24 Mar 10 Freelance Writing and Time Management

Time management is a challenge for most of the people, and time poses even greater challenge for people involved in independent works. Freelancers do not have anyone looking over the shoulder and they do not have even fix timing. Therefore, time management become critical for success in freelance career, and freelance writers is not immune to this as well. In this blog post, I will share some tips that will help freelance writers manage time quite judiciously.

Time management tips for freelance writers

Tip 1: Fix schedule for each client

The very first thing a freelance writer can do to manage time is to set a schedule, client-wise. Let’s say you have three full time clients and one or two one-time clients. Fix one proper time for each permanent client and keep one-time projects floating in between them. For instance, you can work from nine to eleven on Client A and then from one to three on Client B and from four to six on Client C, and keep the other one-time projects floating in between them depending upon when you get time. Do not follow my two-hours to one client timing. You can vary the duration of work according to the amount of work given to you.

Tip 2: Make a weekly list of articles to write

If you have a permanent client who needs so many articles each week then you should take one day out, probably Saturday, to make a list of articles’ titles that you should write in the coming week. This will save you a lot of time cracking an article idea at the time of writing.

Tip 3: Use Word 2007 for blogging

I am writing this post using blog feature of Word 2007. This is very handy. You can use it to write and publish blog posts. All you need to do is add accounts using XMLRPC link to the client’s blog. IF you do not have word 2007 then you can also consider using other offline blog editors. It will save a significant amount of time.

Tip 4: Install Clutter Cloak

On computer, it is quite easy to get distracted, and it is equally easy to save yourself from distraction while writing. You can save a lot of time by installing clutter cloak or any other similar application on your computer.

There are many more things that you can do to save yourself the horror of missed deadlines. Stick to these and see the improved performance.

Tags: Amount Of Time, Article Idea, blogging, Cloak, Clutter, Duration, Editors, Freelance Writer, Freelance Writers, Freelance Writing, Full Time, Independent Works, Management Time, People, Proper Time, Time Clients, Time Management Tips, Time Projects, Time Tip, Writing Tip

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17 Sep 09 5 Simple Proofreading Tips

Editors say, “Get a fresh eye on it,” and by this they mean do not proofread your document on your own because the mistake that eluded you the first time will do it again the next time you will proofread the document. Actually this is true, and that is why you are asked to get the proofreading done by someone else, even the great writers do that. But, there are times when you simply cannot do it because either the project has to be sent in a jiffy, or you are typing a mail or sending a memo. Through this blog-post, I am sharing 5 valuable tips that will help you find errors in your document.

Tip 1: Take a Break

Once you are done with writing the article or memo, close the document and divert your attention from it for 10-15 minutes. Do some other work and do not think about the document. This will free up your mind, and next time when you will proofread the document, you will not be primed with the content, which will help you see the errors.

Tip 2: Read it out loud

Yes, this helps. By reading your document out loud, you are not only employing your eyes, but you are employing your ears and voice as well in proofreading, which matters a lot. Sometime things that look good, doesn’t sound good.

Tip 3: Read it Backward

This is another valuable insight that will help you in proofreading. If you cannot find errors while reading your document from start to finish, try reversing the process. Reading the document backward will give you a virtual fresh pair of eyes.

Tip 4: Look for the obvious

There are certain words, certain phrases or certain grammar or punctuation mistake you tend make more often than other mistakes. Make a note of those mistakes and focus on finding such mistakes.

Tip 5: Use Search feature

Using the search feature of your word processor can also be a good way to find out common spelling errors. Replace it with correct ones, and for this you may use replace feature.

Tags: 15 Minutes, Ears, Editors, Fresh Pair, Grammar, Great Writers, Insight, Jiffy, Mail, Mistake, Phrases, Proofreading Tips, Punctuation, Search Feature, Spelling Errors, Word Processor

Filed in Writing with 2 Comments

24 Mar 10 Freelance Writing and Time Management

Time management tips for freelance writers

17 Sep 09 5 Simple Proofreading Tips

Tip 1: Take a Break

Tip 2: Read it out loud

Tip 3: Read it Backward

Tip 4: Look for the obvious

Tip 5: Use Search feature

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