3 Insider Tips to Turn a One-Off Freelance Writing Job Into a Recurring Gig

Is writing all you need to land a freelance writing job? For a lot of people, thats what they focus on when they try to land a writing job. If they can get As in school, then surely they can be a freelance writer. But, they soon wonder why they arent landing consistent work. Sure, they can land a project, write the piece, but after they get paid, they dont hear from the client ever again. If that has happened to you, doubt probably set in, right? You wonder if you really are cut out to be a freelance writer. If only you knew what editors or business owners really wanted in a freelance writer. Well, guess what? Ive been freelance writing for over two years, and in that time, Ive worked with editors, solopreneurs and small business owners. I asked some of my clients a while back what non-writing skills they look for when deciding on a freelance writer. Because if you didnt already know, theres so much more to being a freelance writer than being able to write. This is a whole business, not a hobby; you are replacing your job (hopefully) so think of freelance writing more as a business than just writing about your passions. There are skills, tools, and strategies you must learn to succeed as a freelance writer online. Ive said this before, but the majority of freelance writers never make it past the first year. They give up, quit, or no longer want to do this. Its sad really. These freelance writers probably struggled, had no idea where to find lucrative jobs, and once they did land a gig, it was either low-paying, ghostwritten or a one-off piece. New freelance writers may also be under the impression that this is normal – one-off pieces, ad hoc basis, and bulk writing projects. This is not what freelance writing is about. There are a lot of successful writers (particularly students in my course) that have a goal to quit their full-time job and make a living as a writer. Many are already living that dream. So, if you havent landed a recurring gig, here are three insider tips to help you out! 1. You Need Industry Knowledge Do you have a niche and are you an expert in it? This one thing can turn a one-off project into a consistent project. Industry knowledge is a huge factor in editors and business owners hiring decision. Just think about it: Freelance writer As niches are relationships, health, parenting and home decor. Freelance writer Bs niche is financial intimacy for newly married people. The editor of a new publication, Love Amore, is looking for a writer that understands the nuances of marriage and how forming a bond can make other roles harder like the division of labor, financial harmony, and parenting cohesiveness. Looking at the two candidates, which writer will the editor lean towards? Ding, ding ding!! Freelancer B come on down! This freelance writer only writes about financial intimacy for newly married people. This writer understands how theres a lack of communication between partners and a lot of confusion about  their money. The editor wants articles for married couples, and this fits the bill. So, as a freelance writer, have you looked at your niche and niched down? When I first started, I had three niches – parenting, health, and education. This helped me figure out what I liked writing about and surprisingly it was about digital marketing. Its okay to have several niches when youre new, but if youve been freelancing for a year and write on a variety of topics, its time to niche down. 2. You Can Work On Your Own Can you work independently on your freelance writing projects, or do you constantly email the client questions? One thing many of my clients told me that they liked about my work was the fact that I didnt have to email the client numerous times about the project details. Once the topic was given, I wrote the piece and submitted it. Of course, there were times when I submitted an outline first to make sure I was on track with what the client wanted, but other than that, it was my job to do the rest. Remember, a client not only hired you for their content but to make their lives easier. Work towards being more independent with your projects. Do your own research instead of asking the client. If you have a question about the company, look at their website and see if you can find the answer that way. You can also look on LinkedIn profile or even at their Facebook page to get more help. Another way to minimize questions is to scope the project out before you take it on. Ask questions during the interview (but not too many!) and do your research on the company or person. 3. You Have Connections in Your Niche Let me ask you this: Have you connected with at least five other freelance writers and are on social media sharing posts and interacting with influencers and potential clients? If you havent, now is the time to connect with the right people to boost your freelance writing biz. This might mean going out of your comfort zone and attending a Twitter chat or looking on MeetUp and attending a local event. You can start small though, and connect with other freelance writers and comment on some blogs that you would like to write for. Be consistent and grow your network. I know that a lot of clients hire me because they know Im connected with influencers, certain native digital companies and certain platforms like Huffington Post. Because of my connections and my social presence, most of my work comes to me or through referrals. I dont have to pitch much, if at all, and I can pick and choose with whom I want to collaborate with. Can this be you? For sure, if you put the work in, have the type of writing tone for your clients, and you have a strong marketing plan to work from. Because when you think about it, the best freelance writers are the ones that know how to market their services online. I Want to Hear From You Now its your turn – what skill do you think you need to land a recurring gig? Are most of your projects recurring or one-off? Let me know in the comments.

