May 17, 2012

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Guest Post: 5 Ways That Your Day Job Can Help Your Writing

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By Sara Hodon

Not all writers can afford to say goodbye to the day job so they can pursue their craft full-time. (Sad, but true). But there’s a bright side—why not look at having a day job as an advantage to your writing career, rather than an obstacle?
Below are a few thoughts to help you gain some perspective:
Your day job helps you keep your writing fresh. Approaching your writing with new energy every day definitely beats staring helplessly at a blank page, or a paragraph that just refuses to go further. Even if your freelancing is in the early stages with an article here or a copywriting project there, you’re more likely to find it energizing rather than draining after a long day at work. This is particularly true if you have a job that has nothing to do with writing.

You have easy access to expert sources for articles. If you’re making the most of your field and pitching to trade publications or other specific markets, why not use your network of contacts a bit and ask them for a quote for the article you’re working on? I don’t advise taking advantage of your network too much (as in, don’t try to win them as customers for your freelance business), but most people should only be too glad to share their knowledge with you. I was doing an article on Alzheimer’s disease and was able to use a few contacts I had at assisted living facilities. They were more than happy to contribute and they couldn’t wait to see the final version!

Focusing on work can help you think of story ideas. Your subconscious is still buzzing away, even if you’re intently working on a project or sitting through a meeting. Most writers and non-writers admit that their best ideas come to them at the strangest times. (I seem to get my best brainstorms either while in the shower or while driving.) Let your mind wander a bit and see what you can come up with. Carry a notebook with you so you can jot down those brilliant ideas.
Limited writing time helps you develop self-discipline. If your writing projects are reserved solely for evenings and weekends, you have no choice but to get yourself on a schedule. Most writers that I know need a deadline—even a self-imposed one. Come up with a to-do list and start tackling the less time-consuming tasks—get those emails sent, look up the name of the book you’re hoping to use for research, or send the photo to the editor for your bio. It may seem overwhelming at first, but it’s a great feeling of accomplishment to get some of those items out of the way. I’d be lost without my to-do list. Because of it, I find that I’m writing nearly every day. No small accomplishment for someone who tends to procrastinate!
Ask your co-workers for feedback. The next time you’re sitting around gossiping in the lunchroom, why not ask your co-workers for their thoughts on the article or short story you’ve been working on? Getting a fresh perspective—especially an impartial opinion—might help you get “unstuck” on the piece or try a new approach you hadn’t originally considered.

Sara Hodon is a freelance writer based in Northeast Pennsylvania whose work has appeared in History, Today’s Caregiver, Your Wedding, and GRAND Magazine Online, among others. She is also the “Date and Relate” columnist for Online Dating Magazine. Follow her writing trials and tribulations at Adventures in the Writing Life.
Flickr photo courtesy of mcdlttx
Filed Under: creative life, juggling, writing

7 Ways to Showcase Older Blog Posts

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Once you’ve been blogging for awhile, you’ve probably accumulated some posts that you’re really proud of. And it’s a shame if those posts remain buried deep in your blog’s archive.

The occasional reader might stumble on an old post or two after digging through your archives or doing a Google search for certain keywords, but most of those posts will lie dormant, gathering dust in the virtual equivalent of an attic. Unless, that is, you’re savvy about showcasing those old gems.

Here are a few strategies to get you started:

1. Revisit the topic. Someone once asked me if I’d recommend reposting favorite posts so that new readers can discover it. No, but since writing the original post you’ve probably gained new insights on the topic, so you could link to the old post and discuss new developments or revelations. See #2 for an exception.

2. Sell or share a reprint of your old post. I sometimes sell reprints of posts that I originally published here to earn extra money. Some writers offer free reprints as a guest blog post on another site. I like this solution because it brings you and your blog added exposure without repeating content on your own site (if you have loyal readers, they will probably have an inkling that you’re repeating yourself). And most of the people on the other site will be none the wiser because they probably aren’t following your blog yet. But if you’re selling or sharing a reprint, you MUST tell the other blogger or publisher so they can decide if they’re comfortable having duplicate content.

3. Link within your posts. Lots of bloggers do this so that readers have a chance to explore related topics. You could include a list of related posts at the bottom (I believe WordPress has a Plugin for this), but I prefer to have those links integrated into the post. You’ll notice that I do a little of this throughout this post.

4. Include it in a sticky post. I discussed the use of sticky posts earlier, and you could include links to a couple of older posts or rotate links depending on what’s happening in the news or what readers are talking about.

5. Link to it in your blogroll. Admittedly, my list of “popular posts” is woefully out of date, but this is another area where you could play up the posts you’re most proud of. And readers really do click on those links! At one point, I had deleted the “popular posts” section in an attempt to tighten up the blogroll, and a reader actually emailed me to complain that she couldn’t find one of my “popular posts.”

