Author Archive for tumblemoose
A writer living in Alaska. A simple man with few passions: My daughter, writing, soccer and now and then a good cigar.
Is Freelance Writing a Career?
I guess it kind of depends on your definition of “career” doesn’t it? For me, when I think of a career I envision something that one does as their primary means of supporting themselves. In my mind, a career is a long term proposition that doesn’t include using the current job as a stepping stone [...]
Freelance Writing Videos
Intuitively, it’s not something you would initially consider as a freelance writer. Why on earth would a person who writes for a living even consider producing videos? I can understand how folks would not consider this a priority or even a consideration for freelance writing but I think there is room for videos in our [...]
How Do You Connect With Other Freelance Writers?
This question developed today after a little FaceBook thingy happened. The incident got me thinking about us freelance writing types and how we connect with other writers. I imagine it’s a bit different for each of us and I’ll bet there are more similarities than meets the eye. In my previous article, I wrote about [...]
To Connect Or Not To Connect With Other Freelancers?
I was thinking about the relationships I have with other freelance writers. In my next article I plan on writing about how to connect and then I started wondering if there are folks out there who don’t even try to connect with other freelance writers. I mean, writing is a solitary sport for most of [...]
If You Didn’t Need To Freelance Write
What else would you be doing? The question really goes to the foundation of your writing psyche. There are certainly a lot of others ways to express your creative self. I mean, you could cruise down the road a novelist takes. You could just keep personal journals or a blog. For that matter you could [...]
Punch Your Freelance Writing
Right in the chops. Go for the knock-out. There are a lot of freelance writers in the ring. The only way to rise above everyone else is to deliver solid punches with your writing. Clients will notice. You will notice. Soon after, everyone will notice. Punchy Get out your thesaurus. I’m assuming you keep one handy. [...]
Comfort Writing
As I sit here this morning, we are getting our first snow of the winter. On days like this, I like to make a big, slow cooked soup, or a home made mac and cheese – genuine comfort food. There truly is something comforting about it. Sometimes, I like to cast my ambitions aside and [...]
Are Ya Jealous?
This whole business of being a writer is kinda screwy. Especially when you consider the freelancing aspect of the thing. Obviously, the universal goal of us writing types is success in our field. I guess my question for you is: How does the success of other writers make you feel? When you hear or read [...]
Why Writers Should Operate From a To-Do List
Please welcome Steve Sears, who has generously proffered this great guest post about the importance of using a to-do list. You can find more great stuff from Steve at www.SGSWrite.com Not operating from a To-Do list? I know of a few freelance writers who operate minus setting goals, and they are successful. However, I have [...]
Freelance Writers Should Do NaNoWriMo
No, NaNoWriMo is not some kind of new dance craze. It’s National Novel Writing Month and it starts November 1. Insane and mentally challenged writers everywhere commit to writing a 50,000 word novel during the 30 days of November. That’s right. A novel in 30 days. “It can’t be done!” say the masses. “Blasphemy!” Yeah? [...]
Freelancing Basics, Part 4
In the final post of this series, we’re going to have a look at some of the issues that surround dealing with clients. If you’ve been following, you already know that the first post covered some basics of being a writer, the second post gave some helpful suggestions in terms of basic freelancing tools, and [...]
Freelancing Basics, Part 3
So far in this series on freelance writing basics, we’ve covered the importance of being a good writer and some of the tools you need to have on hand to get started. This article will focus on the all important concept of finding clients. Let’s face it. Without clients you’re not a freelance writer, you’re [...]
Freelancing Basics, Part 2
In the first post of this series, I wrote about the importance of being able to write. From a business success standpoint, a freelance writer being able to write is kind of a no-brainer. This post will help the beginning freelance writer to identify the tools of the trade that are crucial to freelance writing [...]
Freelancing Basics, Part 1
This series of posts is designed to give the fledgling freelance writer a starting point. While it is designed with the beginner in mind, I’m hoping there will be a tidbit or two of information that veterans will find useful as well. Enjoy. If you are considering tossing your hat into the freelance ring the [...]
How Long Is Your Outgoing?
I know that as freelance writers, a vast majority of our communications with clients and other folks is done through email. With that said, most of us do keep a business phone line for those occasions when talking directly to a client will be the most productive alternative. When was the last time you thought [...]
I Don’t Tolerate Much
I must be getting old. I’ve turned into a ind of curmudgeon. I’m finding that as I go along, I’m a lot less tolerant of stuff. Aren’t we supposed to mellow with age? Seems to be going the opposite direction for me. In my younger days, I think I was pretty happy-go-lucky overall. I think [...]
The Politics of Writing
We’ve all heard the admonishment to be careful what you post on Facebook and Twitter. We are reminded that employers frequently check these sites to find out about a prospective employee. Okay. I’m down with that. If all of someone’s posts indicate they are a knucklehead then as an employer I would probably have second [...]
The Ten Commandments of Writing
Thou Shalt Write – Every day without fail. This, above all else is what makes you a writer. Thou Shalt Not Steal – If you put your name on it, it better be yours. At no time in the history of writing has it been easier to plagiarize. Tempting as it may be, don’t do [...]
