Not for the Faint of Heart
Writing is not for the faint of heart. It's an arduous task which often involves very little praise. Sometimes, you get positive feedback, but usually an editor tells you what's wrong with an article or a book proposal, not necessarily what's right with it. Of course, there are exceptions to this--but if you've been in the writing industry for very long, you know those accolades can feel few and far between.
Whether you're trying to make it as an indie-anything (writer, artist, musician, film-maker, etc.), you know the goals in front of you will require lots of hard work. So, staying the course has to mean saying "No" to certain things that will take you off-course. So, it's okay to turn down certain projects that aren't as good of a fit for that particular month or quarter; by being discriminating, you're able to focus on the ones in front of you that matter most.
Being a writer can feel pretty lonely at times. I'd even venture to say that most writers are introverts by nature (though I'm sure there are some exceptions). And speaking from experience, it seems like most writers are also runners, swimmers, or rowers--basically anything that checks off "individual sport" from the list.
With awesome play-lists, delicious snacks, and plenty of breaks, this solitude provides time to let the jumbled thoughts of a writer's brain to land in a safe space. This is where she can allow random or more specific thoughts to cycle their way down into more tangible forms of material regardless of how silly or serious they might sound. Note: This often involves talking to oneself to test them out. Or talking to nearby pets or plants. Inevitably, these ponderings might lead to random bouts of laughter, crying, or dancing, depending on the theme(s). Or more cleaning or baking (just keeping it real)!
You've probably heard an author share how she came up with her book idea from a dream. Or how she started taking notes on her iPhone after hearing an interesting conversation at a coffeeshop or on the train. Or how that screenwriter just started pooling notes from different napkins, from here or there, and they came up with something great!
The point is, it all happens because the writer is willing to slow down and practice the pause from the daily routine (even if that involves movement, like jogging, quilting, or gardening). It just needs to be a break from the regular to-do lists. A few more options include painting just for the hell of it, writing a letter to a friend, or playing Scrabble with a stranger online.
As a writer, you basically need to be your own cheerleader. Naturally, writing awards are given out each year, and some people leave positive reviews of your book(s). But for the most part, it seems easier for readers, reviewers, and editors to share the stuff they don't like. While the critical attitude primarily comes from a helpful mindset, sometimes you need a bit more praise to keep moving forward!
Even brief little phrases, like "best book for my teen" or "can't wait for book 2" go a long way. It means so much to writers if you could leave a quick review (omitting the mean stuff). Or, it could be as simple as someone tagging you and sharing your most recent article on their social feeds. What takes a reader less than 60 seconds to post lifts up a writer like she could hold the world in the palm of her hand (trust me).
If you aren't getting much praise or encouragement as a writer, start your day by listing out a few of your own strengths on a sticky note. Then add it to the wall or monitor in front of you. Remind yourself that you're putting yourself out there and hitting your goals!
Good self-care helps writers to stay the course as well. This translates into healthy boundaries. By setting up reasonable parameters for a particular article, manuscript, or screenplay, you can feel more included in the traditional workforce (especially when you're writing from home). When I set these goals ahead of time, it's easier to stop when my watch alarm goes off (and I just snooze it a few more times before closing my document).
The hardest part is keeping to your pre-set time-limits and deadlines. If you've allotted eight hours for a certain article, make sure the last hour includes final edits, or you'll be tempted to push it to nine or ten hours before you're actually done. Of course, there's more wiggle room on bigger projects and always exceptions when an editor sends something back for revisions. So, give yourself a half an hour or more to include that in the timeframe.
When you set a routine for the day that honors your value, you feel more valuable. That's a tautology that goes without saying, but honestly, if you feel worth the task, your writing is more likely to reflect the best that's inside of you. One caveat here: If you are in the zone with a 12-15 hour writing session, go with it. Just don't make that your norm. Otherwise, you will likely burn out. Then it's harder to keep hanging on.
This next tip will be tricky for some of you. It was for me until I became a more experienced "paid" writer. Here it is: If an editor asks more of you than what you can give, then ask for more money. It feels counterintuitive at first because all you want is more work. Sure, at the beginning when you're building up your platform, you might need to write as a volunteer blogger for free or for very little. But eventually, once you get going, the money starts showing up too. So, don't keep saying "Yes" for jobs that don't pay what you're worth. Fear that the next thing won't show up might keep you in that loop, but try to hold your ground. Other stuff is going to show up if you keep investing in yourself, and your time is important, so it's okay if an editor knows that.
As a reference point, the highest rate I've been paid for printed articles is one dollar per word and about 75 cents per word for digital. With more recent groups, I've negotiated based on the approximate number of slides. If it's too much research or writing for the amount of slides, I'll ask for more money--and sometimes, I'll just turn it down. This can feel scary, but remember your time matters! If you're not getting paid what you're worth, use the time to finish that manuscript you've had filed away instead. Or, use the time to build your platform by connecting with filmmakers, producers, or talent agents, etc.
For book deals, I've not yet hit the big one, so I basically move forward when something feels right depending on the season; adding readers always builds my platform, so I consider it a win when I put something out there that I'm proud of. But when I become a more prominent book author, it means I will be able to be more selective about the terms of my book deals. I'm so excited for that!
Last tip: Remember to give yourself lots of grace. Some days, I'm not as productive as others. This could be due to a health issue for one person or a busy list of family commitments for someone else. Maybe it's another job pulling you away from your writing since you need to pay the majority of your bills from that one. Try to pause; then remind yourself it's okay! Some of these things are outside of your control, so mentally berating yourself for not getting more done isn't going to help. During busy seasons, set the timer for 30 minutes or 60 minutes, and keep moving forward to meet your writing goals no matter what. Not giving up is what counts!
