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As You Grow in Writing, Look Back in Gratitude

Remember: As you grow as a writer, you’ll build a writing business. You’ll publish books. You’ll find that you derive greater and greater pleasure from editing, proofing, and finding just the right way to say what you want to say. But do me a favor–don’t forget your roots. Maybe it was a third grade essay you wrote on your favorite food (note: it was pizza). Maybe it was a high school paper on a great book you read. Maybe it was a journal you kept in college.

Who knows?

But passion began somewhere. Your love affair with the written word shined through at some point. Something led you to the path of the pen. Whatever it was, don’t forget it. Don’t minimize it. As you grow creatively, never forget to look back and thank the initial sparks that started the fire. It really can help you find new inspiration.

2016 Is Bringing Out the Sweetest Creative Juices!

As 2016 progresses, I’m finding lots of things moving and shifting. Big changes. Little changes. Changes so small, they’re hardly perceptible to the human eye! One change in particular that I’m noticing: I’m falling in love with creativity and the creative all over again. And it isn’t taking the form I thought it would as 2015 came to a close.

First? I’m loving my instructional design (e-learning) work. A lot. Why? Well, I’m working with some really creative people and it’s giving me a chance to create new storylines, copy, and design ideas. I’m taking what I’ve done and pushing it to the next level. Stretching out in new ways. Very exciting.

Second? Changes in my non-work life are prompting me to think about my creative writing in different ways. Instead of focusing solely on book-length manuscripts, I’ve started mining the everyday for creative stems. I got away from that for a while, but it’s good to be back. These tiny fireflies don’t have to light up the big city just yet. They just have to exist as kernels–ready to pop at a moment’s notice.

These are just two examples. But y’know? They are exciting. And the best part of new creative juices is the sweetness they bring to the rest of life. As 2016 progresses, I have to say I’m really looking forward to tasting more.

If you need instructional design/e-learning services, creative copy, editing, proofreading, or any other projects of that nature, reach out! Let’s make 2016 great all around.

How to Succeed as a Freelance Writer – An Interview with Blogging Badass Anne McAuley

Courage. Perseverance. A bit of the Badass spirit, perhaps?

These values describe the resolve behind so many of history’s most influential minds and their history-transforming advancements. They also describe how the freelance writer sitting quietly with a computer and a dream in 2015 can change his or her fortunes.

That’s right! These three values have as much to say to the aspiring successful freelance writer as they do to the savviest and most successful CEOs of our time.

Don’t believe me?

Well, then welcome to another installment in the How to Succeed as a Freelance Writer series. We’ve talked to successful freelance writers Nikki Steele and Suzanne Heyn about how they found their place in this space, and this week, we’re fortunate to interview yet another successful freelance writer in the Phoenix area, Blogging Badass Anne McAuley.

Anne has graciously agreed to answer the same four questions with which you are now so familiar, to give us her unique take.

Read well. What’s here could be two (or ten) invaluable tips to help give your freelance writing dream just the badass kick start it needs.

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What is your academic and professional background in the writing space?

I’ve been a professional blogger since 2010 when I was laid off from my job in corporate America. When I looked at my job description after being laid off, I realized what I loved about my job was everything that wasn’t in the job description – networking, marketing, and, of course, writing. I decided it was time to make my dream of being a professional writer a reality and McAuley Freelance Writing was born.

What were some key factors that got you thinking about a freelance writing career?

When I thought about pursuing a freelance writing career, I knew there was a fair amount of risk but also a fair amount of freedom. I could choose the projects I would work on instead of someone else telling me what to do. I could make my own schedule and work from home. I could create my own future without relying on someone else to do it for me.

Where would I get my clients? Networking and meeting other business owners.

Could I handle not receiving a biweekly check? I worked with a personal budgeting coach to understand how to budget my freelance money as if I were getting paid biweekly from an employer. We worked out a personal and business budget that gave me peace of mind.

Who is my target client? All too often freelancers and small business owners want everyone to be their target market. It sounds like a great idea until you dig in and try to market to everyone; it’s impossible. Over the years my target market has changed but I’ve always had one and it has streamlined my networking and marketing efforts.

What steps did you take to get your freelance career off the ground?

I spent the first two years of my business networking my ass off with in-person and online events and meetings. I formed strategic partnerships that I still have today that have helped me grow my business.

The other steps I took were to develop a social media presence on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn and develop relationships with my community. As a result, I now have a Facebook group called Blogging Badass where we talk about how content and social media work together and I receive referrals through all of these networks.

What are some key tips you can give to those considering a freelance writing career?

