We’re getting close now. Only a week to go.
I don’t know what you celebrate at this time of year, but for me it’s the winter solstice. One long, cold, dark night that turns the whole year around.
Call me crazy, but I believe we all have to go through solstices in our freelance writing careers. There are peaks of giddy genius and troughs of utter despair along the way, and they’re supposed to be there.
Because without them, we can’t learn and grow. Without good days, we won’t recognise bad days. Without challenge, there’s no achievement.
I may not believe in much, but I sure as hell believe in that.
Dear gods, did I just start giving a semi-religious lecture on my blog? [And, hey, was it working? Do you feel inspired?]
OK, moving on: I’ve got a challenge for you if you’re willing to accept it.
Time for the last Pitchfest of 2014!
You pitch a blog post idea and we’ll choose our favourite ones to publish, with a $100 prize for the best pitch. I’ll explain the rules in a minute, but first…
Your theme for this Pitchfest
This Pitchfest, to stick with the notion of solstice and a new year, our theme is habits and systems.
That can include anything from developing good habits to breaking bad ones, and any system from a wall of sticky notes to a clever software integration. It’s totally up to you.
All we want you to do is tell us what habit or system you want to write about, and how you’ll create a blog post for us that’s relevant to BAFB’s audience of freelance bloggers.
For example, will your post confess to a bad habit, tell us how to avoid one, or how to fix one we’ve already got? Is it to do with writing skills, freelance business, or online life hacking? Will you show us a system you’ve created for yourself, or walk us through a system you’ve learned from someone else? Is yours a “quick fix” 3-step plan or a complex blueprint that takes several months to implement?
The rules
- Anybody can enter the contest by typing (or pasting) their pitch into the comments box at the bottom of this page.
- Only ONE PITCH per person, please.
- Follow the pitch format I’ll tell you in a moment.
- Your Pitchfest judges are Sophie Lizard (that’s me, Be a Freelance Blogger’s founder) and Lauren Tharp (BAFB’s guest post editor).
- After you submit your pitch, we’ll offer feedback to help you optimise your idea for this blog’s audience and improve your pitching skills. You may also get feedback from other entrants, BAFB team members, and innocent bystanders — pay attention, because they represent your readers here.
- After you get our feedback, you can revise your pitch if you like and re-submit it by pasting it into a follow-up comment.
- If you win, we’ll ask you to send us a draft of at least 1000 words, so bear that minimum word count in mind when you pitch.
The prizes
- First prize: $100 for your guest post, paid on publication.
- Second prize: a one-month membership of our freelance blogger mentoring group in exchange for your guest post.
- Third prize: a copy of The Beginner’s Guide to Writing Quality Online Content, by Alicia Rades.
The deadline
- Submit your pitch before the end of Thursday, December 18th, 2014.
- We’ll announce the winners on December 20th.
- If we choose your pitch, we expect you to deliver your first draft to Lauren by January 8th, 2015.
How to pitch
- Read our general guest blogging guidelines first, then come back here to submit your pitch.
- Start your pitch with a headline designed to make freelance bloggers want to read your post.
- Follow the headline with the opening lines you’d use in the post. No less than 30 words, no more than 60. You DON’T need to write a whole post (or even a whole introduction) before you pitch — we’d like to give you feedback on your idea before you write a draft.
- After the opening lines, give us no more than 6 points you’ll make in your post, and provide a one or two sentence summary of each point. (If you plan to make more than 6 points in your post, only tell us the most important 6 in your pitch.)
- Then explain in no more than 3 sentences who you are and why you’re the right person to write this post for Be a Freelance Blogger.
- Put your pitch in the comment box at the bottom of this page.
- Check the little box that says “Notify me of follow-up comments” so you’ll know when we’ve given you feedback.
- Submit your comment and if you followed all the steps above, you’re entered into the contest.
Extra tips
- Remember, we’re focusing on the habit and/or system you plan to discuss in your post. So make sure you’ve told us about that, clearly and in enough detail for us to decide we want to learn more!
- To get a better idea of what Lauren and I are looking for in your pitch, study the pitches and responses in previous Pitchfests.
- Save a copy of your pitch somewhere before you post it here — if your comment gets lost in the internet, you don’t wanna have to re-write it from scratch.
OK, here we go. 🙂
Let the Pitchfest begin! This contest is closed.
Medha BN says
Hi Sophie and Lauren,
It’s been sometime that I have started following your blog and this would be my first pitch submission to ‘pitch fest’. My pitch will be here soon. Going through your guidelines now…
Sophie Lizard says
Looking forward to your pitch, Medha! 🙂
Shaini K says
Writer’s Block? Go Take A Walk: How to Always Have a Bag of “Tricks”.
I’ve always been a write-in-bursts kind of writer. I get a great idea, I sit down and write for 12 hours straight. Or a couple of hrs a day for a week. That’s great, right? Except that the hiatus’ between these bursts could be months.
What causes my writers block?
What have I done in the past?
What am I going to try this New Year?
Why do I think it will work?
About me: I am a cheese-loving Wisconsinite recently moved, meager belongings and all, to NYC. When not guzzling beer while watching Netflix in bed, I work full-time at a non-profit. Occasionally (aspiring to frequently), I write at a noisy, cramped and dark coffee shop whose only positives are no Wifi and unlimited coffee refills.
Sophie Lizard says
Hi Shaini, can you fill out each of your points/questions with a sentence or two explaining what you’ll say in that section of your post? 🙂
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Hey, Shaini! Yep. What Sophie said. Writer’s block is always a popular topic (what writer/blogger hasn’t suffered from it?!), but we need a more in-depth outline from you before we can say whether or not your take on the topic is a good fit for BAFB.
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
When I CTRL+F’d “Medha” I got six results, so I’m guessing I have a pitch from you to look forward to further down! 🙂 That’s pretty cool. A lot of the people who say “I’ll come back later” don’t.
Sophie Lizard says
Hey Lauren, what does CTRL+F do? I never heard of that one before.
Nicole Pieri says
Hi Sophie 🙂
CTRL+F brings up a small dialog box that lets you search a page for a particular word. It will highlight all instances of the word on the page for you, so you can find a particular name in a long list of comments, or a keyword in a lengthy article. It’s very useful for scanning long pages. Hope that helps
Sophie Lizard says
Thanks, Nicole! Keyboard shortcuts are awesome. 🙂
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Yep! It’s really useful. 🙂 I’ve been using it a lot lately to see if anyone voted for my site — or BAFB — in the recent “best blogs” nominations that’ve been going on.
Christopher Patrick Andersen says
66 Days
In the fast and frenzied pace of 2014, everyone is looking for the ‘quick fix.’ This is indeed the case with losing BAD habits. People want the easy way out or the duct tape repair. Yet, the reality is in order to gain, one must progress. For one to progress, one must learn the art of discipline.
1.) 66 Days to Change: Old behavioral research states that it takes about 21 days to change/create a habit. More current research based out of Australia now finds that the number is about 66 days.
2.) Baby Steps: Rome wasn’t built in a day is the best cliché with regards to habit building. Discipline is needed to create the habits and while that can be very difficult to possess at first, baby steps or small progressions can lead to extraordinary results.
3.) Patience is a Virtue: Modern society is fixated on quick fixes. The honest truth is that patience brings out long term success/adherence.
4.) Be your own Shepherd: Just because something is the ‘IT’ thing to do, doesn’t mean it’s worth doing. Don’t just be a sheep and wander aimlessly.
5.) D for Discipline: Changing a habit in the beginning is the hardest part. As the days progress and the good habits continue, the use for discipline will decrease.
6.) Good Habits= Happiness: Happiness has no price. Good habits lead to a healthy mind, body, and soul; which further leads us to our own success.
Hi my name is Christopher Andersen, a Personal Trainer from Massachusetts, U.S.A. There is one thing dying in our world, and that is art of being brutally honest. I want to tell people how it is; plain and simple
Sophie Lizard says
This is a fine idea for a post, Christopher, but not freelancer-focused enough for Be a Freelance Blogger. Have you considered offering it to a self-development site instead? 🙂
Christopher Patrick Andersen says
Hey Sophie,
I appreciate the feedback. That was my first ever attempt at any piece related to a blog. I am just trying to find out how I can learn more about becoming a blogger due to my thirst to become a published author some day.
Thanks again for the reply!!
Sophie Lizard says
The honest answer is: stop trying to “find out” or “learn more” and start doing it! Your pitch was of a decent standard, you can write, there’s nothing else you need to learn before you begin. 🙂
I recommend you use the Ultimate List of Better-Paid Blogging Gigs to identify one or two blogs you can approach with this idea and start earning money. (The Ultimate List is available from the sidebar of this page, or if you’re already receiving emails from me you’ll find it in the Money-Making Toolkit I link to at the end of each email.)
For more help getting started, go here: http://beafreelanceblogger.com/category/get-started/
And let us know how you get on!
Katherine Swarts says
I can’t recall the exact reference, but I think it was in THE PURPOSE-DRIVEN LIFE that I read something like, If you already know more than you’re doing, that’s a sign that the *last* thing you need is to give any more of your time to attending classes!
Katherine Swarts says
(I hope that didn’t come out sounding as if you can learn everything you need to know quickly. You’ll be learning by doing–and by the occasional class–for the whole of your career, but if you’re *substituting* learning for doing, you probably have a case of nervous procrastination fueled by fear of not knowing “enough.” Lots of the top pros started out virtually ignorant and fumbled through their first few years.)
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Hey, Christopher! Sophie and Katherine are right to encourage you. Your pitch was good. Not right for BAFB, but good. Send it in to an appropriate publication and then share the link with us when you get it published! 🙂
Sophie Lizard says
I like that!
Lori Hil says
Headline: An Ancient Secret System That will have you Rocking Your Modern Day Freelance Life
Opening: Imagine being able to go into the New Year with a limited “will” system that will have you breezing through your business and life goals, making those dreams happen…
1) What is the 13 x 4 system and where did it originate?
13×4 originated with Benjamin Franklin, an extremely productive person I think we can agree. It is being modernized by Author and Teacher Tom Cassidy.
13×4=52 weeks
13 weeks in each quarter 4 quarters per year
2) What is the benefit of 13×4 for you?
Fantastic for freelancers, entrepreneurs, and anyone who has dreams and goals. Works with you to stay on track rather than having to fight against yourself.
3) Why is 13×4 more efficient than other systems?
This zero pressure, high success rate system tops the “old school” 21-30 days to form a habit method. It’s about focus! Short term focus to achieve long term goals.
4) How can I use 13×4 as a freelancer?
You choose 13 points to focus on for your business. Concentrate on each one for 1 week at a time, then move on to the next. When all 13 are complete, you cycle through again.
5) How can I take 13×4 and run with it for all my goals?
The 4 can represent not only quarters, but 4 areas of life, as well. This is how Tom Cassidy recommends it. Mind, Body, Spirit, and People. You can change these components to fit your lifestyle and help you focus, weekly, on every area of your life.
Who Am I?
I am a Southern Gal from North Carolina who is passionate about optimizing life, obsessed really. Currently an Expat abroad in the beautiful Ecuador, I enjoy drinking coffee and basking in the amusements of my “writer’s brain.” Every year I implement a new technique/system to make goal reaching easier, and this is the most excited I have been!
This is my first time participating in Pitch Fest, thank you ladies for the opportunity.
Sophie Lizard says
I hadn’t heard of this system before! Sounds interesting. And your pitch is solid — nicely done. 🙂
Lori Hil says
Thank you so much Sophie! I had never heard of it before recently, but awesome stuff!
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Cool stuff, Lori! 🙂 I’d like to see a little more about how this would apply to freelance bloggers specifically (rather than freelancers in general), but it otherwise looks great.
Lori Hil says
Thanks Lauren! I would tie it into freelance blogging by giving readers examples to meet blogging goals. Working on a goal a week…maybe tweaking your About Page, Updating Social Media Platforms, rethinking and organizing your categories, etc. Also using it to organize your space and life as a freelance blogger. Something I definitely need to do myself in the New Year. Thank you for the feedback!
Lori Parr says
Wow! Interesting stuff, I am going on line to check it all out. Obvious I could use it. Thanks. Good luck. As a fellow pitch-er, this is one of my favorites so far.
Lori Hil says
Thank you that means a lot to me, best of luck!
Ben Clarke says
I really look forward to it.
Williesha says
This will be a blast as always. Will start brainstorming!
Sophie Lizard says
We’ll keep an eye out for your pitch, Willi! 🙂
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
I wanna see you come back this time, Willi! If you say “I’ll wait ’til next time” this time you’ll be waiting until March 2015! 😉
Willi says
shoot missed it! Rough couple days. Good luck everyone
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Sorry you had a rough couple days. Hopefully we’ll see you here in March! (Or in January if you like writing essays…)
I S M Habibullah says
The simplest way to do the job being a freelance writer is to make things simpler and state things in a way which is clear. So, I would like to write on anything you would want me to write.
That is the best way to do it I believe. You suggest a topic and I curate the Title and write on it. And if I have the full freedom to write on whatever I like, give me the link to submit the article.
Sophie Lizard says
You have the full freedom to write whatever you like, provided it matches up with our readers’ needs and that your pitch follows all the Pitchfest instructions!
Perry Suszek says
Please look at the first page of my blog, and present a comment to my email. I very much appreciate you and your site. Thanks!
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
No, dude. Come on. This is neither the time nor place for that.
If you want to get a critique of your blog, leave a note about it in our free forum — http://beafreelanceblogger.com/forum We have an entire section dedicated to bloggers reviewing each other’s sites & blog posts.
Sophie Lizard says
^^ What Lauren said. 🙂
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Part of this contest/exercise is to come up with your own article idea/pitch. Follow the guidelines above and then toss your hat into the ring by leaving a comment down here. 🙂
Christina says
Hi Sophie and Lauren,
How are you? Making any New Year’s Resolutions this year? Did you know that 45% of the population of the US makes resolutions each year, of which the top resolution is to lose weight – something 38% aim for?
That’s why I’m pitching you this article….
The Freelance 15: How to keep the weight off when you work at home
When your career is one you can take anywhere, you usually work at home. It’s comfy. Relaxed. With easy access to the snacks you’d like to munch, without the huge price increase of a cafe. And that is EXACTLY the problem. Keep reading to learn how to keep the weight off while working at home…
It’s a Choice…
Punishing Yourself Won’t Work
Keep Healthy Foods in Easy Reach
Don’t Buy the Junk
Get Moving (at your desk!)
Form Healthy Habits
Who am I? A coffee-chugging desk jockey who works from home, parents a preschooler with more energy than Three Mile Island, and still manages to keep it all together. A victim of the Freelance Fifteen, and a reformed carbaholic whose penchant for junk food has finally been tamed…almost. I also write for a few whole foods companies, have ghostwritten several books on nutrition, and am a systems thinker – anytime I see a problem, I build a system to overcome it.
I’m looking forward to hearing from you soon!
Best,
Christina
Craig Martin says
“..parents a preschooler with more energy than Three Mile Island..”
That’s a great line. You got my vote on that alone. 🙂
Christina says
Thanks, Craig! It’d be funnier if it weren’t so true. I’m fairly certain if we could find a way to use preschooler energy, the whole debate about solar vs. nuclear vs. petroleum would be over. Of course, child labor laws would probably have to be revised a bit… 😉
Sophie Lizard says
Thanks Christina, can we have more description of what each of your points will cover? 🙂
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Hey, Christina! You definitely caught my attention (I gained 55 pounds when I became a full-time freelance writer!), but I agree with Sophie: We need you to get a bit more in-depth on what each of your points is going to cover.
Christina says
Posted it, but for some reason the reply wound up further down….6th CTRL+F for chr in the post. 😉
Shaun Swilling says
The ‘write’ to break a habit
A blog writer or any writer that wants to break any habit has a distinct advantage over common folk who don’t write on a regular basis.
The greatest advantage to breaking any habit for a writer is that you need to write your habit down so that it becomes real and not something you just do.
Below is a list of commitments you need to action on so that you can be successful and ensure success when breaking a bad habit permanently.
• Admit or acknowledge that you have a habit that you want to break and identify triggers that make you more prone to slip back into the bad habit and write them down.
• Write down the antecedents or the emotions you go through when doing your bad habit that you want to break.
• Create specific barriers to your habit because when your reason to avoid your specific habit is stronger than any desire to do it, the action of NOT doing your habit gets easier. Write these barriers down.
• Never just focus on NOT doing something but rather create an alternative. For example trying to stop smoking you should rather select an alternative and not just not do something. Go for a walk, drink a glass of water, read something about the dangers of smoking, whatever you feel works best, and write them down.
• Changing any behavioral conditioning takes time and some serious focus and more importantly it takes patience and persistence to see it through, no matter what. Write these frustrations down so you can refer to them every time you think you have the habit beat.
• It takes 40 days or to repeat deliberately selected actions 40 times to set in a new pattern that will enable your physiological and mental re-birth to make a new habit a permanent habit.
I have been a personal trainer for over 25 years since I won the Mr. Universe bodybuilding title in 1986. I have seen positive results after implementing these strategies personally with my clients. The specific adaptability of the above points to suit the individual will be explained in the blog post if accepted.
Sophie Lizard says
Interesting angle on self-improvement (and hey, impressive background!). I’m a little concerned that writers *already* have a tendency to write everything down, including their goals and obstacles, so this might not seem like a fresh idea to them. What are your thoughts on that?
