Overcoming Writer's Block

Any writer knows the panicked feelings writer’s block produces: the weight in the pit of your stomach and the tightness in your chest that feels like a boa constrictor has captured your heart. You rack your brain for ideas. You over research. You write and delete the first sentence a hundred times. But how can you work through writer’s block?

Create a deadline. Your creative juices may have more incentive to flow if there’s a deadline looming. To keep yourself motivated, set deadlines for all your projects so you have a goal to work towards. Even better: set project milestones so you keep on top of your allotted time for research, interviews, writing, and editing. The possibility of falling behind can provide the encouragement you need to get the words out.

Just write. Yes, it seems like odd advice. You wouldn’t tell a runner with a debilitating injury to just run, right? But writer’s block is a mental barrier, not a physical one. It’s like a dam holding back all your brilliant and insightful musings. Putting pen to paper, or fingers to keyboard, helps you push break down the mental wall. Make jot notes, a story outline or a first draft - whatever it takes to prime your mind. Once you’ve broken down the wall, the rest will flow.

Take a break. Take a few hours or days, if you have them, before you look at what you’ve written. The time lets you refresh your thoughts and makes rewriting and editing much easier.

Overcoming writer’s block is more a test of mental strength than writing ability. It takes determination to force yourself to write when the words won’t flow. But if you can work past that initial barrier you’ll be typing away in no time.

Negotiating a telecommute project

One of the biggest perks of freelance writing is working from home. You can set your own hours, dress casually and cater your environment to suit your needs. But every once in a while a client may request that you work from their office.

I recently received the following email requesting the writer needed to be on site for the project.

“Your qualifications are very impressive. We’re looking for a writer from X, but are considering you application. Do you ever travel to X?”

It’s a great opportunity and I’d love to work with this client. But X is not within commuting distance. X is a significant plane ride away, actually.

So what do you do when a client wants to hire you but not to work from home?

Highlight your skills

Remind the client of your amazing skills. The more appealing you are the more they’ll want to hire you, regardless of your location.

Emphasize how you successfully work from home

Do you call in for important meetings? Use virtual meeting software? Are you a master of spreadsheets and email planning? Explain how you can overcome any potential drawbacks of working out of the office.

Negotiate the terms

If the client really wants you, they may pay for a trip to their site. After you get the information you need, you can complete the rest of the project from home. It may be worth the travel if the client or project is big enough.

Stay on friendly terms

If you can’t work out a telecommuting deal, don’t burn your bridges. Recommend a freelancer in that client’s area and ask them to keep you on file for future projects. The client may have future opportunities or partners who could use your services.

The grocery cart approach to writing

There’s a fine art to successful grocery shopping. It involves planning, organization and team work. And that’s why writing is a lot like grocery shopping.

Have you ever gone grocery shopping and ended up with a bunch of stuff you didn’t need? Get stuck in a cashier line for 20 minutes? Get hit by a frantic shopper’s cart as they tried to navigate the lanes? Don’t worry; you’re not the only one.

But grocery shopping doesn't have to be hard, and neither does writing. Take the principles of quick and easy grocery shopping, apply them to your writing and you’ve got a recipe for success.

Planning

Planning a grocery list makes shopping so much easier. You know what you need and how much to get, and it keeps you from adding unnecessary chips and cookies in your cart.

Similarly, planning your writing prevents verbal junk from slipping its way into your projects. You know, all that brilliant but off-topic stuff that squeaks into you writing. If you know what you want to write about and how much space you have to do it, you’re less likely write tangents that can sidetrack your goals.

Organization

Having a grocery list is only the first move in your game plan - now you have to organize it. Structure your list to match the flow of the store. It keeps you from wandering about while looking for missed items and limits your exposure to temptation items and erratic cart drivers.

In the same way, organizing your writing plans limits your time per project stats. It keeps you on track, steers you away from the verbal junk we talked about and streamlines your plan of attack, making you more efficient and profitable.

Team Work

While shopping last week I watched a couple scrutinizing their grocery list, discussing their plan of attack: “Okay, we need eggs, milk, and potatoes. You get the eggs and milk; I’ll get the potatoes. We’ll meet in front of the cash”.

What can you learn from this couple? The key to surviving the grocery store is getting in and out as quickly as possible. Dividing your tasks lessens your exposure to those grocery store risks.

Comparatively, enlisting the help of a fellow writer, editor or proof reader spares your time and sanity. Trade proof-reading services with another writer or plan a brainstorming session for that big creative project. You’ll both benefit from a fresh set of eyes and the creative stimulation.

Choosing your pro bono work: ICE, ICE baby

To finish up on the pro bono theme, this post offers some criteria for evaluating a pro bono offer.

