What is writer's block anyway? It isn't like we sit down to write and suddenly cement hardens over the keyboard and we are literally blocked from writing. It is not that our office has yellow caution tape all over the doorway, and we just can't get in. Writer's block is a blanket term for the many reasons why we don't feel like we can get any writing done.

Why do we get writer's block? There are many different reasons. Sometimes it is a lack of ideas. Other times it is simply laziness. Writer's block can also be caused by the pressure or a really tight deadline (or last minute frustration from procrastination). Whatever the cause, we have to get rid of it, because our business depends on our ability to just sit down and get to it.

Here are some tips on getting rid of the wretched writer's block:

-Figure out the cause. Knowing why is the first step to knowing how to get rid of writer's block.

-Do something else. If you just don't feel like writing, use another part of your brain for a while. Exercise, paint, call a friend, play sudoku, or go window shopping. Get away from the computer, whatever you do. You might feel ready to get back to it after a while.

-If financial pressure is a factor, your creative juices might be backed up due to the need to get writing done just to cover major bills. Avoid that by setting emergency savings aside, create multiple streams of income (three or more paying clients), and try not to think about it when it is time to write.

-Avoid procrastination. Staying ahead of deadlines rather than missing them or barely meeting them can make it easier to concentrate.

-Relax. Yoga, messages, meditation, solitude, and bubble baths can do real wonders for your creativity. It is easier to tap into your imagination when you are relaxed and refreshed.

-Read, read, and read. Writers need to read anyway, and it is an unlimited resource for ideas.

-Tell yourself there is no such thing as writer's block. You can write anytime you want to. Maybe you need to refocus your mind, take a break, or go through a little writer's ritual first, but you don't have to be blocked if you don't want to be.

Writer's block is all in your mind. Take good care of your mind, and your writing will be just fine.

What is writer's block anyway? It isn't like we sit down to write and suddenly cement hardens over the keyboard and we are literally blocked from writing. It is not that our office has yellow caution tape all over the doorway, and we just can't get in. Writer's block is a blanket term for the many reasons why we don't feel like we can get any writing done.

Why do we get writer's block? There are many different reasons. Sometimes it is a lack of ideas. Other times it is simply laziness. Writer's block can also be caused by the pressure or a really tight deadline (or last minute frustration from procrastination). Whatever the cause, we have to get rid of it, because our business depends on our ability to just sit down and get to it.

Here are some tips on getting rid of the wretched writer's block:

-Figure out the cause. Knowing why is the first step to knowing how to get rid of writer's block.

-Do something else. If you just don't feel like writing, use another part of your brain for a while. Exercise, paint, call a friend, play sudoku, or go window shopping. Get away from the computer, whatever you do. You might feel ready to get back to it after a while.

-If financial pressure is a factor, your creative juices might be backed up due to the need to get writing done just to cover major bills. Avoid that by setting emergency savings aside, create multiple streams of income (three or more paying clients), and try not to think about it when it is time to write.

-Avoid procrastination. Staying ahead of deadlines rather than missing them or barely meeting them can make it easier to concentrate.

-Relax. Yoga, messages, meditation, solitude, and bubble baths can do real wonders for your creativity. It is easier to tap into your imagination when you are relaxed and refreshed.

-Read, read, and read. Writers need to read anyway, and it is an unlimited resource for ideas.

-Tell yourself there is no such thing as writer's block. You can write anytime you want to. Maybe you need to refocus your mind, take a break, or go through a little writer's ritual first, but you don't have to be blocked if you don't want to be.

Writer's block is all in your mind. Take good care of your mind, and your writing will be just fine.

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-Learn about accounting, taxes, profit/loss, etc. Finances are a crucial part of any business, and you need to know how to manage and evaluate your business from this standpoint.

-Create a clear policy. Every company has its own regulations and a way of doing business. A freelance writer's policy should include pricing, cancellations, refunds, payment methods, revisions, deadlines, blackout dates/times, and client privacy.

-Outsourcing. As your business grows, you are going to need employees. You might simply join forces with other freelancers. Even if you do not hire other people to help you write, you may want to get someone who can help you do research, hire an accountant, find someone to run your errands, or otherwise save you time. You will get busy if you are doing things right, and building a high quality, reliable team is essential for the growth of your business. If you are truly a successful writer, you will be able to train others to keep things going when you need a vacation, experience major life changes, or are too sick to work.