Whether you're trying to make it as an indie-anything (writer, artist, musician, film-maker, etc.), you know the goals in front of you will require lots of hard work. So, staying the course has to mean saying "No" to certain things that will take you off-course. So, it's okay to turn down certain projects that aren't as good of a fit for that particular month or quarter; by being discriminating, you're able to focus on the ones in front of you that matter most.
Being a writer can feel pretty lonely at times. I'd even venture to say that most writers are introverts by nature (though I'm sure there are some exceptions). And speaking from experience, it seems like most writers are also runners, swimmers, or rowers--basically anything that checks off "individual sport" from the list.
With awesome play-lists, delicious snacks, and plenty of breaks, this solitude provides time to let the jumbled thoughts of a writer's brain to land in a safe space. This is where she can allow random or more specific thoughts to cycle their way down into more tangible forms of material regardless of how silly or serious they might sound. Note: This often involves talking to oneself to test them out. Or talking to nearby pets or plants. Inevitably, these ponderings might lead to random bouts of laughter, crying, or dancing, depending on the theme(s). Or more cleaning or baking (just keeping it real)!
You've probably heard an author share how she came up with her book idea from a dream. Or how she started taking notes on her iPhone after hearing an interesting conversation at a coffeeshop or on the train. Or how that screenwriter just started pooling notes from different napkins, from here or there, and they came up with something great!
The point is, it all happens because the writer is willing to slow down and practice the pause from the daily routine (even if that involves movement, like jogging, quilting, or gardening). It just needs to be a break from the regular to-do lists. A few more options include painting just for the hell of it, writing a letter to a friend, or playing Scrabble with a stranger online.
As a writer, you basically need to be your own cheerleader. Naturally, writing awards are given out each year, and some people leave positive reviews of your book(s). But for the most part, it seems easier for readers, reviewers, and editors to share the stuff they don't like. While the critical attitude primarily comes from a helpful mindset, sometimes you need a bit more praise to keep moving forward!
Even brief little phrases, like "best book for my teen" or "can't wait for book 2" go a long way. It means so much to writers if you could leave a quick review (omitting the mean stuff). Or, it could be as simple as someone tagging you and sharing your most recent article on their social feeds. What takes a reader less than 60 seconds to post lifts up a writer like she could hold the world in the palm of her hand (trust me).
If you aren't getting much praise or encouragement as a writer, start your day by listing out a few of your own strengths on a sticky note. Then add it to the wall or monitor in front of you. Remind yourself that you're putting yourself out there and hitting your goals!
Good self-care helps writers to stay the course as well. This translates into healthy boundaries. By setting up reasonable parameters for a particular article, manuscript, or screenplay, you can feel more included in the traditional workforce (especially when you're writing from home). When I set these goals ahead of time, it's easier to stop when my watch alarm goes off (and I just snooze it a few more times before closing my document).
The hardest part is keeping to your pre-set time-limits and deadlines. If you've allotted eight hours for a certain article, make sure the last hour includes final edits, or you'll be tempted to push it to nine or ten hours before you're actually done. Of course, there's more wiggle room on bigger projects and always exceptions when an editor sends something back for revisions. So, give yourself a half an hour or more to include that in the timeframe.
When you set a routine for the day that honors your value, you feel more valuable. That's a tautology that goes without saying, but honestly, if you feel worth the task, your writing is more likely to reflect the best that's inside of you. One caveat here: If you are in the zone with a 12-15 hour writing session, go with it. Just don't make that your norm. Otherwise, you will likely burn out. Then it's harder to keep hanging on.
This next tip will be tricky for some of you. It was for me until I became a more experienced "paid" writer. Here it is: If an editor asks more of you than what you can give, then ask for more money. It feels counterintuitive at first because all you want is more work. Sure, at the beginning when you're building up your platform, you might need to write as a volunteer blogger for free or for very little. But eventually, once you get going, the money starts showing up too. So, don't keep saying "Yes" for jobs that don't pay what you're worth. Fear that the next thing won't show up might keep you in that loop, but try to hold your ground. Other stuff is going to show up if you keep investing in yourself, and your time is important, so it's okay if an editor knows that.
As a reference point, the highest rate I've been paid for printed articles is one dollar per word and about 75 cents per word for digital. With more recent groups, I've negotiated based on the approximate number of slides. If it's too much research or writing for the amount of slides, I'll ask for more money--and sometimes, I'll just turn it down. This can feel scary, but remember your time matters! If you're not getting paid what you're worth, use the time to finish that manuscript you've had filed away instead. Or, use the time to build your platform by connecting with filmmakers, producers, or talent agents, etc.
For book deals, I've not yet hit the big one, so I basically move forward when something feels right depending on the season; adding readers always builds my platform, so I consider it a win when I put something out there that I'm proud of. But when I become a more prominent book author, it means I will be able to be more selective about the terms of my book deals. I'm so excited for that!
Last tip: Remember to give yourself lots of grace. Some days, I'm not as productive as others. This could be due to a health issue for one person or a busy list of family commitments for someone else. Maybe it's another job pulling you away from your writing since you need to pay the majority of your bills from that one. Try to pause; then remind yourself it's okay! Some of these things are outside of your control, so mentally berating yourself for not getting more done isn't going to help. During busy seasons, set the timer for 30 minutes or 60 minutes, and keep moving forward to meet your writing goals no matter what. Not giving up is what counts!
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