Are all instincts random and arbitrary

Are all instincts random and arbitrary Human instincts are the innate characteristics that determine specific behaviors while instincts are innate abilities of human beings or animals, which enable them to adapt to diverse and changing environmental conditions for survival purposes. Human beings or animals respond to unique environments depending on the instincts that direct them.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Are all instincts random and arbitrary? specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More For example, when a baby is born, the instinctive responses are crying and sucking, which enable the baby to attract attention of the mother and satisfy hunger respectively. In animals, young ones of birds display instinctive behavior of flying without prior experience. These instinctive behaviors emanate from innate characteristics. Since instincts are innate and specific to certain characteristic behaviors, not all of them are random and arbitrary. Although environment modi fies some instinctive behaviors, others emanate exclusively from the innate characteristics. According to nativists, â€Å"all aspects of human behavior are instinctive and humans have inbuilt instinctive behaviors that are genetically determined †¦ we are born with certain core capabilities and knowledge that provide the basic the basic structure of learning† (Spink 2). Genes are responsible for the specific instincts that are unique to human beings or animals. Within species, instincts are similar due to the similarity of genetic information. On the other hand, species’ variability of instincts occurs due to the diversity of genetic information. Since instincts are innate and specific to certain characteristics, they can never be random and arbitrary because the genetic information dictates them. The genetic makeup defines specific instincts relative to their application in nature. Human beings portray instinctive behaviors that are not arbitrary. For instance, all babies have instinctive behavior of suckling in order to satisfy their hunger. Spink argues that, â€Å"babies engage in sucking behavior that generally emerges unprompted, although some babies have problems with sucking, it is an innate or instinctive behavior† (1). This shows that sucking is a natural instinct, not arbitrary, because all babies have the innate ability of doing it. If the ability of the babies to breastfeed were a random instinct, then, some babies would be unable to breastfeed while others would learn in order to breastfeed properly. Therefore, the ability of babies to breastfeed instinctively and in a uniform manner means that instincts are specific rather than random in controlling human behaviors.Advertising Looking for essay on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Language development in human beings is instinctive because children can develop it without learning. An informati on behavior is an instinctive process of language development. According to Spink, â€Å"†¦it is a cognitive process that is not taught, but is innate to humans as people are able to consciously understand that they need to undertake behavior processes of information finding, organizing, and using to make sense of their environment (2). Therefore, language development can never be an arbitrary process since human beings use rational and logical minds to understand their environment and to generate information. Animals also depict that, instincts link intricately with the innate characteristic behaviors. For example, all birds have instinctive ability to fly due to innate characteristics of their genes. A young bird begins to fly when wings’ muscles mature while the instincts drive the bird to fly. If the instincts were random and arbitrary, some birds would not be flying while others would have unique abilities such as walking instead of flying. Therefore, not all insti ncts are random and arbitrary because they are innate and specific in their functions. Spink, Amanda. â€Å"Instinct Versus Environment.† Springer Journal of information  Behavior 11.85. (2010): 1-10.

Strategic planning and contro Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Strategic planning and contro - Assignment Example Finally, an action plan will be provided, which will reflect my way of enhancing mu abilities for accomplishing the task objectives in future. From the overall project, I have developed an in-depth idea about Mobile Inc. By means of conducting the market research, the position of the company among the competitors as well as in the global economy was also understood. As per my understanding, it was necessary to conduct a SWOT analysis of the company in order to identify the external opportunities and threats to the entity as well as recognise its internal strengths and weaknesses. There are many external threats to the organization including fear of the competitors and various economical factors that might have further increased risks for the company in the global context. Moreover, various opportunities were also identified that would have helped the company to prosper and develop a competitive advantage over the competitors. However, the internal strength of the company revealed the efficiency of its human resource management and the workforce that led the company further to run effectively. Certain strategies were also r ecommended in order to achieve the long-term objectives of the company and an estimated cost was provided for the implementation of recommended strategies in the projected year. Moreover, in order to prepare the forecasted ratios and group financial statements, I had to analyze the financial report of the company as well as conduct a thorough market research in order to collect the relevant data. An in-depth research was conducted as well as the lecture notes were followed in order to prepare the project. Accordingly, I had to conduct a SWOT analysis of the company i.e. of Mobile Inc. in order to find out the external opportunities and threats as well as relate those with its internal strengths and weaknesses. In subsequence, detailed