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Alternatively, sharing how this method would be beneficial to freelance bloggers specifically would be a good thing to stress to us…
Bex vanKoot says
‘Slaying Dragons and Bagging Gold! (how to gamify your writing with HabitRPG)’
Gamification isn’t entirely new for lifehackers out there, but HabitRPG, one of the latest and most well-designed systems available, is definitely leading the pack for tools to get the job done. An open-source, freemium style role playing game designed around making and breaking habits and tackling to-dos, HabitRPG gives external motivation to those of us who don’t have the benefit of a boss to keep us on track.
While the system is definitely fun for gamers, and is actually quite easy to use, it took me a couple months to get the hang of its best practices. In this article, I want to distill all the tips and tricks I figured out during that learning curve, especially for writers who find that a bit of gold or the chance to beat down a boss helps motivate them to keep checking stuff off that ever-growing to-do list.
In about 1200 words I will cover all the major aspects of the game (making and breaking habits, figuring out what works as a “daily” task and what doesn’t, making the “to-do list” that will give you the most challenge and the greatest benefit) along with tips for augmenting play with out-of-game rewards that writers can use to help keep things fresh and fun.
In addition to the basics, I’ll cover some of the writer-specific functions of the game, including the Writer’s Guild and their group challenges, plus the best ways to set up some specific writer’s tasks to make the most of what the game can do.
I’m a freelance lifestyle blogger and ghostwriter with more than a decade of experience, including the pieces available in my portfolio at the website linked from this comment, with several guest posts and other articles to peruse along with a more detailed “about me” section. I’ve been using HabitRPG for several months now – I’m a Level 38 Rogue! – and it has helped me stay on track to my goals through some very tough times. It is the first productivity tool I have ever used that has really worked for me and I want to make sure every freelance writer who needs that extra outside push to get things done has the opportunity to try it out.
Sophie Lizard says
Ooh, this sounds interesting! Well done coming up with such a good fit for the theme.
Your opening could use some work and overall your pitch isn’t quite as structured as I’d like (i.e. I couldn’t scan-read it to get the overall points fast), but the idea shines through. Nice one, Bex. 🙂
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Huh. Learn something new every day! haha. I just went to check out the site. Neat stuff.
This seems like it could be a fun one. It’s definitely something I haven’t been pitched a million times before. So long as you share how the game can help freelance bloggers specifically, I think it’ll be great. 🙂
Bex vanKoot says
Thanks for the encouragement and the tips on how to refine pitches in future. Will definitely keep them in mind!
Nicole Pieri says
This really is a neat site–I ended up signing up for it today! You might be able to mention the Writers guild specifically as a way to focus the post for freelancers. They have a forum chat and “quests” to help keep writers accountable and motivated.
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
If you’d like to refine your pitch here in the comments, please feel free! We don’t allow entrants to submit additional/different pitches, but they’re always free to refine their initial pitch so long as the contest is still in effect. 🙂
Marianne Griebler says
Hey Bex! Loved your headline and am intrigued by how you promote gamification — which is really hot — as a practical tool way for instilling better habits. A nice way to balance something topical with the practical. Hope to see more on this!
Lori Parr says
In one of my favorite books; Journey of Awakening, Ram Dass shares a Sufi story of a young lad who is sent off to school. The first lesson for all the children was the straight line, the number one. All the other children progressed, but the lad was intent on the simple line. When at the end of the year, still studying the simple line, after being shunned by his parents, his classmates, his teacher and having spent his time out in the desert still studying the simple number one line, he returned. He asked his teacher to watch as he drew the line to see if he had indeed learned it. He drew the line on the garden rock wall, and the wall split in two.
I have been writing for a long time, I did not realize that I have been honing my craft. I remember when texting came along. I had written an overly long one to my brother and he chastised me for it’s wordiness. “Texts are the epitome of brevity!” An editor in disguise! I took the criticism constructively and strove to tighten things up and be creative with strange abbreviations and my own lexicon. I left out all the superfluous bullshit and still got my point across. I started blogging, and reading blogs. My ear became tuned to a finer use of the english language. Strunk and White make me laugh with their light but pointed approach, and I want to keep my Chicago Manual of Style in a gold gilt cage and feed it caviar! I’ve always been an auto-didact. So when I made the decision, after some upheaval and chaotic recent years in my life, to recreate myself, it was as a writer. An astrologer friend, after looking at my chart one day said I would do well to write, be published, and do it electronically with aid of, and on the internet. I did a lot of research, looking for ways to accomplish that and get paid to do it. I put a photo on my Facebook page one day, and an editor of an e-zine friended me and asked if I might write a story around the photo. I did, she loved it, and published it. I wasn’t paid, but had my first published piece and a lone sample to represent me. I found Sophie’s list of better paid blogging gigs. A few of the prospects were right up my alley. I shot off an almost flippant note to one, not being aware, or having researched much about the etiquette of the query. They said “Sold, get to work, we’ll give you $60!” My first gig. A second one, then a third. I think I’m often running on intuition. If it feels good to me, I just do it. I have absolutely nothing to lose by entering contests or querying complete strangers. My head is wild with ideas to write, experiences to encapsulate into paragraphs on a page. And as much, now I approach both on-line gigs and magazines I thought were way out of my league. Hell, everything was out of my league until last April. I’ve always been a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants kind of gal. And my approach to this industry seems mostly chaotic according to the way we are supposed to do it. No hard and fast rules apply straight across the board to everyone in the game. It seems I spend exorbitant amounts of time researching and not much time writing. But in my head I am writing all the time, or remembering about stories already written that turn out, with some revision to be perfect for something I come across. I shoot out my query, the time is ripe, I’m off and running on the next assignment. I’m not disciplined to write 1500 words each day. But I can write one 1500 word article when the iron is hot in an hour or so, and spend a day or two intensely polishing it up. And I always invite the editor to tell me anything I can do to better it. Discipline is not my strong point, but if you like the tone of this pitch I see a number of Habits and Systems that can be en-earthed and put into a bulleted list from my mad methods.
Lori Parr says
I’m not sure if I can comment on my own pitch. But want to hone it.
Tripping Headlong Toward Success
These, the 6 points I would expound on regarding my haphazard way of writing. I am new to it, and may develop some ‘good’ habits as I continue, but do have some things which I do habitually, having learned most all the hard way.
* Keep a note, either written or in a file on the desktop of your sources, references, and researched URL’s.
* Keep a desktop file for other articles that come to you while writing the current assignment. I have both, a tickler file of possible future articles to write – a title and opening paragraph, and a file of magazines, ezines, websites, blogs I might query with it.
* As you research your articles you will come across contests to enter. Just do it! Do follow the guidelines. You have nothing to lose, and you can’t win if you don’t enter!
* Keep a portfolio page on your website, and put into each piece as it gets published. These become proof you are a writer, and act as a well from which you can offer new editors samples of your writing.
* Keep a desktop file of articles that are partially written. These, for me, are what I work on when I can’t sleep, or have extra time. Make notes in the heading, from all your researching, who might take an interest, where it might have a chance of seeing publication.
* Query. Don’t be afraid you’re not good enough, or have time to present yourself perfectly. Your idea might just be enough to catch an editor’s attention, they may give you a second chance to play the game right.
Sophie Lizard says
Thanks for the update, Lori! 🙂 Now I have a much better sense of how your post would appeal to our readers.
Lori Parr says
Thanks Sophie, for this opportunity and for all your great leads into the world of online writing
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Thank goodness you came back, Lori! Your initial pitch made my eyes hurt. (Maybe your brother should tease you about formatting so you’ll start putting spaces between your paragraphs! 😉 ).
Some good tips here. Thanks for sharing!
Lori Parr says
Uh, I just read the pitch guidelines.
And I apologize to all of you, I’m writing this on a tablet, in a place with sketchy internet, and kept listing my place in the little comment box.
Brevity, ya still working on that one! HA!!
Anyway. A headline: Tripping Headlong Toward Success
Why I should even be allowed to pitch in this contest: This is the second time I’ve attempted. It is just a great opportunity with great feed back from great colleagues, in my first year out. Thanks.
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Oh, tablets… *sigh*
Though I have gotten some pretty funny auto-corrected e-mails from writers in my inbox thanks to tablets. Heh heh.
Lori Parr says
Thanks for reading it, sorry it hurt your eyes. It’s an older model tablet and I’m living part time off grid, if the wind blows my Verizon wave fades. Doing the best I can with what I’ve got-which ain’t much-but not for long. Thanks for the opportunity.
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
No worries, Lori. 😉 Believe me, I’ve seen worse! I’d rather suffer mild eyestrain and have it be a REAL pitch than have it be one of…these… http://littlezotz.com/2014/05/how-not-to-get-your-guest-post-published/
And maybe you can use your off-the-grid experience as the basis for a future blog post! 😀
Jocelyn Mackie says
Admittedly, I am very new to all this, but I have to try because this resonates with me.
Three Tools to Silence the Siren Call of Mindless Web Surfing
It starts innocently enough. Visit Facebook to share links and update a status. It will only be 15 minutes, really. But you get distracted. Before you know it, three hours passes by. There goes a once productive day.
Awareness keeps the mindless web surfing under control but deploying it can require extra help. These three tools can maintain your focus.
[All three points will contain screenshots of the apps.]
1. Stay in the Moment: Do It Tomorrow
This is the perfect to-do list app for staying in the here and now. It only lists items for today and tomorrow. If you don’t finish something, you can move it to tomorrow with one click of the arrow. I still keep a larger editorial calendar for projects but this one keeps me focused on what to do right now instead of panicking over some future project.
2. Face the Big Picture: RescueTime
RescueTime reveals the truth about how you spend your online time. It will give you a productivity score based on how much you time you spend on productive and distracting sites—which you can customize. From there, you can adjust your work habits and focus.
3. Blur Out the Background: Focus@Will
The only app you pay for out of these three favorites, Focus@Will uses science to create music mixes that keep your mind on the task at hand. Selections are available based on neurological research. You can sign up for 30 days free to check it out and see how it pays for itself by supporting your concentration.
I am Jocelyn Mackie and I am a freelance blogger and digital journalist who struggles with focus and found redemption through productivity apps. Since ditching the corporate scene for this new career path, I have failed and triumphed several times before finding my high-tech system. I continue to learn but also share my own experiences so others become educated less painfully.
Sophie Lizard says
Nice idea — I like the headline!
I love Focus@Will, but I’m not sure it fits in this post as it doesn’t specifically help you manage *internet* distractions. Can you suggest other tools or tactics for minimising the time lost to aimless web browsing? 🙂
Jocelyn Mackie says
Let’s replace Focus@Will with . . . .
3. The Nuclear Option: Strict Workflow
Based on the tomato-timer Pomodoro technique, Strict Workflow ensures you work for a pre-determined amount of time and, unlike the other apps, enforces it. Not only do you know that must work 25 to 60 minutes before getting a break, but distracting website are blocked, meaning zero chance of mindless web surfing. For those days when Facebook won’t stop with the sweet nothings, keep this tough love option handy so you don’t lose your bottom line. You won’t be able to perform your social media marketing with this on, but as we all know, that doesn’t work unless you have something to market in the first place!
(I knew I should have went with my first instinct on the third. Live and learn. 🙂 )
Sophie Lizard says
Perfect, thanks Jocelyn!
Marianne Griebler says
Great headline! And I love your tips on great productivity apps. Thanks!
Alicia Rades says
Nice! I like this idea. 🙂
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Pretty neat, Jocelyn! Well done. 🙂 (If this gets published, I’ll have to send it to a few of my freelance artist friends as well — web surfing is a problem for all freelancers, I think!)
Jocelyn Mackie says
Thanks, all. Allow my painful lessons to work for you too. 😉
I am going to enjoy following this community and blog. It has taken me a while to feel I have anything to contribute but glad to be there.
Tammy says
Amen… as I sit here reading a month old post instead of researching the article I am SUPPOSED to be writing..Web surfing is my biggest obstacle.
Siddharth says
Hi Sophie,
Here is my pitch. I am writing a piece on people getting into a plan for their writing for 2015. Here goes:
Headline: 2015 is the year I wrote my first book!
Opening Line: It’s another New Year! You have that perfect opportunity to start that perfect book project you’ve been putting on the back burner for a couple of years. You know it’s make or break now, no more excuses. Yes, you are a freelance blogger but for some reason your old habits and indiscipline are getting in the way of you finally starting to write that long awaited book you keep talking about. But what if there is a way in 2015? Would you take it?
6 Points:
1) Create a daily habit- this is where I will talk about writing a certain number of words a day, thereby getting into a habit of reaching a target of words per day, and then per month for your book.
2) Write without structure in mind: This may sound contradictory, but sometimes getting into a structure can slow our progress; I talk about how sometimes just writing will lead to everything flowing together.
3) Writing for a chapter: Here I speak about how it’s important to focus on a chapter while writing something each day; it’s easy to get lost in the overall book draft itself as a writer.
4) Revision and editing: Here I speak about how you should look at revising and editing your work for the book; I speak about getting other people who can edit your work, like friends and editors in general.
5) Rewriting drafts- After editing there will always be revision of your initial draft- here I speak about how the habit of writing for a day initially will actually help you revise your drafts more easily; your story line will become more clearer.
6) Publishing- I speak about publishing and publishing methods such as on Amazon. I talk about how you can outsource publishing without feeling overwhelmed.
Who am I: My name is Siddharth and I started blogging 4 years ago as I realized it’s a hidden passion which my soul was yearning for. In between I have done some free lance writing work. My dream is to publish a book in 2015 and like other free lance bloggers and writers the journey can seem daunting. I feel I am right for this as I would like to offer my opinions in service to the writing community. Getting this opportunity will really kick off my new year and I feel begin to feel fulfilled because I am being in service to others.
I am grateful and thankful to you Sophie for presenting this opportunity to us.
Sophie Lizard says
You have the core of a good pitch here, but to be honest I think you’ll find more audience affinity on a more author-focused site than here. We have some book authors in our audience (and on the BAFB team), but also many freelancers who only write books when a client pays them to.
Have you considered taking this to other blogs about writing? You’ll find several paying blogs-for-writers in the Ultimate List of Better-Paid Blogging Gigs. 🙂
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Hey, Siddharth! Nice pitch! But I’m going to have to go with Sophie on this one: It’s not relevant to our niche (freelance blogging).
Definitely try sending your pitch into another blog where it is relevant. It really is good at its “core.” Just proofread it for grammar errors (“more clearer”) and give it a shot! 🙂
Medha BN says
This post idea is more of a ‘life and professional hack’ for freelance bloggers.
Title- Don’t be a chair potato and cut your life, move your butt to workercsie
Alternate Title- Time to think out of chair and counteract effects of prolonged sitting!
Intro-
‘Sitting is new smoking’ that everybody is talking about and the health experts around the world are concerned about.
It’s now a recommendation to move your butt away from the time bomb called your office chair before it explodes!
Being a freelance blogger means slouching and staring at your screen for hours, typing letter after letter, scratching your tresses at times and sitting all day long hurting your back.
Of-course we all love what we are doing but isn’t it making us the chair potato?
Start connecting the dots (as Steve jobs said) since it’s important to focus on other activities that indirectly though but has major impact on your freelance blogging career.
Why you should get up and going today, in-fact now?
Prolonged sitting have been associated with low metabolic activity, Type2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, obesity, muscle stiffness, interference in LPL (lipoprotein lipase an enzyme that breaks down fats), increased depression (due to low blood circulation inadequate assistance for ‘feel-good hormones’), spine injuries and lower back problems, colon cancer, varicose veins, etc.
What is more shocking is the increase in rate of mortality by prolonged sitting (independent of physical activity).
Biggest myth- Working out in gym or regular exercise for an hour a day will take care of sedentary lifestyle or effects of longer sitting hours.
Truth- Exercising regularly has its own benefits but only frequent and regular breaks combined with medium to high intensity workouts or even walk. Working out for an hour a day alone will not counteract the ill effects of continuous uninterrupted sitting.
Then, how do freelance bloggers combat this everyday problem?
The answer is be creative and think out of chair!
1) Watch your weight- I will talk about things like keeping cut salad handy instead of junk food, stop binging over laptop, avoiding coffee on work table, etc. Things particularly true for freelance bloggers like emotional binging (on rejection, low on gigs) etc.
2) Take a few steps to reach- small things like keeping phone in a different corner of the room, walking to kitchen to drink water (but don’t forget to keep alarm), walking when on a call with client, etc
3) Just move it! Discuss about ways to include dancercise, workercise and deskercise.
4) Tech up and buck up- Using apps that come handy like office stretch, customizing work place with under desk exercise equipment, cycling desks, yoga ball chairs, etc
5) It’s all in the air- Walk in your backyard or your garden in balcony and water your plants. You can even peep into your window and say hi to your neighbor. While you breath in some fresh air you are also giving some change to your eyes, brain and body.
6) Rest it to get it- Do not compromise on sleeping hours. It not only makes you lethargic and gloomy but also makes you eat more adding to your weight. Get quality sleep for at-least 7-8 hours.
[I will write 2 more tips on how to include more activities through out the day and tips on correct sitting and standing positions.]
[Some pointers at the end]
If you’re wondering about loosing some time at work then I bet it is not a waste of time, but helps boost creativity and productivity especially if you are Kinesthetic/Tactile learning type.
Standing-sitting desk should work the best (considering the fact that using standing desk alone has its own drawbacks) combined with frequent walking and stretching breaks.
