Chances are, you already have it — I kicked off my full-time writing journey in early 2020 and have learned a lot about writing and the many tools available to help you get from the draft phase to a finished product. But the one suggestion I never implemented was an audio reader during the editing process. As…

Define your expectations to achieve writing success — Every December, I draft my hopes for the coming year, as well as capture key events from the year that just passed. Heading into Year 4 as a full-time writer, however, I need more than vague dreams and wishes to achieve writing success. The following principles and takeaways will guide…

Hint: It’s not about billing — I worked as a contractor for many years, and doing so required a steady tracking of billable time… Along with using this data to create invoices and stay on top of other financials such as my hourly rate, I needed to show clients how my time was spent. Now that…

I’ve finally learned how to make the most of my writing time — Some people write for the joy of it. Some write for money or the desire to work for themselves. I do it for all the above. But, almost three years in, I realized my efforts have been subpar not because of the market (although that’s part of it) or my…

My mantra for finally publishing a novel — Enough is enough. I have two novels sitting here ready to be finalized and published. Yet, I’ve procrastinated on both. No more. I have a milestone birthday coming up — not saying which one, LOL — and this date is now the catalyst for my first self-published book. I’ve wasted…

Here’s why you should create your own collection — Anyone who writes full time knows it can be difficult to stay focused and motivated. So many other things compete for our attention! It’s easy to get sidetracked and shun writing tasks for more pressing (or more exciting) priorities, especially when we’re just starting out. Along with becoming better decision-makers…

Let me count the ways — By now, you’ve likely seen the editing feature Medium returned to its mobile app. Like many writers on here, I wasn’t happy when they removed it. I adjusted, but I didn’t realize just how much I missed this feature until it returned. Having the ability to create content on the…

Let this mindset guide your writing life — If you feel discouraged by your writing income — or lack thereof — you aren’t alone. A recent study revealed that 62% of freelance workers would rather have permanent employment than face the uncertainty that comes with being a full-time creator. With the COVID-19 pandemic and the Great Resignation still…

Don’t let expedited assignments stress you out! Instead, use them to improve your writing. — I was making dinner the other day when I received a text message about a pending assignment. Things were fairly slow, and the pay rate was above average, so I figured why not? By my calculations, I had a week to put together the content. No problem. I’d just tackle…