Can Good Writing Happen on a Timetable?
When you hear the advice to set aside time to write, do you worry about whether you'll be able to produce quality writing on a set schedule? What if you didn't get enough sleep the night before, or you're worried about another priority at the time, or you're just not...
Is It Time to Get Help with Your Business?
As a self-employed professional or creative, you're used to doing most things on your own. But there will likely come a time when the assistance of others could help your business grow, and help you feel less stressed. Here are some questions you might find yourself...
Become a Fearsome Writer
Writing holds the potential to provoke a considerable amount of fear. We worry if we can turn into completed prose the vague thoughts in our heads. We're anxious about what our readers will think of what we've written. We're afraid we'll never be able to produce our...
Avoiding the Feast or Famine Trap for Your Business
It can seem like it's the destiny of the self-employed professional to exist in a constant state of feast or famine. Either you are working day and night to keep up with client demands, or you're wondering how much is left in your savings account and whether the phone...
Do You Need Inspiration to Write?
The Nobel-Prize-winning writer William Faulkner published 19 novels, 125 short stories, 20 screenplays, one play, and six collections of poetry. How on earth did he manage to stay inspired? Here's what Faulkner himself said: "I only write when I am inspired....
Are You Getting Paid Enough for the Work You Do?
"I have plenty of work coming in," one of my clients told me, "but I'm not getting paid enough. Every project seems to take longer than I anticipated, and I end up putting in too many unpaid hours. How can I fix this?" If this problem sounds familiar, there are two...
How to Prime Your Writing Pump
"Priming the pump" is one of those expressions you probably use without thinking about it. Used metaphorically, it means to encourage the success or growth of a thing by taking steps to get it started. But literally, the origin of the phrase is the practice of pouring...
To Build Your Business, Let Your Light Shine
"I think I'm really good at what I do," declares technical writer June, "but I don't ever seem to get a chance to show people." June is experienced, highly-skilled, and has written dozens of instruction manuals and other how-to guides throughout her career. But she...
Do You Think You Should Be Able to Write Without Help?
Picture the solitary writer, scribbling alone in a dismal garret. Shivering in a threadbare sweater and fingerless gloves, the writer persists despite poverty, heartbreak, and isolation from humanity, until completing the great work that will lift the writer from...
Do You Need a Business Plan? Or Do You Need an Action Plan?
If you're a self-employed professional starting a new business or expanding the one you have, developing a written plan is a valuable first step. You've heard about business plans, but did you know there is more than one type? Depending on your situation, you may need...