Some links for credibility from sources like-
American Diabetes Association
The Spine Journal Online etc
Who and why (about me)- I am a freelance blogger who has seen some issues myself in the past with prolonged sitting (including my software engineer husband-again sitting). After making some necessary and successful changes in the office system at home I really want to share some insights. Given this opportunity to talk about ‘habits and system’ I want to bring this everyday problem that will one day blow out of proportion.
Katherine Swarts says
Having just relocated my office, I have a suggestion to add to your list: never crowd the space around your chair with unpacked boxes (or anything else) to the point that getting out of said chair provokes nail-biting over the prospect of running over or tripping over something!
Medha BN says
Ha ha, good thought Katherine thanks. I will definitely use this point while writing the entire post (unfortunately not here on BAFB but may be somewhere else).
Sophie Lizard says
Medha, unfortunately we already have a post in the pipeline on this exact topic! 🙁
But that means you CAN submit a fresh pitch for this Pitchfest if you like — it falls under the “revise and resubmit after feedback” rule.
Medha BN says
Oh!:(
But glad that I came up with an idea that you would have used on BAFB!:)
Thanks for another opportunity, I will surely come up with another idea soon.
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Oh nooooooooooooo! So sorry, Medha! 🙁 Though you’ve got the right attitude: It really is something we would have used! haha.
I hope you make it back with a fresh idea before the end of the contest. Of not, maybe you can try again behind-the-scenes (unpaid) or try wowing us at the next Pitchfest in March 2015!
Gina Horkey says
3 Systems I’ve Used to Catapult My Freelance Writing Business Forward
Are you a systems guy or gal?
If you’re not, but you’re trying to grow your freelance writing business, you should be!
Here are my three best systems that I’ve created and implemented to help me go from a brand new freelancer to one that earns more than $4,000 per month inside of six months.
1) Profit and Loss Statement. I’d share what mine involves and how it’s helped me to goal set and challenge my earnings each and every month.
2) Current Posts List. I’d outline what this looks like and how it helps me to keep track of my various projects and deadlines.
3) Publication Checklist. I’d give my system for social media promotion and share how it’s impacted the growth of my business.
My name is Gina Horkey and I’m leaving work behind next week to write full-time via the web. I’ve been so encouraged my success thus far, that I’d love to share some of my secrets and help others to be more successful in their freelance careers. Plus, I’ve learned a lot from this blog and would love to be featured here!
Sophie Lizard says
I like this one, Gina. 🙂 Sounds useful, highly relevant and straightforward — exactly the kind of instructions I’d want to follow. Nicely pitched!
Gina Horkey says
Thanks Sophie! I’m excited to be featured on your site (if not now, hopefully soon!).
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Really, really like this one, Gina! Change “My Freelance Writing Business” to “My Freelance Blogging Business” and you’ll have nailed it. (We publish posts for bloggers specifically, not writers in general).
Great job!!
Gina Horkey says
Thanks Lauren. I have no problem tweaking the title. Do I need to “do” something to show that via the pitchfest contest? Thanks!
Sophie Lizard says
Nope, Gina, no need to do anything — we always look at titles again after we receive a draft.
Gina Horkey says
Perfect! Thanks:-)
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Commenting to show your good intentions goes a long way as well. 🙂
Gina Horkey says
So excited to be a finalist! Thanks Sophie and Lauren:-)
Marianne Griebler says
So happy to see you talk abut promoting your writing! The work doesn’t stop when the post is finished; you’ve got to get out there and pound the (social media) pavement to drive traffic and build awareness of your greatness.
Gina Horkey says
Agreed! It’s just the beginning!
Alicia Rades says
@$#%&*
My book is one of the prizes? I’m honored!
I have an idea brewing for this theme . . . I’ll be back with my pitch.
Sophie Lizard says
Yep, I figured I’d buy an extra copy for someone this month. I’ve given your book to quite a few students since Black Friday, so expect a payment from me soon!
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
You’re famous! 😉
Looking forward to your pitch, Alicia.
Sue Chehrenegar says
Here is my entry in the Pitchfest
Form a Good Habit, Nibble by Nibble
Writers often nibble at their desks, instead of sitting down to a meal. A taste for non-edible nibbles can aid a writer, because any one of them can contain interesting bits of information. Still, you do not find such inedible nibbles in a food store; instead, you must make a habit of looking closely at online and printed matter.
Points to be covered
1. Learn to be tempted by noteworthy facts.
Snack food is tempting because it contains sweets and fats.
A good writer must find noteworthy facts tempting; he or she should want to work to develop a store of such facts.
2. Keep your store of facts well-organized
When a shopper brings snack food home from the store, each item gets put in a designated spot.
When a writer discovers a noteworthy fact, that fact should be saved in a safe and accessible fashion.
3. Tools to go with the nibbles
Some snack food, like ice cream, cannot be eaten in the absence of the proper tools.
Writer must keep on hand the tools that will allow them to highlight and bookmark noteworthy facts.
4. Connect your nibbles with your activities.
Snack food has been associated with certain activities: Movie-goers frequently eat popcorn.
The writer must get in the habit of connecting bits of stored information to one or more of the topics that the same writer has been asked to address.
This pitch was submitted by Sue Chehrenegar. For more than thirty years, Sue was writing news articles for various nonprofit groups before she became a freelance writer. She once had her own blog, and she has contributed to at least one-half dozen other blogs. Sue also contributed content to an e-book about ways for overcoming writer’s block.
Sophie Lizard says
Liking the culinary connection here. What I feel is missing, though, is a powerful “why”. It’s important when you pitch an idea to be able to explain exactly why you’re the right writer for the piece — what makes you an expert on this nibble-by-nibble system for writers consuming information?
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Hey, Sue! Not really feeling the freelance blogging vibe from this, but it DID make me hungry. (Which is saying something seeing as I just ate!). That said, I like that you picked a theme and stuck with it. I enjoy that in a pitch. 🙂
Ashlei M says
Hi Sophie & Lauren,
Thanks for this awesome opportunity! Please find my pitch below 🙂
Title – Why Developing a Habit of Being Selfish isn’t Necessarily a Bad Thing
Let’s take a look at this quote:
“Sometimes you have to be selfish, if you can’t put yourself first, you can’t expect anyone else to.” – unknown
It’s weird how this makes me feel both uncomfortable and uplifted at the same time. Does it do the same for you? Being seen as selfish is the last thing you’d want to be, yet you can’t deny the truth behind this sentence – if you can’t put yourself first, how can you expect anyone else to?
-The common misconception of being selfish
Changing your mindset about selfishness.
-How selfishness can lead to a happier & more productive freelance career
Being selfish means putting your life and your happiness first.
-Knowing what you want and the power of saying ‘no’
If you’re selfish you know what you want and you become comfortable with saying ‘no’ to those who don’t meet your expectations.
-Steps you can take to become more selfish
A list of small steps you can take to become more selfish, today.
Who am I? I’m a budding style blogger breaking out into the freelance writing world. I’ve dabbled in the world of entrepreneurship for some time and it’s been a long treacherous road to discovering what I want in my life, career, etc. I finally decided to commit to my secret dream of becoming a writer full-time and this all started with becoming a little more selfish, stepping up and owning what I wanted out of life.
Truly looking forward to your feedback!
Thanks!
Ashlei
Sophie Lizard says
Hi Ashlei,
I love the sentiment behind this pitch, and I’ll like it even more if you draw a more direct connection between selfishness and successful freelancing. Can you expand your summaries of each point to show how useful they are to freelance bloggers? 🙂
Ashlei M says
Thanks for the feedback, Sophie!
I did a few updates and expanded on my points which you can find below 🙂
Title – Why Developing a Habit of Being Selfish isn’t Necessarily a Bad Thing
Let’s take a look at this quote:
“Sometimes you have to be selfish, if you can’t put yourself first, you can’t expect anyone else to.” – unknown
It’s weird how this makes me feel both uncomfortable and uplifted at the same time. Does it do the same for you? Being seen as selfish is the last thing you’d want to be, yet you can’t deny the truth behind this sentence – if you can’t put yourself first, how can you expect anyone else to?
-The common misconception of being selfish
Being selfish is a bad thing if you’re constantly throwing a ‘me’ party at the expense of others. However there’s another side of being selfish that involves taking responsibility for getting your personal, emotional, & physical needs met. As a freelancer there are certain needs you have to meet in order to keep your freelancing business alive. You need to be selfish about getting these needs met because, unlike working for a company, only you have the power to see them through – no one else is going to do it.
-Being selfish is having self respect
A common complaint amongst freelancers is their struggle to find a happy balance between their work and home life. A way to find that balance is to be selfish about your time. Selfishness brings about self-respect, you respect the time you have at work and the time you have with family and friends leading to a happier, more productive career & life.
-Being selfish is having clear intentions
Being selfish forces you to get clear on your intentions, which helps you get comfortable with saying ‘no’. If you want to be known as the go-to freelance travel writer and you’re asked to write about home design, knowing that it wouldn’t help towards your goals of travel writing, be selfish, say no. You don’t have to take advantage of every opportunity, just the right ones.
-Steps you can take to become more selfish
Some examples for how to flex you selfish muscle in small ways:
– Before saying yes to a proposal ask yourself ‘Do I really want to do this?’
– Include yourself in your list of important people in your life
– Applaud yourself and celebrate your selfishness, even if it’s small like saying ‘no’ to a sales agent.
– Be clear on the consequences of saying yes or no.
Thanks again!
Sophie Lizard says
Awesome, thanks for the update!
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
I really like your pitch, Ashlei! And your topic is something I need to work on myself. There have been times in my life when I literally almost died because I was unable to be selfish and put myself before others. >_< I'm better than I used to be, thankfully, but it's still something I need to improve on in life and in business. Make sure you keep the focus on freelance blogging for this and I think you've got a great shot at getting this published. Well done! 🙂
Ashlei M says
Thanks Lauren! I completely understand, I’m still struggling with being selfish, especially when it comes to my work. I’m the type of person who wants to be helpful to everyone and many times it’s at the expense of my own needs. But like you said, I’m working on it and I’m much better than I used to be. 😀
Thanks again for the great feedback!
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
I’ve gotten in trouble quite a few times for giving away my possessions simply because a guest complimented them. “Oh, you like that? You can have it…” >_>
In business you really do need to be “selfish” though. Sadly, it’s pretty much impossible to help everyone AND feed your family.
Katherine Swarts says
It’s too bad there is no widely accepted way to put the concept “understanding and caring for one’s own legitimate needs” into one short word that doesn’t carry the ugly implications associated with “selfish.” The world is full of people who are killing themselves trying to please others and always putting themselves last.
Sophie Lizard says
Hey, I can do that in one word: REALISTIC. 😉
It’s not realistic to expect people to be selfless, and it’s not realistic to believe you can help or please everybody all the time. Ta-da!
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Haha. Here’s to a more realistic 2015!
Heiddi Zalamar says
Great topic for a post. Right up my alley. Will work on it during my lunch break. Lol ttyl.
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Can’t wait to read your pitch, Heiddi! 🙂
Jade Perry says
Headline: “Starting with Some-Thing; How Simple Beginnings Immobilize Fear”
“If you make a decision and it’s bad, we’ll do what we can to fix it. If you make a decision and it’s good, then you’ve impacted someone’s life. But if you don’t do something…everyone loses.” This advice that my mother received while facilitating her first medical procedure is a valuable tool I’ve adopted into my writing practice.
1. Start where you are.
Many times, we don’t create new writing habits because we’re waiting to get to that “next place” ; we get stuck in a pattern of, “after my children are grown, then I will…” or “after I establish my online blog presence, then I can…” The most important piece of starting new writing habits is to start precisely where you are.
2. “Do the next thing.” (quote from a book that Elisabeth Elliott wrote called Path of Loneliness)
Creating new habits begins when we look at where we are and ask ourselves, “What’s the next logical step for me”? That might include writing for 5 minutes each day if you’re looking to build a habit of consistency, or pitching 2 posts / week if you’re building a habit of sharing your work.
3. Assess & reflect.
Now, we can actually build upon the action step you’ve taken. The fear is immobilized, you have done something to create stronger freelancing / writing habits, and now you can assess to see how productive that was for you.
4. Rinse & repeat.
After you assess, you start where you are, and do the next thing… again. This is how habits are formed and how fear is immobilized as we build / assess new practices.
In 1,000 words, I plan to outline how the act of simply starting is powerful in and of itself. I plan use personal anecdotes to outline how my process through a series of starts (although feeling fear and trepidation) left me internally empowered to build new habits.
Bio:
Jade Perry is a freelance writer, career advice columnist, and higher education professional specializing in diversity education & multicultural student success. A consistent theme throughout her life’s work, in all of its various forms, is helping people become their “best selves” and challenging all that hinders that process. Connect with her online, through Linkedin, or on Twitter @SAJadePerry1!
Sophie Lizard says
This is good, Jade — you make the process clear and straightforward enough for even a frazzled freelancer to absorb. 🙂
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
I really liked this, Jade. It made me feel really optimistic. I have a smile on my face right now. 🙂 Very nicely done.
Sarah O. says
I have a great idea to quit smoking (if you have that habit…I did), and increase your writing output, or ideas generated for blogs: every time you find yourself craving a cigarette, channel the desire into coming up with an idea for a blog or tweet. After you’ve collected about two day’s worth (based on your perceived level of dependence on nicotine) , sit down with your coffee and write something with all the new ideas you’ve generated.
All of your ideas may be focused on needing that tobacco, but it could be a good thing to think about when trying to quit…after all, isn’t it a hassle to find paper and pen each time you think about smoking? The inconvenience should train you not to smoke, and you can use your writing ideas until you run out – which may be quite some time, if you smoke frequently!
Sophie Lizard says
Interesting idea, Sarah. I don’t know how many smokers we have reading this blog, but I guess there must be some!
Do you want to submit a Pitchfest entry using this idea? If so, we’ll need more details. 🙂
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Have you used this method yourself, Sarah…?
Allen Wilson says
Before you build any habits, break this one!
Do you steal a few minutes to sneak a some glances on your break from work? Does the dim light of the screen dominate your sleepless nights? Then you may be a victim of productivity porn. This habitual insecurity will easily kill the most beneficial habits.
1. You procrastinate on productivity porn.
2. Productivity porn divides your attention among many approaches.
3. With your attention divided you are liable to hesitate.
4. Productivity porn teaches false expectations.
5. Productivity porn focuses on the means and distracts from the ends.
6. There is no end to productivity porn.
As a grad student who studies ancient philosophy, I am personally committed to the idea of self-cultivation in everyday life. I myself have practiced productivity systems that range anywhere from the innocuous pomodoro technique to more extreme forms of polyphasic sleep. Through my many experiments and failures I have come to believe that self formation is a unending path that all of us must take, and I want to give people the tools to discover their own way of walking down this path.
Sophie Lizard says
Yes! I love this one. Productivity porn is a growing concern to me — like food porn, everyone’s so busy drooling over it they forget to actually *have* it in real life.
Also: best bullet-point summaries I’ve seen so far! Concise but communicating everything I need to know to imagine the body of the post. If we were giving out bonus points for this, you’d get +10. 🙂
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Love it, Allen!
Meg Scofield says
How to find (and keep) your ideal blogging clients
A friend introduced me to a system that she uses to identify her ideal clients. This checklist is short, easy, and modifiable to use on the phone, in person, or as a workshop handout. I’m adapting it to freelance writing, and I’ll explain it point by point.
1. Organization details – scoop that will let writers know if the principals are still trying to figure things out or know exactly what they want; helpful when negotiating rates.
2. Biggest challenges with online content – from this, writers can explain how they can help; also how to identify possible future work opportunities.
3. Writing style and ability – how a client answers will often be a clue to expectations.
4. “Wrap-up” box at the end – options a writer can use to get permission to follow up with the client and not be too sales-y.
I’m a new freelance writer in my first year of business, trying to learn to think strategically and focus energy on long-term business relationships.
Sophie Lizard says
Thanks, Meg, this sounds interesting.
Your pitch is well-structured but a bit short — can you tell us how you’ll expand this idea to deliver a 1000-words-plus post? 🙂
Meg Scofield says
Hi Sophie:
Appreciate the feedback! Here’s more on how I’ll expand this idea, hope this helps…
1. When you’re a new writer, organization details like location, how long it’s been around, and how big it is may be easy to overlook (instead, it’s easier to focus on more interesting things like that possible juicy writing assignment). But these nuggets of information are great clues in how a writer’s relationship with the organization might play out once the writing project starts. I’ll explain how knowing just these three details can help a freelancer decide at a glance if the client passes the initial test for a good fit.
2. The checklist includes four sample challenges with online content that an organization might confess to (Don’t know how to write blog posts, Don’t have time to write blog posts, Don’t know what content to include on the website, Don’t have time to write content for the website). I’ll show how a writer can use the answers to tailor current – as well as future – pitches.
3. An organization’s writing style is important for a blogger to know ahead of time, too. A blogger will often be expected to match the tone of the organization. This may or may not be a deal breaker, but at the very least, as a freelancer you should be aware of your own natural voice. Is it all academic, with an affinity for footnotes? Or more personal and chatty? Either way, it can be do-able to stretch for a post or two, but long-term will probably be uncomfortable. Writing style is good to bear in mind for consistent portfolios, too.