-Advertise. This is more than just sending query letters to magazines or bidding on projects. Put up a writer's website that includes information about you, what you write, linked or uploaded writing samples/portfolio, your policies, and your contact information. You may also want to try putting up a video on youtube, article marketing, printing business cards, designing a logo, and creating a newsletter to stay connected with current and past clients.

The idea is to think of yourself as more than just a writer. You are an entrepreneur. You are the president of your own company. You are the one in charge, so run your business the way that you think businesses should be run. Become a business-minded freelance writer, and you will not only feel even better about what you do, but you will see your business grow.

-Give the client what they want. If they want 5% keyword density, they will have to settle for a slightly more watered down article, as far as rich content goes. You can try to explain that overdoing it on the keywords won't help with search engines, but generally, just try to give them what they ask for.

-Place the keywords in the first lines of paragraphs, and the final lines of paragraphs. For some reason, search engines pick them up better this way.

-Don't be afraid to break up the keyword phrase. Did you ever notice that search engines will bring up pages with your search term slip up sometimes? If the phrase is in there, the SEO is the same, so put in the "a", "the", "of", if it will make it a more personable read. Write for people, not the machines.

-Do keyword research. Obviously certain phrases will be searched more often than others, so you might as well find out what they are. Here are some website you can use for this: SEObook.com, Keyworddiscovery.com, Google Adwords Keyword Tool.

It might take a little getting used to if you haven't written for websites or done any article marketing for clients. It is really not difficult to do, and the more you do it, the easier it will be to create readable yet keyword rich articles that will make your clients happy.

It ended up being fun and insightful; we talked about careers, editors, assignments and strategies, and I found myself thinking, why don't I do this more often?

So here are five reasons why it's good to put regular face-to-face meetings on your freelance schedule:

1. There's only so much you can share about the intricacies of running a freelance writing business with your spouse, kids, mother, BFF or gym friends before their attention wanders. Other freelancers get your concerns, your triumphs, your particular brand of those-stinkers-haven't-paid-me-yet pain.

2. Message boards have their place for creating virtual communities, and I probably spend too much time on my favorite online forum for freelancers. But there's no substitute for seeing someone in person. You can cover more ground, let the conversation flow, go off topic. And admit it, it's great to see what someone looks like in person.

3. Over coffee you can play the freelance version of six degrees of separation. I found out that my visiting freelance friend had gotten a couple assignments from an editor I'd blogged about, and in turn, she told me about a news Website she's written for that's run by an former editor of mine, someone who I now plan to contact about possible future work.

4. Two heads are better than one. If one of you is having a problem - can't get motivated to start writing a story, publication not paying, not sure which direction to take in your career - it's great to be able to ask someone else in the business for suggestions or advice.

5. It's interesting to hear how someone else got into freelancing, the way they run their businesses and the writing or career issues they're grappling with at the moment. My friend's present issue: she writes about many topics and wonders if she should pare down and concentrate on just a few. My issues: reconciling my ambitious career plans with my busy family life, taking too much time to write stories, not having enough time to pitch new markets, and the list goes on and on.

What have you learned from hanging out with other freelancers?

-Build long term relationships with several clients. One of the ways to combat the freelance writing famine is repeat customers. If there is an opportunity for ongoing work, pounce on it. Do this as much as you can, because you never know when one or more of them will need to suspend or end their orders with you.

-Have an emergency fund. You should always set aside at least a month's worth, or maybe two or three month's worth, of living expenses in case you won't get paid for a while. Only use it if you are short on an important bill, and replenish the fund when you do get paid again.

-Keep material on sale and publish things for passive income. Writing some quality articles and ebooks and posting them on sale at constant-content.com or lulu.com can provide a bit of a back up that can supplement your unpredictable income. If you are prolific enough on websites like associatedcontent.com and helium.com, this can also ad to your revenue during slow times.

-Promote your services, even when you are busy. Advertise, drive traffic to your website, and apply to jobs frequently, even if you have a number of things on your plate. Don't overbook yourself, but don't stop marketing just because you have a few extra projects for a couple weeks.

-Keep writing. No matter what, you should always spend a lot of time writing. Even if you haven't been hired for a particular project at the time, keep yourself writing just the same as if you had a pressing deadline. You may be able to sell the work or use it for a project in the future.

-Use short sentences

-Be concise

-Use subheadings

-Engage the reader with questions, interesting facts and/or humor.

-Keep the language simple.

read the details on web writing

One of the major differences with an online writer's portfolio is that you can link to items published on the web. Having a single page website dedicated to the portfolio can give it a professional edge. With these, you can upload files with thumbnail images and give the portfolio a nice professional edge.

