Improve Your Writing: Get Feedback
June 4, 2008
In recent weeks, we’ve been looking at five basic ways to improve your writing. Today we’re going to find out why getting feedback from other writers and from readers is one of the most difficult but valuable ways to become a better writer. First, a quick overview of the first four posts in this series:
You can do everything on the list above but your writing will never reach its full potential if you do not embrace feedback.
Writing is often regarded as a solo pursuit. But most of us write for an audience. Once a piece of writing reaches its readers, it’s no longer a solo endeavor. It becomes interactive. It also becomes a prime target for scrutiny. That’s right, all the critics (and a whole bunch of people with big huge opinions) will pull out their scrutinizing rifles and play target practice with your work.
Sure, you can wear a bulletproof vest, develop a thick skin, and let it all roll off your shoulder. However, that’s not going to do anything for book sales, blog subscriptions, or article submissions.
Do you think the Mars company just woke up one day and decided to add a bunch of new colors to the M&Ms bag? Nope. They did tests. They checked with a small pool of consumers to see how the new colors would be received, and to make sure they tasted alright (I still think the blue ones taste funny).
If all you do is write in your journal, this might not apply to you. You can eat your own candy and refuse to share it with the world. But if you want readers, real flesh and blood readers, to embrace your work, then you should get on with the taste tests. Immediately.
Don’t hoard the candy
First, you have to start showing your writing to other human beings. These humans beings should not be your mother (yes, I know there are exceptions to the mother rule). Ideally, these people will be other writers and experienced readers. Don’t know any? Sign up for a creative writing class or join a book club. Find someone who offers critiquing services (like me).
In short, find someone who knows how to give a good critique. If you’re serious about your work, you’ll want to get opinions from people who understand the fine nuances of good writing before you wrap it up and send it off to publishers or agents.
A screenwriter once contacted me because he wanted his screenplay proofread. After going through the entire quoting process, he finally said something like, “Thanks, your prices are reasonable but I’m just not comfortable letting anyone read this screenplay. I think it could be a blockbuster and I don’t want anyone to steal it.” I issued a polite and professional response, but what I was really thinking was, “Well if nobody sees the screenplay, then your screenplay will never see the big screen.” Like I said, don’t hoard the candy and if you’re paranoid about infringement and theft, submit the piece for copyright and get on with your writing life.
These look just like those candies from the movie E.T.
M&Ms look a lot like Reese’s Pieces but they are not the same. At all. Likewise, a critique is different from a proofread. The purpose of a proofread is to fix mechanical errors with spelling, grammar, and punctuation. A critique should be designed to address strengths and weaknesses.
Are the characters believable? Is the style consistent? Does the language compel? Is it clear and easy to understand? Does it flow smoothly? Are there holes in the plot? These are the questions that a good critique asks and answers. Sure, you can ask someone who’s giving a critique to keep an eye out for grammar mistakes, but don’t serve up something half-baked.
I’ll tell you why:
Cookie dough is good but it’s not good for you
Raw cookie dough is pretty tasty. I know it puts a smile on my face. But it’s not wise to go around shoving raw material under everyone’s nose when you’re asking for a solid critique that will help you improve your writing. Work hard on your piece and get it as polished as possible before you start asking people to take a bite.
When you’re asking someone to provide you with a critique, they’ll only be distracted if the piece if full of errors and grammatical mistakes. Remember that you’re asking them to take time out of their busy lives to do you a favor, so don’t waste that time by giving them work that is in the early draft stages. This conveys that either you want them to do the work for you, or that you’re too lazy to clean up your piece before asking for feedback. Or, they’ll just assume you’re a crappy writer.
Also, the more errors there are in your piece, the more challenging it becomes to address bigger issues. If a reviewer is caught up on mistakes that you could have fixed yourself, he or she will be more likely to miss other, less noticeable mistakes and problems with your work.
So check and recheck your work, and put the cherry on top before you serve it to anyone (yes, even the taste testers).
Watch out for do-gooders
Keep in mind that some people will only tell you what you want to hear. “Mmm, this is delicious,” is flattering but it’s not the feedback you’re looking for. Especially when they’re spitting out mouthfuls of the stuff behind your back. Look for people who can offer honest and straightforward critiques, who are willing to tell you what works and what doesn’t.