4. The “wrap-up” box at the end is my favorite part. Now the organization has finished the self-assessment, and can relax and get freebies. This area is where freelance writers can be creative and show off expertise – heads up, though, this section requires some additional prep work. There are three compelling options that a freelancer can use to get permission to follow up with a client. I’ll summarize the options, all of which put the client in a favorable frame of mind to be receptive to an ongoing conversation with the freelancer. The best news is that those of us who hate to come across as a shark can be totally comfortable with each of these three options =)
Sophie Lizard says
Ahaa, I get it. The wrap-up box idea is nice. 🙂
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Cool stuff, Meg. Some of my copywriter pals use a similar system with their clients.
Marianne Griebler says
I can’t wait to read your tips on keeping the conversation going with clients. Excellent!
David says
Thanks Sophie for this opportunity. Being part of this means a lot to me to and my online entrepreneurship journey
Here is what I have for you and the BFB community
(Headline)
The one bad habit that get in the way of your progress away and the way out
(Opening Lines)
It is said that wealth is a lifestyle – habit. So much has been said about how the habit we’ve form determines our destinies, even as a freelancer’s habit’s is one thing we are made of every blessed day.
With this universal truth at work. I’ve come to realize that there is this habit that virtually everybody (even I) has formed and only those who unlearn that bad one and relearn the new better one that can really go far.
I know you have goals, desires, target but if you really want to achieve all you possibly can. Then you must unlearn this habit and relearn the new one.
(Point 1)
Introducing that ‘one habit’
(Point 2)
What the habit does
(Point 3)
How it is formed
(Point 4)
How the habit operates on/with Freelancers
(Point 5)
Introducing the new habit to be formed
(Point 6)
How to make sure freelancer never go back but get better to be all better with the new habit
WHO and WHY
My name is David a 21 year old West African guy who have been reading and following blogs (BFB inclusive) on topics that interest me online: Blogging, Niche Site, Passive Income, Freelancing and Freelance writing. But the disgusting part is that I never really took any serious action towards the freedom, a lifestyle that I cherish not until about two month ago when I burned all bridges and made up my mind.
I’m believe I’m the right person for this post because I know that ideas (posts) that I plan to deliver will be of great value to BFB community and also the $100 reward will be of great value to my current journey to freedom.
I await your feedback
David O.
Thanks
Sophie Lizard says
Hi David, we’ll need more detail about your 6 points before we can determine how suitable this post idea is for BAFB. 🙂
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Yep. Definitely need more details…
Nice to see a youngster in the running though! 🙂 Even if this doesn’t work out, keep pitching, David! It’s never too soon to start your writing career. (I’ve been writing for pay off and on since I was 16).
Cherese Cobb says
Give Your Writing a Personality Makeover
I spent the majority my childhood hopping from place to place. No, my family wasn’t in the military. They were simply looking for the American dream and running from a dark past—one of poverty, alcohol, abuse, and criminality. Somewhere along the way, I learned not to write about myself. The stories that littered my school journals were of a fictionalized family, one with unlimited resources. I knew I had a story to tell…but it took me a while to learn how, which is what I am going to teach readers in this post.
Permission to Write about Yourself
You can’t hide who you are in your writing. Writing is like a finger print; readers can see part of you in it anyway, which is why it’s okay to write from your experience.
Wit Will Only Get You So Far
In the writing world, wit will only get you so far. To win followers, you have to soften you’re heart and toughen your skin. People respond to sincerity.
Build the Box
Write about what you know. You can’t write outside of the box until you build the box.
It’s Okay to be Scared
John Steinbeck once said that he suffers from fear when putting down the first line. Anxiety never goes away. If you’re not scared, you’re not writing!
Bring Your Coat Hanger
This is a journal that you write one sentence phrases in from your personal experience.
Find Your Zen Space
What is your ideal room? Is there music or silence? Is there chaos or quiet? What do you need to unleash your imagination?
My name is Cherese Cobb, and I have been freelance writing for five months. I recently started writing more personal guest blog post, which is helping me gain more clients. I am a follower of this blog, and I would love to be featured here.
Lori Parr says
I really like what you’re saying here. So true. Readers respond to or true selves.
Cherese Cobb says
Thank you, Lori!
Sophie Lizard says
This is a well-structured pitch, Cherese — well done. Your opening is longer than the maximum 60 words, but I can overlook that.
The problem I see here is that your pitch doesn’t draw a clear connection to the freelance side of things. How *exactly* do developing your writing personality and tapping your personal experiences help you get more clients, more money and/or more freedom in your business?
Feel free to revise and resubmit your pitch! 🙂
Cherese Cobb says
Thanks, Sophie. I’ll revise and resubmit my pitch before the deadline tomorrow.
Cherese Cobb says
Give Your Writing a Personality Makeover
I spent the majority my childhood hopping from place to place. My family was looking for the American dream and running from a dark past—one of poverty, alcohol, abuse, and criminality. Somewhere along the way, I learned not to write about myself. My school journal was littered with stories of a fictionalized family, one with unlimited resources. I knew I had a story to tell. It took me a while to learn how, which boosted business.
Permission to Write about Yourself
You can’t hide who you are in your writing. Writing is like a finger print; readers can see part of you in it anyway. I recently wrote a story for the Krazy Coupon Lady where I came out about having bulimia. I was so afraid that the editor would never hire me again. She’s given me several assignments since–plus I earned her respect.
Wit Will Only Get You So Far
In the writing world, wit will only get you so far. To win followers, you have to soften you’re heart and toughen your skin. People respond to sincerity. When I wrote a personal article about Christmas technology, my editor wrote back that she loved it. She didn’t even edit it. I saved the email!
Build the Box
Write about what you know. You can’t write outside of the box until you build the box. Pick a niche and as you build authority in the topic, you’ll be paid more. KCL only paid me $50 in beginning but as my skills have increased they’ve given me more money without me even asking.
It’s Okay to be Scared
John Steinbeck once said that he suffers from fear when putting down the first line. Anxiety never goes away. If you’re not scared, you’re not writing, and if you not writing your not making money!
Bring Your Coat Hanger
This is a journal that you write one sentence phrases in from your personal experience. Use the journal to help you write pitches–then send those pitches to multiple editors. Bonus: Swap journals with a friend every so often and develop pitches using their ideas.
Find Your Zen Space
What is your ideal room? Is there music or silence? Is there chaos or quiet? What do you need to unleash your imagination? When you have power over your space, you have power over your writing, which means you can churn out articles quicker. (Have you ever wasted half an hour looking for a folder or a paper clip? I have.)
My name is Cherese Cobb, and I have been freelance writing for five months. I recently started writing more personal guest blog post, which is helping me gain more clients. I am a follower of this blog, and I would love to be featured here.
Cherese Cobb says
Sorry, I posted this twice.
Sophie Lizard says
No prob! Thanks for the update, Cherese. 🙂
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Hmmm. I have mixed feelings about this pitch, Cherese…
I’m not sure if it quite fits with the contest’s theme of “habits & systems.” However, I think it’s a post that deserves to be written/read. Even if you haven’t presented a direct “system” — or a plan for breaking a bad habit/creating a good one — you still offered up a lot of good (true!) advice.
Myriam Labbe says
How Not To Catch Your Car On Fire: Simple Strategies For Creating Better Habits
Recently, when discussing how my day went with a person I know, I said to her “It’s like a car. Motivation may be the thing that keeps my car going but the moment a spark of doubt hits the gas tank, my entire car goes up in flames.”
-Beginning a habit: 40 days may be enough to set a habit but 60 days builds it to autopilot.
-Motivate me, Scotty: What motivates people to do something? Desire. Cigarette smokers as an example look forward to their break because it’s their one chance to do something for them rather than everyone else. What do you get out of a habit right now?
-That damn bolt: Dismantling a habit is easy enough. Figure out what screw keeps the thing in place and unscrew it. Problem is that you may have to unscrew many screws to find the one.
-The 4 elements of a highly successful habit: There’s always plenty of time to make a habit work, no matter if old or young, thin or fat, short or tall. Make time for it. Include discussion of the 4 elements of learning something.
-Gaming the habit: Adults like to play just as much as kids do, only they don’t use dolls or blocks (The Sims players and Minecraft players may disagree with me here!). How to turn the dull habit into a fun one? Make it a game!
-The art of gentleness: Too many people beat themselves up if they break a habit. Too many others simply say “oh well” and figure that if they broke a habit better not try again. This is nihilistic. Practice a routine of gentleness; you deserve it.
Who am I? MMO loving, cookie baking retail worker battling her own inner demons while saving pixelated worlds from theirs. I’ve written several blog posts and press releases for content mills, anonymous blogs for online businesses and had my own column at the age of eighteen for a now defunct local magazine. I want to pursue my dream of writing but my current situation doesn’t allow for it.
Sophie Lizard says
Nice idea, Myriam — everyone needs to understand their own motivation and how to kick it into gear!
Your opening is kind of abrupt, but we could work on that. Overall this is a good pitch. 🙂
Myriam Labbe says
Thanks for the reply, Sophie!
I agree with the opening being a teeny bit abrupt but hey, things can be fixed!
Marianne Griebler says
I love your tip on being gentle with ourselves. Honestly, beating ourselves up can be habit forming and an excellent distraction from actually getting anything constructive done.
Myriam Labbe says
Indeed it can, Marianne. Something I’m working on right now but it’s a hard habit to break!
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Great advice, Myriam! 🙂 I would have liked your pitch to be tailored more specifically toward freelance bloggers, but other than that it’s top notch.
Belynda Cianci says
Hi Sophie and Lauren!
I’m a recent addition to the BAFB readership, and I love what I’ve learned so far. Thank you! Here is an article I believe would fit right in on the blog.
(This is the part of the show where I cross my fingers and hope markdown is enabled for comments!)
The Humble Notebook – Your Upward Spiral To Freelance Blogging Success
In my previous life as an executive assistant, I had over a decade to perfect a system for staying on top of things. I’ve tried many a handy-dandy, high-tech planning tool, but never found a more reliable system than the humble spiral notebook. Now that I’m managing a freelance business, my notebook remains the key to my organizational strategy.
In this article, you’ll learn:
How using a simple, five-subject notebook can get your entire business on track. You’ll learn to keep it simple (and effective) to set yourself up for success in your freelance blogging business. You can create order for to do lists, pipeline planning, post ideas, and more.
The secret power of paper, and how doing it the old-fashioned way improves your work. Committing things to paper in longhand has positive psychological impacts that can improve your productivity and pull you through slumps.
How hard-copy organization can save you from the pitfalls of technology. Anyone who’s ever dropped a smartphone in the toilet can tell you… sometimes technology lets you down.
Recognizing (and exploiting) the creative sweet spots in your day. Keeping a notebook means you never have to scramble when inspiration strikes— or miss out because you couldn’t get to a screen. Don’t let that next great idea slip through your fingers.
Why keeping it on paper can be an awesome motivator for future success. The next time you’re facing a pity party or a creative drought, the cure will be as close as your previous notebooks.
What to do in case (gasp!) you lose your notebook. No matter what you’re doing in life, you need a backup plan. Here’s how to minimize the damage should your trusty pal go AWOL.
My name is Belynda Cianci. Once upon a time I was an executive assistant— before my sudden new life as stay-at-home-mom to triplets changed everything, and opened the door for me to become a freelance writer. With my mix of corporate experience and freelance know-how, I am a great asset for ex-Cube Denizens new to freelance blogging, as well as those yet to take the plunge!
Sophie Lizard says
Nice idea, Belynda, and clearly pitched. I’m super-curious to learn what your strategy is for backing-up notebooks!
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
I really, really love this, Belynda! 😀 Your idea is great and your pitch itself shows that you have a clear understanding of organization (and perhaps solid blogging skills??). Your pitch had personality, was on topic, and was easy-to-read — all the things I look for!
If you were to draft this, I would ask that you place a clearer emphasis on how this method would benefit freelance bloggers, not just bloggers/writers in general. (I’m guessing you cover that aspect in sub-head #1, but I’d like to know for sure).
Marianne Griebler says
No one is as well organized as a working mother of triplets. 🙂
Like you, I love writing things down the old-school way. So that means I have stacks of filled notebooks that just sit and gather dust. I’d love tips on how to make them useful!
Angie B Still says
HEADLINE: Organization Tips from a Cluttered Mind
OPENING: You know that interview question that everyone hates, “What is one thing you’d like to change about yourself?” Well, my answer – for YEARS – has been, “I wish I were naturally inclined to be organized. I have to work really hard to be a way that, for others, seems so easy.” I felt super-accomplished recently when my boss told me, “You’ve got it licked…you are an ORGANIZED person.” Now let me tell you how I became this way…”
POINTS: 1) Study the MASTERS of organization. I used to make fun of people who were OCD or anal retentive about organization…it was just my insecurity being a bully. When I finally got to a point where I NEEDED organization in order to save my job, I chose to become the pupil of one of the most obsessively organized people I’d ever met…Lynn.
2) Get a VISION of how being organized will improve your life. I was in a position where I HAD to become organized. I missed deadlines, lost files, forgot to do things, etc. on a CONSTANT basis. I knew that being organized would help me feel like a person who had their sh** together.
3) Try different techniques until you find one (or two or three) that work(s) for YOU. My organization mentor had an alphabetical system that I could never master – it was for those who were experts. What worked for me was color coding and list-making. Some techniques and how to employ them are…
4) Keep in mind that organization takes CONSTANT maintenance. And you thought becoming a blonde required maintenance…puh-lease. The biggest shock I got was that being organized wasn’t like a switch… “on” or “off.” Nope, it was every day habit and commitment.
5) A good organization system can be EXPLAINED in simplistic terms to others. I used to use to explain my “piles” of clutter with, “Don’t touch anything…I have a system.” The thing about it is that you might win the lottery or meet Prince/Princess Charming who insists you leave your job and someone will have to FIND things in your system. I can explain my present system in a brief 15 minute tour of my office. My assistant LOVES me. Now.
6) If you should RELAPSE… Don’t make excuses. I have three kids, a messy husband, and two mental disorders that are synonymous with clutter. But I control me…no one else. Take ownership and GET BACK ON TRACK. It really only takes about one day to get yourself back together.
ABOUT ME: I am a new blogger/long-time writer – also a mom, wife, and HR Professional. I think I’m the perfect person to write this blog because it’s a subject near and dear to my heart. I have Attention Deficit Disorder and Bipolar Disorder so you can imagine what a mess I have going on inside my head. I have found that being organized helps me function at my best.
Sophie Lizard says
I like this a lot. I’m the kind of person who enjoys chaos and easily lets time slip away, so I have to keep some systems in place to make sure I meet essential deadlines — like delivering client work and picking my daughter up from school.
Plus I have Lauren keeping me on track. I’d be SO SCREWED without her. 🙂
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
I’m one of the people pre-organized Angie would have been making fun of. 😉
Angie B Still says
Lauren, all teasing was done because of pure jealousy…nothing more. If it helps, people now make fun of me! I get sarcastic voices mocking me with…”Where’s my purple and green pen? Can you please order me colored file folders?” But you know what…I’m one organized chick, thank you very much!
Angie B Still says
I can still lose track of time in a heartbeat, Sophie. Especially when I’m writing and I’m on a roll (like buttah 😉 ) Luckily, my creative juices flow in the midnight hours so it usually doesn’t affect others until you count the version of me who shows up for work all Do-not-talk-to-me-unless-you-bring-me-espresso. I can usually find something in my office to do alone on those days so I don’t often have to choose between shutting down my creative flow or losing sleep!
Matt Piechocki says
The 5 Worst Habits of stay-at-home workers…and how to avoid them
You don’t know how much you’ve got it made. As a freelance blogger, there’s no punching of the clock, and the work uniform consists of bed-head and Winnie the Pooh slippers. What’s not to love? There’s no denying the wonders of online writing, but there are a few odious habits that can be picked up in this line of work.
No set schedule
One of the best parts of the job, no one in your face telling you what to do, can also be one of the greatest downfalls. You have to create and, most importantly, enforce your own hours to make the most of your time.
Lack of physical activity
Hours of being plopped in front of a computer screen don’t make for the fittest body. Just because you’re not moving during work hours doesn’t mean you have to become a gelatinous blob.
Living under a rock, aka never going out
Writing isn’t naturally the most sociable profession, so the onus is on you to drag your ass off the couch and into the outside world every once in a while. Real-life experience will always trump real-life research when it comes to writing.
Working in a distraction-filled environment
Sure, you can’t beat the twenty-second commute from bed to the coffee maker every morning, but extricating yourself from your humble abode every so often will do wonders for your creativity. It will also eliminate many unnecessary distractions and time-sucks that exist at home.
Never taking a vacation
When you work from home, it’s easy to perceive every day as a vacation. However, just like any other profession, it’s imperative to recharge your batteries once in a while and take a few days off to explore a new location other than your living room.
I am a freelance writer who has experienced his fair share of slovenly habits. When I’m not hunched in front of my computer clacking away, I’m attempting to travel as much as I possibly can and not get swindled in the process. A short example of my writing can be seen here: http://www.lovetefl.com/teacher-stories/this-teaching-thing-aint-so-bad/
Sophie Lizard says
Nice idea, Matt, and a good pitch too. Thanks!
Matt Piechocki says
Hi Sophie,
Thanks for the feedback! It’s reassuring to hear positive comments from professional writers such as yourself.
This may or may not be the electronic version of giving an apple to the teacher for class.
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Nice, Matt. 🙂 It’s a little simple, so I’d probably question whether or not you could stretch this topic to 1,000+ words without too much “filler.” However, if you told me that you most assuredly could then I’d believe you and ask to see a draft.
Matt Piechocki says
Hi Lauren,
Ask and ye shall receive, 1,000 words would be no problem at all!
