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| Sustainable Writing is the key to earning a living as a Freelance Writer |
Sustainable Writing is the key to earning a living as a freelance writer. Having a regular income as
a freelance writer requires multiple streams of income. Managing those streams
and keeping them afloat is where the sustainable part happens. Just like
the environment, we have to be good stewards of our time and resources as
writers and business owners.
As
a matter of fact, there's a lot we, as writers, can learn from the
environmental awareness movement. If you don't believe me, just substitute
the word TIME for the word ENVIRONMENT and you’ll be
surprised what becomes applicable.
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| Don't waste your research, recycle it into more articles |
When
we think about sustainable writing, we need to have a recycling mindset. We
should never waste anything. Say you’re doing research for an article titled, Remodel
Your Kitchen. If you pay attention, you’ll find material to write several
dozen articles. How about one called New Trends in Lighting Your Kitchen
or Using Kitchen Cabinets in the Bathroom. Once you know where to look,
the possibilities are endless.
This
works with more than just research, you can repurpose articles—change them by 60 percent—and sell them as a new article to another source. Or, don’t change
them at all and sell the reprint rights.
Here
are some other ways to apply this to your writing.
- Research - When you research a topic or person for an article or book, keep all your notes. I keep all mine in a single computer file. Within that file it’s important to have a document that lists all the webpages (not just the websites) you’ve visited to get your information. I’ve gotten in the habit of copying and pasting the web address into this document the first time I determine the importance of the webpage I visit. I also keep a transcript and/or notes from any interviews I conduct on the subject.
- Rough Drafts - Many times when I’m writing an article it will start off way over the word count I need. I keep a copy of that first draft in my file before I start cutting it and revising it. Often I’ve come back to it and pulled parts out for a new article.
- Related Subjects - I've also learned to make a list of possible related subjects while I'm working on an article. Frequently, when I’m writing an article, ideas for other articles will come to mind. When that happens I’ve learned to immediately make a note of my thought. If I wait, the idea disappears.
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| Don't forget EVERGREEN topics for articles |
You
can also become a sustainable writer by utilizing topics that are always
relevant to the reader, there are called evergreen or GREEN articles.
Open any magazine, and you’ll usually see all of these categories somewhere
within the table of contents. Of course there are exceptions, but take a trip
to your local bookstore and browse through the magazines, you’ll be surprised
what you find. Even niche publications will often include articles about their
niche, slanted to include all four of these categories.
Green Articles fall into 4 major categories
- Business/Finance
- Health/Fitness
- Relationships/Fulfillment
- Passionate Pastimes
Here are some possible titles within these broad categories
- Managing Your Finances in Tough Economic Times (Business/Finance)
- How to Eat Healthy When Time is at a Premium (Health/Fitness)
- Re-Learn the Art of Dating by Going Out With Your Mate (Relationships/Fulfillment)
- Learn to Tithe Your Time (Passionate Pastimes)
The
thing that makes these articles so popular is the fact that they answer a felt
need for the reader. If you haven’t heard this term before, in writing terms, a
felt need is a topic that resonates with the reader. They feel a need to
know this information. If you want your writing to connect to the reader you
utilize this concept.
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| Calendar articles are a great way to connect with your audience |
Finally,
I want to talk about Calendar Articles. It’s critically important
for us as writers to build a relationship with our readers—it’s even more
critical for a magazine or website to do that. One way to accomplish this is by
writing about things that are what relevant to them—again that felt need.
Calendars
are a great way to do this. Think about Back to School themes in the
fall and the theme of Love in February. Go the extra mile though, and
come up with an original slant to the holidays. Or, if you do write about
something fairly common, come up with a sidebar that’s got a slight twist. For
example, you might write an article during October titled, Pumpkin Carving
with Preschoolers. Make it unique by including a recipe for toasting the
pumpkin seeds in a sidebar.
But,
with calendar articles, it’s critically important to go beyond the major
holidays. I’ve sold articles on Breast Cancer, during October (Breast Cancer
Awareness Month) and on Yoga, during September (National Yoga Month) and on
vaccinations during August (National Immunization Month). Below are some
government websites to help get you started on special calendar days and
events.
- http://www.healthfinder.gov/nho/default.aspx
- http://fpc.state.gov/documents/organization/38875.pdf
- http://www.usa.gov/citizens/holidays.shtml
I’ve given you a lot of
information in this post, so now it’s your turn. Use the comments section to
ask questions or offer suggestions.
Don’t forget to join the
conversation!
Blessings,
Edie