This is why it’s generally not a good idea to ask your mother (or others like her) to be your critic. Mom probably thinks you’re the greatest (I know, I know, not all moms, but work with me here) so it’s unlikely she’ll tell you that your writing is broken. In fact, people like your mom may not even be able to see the flaws in your writing - they are blinded by love. So, find someone who can be objective (and yes, for a few writers out there, that will be Mom).
Give a lick
Always be gracious. I’ve been asked to proofread and offer critiques by countless individuals in my life: family, friends, co-workers, and mere acquaintances. If I give someone honest feedback and they try to argue with me or throw it back in my face because they can’t handle it, I will never, ever give them the courtesy of a critique again. I write, edit, and proofread all day, every day, and as long as I have smiling, paying customers, I do not appreciate people throwing their egos at me after I’ve done them a huge (free) favor.
I always make a point to highlight the strengths and weaknesses from a writing standpoint, and I provide a general response, from a reader’s perspective. This can be tiring and time consuming, and all I want in return is a “thank you.” Sure, I’m more than happy to engage in a discussion, but I’m the one doing the critique. Do not critique the critic people. Take their advice and move on. If you asked for a critique, then it’s your job to suck it up and deal with it.
Instead of lashing out at your critic…
Relax and digest
A lot of people have a knee jerk reaction when they receive a critique. Imagine, you’ve worked hard on a piece, editing and rewriting until you felt it was shiny, sparkling, and ready for the market. Then, someone comes along and says “This needs some work.” You’ve already done the work. You were hoping for a rave review but now this person is telling you that you’ve missed the mark. And this makes you feel like the mark (which you are of course).
After receiving a critique, let the feedback and the piece sit and marinate for a while. Sometimes you just need to let it sit overnight. Other times, it might take a few days before you’re cooled off and ready to revisit the project with a fresh perspective. In any case, take your time and don’t give up.
Don’t ever, ever give up
If writing is your passion, then never give up on it. Write, polish, and ask for feedback. Sit on it for a few days, then sift through the reviews. Decide what advice you want to take and what you want to toss (that is your right as a writer). Edit, revise, repeat. Keep at it. If writing is truly your passion, let it become a lifelong pursuit and enjoy the journey of evolving as a writer. And always strive to be the best writer you can possibly be.
Shine on my fellow writers!
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How I Launched My Freelance Writing Career
May 28, 2008
August, 2007: I had been out of work for almost six months, ever since the company I’d been working for folded. My job search wasn’t going anywhere and the thought of returning to the nine to five cubicle life made me cringe every time I logged into Monster.
Even before the company shutdown, I had been thinking about taking up freelance writing. In my mind, a freelance career would involve writing articles for magazines and newspapers. So, I had embarked on a quest to discover what kind of writer I wanted to become. My experience was pretty vast and included business, technical, and creative writing. Still, I wasn’t sure where I wanted to focus, so I worked on my fiction, drafted some articles, and launched a blog on a social networking site.
But by August, time was running out and so was my unemployment insurance. I needed to get some work fast. I realized that I didn’t have time to write articles and submit them with no guarantee of payment. The turnaround time between submission and acceptance (or rejection) and publication (and payment) simply could not meet my immediate (financial) needs.
I began scouring the web for freelance writers and quickly learned that freelance writing was not limited to composing articles for magazines and newspapers. What I discovered was a way to become not just a freelance writer, but an entrepreneur with my very own business.
Research
I spent several days looking at freelance writers’ websites, taking notes, and paying special attention to the services they were offering. Some specialized in specific areas such as marketing or technical writing. Others provided an unlimited range of writing services. Everyone had an online portfolio or writing samples and almost nobody published their rates.
During the research phase, finding rates was almost impossible. After days of searching, I only came up with about three freelancers who published rates.
Samples & Portfolio
It was immediately clear that I would need a portfolio. After all, nobody in their right mind would pay me to write without seeing my work, proof that I could do the job and do it well. I collected some writing projects I had done for employers, friends, and family. Then I put together some samples to make sure my portfolio was well-rounded and showcased the various types of writing I could do.
This step was actually quite time consuming because I had to go through all my files, reformat and edit several pieces, and make sure that there were no copyright or privacy issues with any of the work I was using in my portfolio. Plus, I had to write the sample pieces from scratch.
Prices and Policies
Even though I’d only found a few freelancers who published rates on their websites, I managed to put together a very rough plan outlining how I would charge for services. This was based somewhat on the rates I’d seen online combined with an estimation of how much time I would spend on a piece, broken down by word count.