Perry Suszek says
How being a successful thinker leads to greatness in ALL your endeavors!
1. What type of thinker are you? (discussion)
2. How does your thinking type affect your life?
3. How does your attitude affect your thinking?
4. How you exploit your thoughts…whether you know it or not!
5. How to easily transition from the negative to the positive
6. Your rewards for successful thinking!
Sophie Lizard says
Hi Perry, please take another look at the pitch format explained in the post above. We need more detail before we can give your pitch proper consideration.
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
^ Yep.
This is why following the guidelines is so important. Perry’s idea for creating a habit of positive thinking in order to do better work may have been aces — but now we’ll never know! :O
Daniel Rose says
5 Habits of Successful Novelists That You Can Start Today
As a writer, you’re probably familiar with that feeling of dread that accompanies a blank page. Sometimes, getting those first words on the page can seem an insurmountable challenge. All writers feel this at some point, even the most successful novelists. How do they overcome this? The power of habit.
Why Use Habits? – In this part I would recap on why it’s worth implementing habits, including some of the current scientific and psychological reasons habits are so beneficial.
Location – Why where we write is important, and examples of successful novelists who’ve used the habit of writing in a specific location.
Time – Why it’s important to find the best time of day for writing, what factors to consider, and how sticking to that time will give you an advantage.
Preparation – How what you do before you even start writing can affect your output, including planning and rituals that the top novelists use.
Quantity – Why establishing metrics for your writing can help you to improve your writing speed over time.
Regularity- The most important habit of all, why daily writing pays dividends, helping you improve your skills and quality of writing.
For each point I’d include examples from successful and famous authors, and an action step to help readers implement the habit today.
My name’s Daniel, and I’ve been blogging for several months about my experiences and lessons learned while writing fiction. I’ve studied what makes the great novelists great, and feel I’d be able to share these lessons with other writers in an easy to read manner.
Thanks for reading
Sophie Lizard says
I like this idea, Daniel. Can you include specific explanations of how adopting the habits of great novelists will improve our readers’ freelance blogging careers?
Daniel Rose says
Thanks for the feedback Sophie. In the opening I’d emphasise the fact that novelists have to hit 70k to 90k words for a novel, and in a highly competitive field. Therefore, using the same habits has the potential to supercharge our blog posts. Then, for the five habits, I’d tie them in specifically to what the effect on resulting blog posts would be.
I hope that addresses your query. Thanks again for hosting the pitchfest and giving your time and feedback.
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Sophie addressed the concern I had with your pitch as well.
If you pitch to us again, make sure you stress the relevance of your idea for freelance bloggers (our niche). This is our top concern right after “Does this person know how to string a sentence together?”
That said, your pitch is pretty good. And it’s nice to have another fiction writer floating around BAFB. (There are a bunch in the forum!)
Dianna Monroe says
Become Your Own Psychic to Develop Your Most Effective, Consistent Writing System
One of our senses, intuition, remains largely ignored in society in favor of the logical thought process. Yet tapping into one’s intuition, one’s true self, and striking a balance between these two resources is one of a writer’s greatest assets. Start your new year developing the best writing system for any type of writing project.
You’re Already Psychic – Intuition is a universal resource available to all, yet unique to each individual.
Ask and You Shall Receive – Once you tap into your intuition and are open to using it to receive help with your writing, in whatever format it comes to you, assistance is yours for the taking.
Connect with the Best Part of Yourself – Set your intention to go beyond the chatterbox of your conscious mind to receive all the help you could ever need with your writing.
Listen and Be Open – Develop these two traits and you’ll receive a goldmine of information for each one of your writing projects.
Establish Regular Contact with Your Intuition – Develop a pattern of connecting with your intuition, noting its various methodologies, and work regularly with it to develop a successful writing system that will serve you for every writing project you accept.
I have been intuitive all my life and have worked in a variety of positions, including artist, model, psychic, attorney, investigator and writer. I have recently been a guest on the Curious Times radio show. My upcoming Web site is: http://www.psychicfrontier.com.
Lori Parr says
Yay, Dianna! I mentioned intuition on my pitch. Glad to see your take.
Sophie Lizard says
This is an interesting idea, Dianna — do you have evidence ready to support what you’ll say about the benefits of intuition? Our readers are a practical bunch, so when you make statements like “assistance is yours for the taking” they’ll want you to prove it. 😉
Dianna Monroe says
If you’ve ever felt the need to stop your car at a green light at a traffic intersection and then watched a car zoom through the red light at that same intersection that would have hit you had you not stopped, that’s your proof. If you’ve ever taken on a client after feeling in your gut it wasn’t a good idea and then experienced that client as a waking nightmare, that’s your proof. Intuition is prima facia practical and we’ve all proven it to ourselves on numerous occasions throughout the course of our lives.
Issues we tend to encounter with utilizing our intuition include unplugging ourselves from societally-programmed left-brain dominant influence–and especially when working with language since this requires heavy left-brain usage, being open to using more of the right-brain creative influence, noticing the level with which we use our intuition, and finding ways to increase its presence in our lives in order to enhance our lives.
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Just for the sake of good writing practices we’d still need you to source your research for some of your bolder claims…
Interesting idea overall though.
By the way, we have a clairvoyant on our forum! http://beafreelanceblogger.com/forum/start-here/hello-from-julie/ Maybe you two would hit it off. 😀 (She even told me there were probably other mediums in the BAFB community!)
Shelby Blanchard Stogner says
The ideal writing life varies for everyone (mine may or may not involve writing from the sun-drenched veranda of a home in the French countryside, glass of wine in hand). But for many freelance bloggers, the reality is pretty similar: struggling to find time to squeeze in writing, querying, and marketing while holding down a full-time job or parenting a young child.
My post, “5 small habits that make a big impact for part-time freelancers”, will offer strategies and actionable advice for bloggers who want to take their career seriously – even when they can’t focus on it full time. I will cover habits like:
Thinking small – When you can’t count on 6-8 hours of uninterrupted work time, you’ve got to figure out how to use smaller chunks of time effectively. Making a list of mini-tasks that benefit your business will ensure that you use your time wisely, whether you have five minutes to spare or thirty.
Finding the time to write – It’s more than just getting off of Facebook and training yourself not to procrastinate. It’s about finding those slivers of time you’re currently wasting (like waiting rooms, standing in line, traffic jams) and putting them to good use.
Getting your tools in order – Cloud storage options like Dropbox and Google Docs mean you never have to be without your files, but don’t forget about low-tech tools like a pen and paper. Make it easy to get 5 minutes of work done wherever you are, and you’ll be a lot more likely to do it.
Thinking outside the box – Good writing doesn’t have to begin on a keyboard. If you can train yourself to do at least some writing (whether it’s brainstorming, outlining, or a full-fledged first draft), then you can bring work with you wherever you go.
Appreciating the little things – If you’re serious about building your freelance blogging business, you’ve got to love the little things. Learn to be fully present in your life, so that you can notice all the small moments; you never know when inspiration will strike. Learn to celebrate the little successes, because they will lead to big things.
When it comes to building a freelance business, I’m no stranger to moonlighting. I landed my first freelance gigs in college, while working and going to school full time, and continued to build my business part-time until leaving my job in September. Now I’m a full time work-at-home mom, trying to make sure that both my business and my two-year-old son get all the attention they need.
Sophie Lizard says
Yes, I like this one. I’ve been a hardcore part-timer most of my life, so I’m curious to read more about your tips. 🙂
And your “why me” section is particularly impressive — totally clear about the connection between your idea and your expertise. Excellent pitching.
[You know, I think I’ll plan a future Pitchfest where we focus on the “why this, why me” element. Let’s see what happens when entrants know a weak rationale is a dealbreaker!]
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Shelby – Good, strong pitch. 🙂
Sophie – Love that idea. It’s so hard for bloggers to brag about themselves — http://beafreelanceblogger/impostor-syndrome — so that’ll give them a chance to really work on their “elevator pitch” so-to-speak. 😉
Sophie Lizard says
OK, it’s getting late here in the UK so if I haven’t responded to your pitch yet, I’ll be back tomorrow to give you feedback!
And if you haven’t entered yet, you’ve got a couple of days left to pitch us your idea. 🙂
Issa Mirandilla says
Hello everyone! 🙂 Here’s my entry for this Pitchfest~
6 Bad Freelance Blogging Habits You Should Ditch Today to Get Sh*t Done Tomorrow
I used to be the worst freelance blogger you can imagine.
I always had all sorts of excuses to put off work, like “I don’t feel like blogging” or “This idea’s been done to death” or “The stars aren’t in position for this tri… I mean, blog post.”
That was, until I wised up and stopped:
Checking e-mail, social media, etc. first thing in the morning
Did you know that, in general, you’re most productive during the first two hours of the morning? Whether that’s true for you or not, one thing’s for sure: It’s best to work on your hardest tasks when your energy levels are at their peak.
Putting off the first draft
It’s easier to edit a crappy piece than a blank page. If you already have a basic knowledge of what you’re blogging about, write/type it out as soon as you can; otherwise, just research the essentials, extrapolate your blog post from there, and edit what you need to edit later.
Allowing work to creep into break times (and vice versa)
Sometimes, I used my break times (e.g. lunch hour) to work; other times, it’s the other way around. In hindsight, this was a mistake, and I’ll tell you why.
Relying too much on productivity apps
Don’t get me wrong: Productivity apps are useful… when they’re used right. Otherwise, they can be more distracting than helpful, which defeats the purpose of using them in the first place!
Setting an overly rigid schedule
Schedules are awesome, but not when they don’t account for the unpredictabilities of life (e.g. medical emergencies). As you know, these unpredictabilities have a nasty habit (heh) of happening more often than you’d like, so this is what you do instead.
Forgetting to make time for your passion projects
In a way, this is a bad habit. If you don’t set aside even a couple of hours each week for your passion projects (whether they pay or not), you’re making a big mistake.
*Basically, the pattern for each point will be like this: bad habit, explanation for why that a habit is bad, and an alternative solution.
I’m Issa Mirandilla, a freelance blogger. I’m the best person to write this particular post, because I’ve actually tried all of these tips myself, and they’ve definitely spiked my productivity levels within the past month!
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
“It’s easier to edit a crappy piece than a blank page.” < - That sentence alone made me fall for this. (Also your overall structure of bad habit/explanation/solution). Very nice, Issa!
Issa Mirandilla says
Glad you think that, Lauren! 🙂
Jeevan Jacob John says
Hey Sophie,
Came across your blog a few months back. I am planning to invest more into paid writing opportunities (most of the writing I have done till now is for branding and exposure). Both guest writing and paid writing are similar, but there are some additional components to guest writing (and your blog has been a great help to learn more of these components).
Anyways, thank you for hosting this pitch fest. I haven’t written much in a few months, so this will be a great opportunity to get back at it!
Here’s my idea:
Leveraging Habits To Gain More Insights? How So?
Habits. Insights.
Any connection there? No?
Habits are awesome. You know that. They make your life possible (and interesting!).
So, how about using specific habits to gain more insights?
More ideas. Better blog posts.
A habit of trying new things.
A habit of learning new skills.
How about those?
1) Expanding Your Horizon With New Habits (Expansion)
– ‘Skills’ Habit: Photography/Image Editing (Visual appeal of your post), Language Learning (Better communication), Active Observation
– ‘Trying new things’ Habit: Books of different genres (Ideas), New Tastes, New Sights, Music (Motivation).
2) Using New Habits To Gain More Insights (Integration/Assimilation)
I will be combining both #1 and #2, under each skill (or ‘thing’) I mention (mentioning how each skill has helped me, and how it can help others within their own niches).
As for who I am:
My name is Jeevan. I am a blogger, have been doing it for 6 years. I love to experiment – both with my blog and my life. And habits are one of the things I love to tinker with. Trying different habits for myself and for my readers – experimenting and analyzing how each experience/habit can potentially help me to write better blog posts.
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Hey, Jeevan! Your pitch made me feel like I was spinning in circles a little bit.
Circles.
Spinning.
Spinning? Circles.
I feel like you said the word “habit” more than you actually explained what habit you wanted us to develop (or break).
That said, I could totally picture you in an expensive suit throwing out jargon at dizzying speeds at a fancy board meeting. 😉
Sophie Lizard says
^^Best Pitchfest feedback EVER. 😀
Heiddi Zalamar says
Okay all here is my post, enjoy!
Treatment Plan Rx for Procrastination:
Have you read all of the how-to productivity posts and not understand any one of them? I have. Reading a million words about how to create, plan, and organize my writing have only left me more confused. I felt like I couldn’t relate to those posts because they weren’t clear enough. Or they just weren’t supported by real life example. Unlike most, I’m a person that needs a clear roadmap to getting things done. And if I don’t have a roadmap, I make one.
With my special treatment plan, I’ll outline how I address my own procrastination problems and complete a blogpost using myself as the identified client. This plan will help other freelance bloggers get work done in a timely manner no matter what challenges keep them from writing.
1. Developing a goal – Identify desired positive behaviors, and desired negative behaviors to be decreased with the treatment plan
2. Strengths and barriers – Personal and Environmental barriers that keep one from achieving the goal
3. Objectives – Clearly stated smaller steps taken to achieve the overall goal
4. Time-frame – Target Date for the goal and Status dates to check in with stated objectives
5. Actions – identify the tasks to complete each objective
6. Progress – Results of status checks for each objective.
The idea of having a treatment plan is to take a big goal, such as writing a blogpost, and making it easier to do. And with continued use of a treatment plan, goals can be set and accomplished in a timely manner.
I am a bilingual licensed mental health counselor and blogger who has personal challenges with blogging. As a frazzled, sleep-deprived, single working mom, it is hard to find the time and motivation to get my blogging done while also caring for two kids. My hope is to apply this to the pitchfest post as well as future blogposts and other life goals.
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Hey, Heiddi! This looks pretty good. Though I wouldn’t have minded a more in-depth outline. Don’t be afraid to really get in there and share what points you plan to address in each of your sub-heads. 🙂 I know you don’t want to give away the whole she-bang in the pitch, but you gotta give us enough to realize why your post is special…
Speaking of which, don’t be afraid to incorporate your bio info into your blog post. Knowing that you’re a licensed mental health counselor adds credibility — and context — to a post with “Treatment Plan Rx” in the title. 😉
Susan Hudson says
This is the first time I have heard of Pitchfest. I don’t think I am ready to get something to you by the end of the day tomorrow, which is too bad really because I do have a great idea. I will sign up here for your emails and keep up with your blogs and learn some more, try to do some guest blogging and maybe I will be ready for Pitchfest next time! Susan Hudson
Lori Parr says
JUST DO IT Susan! Do it anyway. Sophie might like the idea, which will give you time to refine it.
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
What Lori said.
If you feel uncomfortable pitching publicly, Susan, you can pitch to us any time behind-the-scenes: http://beafreelanceblogger.com/guest-blogging-guidelines/ (unpaid)
Or, you can enter our next Pitchfest in March 2015 for a chance at $100 and other great prizes. 🙂
Ivana Ivanovic says
Sophie, Lauren, fellow bloggers – greetings! This Pitchfest is like a holiday gift: sheer joy to pitch a post that’s been on my mind for a long time. Thank you!
Headline: “Organization for Freelance Bloggers: How to Never Feel Overwhelmed Again”
Opening Lines:
Do you feel overwhelmed by deadlines, pitching, education, managing the business side of your blog, the never-ending flow of indispensable emails coming from your mentors…even by your own ideas? Stress no longer, fellow blogger! It can all be managed in a simple manner that will get you back to normal breathing, and give you productive but balanced workdays.
My Six Points:
– One of the biggest stressors AND productivity killers in the modern workplace is the inability to manage the constant flow of incoming tasks, projects and information. We freelance bloggers are particularly plagued by this, both because we are in the information business, and because of the diverse nature of our jobs (we are creatives, but also finance, HR, sales…)
– My organization method for freelance bloggers works with two proven project management principles: 1) having a comprehensive project plan (in this case, adapted for bloggers) and 2) having a triage system to support it
– The secret to successful organization is using a method that suits the way you work, rather than one that pushes you to change your ways. My system is not only adaptable to the way YOU think, but highly malleable by your changing needs and workload
– With my project plan [which I would describe in detail in the blog post], you’ll have the ability to organize every task, pitch idea, grand plan that comes to mind, and every bit of information – link, message, name – that comes your way. Get rid of multiple lists, sticky notes, email folders, etc. etc.
– The project plan enforces the triage system to organize your workday with minimal time spent. Most importantly, the system keeps moving your important goals forward, while never missing out on other valuable tasks and information.
– My organization system for freelance bloggers is extremely simple, yet extremely effective: not only will it permanently relieve you of feeling overwhelmed, but it will open up swaths of time you did not know was there for your freelance blogging.
The Author Who and Why:
My name is Ivana Ivanovic, and I come to blogging with a background in Project Management. Being the sole project person for the Key Client Group at a top US law firm was the perfect context for learning how to balance high quality writing on demand with impeccable organization of a fast, multi-faceted environment. Learn more about me at http://www.ivanasays.com, and check out my hot-off-the-press blog for brave career changers: blossomlater.com.
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Nice, Ivana. 🙂 I liked that you added “in this case, adapted for bloggers.” haha. I’m a stickler for the pitches being catered specifically for freelance bloggers!
Ivana Ivanovic says
Thanks so much, Lauren. I guess I’ll have to perfect this pitch! On that note, I would love to know what did not click…if you get a chance. This is really a topic of great interest to me, and I have found my system to work so well that I’d love to share it.