  • In the beginning, you will work more hours than if you had a j-o-b but it pays off when you can take a day or week off to spend time with family and friends without asking a boss for permission.
  • The work won’t come to you. You have to network and build relationships with people in-person and online.
  • Build a presence on social media.
  • Don’t be afraid to grow and change. I am working on a rebrand from McAuley Freelance Writing to Blogging Badass because I am more than a writer. I am a content marketer with a keen understanding of how content should be part of every marketing plan.

Being a freelancer doesn’t mean you’re a starving artist. It means you’ve chosen a path of being your own boss, making your own rules. While the road might be tough getting started or at times throughout your career, it’s worth it to have the freedom to create the life you desire.

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Anne’s advice is strong and clear: If freelance writing is the path you want to take, you should get out there and make it happen. You need the courage to believe in yourself, the perseverance to market and build your platform, and a bit of the badass to make it all work!

But in the end, you just might have a whole new career and a whole new sense of freedom.

Anne McAuley, the Blogging Badass, is a Phoenix, Arizona-area freelance writer. You can find her at McAuley Freelance Writing and on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and LinkedIn.

Quick Keys to Better E-Learning: Be a Team Player

If you’ve been in the e-learning space for more than a few days, you know that sometimes, you just can’t be a lone wolf. I know that may be hard for some of you to hear.

If you are a freelancer or went into the e-learning profession to flex your creative muscle, perhaps you enjoy the ability to get an assignment, interview the SME, write the script, develop the course, upload it, and then let the client know, “It’s done! Load the course and look what I made!”

Creativity and control often go hand in hand.

But a lot goes into a course, and quite often, it’s a success because of the role of a team. I spent a good amount of my e-learning career working with the most amazing team. There was me, two other instructional designers, a developer/designer, and a manager. Each one of us had a role to play in the development of the courses, and we each made sure the others felt appreciated and needed.

For instance, if I worked with the SME and wrote draft one, then one of the other instructional designers would read over that draft and enter redlines. I’d make changes and then pass it off either to the editor again, or to one of the other instructional designers. The SME was also integral to our ongoing edits, helping us to stay on the straight and narrow when it came to those trickier areas of the law.

Once the script was ready, our designer/developer took it over and made sure the code markup and all the other magic pieces were where they needed to be for successful launch. When it was time for new designs, she got busy with the tools of her trade, often running ideas past the instructional designers for input.

All the while, our manager was interfacing with internal and external stakeholders, including clients, marketing, VPs, and others in the food chain.

What we had was bliss. And we had it because we were a team. We trusted one another. Here are a few tips for making the most of the team dynamic (if you work with a team; if not, then maybe you didn’t read this far).

1. Question your own work. Remember this Quick Key post on questioning instincts? If not, I’ll summarize: although you may love whatever you write, that doesn’t mean it works. Let someone else see it and give an honest opinion. Prefereably a paid member of your team and not your mom.

2.  Question others. If you work with a designer and they do something that doesn’t quite fit the theory, or that you think may create a problem in the learning scheme, say something. Nicely. Everyone should be in this for the same reason: the learner. So, take a chance and speak up. The people I worked with didn’t (often) bite.

3.  Use your manager. Rely heavily on mangers, if you have them. Mine them for info. Find out where the company winds are blowing. Have them set up meetings for you with other departments. Have your manager get you on calls and in meetings so you can see how your work is being perceived. Yes, I had the best direct supervisor ever, but yours may be a close second. Talk to them.

4.  Play nice. This is a running theme here, so I won’t belabor it. Just remember: team members are people too. Be nice when you get a critique, and, if a teacher of mine is right and the world really is a mirror, maybe you’ll see that kindness reflected back at you.

5.  Know when to let go. If the kanban board says your piece is complete, let the next person take over in their area of expertise. Let the developer finish before you harangue her for changes. Let your manager have a chance to view the demo before you fiddle with it. Letting go of control benefits everyone.

Have you worked with a team in the e-learning space? How have you found the experience? Any tips?

 

A Quick Creative Thought for the Day

Remember this today: You don’t have to write an entire epic. You don’t have to finish an entire project all at once.

Just write a few words. Get something down on paper. Get something typed into a Word doc. Watch the word counter, and write until it says “100.” Heck, write until it says “10.”

Anything is positive and is a step closer to the goal.

I know you’ve heard this before.

But try it today.

I Had a Thought…Is That Dangerous?

I had a thought today as I sat and pondered a piece of creative whatnot on my computer: what if what I’m writing is wrong?

That happened. That’s dangerous.

I was in the middle of sketching out an article, and I suddenly wondered if all the work I’d poured into the initial outline was wrong.

Then I thought: does it matter? And the answer came back: “NO!”

See, every creative endeavor has a kernel of doubt deep within it waiting to pop. The questions isn’t when we will quit, but when we will eventually succeed despite the doubts.

Just a thought, folks. Nothing to see here. Move along. Keep creating.