Write a restaurant proposal Research Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Write a restaurant - Research Proposal Example Therefore, the Thai restaurant seeks to apply a marketing strategy that is directly opposite to the other restaurants in the neighborhood, where only 30 clients will be served at a time. The Thai restaurant will precisely be located in a busy street location, on 95st and Lexington Ave on Upper East Side, New York City. The choice of the location is based on the fact that; it is a booming and rapidly expanding business area, with exquisite infrastructure and facilities that will complement the services offered by the restaurant. The restaurant will be offering the clients healthy and delicious Thai foods in a modern, casual, and relaxing atmosphere, but with a special touch of Asian cuisines to cater for the diversity of the restaurant products. Thai food and cuisines are recognized worldwide, and it is difficult to lack one or more restaurants serving Thai Foods and Cuisines in most of the renowned Western Countries cities, due to the popularity of the food, which is based on the harmony associated with it (Wiens, 2010). Thai foods have a combination of South East Asia cuisines and some from the western cultures, which are then blended to ensure that such cuisines form a characteristic food combination and diversity of its own (Olmsted, 2013). The idea of establish a Thai restaurant was motivated by other investors who have similar businesses interests, and with a relatively long period of experience in the business. In addition, the proposed restaurant has secured the services of a well experienced chief chef, who has over 10 years of experience in creating and preparing different blended Thai cuisines. From the many years of experience in this field, the investors are confident that the combination of a good location and the offer of authentic Thai cuisines will be a success factor for the business. Further, the business

Women In Heart Of Darkness Analysis English Literature Essay

Women In Heart Of Darkness Analysis English Literature Essay Another example of this fantasy world that women live in occurs when Marlow tells the Intended of Kurtzs last words. Like Marlows aunt, the Intended represents women of Victorian England in that her reality was based on the faith that was in herthat great and saving illusion that shone with an unearthly glow in the darkness (133). To Marlow, women must live in a perfect world: They-the women I mean-are out of it-should be out of it. We must help them to stay in that beautiful world of their own, lest ours get worse (97). Again, women are shown to be ignorant of reality and are treated in view of that, such as when Kurtz describes the Intended as one item in a list of his property: My intended, my ivory, my station, my river, my- (97). Note, however, that only Marlow and Kurtz make these comments on the ignorance of women, and it is because of this view that Marlow lies to the Intended. In contrast to the Intended, the native mistress first appearance gives readers an image of a bold and courageous woman. She alone stands on the shore as men fire guns at the natives and is described as a wild and gorgeous apparition of a womansavage and superb, wild-eyed and magnificent (113). The image she radiates seems unlike that of Marlows aunt or the Intended, in that the native woman has a commanding presence within her tribe. In actuality, despite the appearance of importance, she is regarded by men as expendable. The Russian says, If she had offered to come aboard I really think I would have tried to shoot her (114). Marlow and his men are allowed to help Kurtz, but the native woman is not even allowed to suggest helping. This inferiority of the native mistress in the Congo parallels the same role of the Intended in European civilization: women are helpless without men. This is evident when the barbarous and superb womanstretched tragically her bare arms after us over the somber and glittering river (122), identical to when the Intended put out her arms as if after a retreating figure, stretching them back and with clasped pale handsresembling in this gesture another one, tragic also, and bedecked with powerless charms, stretching bare brown arms over the glitter of the infernal stream, the stream of darkness (134). Symbolically, this motion signifies the inexplicable female dependence on men in that both women reached out for Kurtz. Furthermore, the gesture demonstrates a side of women cultured by men, a refusal to accept reality. This is also shown by the native womans apparent unawareness of Kurtzs atrocities. When taking into consideration all the male influences on women in the novel, it is impossible to support the notion that women were in any sense important. In the entire Heart of Darkness, few women are mentioned. Those that are have minor roles and are either regarded as inferior to men or detached from reality, despite having an artificial sense of value. This view of women is representative of the Victorian era in that women were male property. The importance of this notion, however, is that it is blatantly exemplified in the novel, raising the question of whether Conrad also held the same view as the men in the story. This is not only prevalent in Heart of Darkness, but it can be seen everywhere in history, even today.