Initially, I didn’t put any rates on my website although later I did publish some pricing, packages, and special deals. For the most part, clients would need to provide project descriptions and I could then provide them with quotes for each project.
Since writing is so vast in terms of research, word count, and other specifications, such as formatting or style guidelines, I have found it best to use the quote-per-project model while still offering pre-designed plans for standard projects like keyword articles and blog posts.
I also put together my terms and conditions, which explained the process and policies that I would follow in conducting business. There were a lot of questions that came to my mind, which I thought clients would ask; questions about turnaround time, copyright ownership, payment methods, and invoicing. It turned out to be an invaluable resource for my clients and for me. In fact, I regularly update my terms as new situations and questions arise.
Putting together a set of policies, an FAQ, or terms and conditions page would probably be my number one suggestion to anyone who is thinking about getting into freelancing.
Website
The website, of course, would be the headquarters of my business. It was my brochure, business card, and my portfolio, all rolled into one. I knew it was the single most important tool for marketing my services and luckily, I had over a decade of experience designing and developing websites.
All I needed to do was come up with a name for my business and a site design. Then, I could put it into action and open for business.
This proved to be one of the biggest struggles in launching the business — coming up with a name for my site and putting together a marketing campaign. Every idea I had was squashed because every domain I wanted was taken.
After trying for dozens of domains, I realized that I needed to start doing business immediately and didn’t have time to sit around making up names. So, I used one of the domains I already owned (melissadonovan.com) and decided that I would test the freelance waters for a few months and worry about a name and marketing campaign later.
The Blog
Writing Forward used to be hosted at melissadonovan.com and it was originally called Writing for Writers. I had been blogging on a social networking site and loved it so much I wanted my own blog and domain. I also figured that a blog about writing would be an ideal way to showcase my knowledge and experience and show potential clients my writing style and skill.
I had no idea at the time that so many freelancers were also bloggers or how effectively blogs can be used as part of a business model. I also had no idea that this blog would lead to relationships with other freelancers and bloggers or that it would lead to making so many new friends among the online writing community. All that was a big juicy bonus! Yes readers, you are juicy!
Getting Those First Clients
The idea of cold calling (or emailing) terrified me. I knew this was a standard practice but on the first day of work as a freelance writer, I simply wasn’t comfortable pitching myself to potential clients in this manner. I wanted to take it nice and slow, get my feet wet, and get a handle on my new career. In other words, I wanted to be somewhat low key.
I needed experience, but on a small scale. My ideal customer was another small business owner. Someone looking for a writer. I asked myself, if I was a small business owner and needed to hire a writer for a project, where would I look? The answer was Craigslist.
This is my little marketing secret: when you’re first starting out, post ads on Craigslist. I got exactly the types of clients I wanted, small business owners who needed writing for their websites. It was perfect. The downside was that I got a lot of inquiries for writing academic papers, something I’m not into for numerous reasons. But I was able to pick up work and acquire clients. I used Craigslist (and only Craigslist) for months.
And So It Goes
Now I have clients coming in through my blogs, my website, and through referrals and search engines. I haven’t posted an ad on Craigslist for several months and business continues to grow.
The past nine months have been crazy. There are ups and downs, moments of sheer excitement when I realize that I’m doing this all on my own and moments of sheer exhaustion when I realize it’s all riding on me. The freelance life may not be for everyone but I absolutely love it.
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Recipe for Freelancing
May 14, 2008
photo credit: caffeinatedjedi
Freelancing is serious business and if you’re thinking about taking a slice of the pie, first take a little time to plan your meal carefully. Do you have the right personality for freelancing? If so, your next step is to do some research and make a few decisions about how you’re going to construct your business. After all, you can’t just snap your fingers and expect a tasty meal to magically appear.
There’s a delicate balance to planning your business. You don’t want to serve it raw (unless you’re serving sushi) but you also don’t want to overcook it. Do your research, ask the hard questions, and then go for it.
Building a Menu
What kind of writing have you done on a professional level? What are you good at? What do you enjoy? One of the most important steps to building a successful freelance writing career is to hone in on the specific services you’re going to offer.
You can choose to specialize in one field (white papers, sales letters, website copy, etc.). Or, you can offer a variety of services. The first option allows you to target jobs and clients, build expertise in your niche, and establish yourself as a specialist. However, offering a range of writing services has its benefits too. You get to try your hand at different cuisines and experience a variety of flavors. This approach allows you to find out where your professional writing strengths lie and what types of clients you have a knack for attracting.