A hard copy portfolio should contain clean copies of quality work on quality paper. A professional case is important to have as well. You can organize the work by genre, date, word length, or subject matter, but make sure it is organized. You may also want to include a resume so that prospects can not only see past projects but other work experience and credentials that can improve your overall professional image.

Having both types of portfolios prepared can open up job opportunities. If you limit yourself to only a hard copy or only an online portfolio, you can fail to sell yourself at your best in a live presentation or an online application. Prepare both and keep them updated. Remember to only add your best work.

I am a firm believer that you need a break from work, even if it is something that you love. That doesn't necessarily mean that you need to take a full day off. Every writer's creative process is different. I haven't heard of a freelance writer who works eight hours a day, seven days a week, but I know a couple who do work on any day of the week. There is nothing wrong with that. Taking time, even if it is certain hours that you won't work, or taking an unscheduled break, is well deserved and needed.

I think it is incredibly productive for writers to have an hobby that is unrelated to words and language. Using a different part of the brain actively can really give the writer within a peaceful rest. Focusing my energy into something like drawing, painting, cards, or puzzles (not word puzzles) can give me a real sense of refreshment when I do get back to my writing. Sometimes limiting my writing days to six per week gives me a chance to miss it. Taking myself away from writing for a while is almost like a tease, and that makes me love what I do even more.

I suppose it is up to the writer, and how much work they have on a regular basis. In any career, however, there must be some "selfish" time that no one else can have a part of. That makes it easier to give at work. The point is, do something else once in a while, and seven days of writing is okay. Work and play.

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As a writer, it is good to be flexible and produce a variety of genres, but there has to be something that you are the absolute expert in. You need a "specialty" to let customers know that you have dedicated time to honing a particular style/genre of writing, and they will naturally feel more comfortable with you rather than someone who claims they can write it all.

The main fear with choosing a niche focus is wondering if people will understand that you can do other types of writing. I suggest narrowing how you market your skills to about five specific styles/genres/niches so clients know that you do other things, but also get the sense that you are a focused expert who has practiced specific skills. Out of those five things, pick one that you will totally master and market that as your primary service. Here are some niches focuses you may want to think about:

-ghostwriting

-short web article writing

-print magazine article writing

-professional blogs

-website content writing

-sales writing/copywriting

-poetry

-novels

-ebooks

-fiction

-non-fiction

-newswriting (choose between hard news, features, press releases, profiles)

-resume writing

The list goes on. Start with what you have experience in or a natural knack for. Improve and nurture those specific types of writing and add a new one every once in a while. This will help you grow as a writer and establish yourself as a professional writer. Having a narrow focus will show that you take pride in your quality and skills, and that will earn the respect of many clients.

It is great to give back to your community, and it may even turn into a business deal. They may even refer you to other organizations of a similar mind. Check online, drive around town, and check in your local newspaper for opportunities. Writing for charity and non-profit organizations is a great way to network and expand your portfolio at the same time.

-Write faster. Of course, the more you write, the more money you will make. Spend less time checking your email and more time producing material to sell, post, or complete projects. Don't sacrifice quality for speed, but do work on speeding up.

-Sell your work. Helium.com, and associatedcontent.com will pay you to write and get hits. Constant-content.com is a place where you can post your articles for sale. Lulu.com is another post-to-sell website you can use to sell books on.

-Promote yourself. Start a blog, post on other blogs, participate in social networks, and advertise. Link to your posted work, and get on any writing website that will have you. The more you put yourself out there, the more clients will come to you. (Having your own website gives them an easy place to contact you.)

-Charge more. You can always raise your rates, but don't raise them dramatically in a short time frame (not unless you have been grossly undercharging).

-Pitch to higher paying markets. Business writing, technical writing, and copywriting pay more than blogging, proofreading and editing, and poetry. Write things that are in demand, and you will be able to charge more and get it.

If you are diligent about earning more money, you will do it. Take advantage of the opportunities online, and make the most out of your freelance writing business.

Really awesome website. There is a nice variety of job listings (new 5 days a week) and an enjoyable, and helpful, blog. Tons of great tips along with online and offline freelance writing job opportunities. I am on this site all the time, and I think any freelance writer can benefit from it. That is why www.freelancewritinggigs.com is the website of the month. Check it out.

Get Everything in Writing - some clients will start off with a simple little project. The next thing you know the project has ballooned and you are still only getting the initial fee.