Diary Entry for Macbeth

The witches have just told me their prophecy and I don’t know what to think. I have to tell my wife, she is an ambitious women and will be thrilled to find out the news. That in my future I will no longer be thane of Cawdor. I will move on to bigger and better things. For prophesised in my future I will become the great King of Scotland. But how am I to achieve these goals of becoming a king. Duncan is a dear friend of mine and trusts me like a brother. How possibly could I deceive him, however although I cherish the friendship of the king I don’t see him fit for the thrown. I am the one who needs to be in charge, to lead the people of Scotland to glory. I deserve the thrown. How can I harbour these thoughts they are thoughts of evil. King Duncan doesn’t deserve this treachery. He is the King, the man chosen from God to lead the Scottish people. Im not sure on what I am to do, but when I meet with my wife we shall decide together. She usually knows what is right. For now i will try to get a good sleep and think about the long journey back home. During The Murder As I put the pillow to Duncan’s chest I felt sick, I felt like no body could trust me. For Duncan is a friend, how should my friends let alone my enemies think. So I put the dagger down and quickly thought of turning back. I saw the look in his eyes, he wouldn’t forgive me if I turned back now he would send me to prison. So I built up all my courage and stabbed the dagger through his chest, then a second time through his heart to make sure the great king was dead. As soon as I was finished my unholy deed I fled back to room where my wife would meet me. As I got back I had realised I had forgotten to frame the guards and cover up my tracks. As I was to shocked, devastated and had partially lost my mind I couldn’t complete the deed, so my wife had to cover my tracks. I felt less of a man but what was done had to be done and then it was over. After The Murder What have I done, it’s all a mistake. Duncan is a great man loved by many, he didn’t deserve to die such a painful death, in fact he didn’t deserve to die at all. My wife she has corrupted me, but she is not to blame because I am the one who covered the Kings mouth to stop his loud screams from escaping his chamber, and I am the one who slowly dug the dagger through his bare chest till he could not scream any more, till he slept not only for a night but eternally. I have no idea what to do, I am so confused. Should I tell people the atrocity that took place last night in my castle? I feel so alone in the world and I cannot tell my wife these feelings of guilt and regret because she is like a heartless demon, she will taught my feelings till I have no goodness left in me. Although it will be difficult I shall keep this secret safely kept in my bosom so that she will not taunt my feelings and feel I am the weakest link and that I will spoil our plans of becoming royalty.

Mental Health Counseling

Professional competence among practicing mental health counselors has not been resolved yet whether it is attained through a licensure or higher educational training of this field.   As per many researches that have been conducted, it takes a lot of training and experience before one could get competence.   Besides, counseling a person with a mental health problem requires adequacy and expertise because irrelevant referral may result to a more aggravated condition on the part of the patient.   Thus, the issue of competence among mental health counselor requires a more rigid consideration for comprehensive trainings designed to develop competency. Professional competency is not acquired easily after four years of education in college nor if someone practicing it finds counseling a less difficult one.   Even highly experienced therapist may also seek professional help or doubt their abilities as counselors according to Gerald Corey, Marianne Schneider Corey and Patrick Callanan (p. 315).   This is why; many experts recommend a kind of training for these counselors in order to meet criteria of a competent counselor especially in dealing with mental health problem. There are practical ways in approaching difficult cases that requires good judgment.   In the first place, a counselor must identify whether he can do something about the problem, and refer that client to another therapist long before the allotted sessions end and not at the last day of therapy.   This only annoys the client and causes him to be disappointed further because of irresponsible referral. Based on the common issues observed in counseling sessions, the therapist must understand two factors that may contribute to his effectiveness: his judgment of the case and adequate training. Personal judgment of the case involves how a counselor evaluates the case and his own capability to handle it.   This also engages whether the case needs referral and when or how to communicate that to the client.   Referral is the last option when all the possible resources have been used up or exhausted. Training on other hand, is one basic component of competence.   Training must be comprehensive and organized in terms of selection of trainees, content, and best approaches to ensure desired results (Corey, Corey & Callanan, p. 319).   Meanwhile, the kind of training to obtain licensure is under the jurisdiction of the accreditation committee; however, in most cases, licensure is given to those who obtained degree of psychology in college.   Here, the necessary trainings to develop a student are incorporated in the curriculum.   Generally, hands-on training is the transition point of students to have him acquire knowledge and skills. The content of a training program should be structured around a specific theoretical orientation that revolves around challenges as seen by concerned groups such as schools and practicing practitioners. Corey, et.al. pointed out that content must be objective and practical enough to offer students a variety of therapeutic techniques and strategies that can be applied to variety of problems (p. 332).   Training program then must provide theoretical explanation to given problems in order to help them formulate rationale for every situation. Professional licensing may indicate that a person is competent as long as a comprehensive program is offered to students by the school and licensing department of the government.   – stated, â€Å"Licensing examination generally contains a written component which may be supplemented by oral examination or practicum exam (patient diagnosis or counseling).   These examination are commonly written or administered by the state board which also provides for scoring them and determines what â€Å"passing† scores are (p. 132). Also, on the part of the school, â€Å"The supervision work experience or practicum is meant to ensure that during the initial years of practice, the professional has the guidance necessary to deal with the complexities of practice.   It is a transition period between the intense supervision that is supposed to be part of academic training (p. 132). Work Cited Corey, G., Corey, M., & Callanan, P. Issues and Ethics in the Helping Professions 7th Edition. Smith, S. & Meyer, R. 1987.   Law, Behavior, and Mental Health: Policy and Practice. USA: NYU Press.