True pro bono work is performed for public benefit. The main con to the pro bono system is the people who abuse it. A start-up website dedicated to making millions wants you to write for free, promising you invaluable exposure in return? That's abuse. A charity organization needs someone to edit their pamphlets but can't afford to pay? That's pro bono.

But sometimes it's not so easy to decipher an assignment's potential. To determine the worth of any pro bono job, consider its ICE value. Evaluate based on Interest, Creativity, and Efficiency - the three makers or breakers for any pro bono deal.

Interest

Although it seems selfish, only take on pro bono projects that really interest you. Because pro bono work is without pay, you’ll need something to keep you motivated and having a personal interest in a project gives you more stake in seeing it through.

Creativity

Pro bono work allows you to stretch your creative wings, so make sure you take advantage of that. Look for projects that let you test your limits: work in a new niche, with different tools, or in different sectors. This also allows you to avoid burnout. Variety is, after all, the spice of life.

Efficiency

Every hour you write for free is an hour you could be earning cash, making pro bono writing a luxury only the rich can afford. If you're struggling to make ends meet, writing for your local charity doesn't help put food on the table, no matter how noble your motives are.

Before you accept a pro bono job, assess it as you would a paying job. Create a project plan and estimate. Now reexamine the job. Are the benefits enough to balance the monetary loss the job equals? If not, maybe you can't afford to lend your services right now.

Use the ICE scale to evaluate your pro bono opportunities and you’ll be sure to take on the ones that are best for you, and therefore your client.

One final tip: When choosing pro bono clients, look for organizations that help others. They’re often the ones that need volunteers the most, and you can rest assured that you’re pro bono effort is truly worth your while.

The flip side: pro bono writing cons

The cons of pro bono writing are harder to discern than the pros, maybe because clients will praise the benefits while ignoring the negatives. But it's important to examine both sides of the coin before you take a pro bono assignment.

These following cons are the most common, and easily avoidable, The Word Boutique has dealt with.

Scope creep

It may start out as a quick project but if managed incorrectly even the smallest assignment can snowball out of control. Like an avalanche, once scope creep starts it's impossible to stop; what starts out as a simple favour can turn into a never-ending nightmare of revisions.

To avoid being pulled into never-ending revisions, updates, or added deliverables, outline the project scope before you commit. Negotiate a manageable work load and create a schedule with a set project completion date. This lets you keep track of the work you've agreed to do and catch scope creep before it begins.

If the project starts to run amock, reevaluate. You might have to be a stickler, and even feel like a scrooge, but stay firm upon the original agreement. Put any new requests forward to a new project, and if you enjoy working with the client, offer to address them once the current project is complete.

Unclear objectives

Many pro bono clients identify the need for a full time staffer but don't have the resources to hire one - that's why they need pro bono work in the first place. But this also means they may not have a clear idea of what's necessary to successfully complete a project. A local charity, for example, knows it needs PR for its fundraiser, but doesn't know what kind of PR materials it needs. As a pro bono freelancer, this is where you step in.

Help you clients (and yourself) execute a successful project by identifying their needs and objectives from the very start of the project. This will help sure the materials you create are what your client really needs, and will put a kibosh on the nasty scope creep mentioned above.

Mismatched qualifications

Many organizations are so happy to have volunteers that they overlook writer inexperience, ending up with a writer who can't meet their needs. Pro bono writing is a great way to get experience, especially in a market or niche you want to break into, but make sure you have the skills required to get the job done. If an organization needs a highly specific grant proposal written to stringent standards and you have no idea what those standards are, you might harm more than help. If there's a discord between your qualifications and their goals, it's better to stay away.

On the flip side, if the client needs marketing materials and you have no desire to ever work as a copy writer, the project isn't beneficial for you. Examine pro bono clients in regards to what you can offer them and what they can offer you, and make sure it's a balanced scale.

As always, it's most important to balance the pros and the cons of pro bono writing. Writing for free is a great way to expand your horizons and to give back. Just make sure it's a good fit for you and the organization or you'll both end up unhappy.

For free or not for free? The freelance question

There have been a lot of discussions about writing for free or for exposure lately. Some people are advocates of writing for free to build a portfolio. Others vehemently deny that it will ever be useful for you.

At first glance, writing for free seems like a horrible idea - would you work for any other employer for free? But there are some benefits to working for free if you're doing the right kind of work for the write client / publication. This post looks at the benefits of free writing, and how to spot them before you make your decision.

Networking

Writing for free you can expand your client network. The key to making these networking contacts successful is using writing for free jobs as a stepping stone for paying work. If you accept a no or low pay job, make sure you indicate that it's a one-time offer. Make your work so great that they want you back. Now you have grounds to negotiate for a paying gig. If the job is a one-time-only piece, ask if they'll refer you to others who can use your services.

