Last Updated on by Michael Brockbank
Like any job or career, having the right tools and environment can go a long way to promoting a successful writing career online. While skill will make up the majority of your continued success, having the best environment possible can help keep you motivated, professional, and writing.
Sleep Deprivation Can Hamper Your Skills
Make sure you get enough sleep at night. Your mind isn’t as sharp when writing content for clients as it would be with a full night’s rest. Sometimes that may be impossible, especially if you have to care for children. If you have to, change your sleeping patterns or schedules to make sure you get as much sleep as possible.
Dietary Concerns Could Diminish Your Abilities
Yes, even eating right could help in your career as a freelance writer. It is a proven fact that those who consume proteins in the morning have more energy throughout the day. This could be in the form of a healthy breakfast and a decent lunch to keep your energy up. Personally, my favorite breakfast is a V8 with a couple of eggs. You don’t have to go on a diet in order to write better, just eat healthier as doughnuts are not all that nutritious.
Comfort in Your Writing Atmosphere
You need to make sure your desk or writing fixture is comfortable to sit at. Chairs that cause neck cramps, positioning of your computer monitor, even the placement of your keyboard can make an impact of how long you can keep writing throughout the day. You need to be comfortable and if sitting on the couch with the laptop is comfortable for you, then that is all that matters.
Make sure that you get up once in a while and walk around. You don’t want to be continuously tied to your desk. If you are working from home, getting up after two or three articles to stretch your legs and clean something within the home can help keep the blood flowing.
Eliminate Distractions
Distractions of any kind can greatly diminish your money making power when working as a freelance writer. Distractions can come in a variety of forms from random noises to a wandering mind in between, or even during, client orders. To be the best writer you can be, you need to focus on the client and not your surroundings.
Children
Having young children can be very distracting as they fight over toys in the next room. One method to employ is to set up a scheduled time every day that children need to either read or study quietly. In some households, homework time can give the parent a block of time without playing referee.
Games
Sitting at your computer writing gives you the opportunity to take quick breaks to play your favorite games. However, you should refrain from doing this too often. Every minute you are playing that game is a minute worth of pay you are missing out on. If you have no will power, set up a small cheap computer that has little gaming capabilities. All it needs to do is run the Internet.
Clean Work Space
Having clutter all over your desk or around your workspace can bring your stress levels up. Not only will your frame of mind be clearer for writing, but your self-worth can benefit as well. If you hold yourself to a professional standard in your home workspace, your work and your self-esteem will display that professionalism in everything you do.
Having Reliable Hardware Can Reduce Down Times
As your computer and the Internet will be your tools for advancing a career as a freelance writer, they need to be in prime condition. This doesn’t mean you need to go out and buy a new computer. Just maintain the one you have as best you can.
Notebooks Can Help Your Progress
It is a proven fact that those who actually write down what they have learned retain it better. Having notebooks around can help you organize thoughts, write down critiques from editors for self-improvement, and more. It may sound corny, but if you compose a notebook of every review your clients or editors give, you could learn a great deal about yourself and your skills as a writer and build your confidence and knowledge of grammar.
Remember to motivate yourself as best you can. Every minute not writing is a minute you could be making money. Keep your focus and an open mind to suggestions and teachings as your clients and editors will help you develop your skills. It doesn’t have to feel like a chore if you enjoy the writing experience.
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