10 Successful Writers Share Top Tips on Leveling up!

 

How to Earn More This Year...And Make More Progress

 

Welcome back, readers! Today's post is sure to please. Whether you aspire to start a blog, finish a novel, elevate your platform or your bottom line, I've "picked the brains" of 10 accomplished writers to help you accomplish those writing goals. 

All as part of my ongoing mission to help you "work smarter, not harder" and advance in your career. So grab your favorite brew, get comfortable and get your pencils ready...you'll want to take notes. :-) 

 

THE BIG REVEAL... 

“Look for regular clients—those that you can write for more than once. You’re more likely to get a “yes” to a pitch; regular clients come to you with ideas/assignments; you spend less time pitching overall; and you’re also more likely to be able to negotiate more money because your regular clients appreciate what you do for them. At the outset, I pitched ANY client, but after I changed my strategy to target clients (at the time, magazines that I knew I could write for more than once), my income more than doubled."

KELLY JAMES A.K.A. KELLY JAMES ENGER

Author of books on freelancing including Six-Figure Freelancing, Second Edition: The Writer’s Guide to Making More Money. 

http://www.kellykjames.net/

 

 

 "Guest post on top blogs. Whether you are writing novels or nonfiction, there are issues and topics that will interest bloggers and their audiences. Getting known in the larger world via leveraging other people's audiences is the fastest (and most fun) way to get traction for your books."

C.S. LAKIN, AWARD-WINNING BLOGGER @ LIVE, WRITE, THRIVE

 

https://www.livewritethrive.com/

 

 

"Do your research. Although it may sound generic, I truly believe this to be the key because it's so many ways that it proves beneficial. Whether researching others in the same genre to see how they wrote the book or how they made their millions, it's always a good idea to know what you're about to embark upon. That way, instead of reinventing the wheel, you solely have to customize it to your demographic."

 TONEAL JACKSON, FOUNDER OF AUTHORS PROMOTING SUCCESS

 

http://weareaps.weebly.com/toneal-m-jackson.html

  

 

 "Develop something of your own to sell. My income made a dramatic leap once I started self-publishing ebooks. And ecourses have proven to be especially lucrative. The best part about them is that once they're developed, it's almost like earning on auto pilot.

The reason I say almost is because nothing in business is truly hands off. The courses have to be kept up to date. But this is not difficult; the real hard work is putting it together initially.

If you do choose this route, be sure to choose an evergreen subject, so you can sell the course for years. I've been selling my SEO writing course since 2009; and my romance writing course since 2017. I have one more, and another one on self-publishing in development.

Again, it's a lot of work in the beginning, but once they're up and going, they can be great money makers -- and can pad dry spells we all encounter as freelance writers.

This helps you to earn more in two ways: (i) via direct income from the course itself; and (ii) because it allows you to have another income stream, you can be more selective about the types of freelance writing projects you take on, and/or raise your freelance writing rates."

YUWANDA BLACK, AUTHOR OF "THE ULTIMATE

FREELANCER'S GUIDEBOOK" 

 

https://inkwelleditorial.com/ 

  

 

https://unbound.com/books/kitten-on-a-fatberg/

 

"I think my top tip - for myself and others who may find it useful - would be to focus more on giving out more and less on promoting your own stuff. I’m going to try and spend more time sharing other people’s work, giving constructive feedback, leaving reviews, helping to promote the people, especially those who’ve helped me. To get anywhere you need to build relationships, and that has to be a two-way street."

DAN BROTZEL, CONTENT DIRECTOR & AUTHOR 

 

, "Do your homework for better client relations. The most crucial tip I use when working with clients - don't skimp on gathering the details. I make a list of questions, thoughts, suggestions, etc. before I meet or talk with them on the phone about their project. Although I can touch base and gain more details from them as I work, I like to come away with enough initial details that help narrow and refine the process. Learned this the hard way; in my early days, I wasn't as diligent, and it made the process longer, more stressful, and less efficient. This step also helps me get a better picture of their vision, and helps better focus on the true finalized project."
KAREN E. LANGE, AUTHOR & INSTRUCTOR

  

 http://karenelange.blogspot.com/p/homeschool-co-ops-101.html

 

 

"Seek retainer projects. After years of writing for professionals, small business owners and nonprofit organizations, I am beginning to seek retainer projects from established companies and corporations instead of one-time projects. Also, I use my freelance writing checklist to ensure I am charging for each service I'm providing to complete the project. In addition to blog posts and newsletters, I'm thinking of the communication tools that companies use weekly, monthly and quarterly so I can pitch my services for those."

MARCIE HILL, M.S. AUTHOR, TRAINER, BLOGGER

https://www.marciewrites.com/


 

(On making progress...)  

 

"Meditate and affirm. Set your intentions: In this writing session, I want to feel...{excited, eager, confident, harmonious, peaceful, flowing}. After this writing session, I want to feel...{satisfied knowing I am fulfilling my mission, excited, eager for the next session}}."

DR. NOELLE STERNE, AUTHOR OF

TRUST YOUR LIFE 

 

http://trustyourlifenow.com/



"Being a writer begins with passion and continues through open-minded growth. Being open to an editor's remarks or to taking yet another class (or reading another book) on how to write well. Passion puts our fingers to the keyboard. Hard work brings about the story we want to convey. Unfortunately, it's not about the money. It's actually rare to make one's living as a writer. Even the "Cheryl Strayeds" of the world have to teach a class or give a talk (with compensation) to supplement their writing income. But if you love it, you'll do it, and you'll keep wanting to grow. And you'll change the world (one story at a time) as you go."

MELANIE HOLMES, GLOBAL MEDIA AWARD 2014
 

http://www.melanieholmesauthor.com/

 

"My top tip for making more progress toward achieving your writing success is to set external deadlines. This could be submitting a scene the first day of every month to your critique group/partner, revising a short story or poem in time for a contest or magazine submission deadline, or editing the current draft of your manuscript to get it to your editor by an agreed-upon date. Setting external deadlines will force you to make your writing a priority and inspire you to get the work done."
KRISTIN OAKLEY, MANAGING EDITOR OF WRITE CITY MAGAZINE

https://kristinoakley.net/

...And last but not least. What Jen recommends:

Jen @ Pen & Prosper

Learn more to earn more. Want to reach your full potential as a writer? Devote time, effort and money into professional development.
Teachers do. Cosmetologists do. Other serious practitioners do. 
Take classes. Invest in information products. Hire a creative coach.

When you "invest" in yourself it pays off!






Your turn, readers.
As Pen & Prosper celebrates "10 years" in the blogosphere, I hope you'll join me in celebrating these ten experts who contributed a great wealth of wisdom to this project by leaving a comment.
 

Thoughts? What's your favorite success tip shared?

Any tip you'd like to add?

Thanks for reading.

Image credit: Pixabay.com