Guest post by Blog Manager Robbi Hess
Regardless of whether it's January 1 or March 1 or whichever 1st of any month during the course of the year, there are some tips/resolutions for pet writers that could help take your writing to the next level and — who knows — bring you in some additional cash in the new year!
Here are a few things I've learned during my career as a full time writer that might help budding writers on their quest toward making their writing more of a business than a hobby:
- Set regular "office" hours for yourself: I can't stress this enough. When you're self employed and working from home, it is easy to work all the time. You need to determine your best time for work — whether it's 9-5 or midnight to 7, set a time and stick to it or you'll find yourself working 24/7 and that's not healthy or productive.
Be able to accept rejection: Even as a full time writer I still get rejected! It doesn't make it any easier no matter how long I've been a writer or how infrequent it is. You need to move on and grow a tough skin.
Track your income and your expenses: Imagine the thrill of receiving a paycheck for your writing! I still have my first story and check framed on my office wall. Along with that income, though, came expenses — postage, paper, computer software and hardware, etc.
Respond to requests from editors: As an editor myself, I find it more than a little frustrating when a writer comes to me with a great idea, but one that needs a little work. I send them back an email detailing the changes and no response. It's like they've fallen off the face of the earth. Believe me, I will remember that writer and not consider their work again. If an editor is interested enough to respond to you, it's your responsibility to follow through.
Always keep learning: Okay, as a writer, you don't need to know anything about computer tech or self promotion or social media, right? Wrong? As a writer, it's in your best interest to be well-rounded, learn new technologies, add new services for your clients and your business will continue to thrive.
Because I wanted to end my list on a "good" number, I didn't put this as 6, but if I had a 6, it would be, don't put all your eggs in one basket. You might have two or three steady clients but regardless of this, you need to be continually marketing. True, you don't want to overextend yourself so that your work suffers but if a client no longer has the need for your services, you don't want panic to set in — especially if you haven't been networking to build your circle of potential clients.
Thanks for sharing these useful tips.. Let the hunger for knowledge and learning stay with us always. 🙂
great tips…from someone who virtually is “working” 24-7 I need to get that better under control.
As for the “tough skin”….I still remember someone (whose name shall remain unknown)…that said my blog was a grammatical and punctuation MESS….she sure did!!!!
Considering my blog is “casual” and not meant to be a thesis on cats I have to admit I was rather taken aback. I have to say I didn’t respond to her email for fear of showing her just how grammatically perfect my emailed diatribe would have been had I responded!