Colleen Moyne says
The Difference Between Being Organised and Being Effective.
For some writers, the only way they can work efficiently is to prioritize, categorize, folderize and compartmentalize everything. That’s definitely not my style! In this post I reveal how I learned to streamline my writing life by ditching the filing system and finding my own simple – and much more productive – way of working.
Here’s how the story unfolds:
Getting Serious About my Craft – How I made the decision to take my writing career seriously.
The Panic Sets In – I’m accepted as an article writer for several online hubs. What if I run out of ideas?
Desperation – Spending days rifling through magazines, researching the net and churning out pages of great headlines but with little substance to follow up.
Navigating the Labyrinth – Trying to organize and group my ideas for easy access – creating a maze of folders, sub-folders and assorted categories – getting lost under piles of paper and post-its. What am I thinking?
The Penny Drops – How I come to the realization that I am actually working harder – not smarter.
Simplicity is the Key – Learning to rid myself of the clutter (both physical and mental) and letting the ideas come instead of chasing them.
I’m Colleen Moyne, a freelance writer living in the beautiful Barossa Valley in South Australia and a regular contributor and chief editor for Hubgarden.com. I’m sure that there are other new and emerging writers like me who worry about keeping a continuous stream of ideas and inspiration coming for regular articles or posts. I started the hard way and I’d like to save them some of the agony by sharing what I’ve learned since then.
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Hey, Colleen! I love the basic idea of this… Sometimes organization is just another form of procrastination! Unfortunately, I don’t feel like you stressed the relevance of your topic for freelance bloggers enough. :\
Christina says
Hi Sophie and Lauren,
No problem!
It’s a Choice…
Gaining weight when you work at home isn’t guaranteed. The first step to losing it is preventing the weight gain in the first place by making a few smart choices. (sum up of main choices that cause weight gain when you work at home)
Punishing Yourself Won’t Work
Feel guilty every time you sneak a bite of a homemade brownie? Don’t. Punishing yourself backfires. Here’s why (stats on self-punishment, guilt, restriction, etc. and diet success)
Keep Healthy Foods in Easy Reach
If munching kills your stress, no worries. Keep these foods in reach to keep your mouth active, your waist slim, and your stress levels in check.
Don’t Buy the Jun
When you’re in the store, don’t buy the bad stuff. That simple. Here’s a quick list of common weight gain culprits to avoid…
Get Moving (at your desk!)
Sitting can kill you (stats on this). Standing desks are one option, but adding a little exercise into the mix can help. (Links to a few key bloggers with WAH exercise tips…)
Form Healthy Habits
Read The Power of Habit? You should…great book (link to author’s website or Amazon for affiliate mktg if S & L are interested, or to the book on a blogger’s site if not) (Explain origin of habits and how to harness them for health…)
Hope that helps!
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
There she is! 🙂 Found your pitch further down, just like you said.
I’m not familiar with the phrase “Don’t Buy the Jun.” And Google wasn’t especially helpful. >_>
I would stress the freelance blogging aspect of this post a little more, but, other than that, it looks pretty good.
Christina says
The “k” was missing…not sure quite how that happened! It should have read ‘Don’t Buy the Junk’ (shows up fine in my Word draft, and I cut & pasted…sorry about the letter that went on vacation!)
Katherine Swarts says
Trust Yourself: Cultivating the Good Habits YOU Were Made For
LEDE:
Let’s face it … freelance blogging isn’t “the world’s” idea of a sensible career. Ask non-blogging friends for project and client ideas, and they’ll tell you to wise up and get a day job.
Even with fellow bloggers, asking for advice may not always be a good idea. …
OUTLINE:
What works for others may not work for you; everyone’s “most effective approach” is unique. The beginning blogger’s tendency is to copy exactly your favorite pro’s system–or, worse, everyone else’s system at once–which only works you into a state of frustration and despair.
Having a personal mentor is fine, but no mentor can hold your hand 24/7–or understand your style and needs as thoroughly as you can. Don’t expect anyone else to take over your responsibility to …
Know yourself. Follow your gut when pinpointing your planned work schedule, most-wanted clients, and marketing methods; if your gut tells you you’ll hate doing it this popular way, odds are it won’t work for you.
When deciding how to improve your effectiveness, choose one or two habits you want to cultivate–based, again, on knowing yourself, NOT on what “everyone else” advocates.
There is one major exception to the “no work habit is universal” rule. EVERY blogger must learn to like yourself for what you were made to be–often in the face of others’ blaring success and “the world’s” opinions.
BIO:
I’m a Houston-area freelance writer who has learned—no, is STILL learning—most of the above principles the hard way. More than once, I have followed the EXACT program that made someone a $100,000-a-year blogger, only to wind up wilting in discouragement; I finally had to “fast” from others’ advice and clear some quiet space to hear my own instincts and Higher Power. My hope is that this post will encourage others away from the “base everything you do on others’ advice” mistake.
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
I’d love to see a few more details about points you’d be making throughout the article; however, I love the idea of this post, Katherine! 🙂
In particular, I get a lot of guff for working nights. According to the “professionals” I’m “supposed” to work in the mornings. BLEH! I loathe mornings. I feel like crap because my blood sugar’s at its lowest and it’s super noisy (we live next to a day care center). Working in the morning was NOT a habit that worked for ME.
Side note: Being a night owl totally has its own benefits – http://blog.bidsketch.com/everything-else/night-owls-vs-early-birds/
Anyway, like I said, I like the core of this pitch — but I’d love to see more details and how it would apply to freelance bloggers specifically. 🙂
Katherine Swarts says
I’ve lost count of how many entrants–in this Pitchfest and others–rated that “needs to be tailored more specifically to freelance bloggers” comment. Are there any forum discussions on the topic of what makes a freelance-blogging-specific pitch?
Aisha Sulaiman says
Hello everyone, always a pleasure to be a part of the pitchfest. BAFB is a wonderful community.
Headline:
7 Productivity Boosters And How They Can Make You A Better Freelance Blogger
Intro:
It’s a beautiful day with the sun shining so bright, I feel so relieved with no pressure whatsoever. I have everything under control and just came out to take a walk.
This is one feeling most freelancers crave for and struggle to achieve.
At the beginning, it might seems all too difficult to the point that you might want to quit, throw in the towel and return to your 9 to 5 job.
But there is a way out…
• Ditch the I can do it attitude and outsource
This will cover how you can get more productive by outsourcing, highlighting stuff that you can outsource.
• Find a paid mentor
There is always something new to learn. This will cover how to reinvest in educating yourself.
• Always give back, teach others what you know
This will explain how teaching others also help you.
• Keep taking positive action to build confidence and kill procrastination
This will cover goal setting and implementation.
• Learn to say NO without explaining
This will explain how to stay in control when faced with absurd circumstances.
• Hang out with people who share similar goals with you
This will cover the benefit of having writer mates or writer pals and how they can help you stay focused.
Details will cover how you can achieve the steps with practical examples.
I am a freelance writer and blogger who has over time learnt so much and is willing to share with anyone who wants to pick my brain. I have experienced challenges as a freelance writer and recently adopted these habits as part of my routine and it has tremendously helped me in achieving more.
So that’s my pitch; like my mentor always says “remember confidence comes from action!”
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Nice and simple, Aisha. 🙂 I especially like the idea of being able to say “no” without having to delve into lengthy explanations.
Larissa Jones says
Hi Sophie and Lauren!
This is my first time with Pitchfest, but I love habit forming systems, so I couldn’t resist! If nothing else, seeing everyone else’s pitches gave me some ideas for things to try in the future, and that makes this all the more worth it!
Headline:
“Writers Of All Kinds: Habit Forming Help For Every Situation
Opener:
Out here in the wide world we call the internet, there are writers of all sorts. We come from different backgrounds, love different hobbies, and find ourselves in different circumstances. Being unique is great!
So, what’s the problem?
It’s really difficult to find one system that works for everyone!
Points (aka writer types!)
1. The Gamer – HabitRPG
I would write a simple overview of how the site works and talk about how this is great for gamers, since it lets you create a character and go on quests. Leveling up is an achievable goal to keep in mind that really appeals to those that like video and computer games (I know it helps me!)
2. The Parent – Habit Forge or Good Habits (app)
These are only two examples of great habit forming apps for parents with little time. Habit Forge sends you an email and you only need to click yes or no to let the site know if you’ve kept up that habit. Good Habits follows the “don’t break the chain” system and only requires marking the day if you were successful.
3. The Procrastinator – Beeminder
Accountability is the name of the game on this one! Beeminder is great because you pledge a certain amount of money and they charge you if you fall behind with your habit.
4. The Perfectionist – Way of Life (app)
This particular app is great because it is easy to use and lets you keep track of how you’re doing in a variety of ways. This is great for those who need to see exactly how they’re doing, but very quick for inputting information.
5. The Dreamer – Pomodoro
For someone with difficulty focusing, this is the perfect technique. 25 minutes is not a very long time, and having a very defined time limit definitely helps keep that focus where it should be.
I should add that, if given the chance to write this guest post, I am entirely open to other writer types. There are plenty of apps, websites, and ideas that would help all sorts of people!
Who am I and why am I right for this guest post opportunity? I am a college student new to the freelancing world, but I’ve been a blogger for about three years now. Forming good habits in college (and breaking bad ones) is pretty difficult, so I’ve spent a lot of time looking at ways to motivate myself that I won’t cheat on. It’s important to me that I share what I’ve learned, so others can benefit from it as well.
Thank you so much for doing this, I hope I can learn even more just from being here!
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Hey, Larissa! Change it to “Bloggers Of All Kinds: Habit Forming Help For Every Situation” and I’m totally sold. 😀
Larissa Jones says
Oh, good point! Headlines are what I have the most trouble with, so I’m glad I wasn’t too far off from a good one! I’d be happy to change it! 😀
Alicia Rades says
So I was thinking that I had this really good idea, but I’ve discovered that it’s a habit I have yet to break, and I really need to do some more experimenting with how to break it. I’m not quite feeling qualified to write a post on it. You know, I don’t really want to be a hypocrite. Now I’m feeling like I don’t have an idea, so maybe I’ll sit this one out.
I’m seeing lots of good pitches from other people, though!
Sophie Lizard says
Well, after you break the habit you know we’ll be here waiting to hear all about it! 🙂
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
I’m really curious what habit you’re referring to! :O
I’ve successfully curbed a bad habit (for a week and counting) by making myself more beautiful: http://laurentharp.net/nailed-it/ ;3
Sadly, said habit — and habit-breaking — is not blogging-related.
Alicia Rades says
My habit was being a workaholic. I don’t *work* all the time, as in doing client work, but I’ve been spending every waking second online doing something, whether it’s related to my book, marketing myself on social media, working for clients, etc. I’ve been forgetting to eat lunch, and I haven’t been paying much attention to my husband. I haven’t been paying attention to my physical health, either. That’s a habit I’m trying to kick. I had one successful day this week where I didn’t start working until 8 a.m. and got a good workout in and did some cleaning only to have been more productive with my client work throughout the day. Still have to get myself not to head directly to my computer when I wake up.
Nicole Pieri says
Hi Sophie and Lauren,
Readers of BAFB have responded well recently to articles on social anxiety and finding their expertise, and I think they’ll enjoy a post that gets down to the root of their doubts, and helps them address them constructively with actionable tips. I’d like to write you a post about Imposter Syndrome, and how to build the simple habit of identifying yourself as a freelance blogger in conversation–even when you don’t think you qualify as one. Here are a few working titles, and the basic structure of the post:
– Change What You Call Yourself in Your Head—and It’ll Help You Become What You Want to Be.
– Why You Feel Like a Fraud—And Why That’s Okay.
– That Thing Kicking You in the Ass Has a Name—It’s Called Imposter Syndrome, and Here’s How to Kick Back.
When someone asks “What do you do?”, do you say “I’m a freelance blogger”? Your gut response to this question is a habit, and this habit might be keeping you from success. But before you feel guilty, I’m going to tell you the very good psychological reason you feel like a fraud, and how to kick that compulsion in the teeth.
1. Imposter Syndrome is making you feel like you don’t really qualify for what you want, or that you didn’t really deserve your successes.
2. You keep trying to smother those doubts with positive thinking, but it doesn’t work because you’re not addressing where they come from.
3. You don’t feel like you can say you’re a freelancer because your life doesn’t look the way you think a freelancer’s life should be.
4. If you accept that “psychological habit” doesn’t mean “not real”, you can change the habit.
5. Simply changing how you answer the question “What do you do?” will build a habit of thinking that can help turn your pipedream into your real-life day job.
As a former professional resume writer, identifying and helping clients deal with Imposter Syndrome was part of the job description. Now that I’m a freelance blogger, I’ve published pieces on the Ms. Career Girl blog on defining and achieving business goals, as in this post: http://www.mscareergirl.com/2014/01/15/need-business/
Shall I write you a draft?
Sophie Lizard says
Hi Nicole,
Sorry to tell you Lauren already covered Impostor Syndrome in this post: http://beafreelanceblogger.com/impostor-syndrome/
Feel free to pitch us a different idea — under the “revise and resubmit after feedback” rule, if you can get a fresh idea in before the deadline we’ll include it in our pile of entries.
Nicole Pieri says
Darnit! I should have checked just a bit farther back 🙂 Thanks for the opportunity to fix it! Here’s the new pitch:
Sophie and Lauren,
I have an idea that I think would work well for your Stay Sane section. I’d like to write a post for you about how over-subscribing to systems and over-tabbed browsing kills productivity, and a simple, actionable solution to fix it. Here are a few possible working titles, and the basic structure of the post:
– How to Hack Your Browser to End Wasted Time
– Wanna Get Shit Done? Stop Signing Up for New Tools
– The Last “System” Your Browser Will Ever Need.
I’ll admit it: I’m a new freelance blogger, and I’m a systems slut. I’ve signed up for dozens of new online productivity tools, apps and pages in the last three months (and then unsubscribed using Daily Rollup!) Sound familiar? Instead, I stopped hitting “subscribe”, closed the tabs, and learned how to really use the only thing I actually need—my browser.
1. You’re oversubscribed to a dozen unused new productivity tools and systems, you’re using eight open tabs as a “read later” feed because you’re looking for the one system that will finally fix your productivity problems for you.
2. Productivity tools, apps, websites, blog posts—that’s all someone else’s marketing. Don’t spend your valuable freelance time boosting other people’s click rates.
3. Your screen clutter reflects your brain clutter—open tabs, new windows, background programs, and unread emails are all focus killers and energy suckers.
4. Keep it Simple. Your browser is where your work day lives, so spend two hours optimizing it for ADD-free browsing, and then forget about it.
5. Use your Bookmarks feature to make your Home Row—the pages you actually need to get to right away. Then create these three folders: Research, Inspiration, and Tools- and these folders only! to end the tabbed browsing nightmare. Using a few screenshots of my own system, readers can see exactly how it works.
6. Close out every tab at the end of the day. If it wasn’t important enough to read or do yesterday, it’s not important enough to spend your first hour of today’s work on.
I struggle with adult Attention Deficit Disorder, which means that the struggle to stay focused online is real, and constant. I was always looking for the magic bullet to help fix it, but now that I’m a freelance blogger, I’ve found that the system that worked wasn’t really a new “system” at all. I’ve also published pieces on the Ms. Career Girl blog on defining and achieving business goals, as in this post: http://www.mscareergirl.com/2014/01/15/need-business/
Do you think this would be a good fit for your readers? Would you like me to write you a draft?
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Great minds think alike, eh, Nicole? 😉
Your second pitch looks good! Thanks for resubmitting.
VISHAL KAUSHIK says
Hello All
How are you doing? In this world Different kind of people live and 68 Million people around 1 % of the population stutter on this earth when they speak that is why they start different type of behavior.
I am pitching my article here that How to overcome this problem.
people who stutter they stop to meet people because they start to underestimate themselves And they don’t think that this is not a SOLUTION to face this world.Stuttering people has a trait that they are very good in something like ( playing guitar, singing ,writing and a good philosopher) etc. They can start this step to overcome your problem.
First never loose you confidence because they all are a human being.
when you are talking to strangers do out from your mind you stutter just talk
Always see in the other people eye when you are talking. (Y)
To show your TALENT like ( Hritik roshan, Tiger woods and winston churcill $ lewis carroll ) they all are stammer in childhood.
To work between people not understand yourself looser.
When you have a conversation and stutter in mid of taking than stop for a while and take a deep breath.
it’s works # experience
ALL THE BEST
I am vishal kaushik new in the blogging and an optimistic person who live life as a player sometimes you win or you lose.I am also writing a novel. I wrote this because its a big problem of lots of people and other people make laugh that is why i want to say every people has a talent. Find and do work on your talent. (Y)
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Hey, Vishal!
I’m sure your post would be a good fit somewhere, but it just doesn’t work here. Our niche is strictly freelance blogging. Sorry.
Annie Kontor says
Naughty Secrets to Become Blogging Super(wo)man
Are you Clark Kent? Stuck at a desk all day and can only moonlight as Super Freelance Blogger (Wo)Man? Deep down, you yearn to leave the cubicle farm to save the world blogging. Here are some good bad habits to cultivate to keep your sanity and humanity when you transition from mere mortal to super blogging hero:
• Look out for #1 – Jor-El and Lara aren’t around to supervise you 24/7. You have to stay healthy (proper diet & exercise) to take on Superman’s duties.
