanted the subject written.
I try as much as possible to communicate with every of my remote writers according to their personality, and how well and fast they can understand the subject.
Most times I send voice notes explaining each subtopic, giving them details about the subject they are writing on.
If you want to write a great stuff, get it right when communicating with your client.
Effective communication is the sharp axe that cuts down every tree that may serve as an obstacle when writing.
3. Follow instructions strictly: If you are asked to write on the independence of Nigeria, please do not hesitate to write on that subject, but please contain your thoughts to the subject, and nothing more.
It is frustrating to submit to a client something entirely different from what he asked for.
I dealt with this frequently, and it was annoyingly draining.
When you fail to stick to the instructions given by your client, the client will lose confidence in your skills, and that says a lot of you.
4. Know the basics: I could not give a better heading to this than the word basics. You call yourself a writer, yet you don't know how to write original contents? Funnily enough, you do not know what plagiarism is.
You do not know know the difference between a quotation mark, and an apostrophe. Ask questions from successful writers around you, read, and get acquainted to types of content, grammar rules if you must be a successful writer.
5. Read: I am currently reading a Christian novel titled "Abigail’s Journey" by Judith Bronte, and it is an interesting book. Aside from the fact that I cry when reading the book because I feel emotionally attached to my favorite couple in the book "Abby and Jake", each page of the book allowed me reminiscence on my experience when I had to write a part in a book for prisoners.
As at that time, I had no pictorial representation of the hellish adventure some prisoners have in the prison, even though I saw prisoners in movies. But, this book gives me a picture of the hell some of these inmates go through.
There is no shortcut to this, the more books you read, the better your writing gets.
The books on leadership you read, the better you can delve into any leadership related book, without any difficulty.
In all thy doing this season, read books.
6. Invest in writing: The good thing about this lockdown is that there are over a thousand free courses that you can access at this time. So if you can finish up a course everyday, then in 2 weeks you will have 14 different certificates.
How sweet is that?
In conclusion, good writings boosts your self esteem, gives you recognition, and can also make you some cool cash.
Writing is worth it after all
Why don’t you transform your writing skills to a height of excellence?