Also look for pro bono jobs that allow you to work with field experts. If you want to start writing web copy, taking a pro bono job that links you with SEO experts and web designers is a sure fit. The knowledge you can gain far outweighs the expense of working without pay.

Portfolio building

Working for free is a great way to build your portfolio, especially if you're new to writing. There are some catches to this one, though. Your portfolio should only display your best pieces. If the job isn't eye-catching and resume-worthy, it won't add to your portfolio.

If you're debating taking a no-pay gig to build your portfolio, make sure it meets the following requirements:

- It's an interesting piece that will enhance your portfolio
- It's for a reputable client who will provide a reference
- You're not limited by Non Disclosure Agreements or copyrights
- The effort put in to the project is equal to the benefits you get from it

Exposure

Exposure is the most-touted work for free benefit; many potential clients will offer you exposure instead of pay. But be very wary - not all exposure is good exposure. If a start-up blog wants you to write 100 articles for $5 but doesn't have any readers, you're not getting the exposure for your work. They're getting 100 articles for nothing and you're getting fleeced.

If you're debating a pro bono gig for the exposure, ask:

A) Who reads this publication?
B) Are they the type of clients I'm trying to attract?

If the answer is:

A) No one
B) No

...the exposure isn't worth your effort.

On the other hand, if a respected publication asks you to write a guest column, go ahead. Association with a reputable publication is money in the bank. If you're good enough to write for X, you're good enough for X's readers - your potential clients.

Experience

Following right behind exposure, experience is the second most user "benefit" of writing for free. But experience is only worth the paper (or website) it's published on. If you're a sports writer, experience in marketing might not be that useful to you. But if you're a sport writer looking to expand to other niches, picking up a marketing writing job might get you a foot in the door in a new writing market.

Evaluate experience-only jobs: Do they fit in with your writing plans? How will the experience benefit you? Don't accept them unless they help you meet your writing goals.

Final steps

Writing for free has many benefits; you just have to know how to spot them. In the next post we’ll discuss the cons of free writing and how to weigh them against the pros.

*Here's a link to the article that provoked this series of posts. I don't necessarily agree with the post, but it definitely is food for thought.

Why You Should Write Cheap Articles

Query Letter Tips

Query letters are article/ column/ feature proposals you send to editors. They're a great way to drum up business but can be easily overlooked if the editor feels your pitch isn't suited to their publication. Enhance your success rate by customizing your query letter for each publication. Demonstrate that your pitch is unique, intriguing, and will garner reader attention and editors will be knocking at your door.

1. Address your query.

Get the editor's name and email address. When you send your query to the "Contact Us" email, you never know who, if anyone, will read it. Send your query directly to the editor you want to write for. If nothing else, your name makes it to their inbox and that's definitely a foot in the door.

2. Match the publication's writing style.

Use wording that mirrors the publication style and tone. From an editor's perspective, the more your submission matches the theme of the magazine, the less editing it will require.

Example

The "About Us" section for the publication you are submitting sounds like this:

Your Health Magazine is for the health conscious individual who doesn't have hours a day to spend exercising and preparing meals. We help you find balance between healthy and living by providing real-life stories, quick meal ideas, and expert fitness advice.

Your query opening should match that tone:

My fitness article is an excellent fit for Your Health Magazine. It explores the difficulties of balancing fitness with other commitments, the personal rewards of meeting your fitness goal, and the challenges that come along the way, supporting your mandate of providing quality health articles based on proven expert advice.

3. Explain your relevance.

Editors don't want to figure out where or why your piece would work. It's your job to demonstrate that to them.

Example

My article would work well with your "Average Joe Fitness: How to Meet Your Fitness Goals" theme for your July issue. It follows the author, a fitness newbie, on her journey to complete a triathlon. It explores the difficulties of keeping a long-term resolution and uses expert advice, personal experience, and humorous commentary to guide readers through the challenges of meeting a fitness goal.

4. Spell out exactly what the editor is getting.

Always state what your piece includes. Editors need to know how long the piece will be, if it includes photos, sidebars, expert advice, F&Q, and so on. This helps them plan for space allocation and budget considerations when reviewing your query.

Example

This 1500 word article includes race photos, information from subject matter experts, a "Triathlon Tips" side bar and four blog posts about the author's training experiences. Subject matter experts include: A sports medicine doctor, a seasoned triathlete, and a nutrition coach.

5. Always include your bio and contact information.

Editors want pieces from credible writers. List any qualifications you have. Bonus points if you have online writing samples they can view. And make sure they have a few ways to contact you; not all editors will want to negotiate offers via email.

Example

I am a seasoned freelance writer with publications in some of the nation's top health and fitness magazines, including: Fitness sample and Health and Wellness sample. To view my portfolio, go to *sample website*. Feel free to contact me via email, or by phone at 555-555-5555.