• Rot your brain – While looking out for #1, it’s not a bad idea to rot your brain listening to podcasts on Stitcher or books on Audible or Oyster. It can spark your creativity and is one of the only real ways I know to multitask.
• Be greedy – Guard your time fiercely because life is too short to watch any Bravo show or get roped into pointless meetings.
• Cheat – We all have our kryptonite, and that’s OK. If an impromptu night off pops up or you get sucked into Real Housewives, allow yourself to have some fun even if you are supposed to work to avoid burnout.
• Get a down and dirty – Roll up your sleeves and play with all the productivity tips/apps you can get your hands on. Find the timesavers and systems that work best for you, not just what Tim Ferriss shoves down our throats.
My name is Annie Kontor and it is my dream to stop flying a desk, channel my inner Clark Kent and pursue my passion for writing full-time. This is my very first blog pitch ever so when Sophie’s email says contestants can “have no clue what you’re doing,” and this innocent, wide-eyed, stoic, corn-fed Midwesterner is taking her up on that offer! At least I know this is one pitch that will be very politely received, if nothing else 🙂
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Nice pitch, Annie. 🙂
Side note: I always thought that Clark Kent would probably be a truly great reporter. As an alien (literally!), he has the ability to have a truly objective view of the news he’s reporting on. (Of course, being raised by humans in the mid-west, he may have some bias; however, that’s a discussion for another time!)
Jen says
Hi ladies!
6 Ways to Conquer Procrastination
I am a notorious procrastinator. If it can be put off just one minute longer, I’ll find a way to do it. The problem with this is that it makes everything more difficult. Stalling just makes whatever it is you’re avoiding seem bigger and less manageable. These six easy steps can help stomp out your tendency to procrastinate for good.
1. Set a timer
It sounds elementary, but setting a timer can help you ensure that you don’t get caught down a rabbit hole “researching” or performing tasks that you have a tendency to spend too much time on.
2. Close all other windows in your browser
Again, this is very simple but not seeing that a new email has popped up or that you have a Facebook notification or there are 54 new Twitter updates helps you stay in the zone.
3. Set goals. Being paralyzed leads straight to procrastination.
Write down three major things you want to accomplish for the day. Having too many can make you feel like a failure, but three is enough to set you on track.
4. Break it down
Take those goals and break them into smaller actions that will help you achieve them. This makes daunting tasks seem smaller.
5. Go for a walk
When you’re feeling really overwhelmed, step away and take a brain break to get a change in perspective.
6. Reward yourself.
Depending on the size of the task, come up with a little prize to dangle in front of yourself when you get to the finish line as an added incentive.
My name is Jen and I’m a busy, hustling momma with way too many tasks to keep track of in the course of any given week—from my kids’ social schedules to my freelance projects and assorted appointments to remembering to do laundry and clean my house (which is what I forget about most often), oftentimes life can seem overwhelming. Unable to run away or just sit in the closet eating chocolate all day, I’ve figured out a system that helps me break my nasty procrastination habit. And I think it can really help others too.
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Hey, Jen! Speaking from personal experience: Tips 1 & 2 changed my life. haha. I’d been using timers forever because I’m a neurotic weirdo, but I’d only recently stopped opening a million tabs at once (again: my neurotic weirdness made me want to keep an eye on EVERYTHING at the same time), and it’s been just dandy. Less stress and my browser runs faster. 😀
I would like for there to be more of a focus on freelance bloggers/blogging rather than beating procrastination in general, but, otherwise, good pitch!
Alex says
Prepare to fail: How to pick up dropped writing habits.
—
Have you fallen off the habit horse? Everything was going great? Writing goals hit every day? Suddenly, you turn around and realise you dropped the reins weeks ago and didn’t even notice?
Yep, me too. I held a 73 day streak on my new habit before I dropped it.
But don’t sweat it, a dropped habit isn’t broken forever.
—
In this post I’ll talk about how habits are formed and how a missed opportunity don’t mean failure, with some fascinating tidbits of info from social psychology research. I’ll look at why some habits are easily dropped and what to do when you drop them.
—
Making habits automatic
The goal of habit creation is to make your behaviour automatic, not just build up a long streak of successful days. I’ll look at how “context” is vital in making habits stick, and why that’s great for writers.
All habits are not born equal
Habits have different “strengths”. Writing habits (like “do more self-marketing” or “write 1k a day”) are complex, and take more to become automatic than others. How can we use this to our advantage?
Forget time limits
There’s a lot of online talk about the necessary number of unbroken days before a habit becomes automatic. I’ll bust this myth and suggest a better benchmark to focus on, which doesn’t make dropped days a big deal.
How to pick up your dropped habit
Finally, I’ll give a simple, one-step way to pick up your habit streak from where you left off, using a perfect metaphor from my experience playing jazz saxophone
—
I’m a freelance writer, with a recent previous life in academia. I love taking really useful bits of research and spinning them into dynamic posts, with action points that readers can integrate into their lives right now. I’m also on a lifelong mission to break my own bad habits and replace them with new ones, so I’ve tested quite a few habit-creation hacks.
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Hey, Alex! If you could tailor this idea specifically for freelance bloggers then I think you’ve got something. 🙂
Alex says
Thanks for the advice Lauren.
I had thought that the idea was aimed at freelance bloggers. However, now I reread my pitch I guess it does seem to be aimed at more “general writers” than freelance bloggers specifically.
Good feedback, I’ll work on being more specific about the audience in future.
Leslie Jordan Clary says
HED: How you can conquer the procrastination trap
I’m a first class procrastinator. Although I’ve never missed a deadline, I can always find ways to procrastinate until the last minute on an assignment. From endless games of solitaire to house cleaning or standing by the window watching the train roll by, there’s always something to do other than the task at hand. Over the years I’ve developed tricks to help me beat procrastination. More importantly, though, I’ve learned to turn procrastination to my advantage.
1. Set up a schedule based on tasks that need done rather than time you’ll allot to them
2. Get to know what schedule works for you. Are you a night person? Morning person? When does your mind tend to wander? We all have a time of day we work best.
3. Work in short increments until you finish a project. Sometimes you can accomplish a surprising amount of work in five or 10 minute bursts.
4. Be kind to yourself. Turn your procrastination into a positive rather than a negative trait.
I’m Leslie Jordan Clary, a freelance writer who has learned to value procrastination as an important part of the creative process.
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Hey, Leslie! (I remembered which name to use thanks to our forum convo!). I like the basic idea behind your pitch but would have loved to see additional details on how you’d tailor it specifically for freelance bloggers.
Medha BN says
Going for the second chance! Thought of giving it up but really wanted to give it a try 🙂
Title- Nocturnal bloggers, do you know you’re working in the graveyard mode?
Some time back I came across this word ‘the graveyard shift’ while reading an article on late night shifts (though I don’t remember where) and its effects.
And you know what?
After finishing the article I realized it really meant what it said- literally!
People working late nights (in shifts or otherwise) are nearing death (some stats here) sooner than their counterparts who are more of humans and get some good night’s sleep.
…..But for others whom I like to address as ‘nocturnal bloggers’ (pardon me) who mostly work till mid-night or beyond almost every single day.
1. The causes for late night writing
a) Due to deadlines
b) Overstocking or workload
c) Procrastination and poor time management
d) You are insomniac
e) Just because you like it
…..
2. The effects
Getting 6-8 hours of sleep a day is great but sleeping at absurd hours of the day everyday will only interfere with body’s circadian rhythm.
a) Effects on freelance blogging career
b) Biological
c) Psychological
3. The remedies
The key is ‘same time everyday’- Strict regimen
a) Stick to schedule and stay away from procrastination
b) Accept just enough work
c) Sleep and wake up same time everyday
d) Listen to your body
e) Consult your doctor/psychologist if you have insomnia or to rule out any other medical issues
f) Exercise, Yoga and meditation
g) … (I will include more points related to freelance blogging)
It is always recommended to do all the creative and important work in the morning when you are not only full of energy but also the natural light entering your eye pupil has great stimulating impact on your mind which is the most important factor for ideas generation for freelance bloggers …..
Who and Why- Being a work at home freelance blogger is no easy job. Juggling with daily chores, kids and uninvited guests to handle it is very easy to stay up late nights to meet the deadlines. Not everyday but I do break this self-made rule at-least a couple of days a week knowingly or unknowingly. While I was figuring out some ways to kill this habit, thought of writing a post on it to help others on the way to success!
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Ehhhhhhhhhhh… This is going to be a slightly hard sell where I’m concerned — I’m a nocturnal blogger, and I like it — but I’d be willing to give your pitch a chance if you really, really delved into why this research (and the habits you expect them to form) is relevant to freelance bloggers.
As an editor it’s my duty to remain objective; however, your pitch still has to be up to the standards we demand from all our bloggers. 😀
PS: Being a Night Owl isn’t all bad… http://blog.bidsketch.com/everything-else/night-owls-vs-early-birds/ 😉
Medha BN says
Thanks for the feedback and I totally get it Lauren!
If you can really give me a chance I can get it right (up to the standards) and applicable more for freelance bloggers but may be later for non-paid guest post.
I read the article and it’s really wonderful. While there are evidences in positive sense there are evidences in negative as well!
*As far as the selling point is concerned you are true after all who would buy vegetable salad when they have donuts next to it! 😉
Alex says
(sorry if I posted this twice. I submitted it this morning, but just saw it’s not here and I don’t want to miss the opportunity)
—
Prepare to fail: How to pick up dropped writing habits.
—
Have you fallen off the habit horse? Everything was going great? Writing goals hit every day? Suddenly, you turn around and realise you dropped the reins weeks ago and didn’t even notice?
Yep, me too. I held a 73 day streak on my new habit before I dropped it.
But don’t sweat it, a dropped habit isn’t broken forever.
—
In this post I’ll talk about how habits are formed and how a missed opportunity don’t mean failure, with some fascinating tidbits of info from social psychology research. I’ll look at why some habits are easily dropped and what to do when you drop them.
—
Making habits automatic
The goal of habit creation is to make your behaviour automatic, not just build up a long streak of successful days. I’ll look at how “context” is vital in making habits stick, and why that’s great for writers.
All habits are not born equal
Habits have different “strengths”. Writing habits (like “do more self-marketing” or “write 1k a day”) are complex, and take more to become automatic than others. How can we use this to our advantage?
Forget time limits
There’s a lot of online talk about the necessary number of unbroken days before a habit becomes automatic. I’ll bust this myth and suggest a better benchmark to focus on, which doesn’t make dropped days a big deal.
How to pick up your dropped habit
Finally, I’ll give a simple, one-step way to pick up your habit streak from where you left off, using a perfect metaphor from my experience playing jazz saxophone
—
I’m a freelance writer, with a recent previous life in academia. I love taking really useful bits of research and spinning them into dynamic posts, with action points that readers can integrate into their lives right now. I’m also on a lifelong mission to break my own bad habits and replace them with new ones, so I’ve tested quite a few habit-creation hacks.
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Hey, Alex!
Yep. It went through twice. Replied to your first post above. 🙂
Lara Laschen says
Kick Corporate Life to the Curb: How to Ditch the Fear of Going Out on Your Own
I sat in my car in the parking lot, head on the steering wheel, tears in my eyes asking myself, “Why did I let it get this bad?” I dreaded just about everything about my corporate job and it was starting to affect my mental and physical health. It was time for a change…a BIG change, but I was afraid.
• What do you want?
Life gets put on autopilot a lot of the time because we think being stuck in a corporate job we hate is the only way to pay the mortgage and the bills. This question forces you to dream and little bit and start thinking about the possibilities of going out on your own whether it be freelance writing or starting your own business in another field.
• Just do it
Say yes first, then figure out the details later. This seems a little reckless to some, but in reality it stifles all of the excuses we place on ourselves for not going for what we want and just getting started.
• Redefine rejection
Fear in general is often the reason we don’t venture out on our own, but it usually can be traced back to fear of rejection. It hurts to be rejected, but if we look at each one as a badge of honor rather than failure, it becomes easier to put ourselves out there in order to eventually get a yes.
• Organization on your terms
There’s a daunting list of things you need to accomplish in order to reach your goals, but there are ways to break it down in order to keep it manageable and get it done a little bit at a time. Setting a timer works for me, but there are several other methods as well.
• Keep learning
Whether you’re still in high school or you have your PhD, continuing education is important to keep ideas fresh. It doesn’t have to be formal either: Try finding a mentor, a meet-up group or a local library that teaches software classes for free.
• Be fiercely protective (say no)
Are there things in your life you need to say no to or let go of in order to focus on the goal at hand? Probably. You have to protect your time and your system because nobody else is going to do it for you.
I had made a plan to quit my crappy corporate job and then I was laid off before I had to the chance to get to that end date. Now, after having the epiphany that I have never had a job where I wasn’t completely miserable and stressed out beyond belief, I’m going on this freedom journey figuring out what I really want and going for it with success. I would love to share what I’ve learned along the way in hopes of helping other people that are in the same situation.
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Hey, Lara! Tailor this specifically for freelance bloggers (our niche) and you’ll really be onto something. 🙂
gaurav dutt says
so i finally got the chance, what i always wanted to do but never get the opportunity to do so
i am a traveller and i ll always be …just trying to explore the places as much as i can
i have a mindset which always tells me i was born to be a traveller
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Enjoy your travels, Gaurav! Maybe someday you can write a blog post about your adventures. You’ll need to get a shift key on your keyboard first though, of course.
Michael says
I’ve been away from my email for a few days so I hope I’m not too late to make my pitch.
And hi to everyone BTW. Long time reader first time poster – slash- comment’er….Here goes nothing..*gulp*
The Last and ONLY Habit You’ll Ever Need To Succeed
GET SHIT DONE
I’ve wanted to be a blogger for a long time. More than 9 years if memory serves but I’m older now and forget things. (Where am I again?)
I used to think I didn’t know what to write about. But deep down I knew. I used to think no-one will read my blog. But deep down I knew.
I never knew where to start. But deep down I knew.
I thought if I only gathered a little more information I could start. I had enough information.
My problem was never the hows, the who’s, the where’s or why’s. My problem was starting and never finishing. And then, while writing the outline for this post, a song came popped into my head “C’mon baby finish what ya started…”
And the rest they say is history. I forced myself to GET SHIT DONE. Although it seems like a no brainer, the habit of G.S.D is hard to adopt because it’s depndent on these 4 factors:
1: Done equals Paid: Starters dont make a living; finishers do. I’m broke because I fail to Get Shit Done.
2: Controlling the Idea Fairy: I wrote and wrote and wrote because I was chasing the next idea having never finished the first one. I buckled down and Got Shit Done first, then pursued other projects.
3: Turn Pro: The commitment to an idea is what separates amateurs from the pros. They Get SHIT Done, one idea at a time.
4: Change My Mind: Scarcity vs. abundance. Are writers really poor or have I bought into the hype which is why I dont Get Shit Done.
5: Chop My Tree: (alternate heading: Guilty by Association) My friends and family are deadbeats, poor-minded and suspicious. They dont want me to Get Shit Done
Do you still want to be a writer? You can be when you adopt the habit of Get Shit Done.
My name is Michael Wilts. I have no website, no blog and have no credits. This is my pitch. I Got Shit Done.
Thanks!
Lori Parr says
As a fellow pitcher, I am so glad you threw your hat into this ring. I love everything about your pitch, your credentials, your courage
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Hey, Michael!
You were right on time. 🙂
“GSD” is definitely a good habit to have — and one a lot of would-be pro-bloggers need to, well, make a habit out of!
Your pitch reminded me of some of Sophie’s older articles, so we may need to get a few more details to make sure you wouldn’t be covering too much of the same ground; however, I thought it was really good. Nice one. 🙂
Karen says
Headline: Five Tweaks I Made In 2014 That Improved My Productivity Systems
I decided early last year that I wanted to double my freelance income. The only problem with that was I was already using all my available time. There was only one solution. If I wanted to double my income I needed to drastically improve my productivity. Here’s what I did.
I re-vamped my to-do list
My to-do list used to be a big hot mess. I revamped it into a major project list, a task list (with every task related to a specific project) and a whole other non-work to-do list that I kept in a whole different place.
I focused on actions, not results
I used to set goals that related to results, and it really messed with my productivity. If I hadn’t reached a goal I would put a whole lot of extra time into trying to get there. Now I set goals related to actions, and once I’ve the actions are completed, I move on.
I put first things first
I’m a writer. So writing has to come first. Whatever else I have on, the writing gets done first, before I launch my internet browser (or even brush my teeth).
I drew up some boundaries
I put some boundaries between work and home, but more importantly I put some boundaries around technology. The razor sharp focus I got from this is probably the most vital change and the one that had the most impact.
I learned to say no
I decided to focus on what I actually wanted to do. This led to me getting really proactive with my freelance career. I started to pitch for gigs I wanted instead of bidding for jobs on job sites just because they were there.
Who am I and why should I write for you?
I’m a freelance writer and blogger, running three niche blogs of my own as well as writing for hire and guest posting for other bloggers. I also homeschool my two children, so my time is stretched to the limit. I implemented the systems above in 2014 and ended up more than doubling my income, and I honestly believe that, given the chance to explain them fully, I can help any reader of BeAFreelanceBlogger.com do the same.
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Love it, Karen! The fact that you were able to “more than” double your income this year via the system you outlined above says a lot. Great ideas are fantastic, but proven results from great ideas are even better!
Elizabeth Abiola says
How to shed your procrastination ‘cocoon’
Procrastination if left unchecked can turn into a bad habit which could eventually be very hard to break. Most people don’t seem to realize that the habit of procrastination can cost them a lot of negativity; therefore one should take the trouble to identify and eradicate this element.
