I’ve been a freelance writer for over four years, which means I’ve received my fair share of advice from more experienced freelancers. I’ve consumed endless blog posts and podcasts over the years as well as invested in courses and coaching about how to become a...
Most writers use too many words. That sounds silly, because it’s our literal job to use words. But too often we throw them on the page by the bucketful, like amateur painters trying to recreate a Jackson Pollock. Your canvas of brown splotches affirms how intentional...
Whatever you write, you want to get your thoughts across in a clear and effective way — that’s the first thing you need to know about how to improve writing skills. If you’re a novelist, you don’t want awkward word choices or repetitive sentence structures to distract...
When I started writing my first book, I knew it was destined for Amazon self-publishing. I had been working as a developmental editor for years at that point, so I had a pretty good understanding of the industry and the various publishing options available to me. The...
Do you do most of your writing in Google Docs? From collaboration to easily checking word count in Google docs to its Suggest Edits feature, many writers rave about this free word processing software. (Here at The Write Life, we’re big fans of Google docs!)...
When New York Times contributor Kristin Wong started freelancing, her first client offered her zero dollars for a screenwriting gig and she accepted it. She had to pay her dues, right? Then a friend who was already a successful freelance writer told her she had to...
My high school English teacher called them “deadwood.” I’ve heard them called “inflation words,” “filler,” “fluff,” “clutter” and “couch potato words.” You probably have another pet name for them. They’re the words you almost never need in a sentence. They occupy...
As a freelance writer, you’re likely constantly searching for well-paying, recurring gigs. But often the pickings are slim. You might feel stuck with one-off assignments that pay only meager returns. That’s where grant writing offers a huge opportunity. I started...
Do you start wincing with anxiety when it comes to contracts for your freelance writing jobs? Or are you unsure about all that legalese from big-time lawyers at ginormous companies that sounds like you’ll be roasted over hot coals if you put a comma in the wrong...
You did it! 2020 is (almost) OVER. Here comes the big question: Whose words helped you sprint across the finish line? In January, we’re continuing our tradition and publishing a seventh edition of the 100 Best Websites for Writers in 2021 — but we can’t do it...
