RETURN TO WRITING STRATEGIES

The Writer’s Edge
Tips for the Freelance Writer - By Terri Mrosko

Finding Time to Write

Writing, like anything else, takes time, a commodity that always seems to be in short supply.

One of the first pieces of advice I received as I pursued my writing career was to "write every day."

I kept a journal since I was about 14 years old, so the idea of writing every day was an easy one to incorporate into my life, even when I worked a fulltime office job.

There are plenty of other ways to incorporate writing into your daily life. One way is to keep up with your correspondence with family and friends. You can do it the old-fashioned way and write a letter on that stationery you bought years ago (and hardly ever use). Or you can email to stay in touch--my lifeline!

You can use downtime at the office to write something. You can use a lunch hour or the quiet morning before the rest of the house wakes up.

Just find the time to write every single day. It will sharpen your skills and make you a more disciplined writer so you will be ready when those assignments start rolling in. You might even want to pretend you have a deadline (ugh!) each night.

If you are serious about freelance writing, you need to practice daily, just as if you are preparing for a music recital or play. Just as if you are gearing up for the big game.

Once you get in the habit of writing each day, set your goal to write something marketable each day.

You can write a paragraph of a short story or you can write a query letter for a great magazine article you want to write. You can write a poem or you can create a newsletter.

Your choice--but just write!