• For example: I agreed to prepare a sales page in webpage format for a client. Then the client came back and wanted a Word version of the web sales page. Since I wanted to keep them happy, I complied. Then they came back and wanted a check list check list for Clickbank sales page. Which I provided, then they wanted another additional piece for the project. I finally drew a line in the sand and requested payment, which took 2 weeks to get.

Push Back Due Dates - always give yourself the maximum amount of time you can get the client to agree to. You never know what other projects are coming your way or what other problems may occur.

Freelance Writing is Not a Hobby - to be successful you need to treat freelance writing as a business, because it is a business.

• Advertising your services is critical for continued success. Search engine marketing (SEM) of your website and supporting blog is essential to the keeping your name in front of current and potential clients.
• Bookkeeping is important to keeping track of your income, expenses, and taxes.

Pay Before Play - complete your paying assignments before you work on projects for yourself. However do work for yourself, so you can point to your own work to future clients.

Half Now & Half Later - ask for half the fee in advance and the other half upon project completion. This avoids not receiving any money for a completed project and gives the client an incentive to continue the project. Occassionally you will run into a client who will not pay after receiving the completed project. You will also run into clients who bend your arm to take a hot project, then it suddenly winds up on the back burner.

Depending on the type of person you are, you might need to work during a "peak time" of the day. Some writers are most productive at noon, some early in the morning, and some a night. Plan hours that you know will not leave you sleepy, starving or distracted at the computer. (Location may play a role in distraction, but then again the time of day can make it easier or harder to tune things out.)

Another time management tip for a writer is to plan a set number of words/articles/queries you want to complete within a certain time-frame. This can be a daily, weekly, or monthly goal, to start, but it is best to narrow it down as a daily productivity goal. If you already have a number of projects with deadlines, that will make it easier to plan. Trouble comes when you don't have pressing deadlines to tend to, so you should create your own. Writing a certain amount on a regular basis ought to be a habit, after all, that is how you will make your living.

It is important to schedule time off. Don't try to write laboriously 24/7. Rest, eat, shower, have fun, and work other areas of your brain often. You will find that this will actually help your writing productivity. Tearing yourself away from the computer once in a while will allow you a chance to miss your work. "Like they say, absence makes the heart grow fonder."

You are in charge of your time, so take advantage of that control. Success is totally up to you.

A majority of freelance writers who are starting out online are not making nearly $100 per article, so you can imagine that with tons of revisions, the per hour rate can fall well below federal minimum wage. Don't let this happen to you. I usually offer one free revision. If the client wants more than that I will charge 10% of the total project cost for the next revision. If they still want yet more revisions done, I tack on another 10% fee. I make a clear note of it in my price list, and I usually allow up to two revisions out of sheer generosity.
If they decide to change the entire project, or want the work completely redone, make sure that you have a detailed conversation with them about what they need. You may have overlooked something important, or they just changed what they wanted. I recommend applying 1/2 of your regular rewrite fee and adding it to the project cost.

Never just send a higher invoice than the client expects. Make sure that the client is aware from the beginning that multiple revisions and extensive changes will cost more, and give them a ballpark figure of how much more it will cost.

Revisions don't have to be a torture. The best way to limit the need for revisions is to proofread your work and making sure that you fully understand what the client is looking for. Always ask questions and clarify your assumptions. Sometimes clients expect to be able to revise, so that may not be avoidable. In general, give the client what they want, but don't spend hours upon hours doing it for free.

My personal rule of thumb, for new writers especially, is not to work for less than a penny per word or a certain fixed rate per hour. Entry level office jobs pay at least $12 per hour, and if you have absolutely no experience, your hourly rate should come out to at least that much. A standard per hour rate should be a minimum of $20 per hour (again with little or no experience). Freelance writers often make $100 or more per hour, and that should be a goal to strive after.

You will have to determine for yourself how much you want to make. Set an annual goal and break it down all the way to the hour. Then create a list of services, eg web articles, press releases, editing,research, ghostwriting, and set a price range for each. It is good to be flexible, and set a minimum and maximum cost for each category. Consider how much time certain tasks take (you might need to guess at first, but you can always adjust your pricing later). Charge based on these factors:

-experience

-who will have the rights (I charge a higher price if I don't get the byline)

-how much research (if any) is involved

-how long will it take to complete

-will they want revisions (I give one free and charge for additional/extensive revisions)

-What is the average writer charging for the work? (The Writer's Market always has a chart on this) According to salary.com, the average web writer makes around $45,000 a year. Break that down, and set your pricing around that or higher.