6. Plug it in your newsletter. I get a certain newsletter that includes a section called “From the Vault,” which highlights an article from their archives. I think this is a smart strategy, because people who are interested in the article and didn’t see it the first time are somewhat likely to click on the link. Those who’ve already read it will probably ignore the link, but there’s plenty of new content in the newsletter, too.

7. Include it in a roundup post. Roundups are great because they’re chock full of information and it’s usually quicker for the blogger to put together a roundup post rather than writing something from scratch. For instance, at the end of 2008, I created a roundup of popular posts from the past year. It’s a popular (and perhaps cliched) way for bloggers to mark the end of the year, but you could also create a roundup around a certain topic or theme.

Your turn! Are there other blogging strategies I’ve missed? How do you showcase posts from your achives?

Flickr photo courtesy of gadl

Filed Under: blogging

Open Thread: Have You Used a Virtual Assistant or Intern?

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The other night I complained to my brother about how hard it is to juggle writing projects and accounting and marketing and computer trouble-shooting and tweeting and everything else.

“You need an intern,” he said.

“But what’s in it for them? I’ve thought about getting a virtual assistant, but I’m not sure I can justify the expense.”

“Just find a college student who wants to learn about freelancing and take her under your wing. She can help you with paperwork and marketing, and you’ll help her build a network and a writing portfolio.”

Huh. Not for nothing that my brother has an Ivy League degree. He’s a smarty-pants all right! I’m still not totally sold (after all, freelancers don’t get much practice in delegating), but I admit I’m intrigued.

Have you used a virtual assistant or an intern? How did you find this person? What sort of tasks did you assign them? Any tips or suggestions?

Filed Under: open thread

Guest Post: 6 Ways to Improve Your Blog Karma

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By Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen

“Karma” means you reap what you sow, or get as good as you give. Karma is what the clichés “She had it coming”or “What goes around, comes around” are all about. Karma means your actions will return to help – or haunt – you in this world…or the next one.

To improve your blog karma, you need to throw stones and make positive ripples in cyberspace. Luckily, it’s easier – and more fun! – than you think…

1. Write blog posts based on your readers’ comments or questions. One of my all-time favorite “blog-currences” is when readers ask a question or make a comment on a post. Responding with a full-blown article not only gives me something new to write about (an idea I may never have considered), it also makes readers feel special! Thanking them in the post – and even connecting to their blog or website – creates more delicious karma.

2. Barter your blog “buttons.” Desirée Ossandon over at Canada Arts Connect is featuring my buttons on her blog, and in exchange I’m featuring hers on mine. If you have a blog button (it could be a small 125 x 125 graphic that represents your blog), ask a fellow blogger to do a button exchange. If you don’t have one, ask about it below….and I’ll write a “how to create a blog button” post! J

3. Add a CommentLuv plugin. One of my favorite blog features is a WordPressplugin called “CommentLuv” (I’m not sure if it’s available on Blogger). When readers comment on your post and insert their URL, their last post is listed as a live link. I love this feature because it reveals a little of the personality and style of the commenter, and it gives them a bit of exposure. Karma!

4. Talk blogging with Gramma. Sum up the purpose or theme of your blog in a sentence or two, and talk about it in real life, not just online! Tell your grandma, hair stylist, storekeeper, and taxicab driver about your best, worst, favorite, or latest post. And don’t forget to ask if they’ve created their own blog. If they have their own blog, seek it out, make comments, and refer to your “real life” relationship. Creating blog karma extends beyond cyberspace, my friends.

5. Become a “regular” on several blogs. The more a blogger and his/her followers see your name on a particular blog, the better your relationship with be. Don’t be a “drive by commenter.” A crucial aspect of successful blogging is building relationships, and this involves being strategic about your commenting habits. Get to know bloggers, and let yourself be known.

6. Help people achieve their goals. This is what karma is all about! The more you help others succeed, the farther you’ll go – in blogging and in life in general. Find people who need help by visiting writers’ forums, searching for questions on Twitter (Tweetdeck makes it easy – if you want to learn how, ask me below!), or even asking what readers want at the end of your own blog posts.

Karma is my new favorite sport – Susan, thanks for being the first to teach me this term, and for letting me write about it here!

Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen is a full-time writer and blogger who created and maintains a series of Quips and Tips blogs: Quips and Tips for Successful Writers, Quips and Tips for Achieving Your Goals, and Quips and Tips for Couples Coping With Infertility. She’s also the Feature Writer for Psychology Suite101.

Filed Under: blogging, guest post
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