Six points
Nip it in the bud:- As a lot of the procrastination actions begin with the mind, this would be an ideal place to start. Putting down on paper all the things that should be done to this date and time, that have not really been attempted should be the first things that go into the list.
Draw your scale of preference:- Going over the list and then going a step further to identify at least one thing that can be attempted immediately should ideally be the next course of action. Begin from the easiest and simple task to the hardest ones, for example as a freelancer, how to write article fast and still maintain quality.
Place value on your time:- A specific time frame should be allotted, and this should be done without any room for wavering in the decision. This time frame should be the focus of the entire exercise to get the chosen task done. Like planning to increase the number of times you spend in writing articles and reduce the one you expend on frivolities.
Set goals:- Setting goals is a good way to make one to be aware of the things that require the individual’s attention, and it also acts as a motivating factor for the daily accomplishments that needs to be completed.
Celebrate your micro achievement:- Equally important, would be the action of acknowledging the successful completion of these goals with a little celebration. The human psyche is such, that all individuals enjoy some form of acknowledgement through the celebration of these achievements.
Dispose your waste:- Distraction is like a waste so stripe the working environment of any distractions. These distractions are always the elements that provide the individual with the loss of focus and thus eventually affect the end delivery time frame first agreed upon. Distractions are also always the excuse the individual gives for not being able to stick to the task and time schedule.
My name is Abiola Elizabeth from Ibadan Nigeria. I am a newbie writer and aiming to become an authority in freelance writing. I am a fan of your blog (beafreelanceblogger.com) that is why I want to write for the blog.
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Good tips! 🙂 I would’ve liked to see more of a focus on how your advice applies to freelance bloggers though.
BlackDahria says
Hi, Ladies!
I know this might be a stretch (given the topic) and I’m worried that it could be too similar to a post you’ve already featured about rejection. Still, I had to go for it. What have I got to lose, right? I hope you like it. 🙂
How to Tackle Negative Feedback Head On: A Step-by-Step Guide
You’ve done it. You’ve made yourself into a blogger. You got over your fears. You cracked open your laptop, and then you poured all your thoughts into a Word document. And it … paid … OFF. Until today. Today you got a comment that really sucked. …
1. Breathe. – This was going to happen.
2. (If That One Doesn’t Work) Cry – Just let it out. Feel your feelings.
3. Read Everything – Suck it up. You can get through this. And you might luck out. Your naysayers might be batshit crazy.
4. Get Out the Marbles and the Scale – Consider all the reasons why you should or shouldn’t reply.
5. If You Don’t Reply – Call up your bestie and talk it out. Then move on.
6. If You Do Reply – Be brilliant.
BlackDahria is a former English major finally putting her expensive, private college degree to use. She aspires to one day be a freelance blogger … just like the rest of the internet. You can email her at blackdahria@yahoo.com or follow her exceptionally regular Twitter account, @BlackDahria.
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
I do think it’s a bit of a stretch given the contest’s topic; however, it’s not a bad idea for a blog post… We’ve mostly covered how to deal with rejection from editors & clients — not from readers. So if you could figure out a way to address that topic so that it’s tailored specifically for freelance bloggers (i.e. How would getting flamed on your blog change the way your clients view you?/How could you use this as an opportunity to show your professionalism?), then I’d be very interested in seeing more.
Sophie Lizard says
Some freelance bloggers get paid to respond to comments on the posts they’ve written — I’d be interested to see what you make of adding that angle into your idea.
BlackDahria says
Really? Wow! I had no idea. I’m really glad I found this community. I’m learning a lot FAST. I want to research paid responses more and rework this pitch for you ladies. Thanks again!
BlackDahria says
Thanks, Lauren! Awesome, honest feedback. I really appreciate your suggestions. I’m going to think on it and revisit this topic in January.
Shannon Cutts says
Hi Sophie & Lauren! Super excited to pitch on such an awesome topic – hope I’m not too late! 🙂 Shannon
HEADLINE: Six Reasons to Ditch Your “System” and Tune in to Your Gut
SUMMARY: When I was little, my folks taught me the value of a 5-year plan. I dutifully made one…with disastrous results. The same has held true during the past five years as I’ve built my freelance writing career. In fact, I’ve found almost nothing about freelancing success conforms to a pre-determined system – save one: the persistent bird eventually nabs at least one juicy worm (or two).
SIX REASONS:
1. Your gut has a direct line to your survival instinct – the part of you that persistently believes you WILL live, thrive, and succeed, no matter what appearances (or this month’s projected income spreadsheet) may claim.
2. Your gut knows things about you that your head doesn’t, and you will never learn what really works for you as a writer or human being by staying in your head all the time.
3. Freelancing requires flexibility to work well outside a set system and schedule – for instance, within reason, to be able to turn on a dime when a great gig pops up or a long-lost editor calls with a rush job.
4. Deep dark unavoidable winter solstice nights (the type which a rigid system will seldom allow for) can be just the thing to break your freelance career through to the next level.
5. Gut instinct and serendipity are BFFs, and some of the best successes in human history (penicillin, “Eat, Pray Love”) have arisen because of fortunate (or even unfortunate) happenstance!
6. Eventually, if you give your gut some initial true freedom to work, it will lead you not to “a” system but to “your” system – that unique collection of images, affirmations, tech tools, topics, work hours, writing style, and other personalized, consciously selected helps that conspire to make your writing talents truly SHINE.
WHY I SHOULD WRITE THIS POST: I spent 20 years of my life recovering from an eating disorder. In those years, every lesson I had ever learned about “what should work” got tested and – often – overturned (oh, and I also learned I didn’t know me nearly as well as I thought!). Today, I have learned to trust my gut for my continued recovery – and my freelance writing success.
BIO: Shannon Cutts is first and foremost a proud birdie & tortoise mama. She is also a writer, speaker, mentor, nonprofit director, lover of retro threads and champion of all things (and people) recovered and recovering. Visit her at http://www.shannoncutts.com.
Katherine Swarts says
You have MY vote for Post I’d Most Like to Read!
Shannon Cutts says
Wow – thanks Katherine!! 🙂
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Hey, Shannon! I agree with a lot of what you’re saying — and the spirit behind your idea in general — but you’d still need a lot of research/sources to back up your points. Most of BAFB’s readers are very “practical” (as Sophie stated in an earlier comment) and it would take a lot of convincing to get them to “follow their gut.”
Shannon Cutts says
Thanks Lauren – super helpful feedback!! 🙂
Heiddi Zalamar says
Hi Sophie and Lauren,
I’m just checking in to see if you both saw my entry. I posted it two days ago.
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
“Treatment Plan Rx for Procrastination,” right? Yep. We’ve been reading all of the entries as they come in, but we’re trying to reply to them in order. There are quite a few this time!
Heiddi Zalamar says
Hi Lauren, sorry about that. I missed the last one by a day and wanted to get this pitch in on time. Lol thanks for the reply and please feel better soon! !! 🙂
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
No worries. 🙂
And, thanks! I feel a lot better today. If you ever have the choice between two hours of sleep or twelve, choose the latter. 😉
Larry says
Why Singing Is a Good Habit for Freelance Bloggers
It’s 2:00 and your eyelids are getting heavy. A siesta would be nice, but you don’t have time for that. Deadlines, marketing pitches, techniques to learn – it’s a busy day.
What do you do to get that second wind? Turn up the music and sing, people sing!
1. Listening to music can pump you up as it drowns out our brain’s cries of fatigue. The needed energy will help you push past that afternoon tired period.
2. Singing can alter your mood. A positive happy person is bound to do a better job.
3. Particular songs conjure up memories and emotions. This can get the creative juices flowing and lead to better work.
4. Singing is fun. There’s a reason why we do it in the shower and in the car. We enjoy it even though we may be embarrassed by our voices. So, while you are doing work that can be isolating, it’s especially important to have fun.
5. It’s much healthier than chocolate. Letting yourself get caught up in music and singing will often lead to movement. Unlike the chocolate pick me up, the music/singing pick me up is healthy.
My name is Larry, and I love music. I’m also an excellent car and shower singer. You’ll have to just trust me on that. I’ve been utilizing this method as of late, trying to make it a habit, and the results have been very positive.
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Haha. Well, Larry, your pitch is certainly unique! I haven’t seen “bloggers should sing” a million times! 😉
However, I still need convincing. I’d love to see some research to back up your claims. And, what about bloggers like I am who work the graveyard shift? If I started belting out showtunes while I worked, I’d have eight angry roommates getting on my case! :O
Larry says
Lauren,
Good morning. I know the winners have already been selected (Congratulations to each of them), but I wanted to reply to you anyway. Unfortunately, I could not do so earlier as my family and I were away.
First off, I did find sources to back up my claims. Here they are http://lifehacker.com/how-music-affects-the-brain-and-how-it-benefits-you-1469597259
http://www.spring.org.uk/2013/09/10-magical-effects-music-has-on-the-mind.php
http://articles.latimes.com/1992-04-02/news/vw-351_1_human-condition
Also, in terms of your angering your roommates, that’s a tough one. I had in mind people who are working from an empty home.
Anyway, thanks for the comments.
Cherese Cobb says
Give Your Writing a Personality Makeover
I spent the majority my childhood hopping from place to place. My family was looking for the American dream and running from a dark past—one of poverty, alcohol, abuse, and criminality. Somewhere along the way, I learned not to write about myself. My school journal was littered with stories of a fictionalized family, one with unlimited resources. I knew I had a story to tell. It took me a while to learn how, which boosted business.
Permission to Write about Yourself
You can’t hide who you are in your writing. Writing is like a finger print; readers can see part of you in it anyway. I recently wrote a story for the Krazy Coupon Lady where I came out about having bulimia. I was so afraid that the editor would never hire me again. She’s given me several assignments since–plus I earned her respect.
Wit Will Only Get You So Far
In the writing world, wit will only get you so far. To win followers, you have to soften you’re heart and toughen your skin. People respond to sincerity. When I wrote a personal article about Christmas technology, my editor wrote back that she loved it. She didn’t even edit it. I saved the email!
Build the Box
Write about what you know. You can’t write outside of the box until you build the box. Pick a niche and as you build authority in the topic, you’ll be paid more. KCL only paid me $50 in beginning but as my skills have increased they’ve given me more money without me even asking.
It’s Okay to be Scared
John Steinbeck once said that he suffers from fear when putting down the first line. Anxiety never goes away. If you’re not scared, you’re not writing, and if you not writing your not making money!
Bring Your Coat Hanger
This is a journal that you write one sentence phrases in from your personal experience. Use the journal to help you write pitches–then send those pitches to multiple editors. Bonus: Swap journals with a friend every so often and develop pitches using their ideas.
Find Your Zen Space
What is your ideal room? Is there music or silence? Is there chaos or quiet? What do you need to unleash your imagination? When you have power over your space, you have power over your writing, which means you can churn out articles quicker. (Have you ever wasted half an hour looking for a folder or a paper clip? I have.)
My name is Cherese Cobb, and I have been freelance writing for five months. I recently started writing more personal guest blog post, which is helping me gain more clients. I am a follower of this blog, and I would love to be featured here.
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Ah! Here’s the duplicate pitch you mentioned earlier. No worries, Cherese. We replied to your original above. 🙂
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED!!!
Big thank yous and virtual love to everyone who entered! (Lurkers: We love you too! Try to overcome your lurkiness and enter the next Pitchfest in March 2015. 😉 ).
Sophie and I have been reading each and every one of your pitches as they’ve come in! We’ve been trying to reply to everyone in order, so, if you haven’t gotten a reply, it doesn’t mean we haven’t read your pitch (we have!); we’re just slowly making our way down the list. If you entered, you will get a reply. Replies may even continue on after we’ve announced the winners (I’ve come down with a cold, so I’ve been tackling these when I’m at my most clear-headed. <3 Sorry that I've been slower than usual).
WE WILL ANNOUNCE THE WINNERS WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE DAYS! Subscribe to the comments and keep an eye out!
Congratulations to everyone who entered: Pitching takes courage! Pat yourselves on the back. 😀
Karol K says
Damn it! I’m late. 🙂
Anyway, I’d still love to hear your opinion on this idea:
“My Caveman-Style Productivity System … So Effective It’ll Make You Wanna Slap Your Mama”
In summary, this is based on using paper instead of apps and software, but that’s only a one-sentence overview. The post itself would describe the whole system in detail. Tested and effective (been working like this for around a year now).
Cheers,
-Karol
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Hey, Karol!
It sounds a bit like this entry:
Belynda Cianci, The humble notebook: http://beafreelanceblogger.com/paid-blogging-pitch/#comment-94449
…but with more mama slapping.
Karol K says
A bit like this, yes. But we’d surely end up with two totally different articles.
Sophie Lizard says
Hey Karol, hard to say without hearing more details of how *your* system works!
Feel free to pitch in more detail to Lauren any time (unpaid), or bring this to the next Pitchfest in March, when we’ll be asking for pitches explicitly targeting one of the BAFB blog categories (see the top of the sidebar). Sounds like yours would be good for the “Stay Sane” category. 🙂
Karol K says
Will surely do! Thanks, Sophie.
Carol says
Hey! I think I missed the deadline. But on the offhand chance you’re still accepting, let me know. I have an idea. Thx.
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Hey, Carol!
Yep. You missed the deadline by about 8.5 hours: http://beafreelanceblogger.com/paid-blogging-pitch/#comment-95715
But keep that idea in mind! You can either send it to us for an unpaid guest post submission behind-the-scenes or pitch it to us during the next Pitchfest in March 2015!
Marissa Richardson says
Oh no! I missed Pitchfest! I’ve been driving myself mad working on my website, and I totally forgot about it. Oh well, more for your guys. Congratulations to the winners.
Marissa
Sophie Lizard says
THE WINNERS ARE:
1st prize: Angie B Still with organisation tips for cluttered minds — read Angie’s winning pitch at http://beafreelanceblogger.com/paid-blogging-pitch/#comment-94491
2nd prize: Allen Wilson with a warning about productivity porn — read his pitch at http://beafreelanceblogger.com/paid-blogging-pitch/#comment-94300
3rd prize: Gina Horkey with 3 systems to grow your blogging business — read her pitch at http://beafreelanceblogger.com/paid-blogging-pitch/#comment-94160
Other people whose pitches we feel are ready to draft:
(If your name’s on this list, we encourage you to either pitch your idea to one of the sites in The Ultimate List of Better-Paid Blogging Gigs, or write a full draft and submit it to lauren@beafreelanceblogger.com for publication as a traditional, unpaid guest post on Be a Freelance Blogger.)
Belynda Cianci
Karen Banes
Bex vanKoot
Jocelyn Mackie
Issa Mirandilla
People we hope will bring their idea back to the NEXT Pitchfest in March 2015:
(If your name’s on this list, we love the concept of your pitch but we’d like to see you polish it a bit more before we invite you to submit a draft.)
Michael Wilts
Larissa Jones
Ashlei M
Congratulations and well done to everyone who entered. 🙂
Jocelyn Mackie says
Thank you very much for the feedback and the nod, Sophie. I have an angle for Focus@Will so I am reviewing the blog guide for it and will for this pitch as well. Since I have the possibility of another guest post showing up soon, I’m seeing how that works out and may take your offer just for the publicity. 😉
I perform primarily ghost writing so I’m following you in order to build opportunities for credited work. I really love what I see so far and it all makes sense when compared to my experience.
Ashlei M says
Congrats to all the winners! And thanks so much for the feedback and nod to my pitch. This is my first time ever doing something like this, so it makes me feel awesome that you liked my idea enough to mention it.
I’ll be working on my pitch and will definitely be back next time!
Thanks again!
Ashlei
Medha BN says
Congratulations to all the winners!
Happy holidays everybody!
Alicia Rades says
Congratulations to the winners!
Belynda cianci says
Thanks so much for the encouragement! Congrats to the winners and happy holidays to all!
Leslie Jordan Clary says
Hey! Congratulations to the winners. I love reading through the entries in these pitch fests!
Lori Hil says
Congrats to all the winners and everyone who participated for taking action! Happy Holidays and Happy Blogging!
Cherese Cob says
Congrats to all the winners. I’ll give it another go in March 🙂
Lori Parr says
Wow! That went by so fast! Congratulations, Angie, Allen, and Gina! I get flustered pitching in such a fast paced competition, but I am learning so much about honing my work, following guidelines, and from all the entrants, how to write better pitches. Thanks, all!
Aisha Sulaiman says
Congratulations to all the winners. Thank you all participants for the wonderful pitches and finally thanksto Sophie and Lauren for creating this learning environment. Happy holidays everyone.
Heiddi Zalamar says
Congrats to all the winners!!! Can’t wait to see the final post. 🙂
Issa Mirandilla says
Congrats to the winners! 🙂
Meg Scofield says
Echoing congratulations to the winners and special mentions! It was fun participating and getting to know this great community. All the best, everyone =)
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Congratulations to all the winners! And to everyone brave enough to enter! Great job, Everyone. 🙂
Marianne Griebler says
Congratulations, Angie, Allen and Gina! Loved your pitches and can’t wait to read the posts.
Michael says
Congrats to all the winners! I hope everyone had a safe and happy holiday season.
I want to say thanks and offer congrats to Sophie and Lauren for their time investment to pull this event off.
Great site. Great advice and Great community. Glad to be a part of it.
Wishing everyone a successful writing year in 2015!
Cheers!