Pricing will ultimately depend on your cost of living, your goals, and how much you value your knowledge and skills. If you value your writing highly, you will set a price that is respectable. The best piece of advice that I can offer is to be consistent in your pricing, and never work for less than you think you are worth.

Even if you don't intend to apply to the specific projects that you create samples for, project listings can be a wealthy resource of topic ideas, and it can help you expand your view of the different type of projects you can try in the future. It is a good way to bulk up your portfolio and practice your skills.

Use your judgment. If the client has hired you as a ghostwriter, chances are they don't want you to show anyone the work you do for them. When in doubt, just ask.

One way to bulk up your portfolio is to take a writing workshop. Once place to find online writing workshops is the Writer's Digest website. There are other websites that you can go to, but that was the first one I ever noticed. Not only can you learn how to be a better writer in a specific style of writing, but you will get feedback from an expert. You can use the products from your workshops in your portfolio.

You may also be able to find live local writer's workshops in your area. That way, not only will you add pieces to your portfolio, but you will have the benefit of live critique that can really help you grow as a writer.

If you are interested in a specific genre, or want to try a new genre, workshops are really beneficial, and worth the money. Even if you have been writing for a while, it is always good to expand your skills, and hear different perspectives on your writing. It will keep you sharp. I highly recommend signing up for a quality workshop to build your portfolio.

-Read the job post carefully and make sure you can do the job. Give them what they ask for. Most of them will ask to see previously written work, and some my ask for references or a resume. Be specific and use some of the same words that the buyer used. Make it obvious that you read the details of the project.

-Address all of the questions asked, and appeal to the requirements directly. For example, if they are looking for rewriting and you have that kind of experience, state that in your proposal. If they say that they are looking for a "versatile writer" and you are, then state that. Pick up any clues they give about what they are looking for and use them. (Don't make false claims, of course.)

-Bid within their budget. If you think their budget is too low, don't bid. You should have a set price range for your per word rate, per page rate, per hour rate. Creating a range, such as $35-$60 for a short but well researched web article, can help you determine reasonable budgets.

-Ask questions if there aren't enough details. It isn't a good idea to bid on vague project postings without a clue about what they really need.

-Tell them, briefly, why you would be a good choice for them. Don't ramble about how excited you are about the opportunity and how great it would be if you won the project. Focus on why they should hire you.

-Be yourself, but be professional. Don't try to project an image that is not you, but don't be so informal that they don't take you seriously.

After a few projects, you will figure out what works for you and what doesn't. Happy bidding!

When you make the effort to show clients that their project is important, they tend to want to hire you again. If I am half-way through a project, I will normally send a sneak preview of the work, as long as it is close to what I plan on turning in. Be careful with letting clients see your unfinished work. If it is a proofread finished portion of a longer project, you shouldn't worry, but never send a really rough piece to them. That will only make them nervous, and they might begin to doubt that you will deliver the quality that they thought you would. If you have truly made progress, and the preview doesn't need much more than a scan for typos, go ahead and send them that evidence that you are actually working as hard as you say you are.

Once a week is good enough, and longer than that tends to be a little too long of a wait. I never like it when clients have to ask me how things are going, so I beat them to the question. Try it. It will make you seem more together and professional, and clients really like it. It's just another way to keep them coming back. No one can resist good service.

There are several ways to get the client's attention and present yourself in a confident manner. I like to offer to do a free sample of about 250 words for the client if they would like to offer a topic to me. Some writers will argue that you should charge for the fresh sample, but I don't think that is always necessary. I will only offer a free sample if I have a good idea what they want but don't have any off-hand samples that show that particular skill or are related to the subject. I have been hired for many jobs based on these samples, and I think it is a great way to prove your abilities.

Another reason why offering a free sample works is because it creates a vision in the client's mind. They can more easily imagine how you would approach the rest of the project. Often times, they will feel that you have already started, so you might as well finish. Besides, everyone perks up when you mention the word "free." It creates a trust between you and the client before they even hire you. People are more willing to purchase things from those that they trust. That's why it works. If it makes you feel more comfortable, you can send the sample in .pdf or simply tell the client that you will retain the copyright to the article unless it is purchased. If you don't want to offer it totally free, you can offer it at half price.

There are times when I will charge for a sample. This is normally when the client requests a full-length, fresh article. Sometimes clients are a bit nervous about getting scammed or they have had experiences with poor service that included poor grammar or a "copy paste" submission. If the client does not want to pay for a sample that they are requesting, I would ask why.

I recommend luring clients with a free sample earlier on in your writing career while you are still building your portfolio. Like I said, it has worked like a charm for me.