Ultimately, the decision is yours and you should do what feels most comfortable. Will you be a Jack or Jill of all trades or a master of just one? If you do decide to offer a broad range of services, try to narrow it down enough so that you can list your services in your marketing materials and website since that will help perspective clients understand what you’re offering.
Cultivate Flavor
Branding and identity can make or break a business. It can keep you hovering just above the poverty line or send you rocketing toward success. Is your business going to have a snappy name? Are you going to splurge and get a professional logo to help build your identity? How are you going to get the word out about your services?
Every freelancer, every entrepreneur, must learn a little something about marketing. There are plenty of experts and resources to help guide you in your efforts. I recommend you pay a visit to Itty Biz, which is by far the best and most entertaining marketing site I’ve found to date.
Marketing is closely related to sales. It’s all about finding clients, appealing to them, and convincing them to hire you. In many ways, your marketing plan is the invitation to your dinner party. Does it make people want to try your cooking? It should!
Check Please!
Rates are one of the most controversial topics among freelancers. Should you charge five cents a word or a dollar? Charge by the project or by the hour? What is everyone else charging?
There are no easy answers to these questions. A writer living in New York City is probably charging more than a writer living in Idaho simply because the cost of living is higher. People with extensive experience or a degree in the field can also charge more as can freelancers with an impressive portfolio. When I first started I scoured the web to find out what other freelancers were charging and set my rates just a little bit lower. Since then, my rates have increased at least twice and they’re scheduled for another hike in the near future.
One of the first questions out of your first client’s mouth will be “what do you charge?” You should definitely have some idea of your rates before you launch your business so that you can confidently answer this question without stammering. Keep in mind that you can negotiate with your clients and reach an agreement that makes you both comfortable and over time you can raise or lower your rates until you feel you’ve hit your stride.
Your Receipt
Paperwork. It’s a huge part of your business and your clients will take you a lot more seriously if you have a few official documents as opposed to a generic invoice through PayPal or quotes issued via casual email and IM conversations.
Also, keep in mind that a signed work agreement acts as a contract and binds the client to issuing a payment to you when the project is completed. An official invoice will help both you and your clients track charges. In some cases you might need a full-blown contract and a few clients might ask you to sign a non-disclosure agreement (yes, paperwork goes both ways).
Get your paperwork in order before you start freelancing. Make sure you’ve also determined how you’re going to track your revenue and business expenses. This is also a good time to establish a filing system both in your email and on your hard drive. My personal tip here is that the more organized you are, the more time you’ll save on administrative tasks later. Since your time translates directly to income, being organized basically frees you up for more billable hours and directly increases your revenue.
No Shirt, No Shoes, No Service
Policies. Terms and conditions. What are the rules? It’s your business and it’s up to you set standards and limitations. Believe me, clients will try to take advantage of you and you will need to establish a set of policies and then stick to them. Many clients will also come to you with questions that will be more easily answered if you have already taken the time to decide exactly what your terms are.
Are you going to let clients cancel projects at the last minute even though they’ve signed an work agreement and issued a deposit? What happens if they make changes to the project halfway through that require you to spend several more hours? Do you have a minimum rate? Do you require a deposit? Who owns the copyright to the work?
I got lucky because before I launched my business I found several freelancers who published policies on their websites (and now I do the same). After reading their terms and conditions, I started to realize the many issues that could arise and set to work putting together my very own set of terms. And it has come in handy! Plus, I add to it regularly as new issues arise.
Ah, Dessert
One last thing I want to mention here is a portfolio. This is sort of like a treat for your clients, a little something to tempt them into your restaurant. With a portfolio, clients get to find out if they like your cooking before they make a reservation. This is good because you don’t want to get hitched to a client who’s not agreeable to your style of writing.
Of course, the best place for your portfolio is right on your website. You can include projects you’ve already done professionally or create projects yourself and show them as samples. A blog is fantastic way to show off your style and your skill. If you don’t have anything for a portfolio, don’t worry. Just develop three to five samples and make sure they are in line with the services you’re offering.
And Now, Time for Drinks
Hey, I just served five — no six — courses. Drinks are on you guys so pour a cold one and start discussing. If you’re just thinking about freelancing, did this answer any of your questions or give you some new ideas to chew over? Hopefully it whet your appetite for going into business for yourself. And if you’re already a freelancer, what advice or tips would you add to this?
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