Copyright 2012 Shannon L. Buck: How to Live the Freelance Life

June 12, 2012

The Healthy Freelancer

It is important for a freelance writer to get and/stay healthy. Not only will doing so help us to look and feel good, but it will also cost less money in medical bills over time. How can the freelancer accomplish this?

• By exercising.

• By eating well.

• By finding our spiritual path/belief system.

• By staying mentally healthy.

• By taking regular personal days and vacations.

Living a healthy lifestyle will provide the freelance writer with plenty of experiences to draw information from. There are many writing opportunities available for health, nutrition and fitness writers, including:

• Writing for health magazines.

• Writing for fitness blogs or websites.

You can concentrate on one area, such as exercise, or weight loss, or you can cover a range of topics.

Challenges

Create a healthy menu for yourself, and and exercise schedule. Use them for one month, to create the habit of living healthy.

Quick Writing Tip

Create a blog about men’s /women’s health, or about a particular health concern.

5 Writing Prompts

1. Article Topic: Toddler Nutrition

2. Article Topic: Physical Activities for Preschoolers

3. Article Topic: Teen Violence

4. Article Topic: Depression and You

5. Article Topic: Breast Cancer Survivors

Quote

Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship. ~Buddha

Copyright 2012 Shannon L. Buck: How to Live the Freelance Life

May 21, 2012

Writing Fiction

I have finished one, and am working on two, books of short stories. Each book has its’ own theme. Any stories that I write that do not go along with one of these themes are put away for later use. I do not know why, but I like working within specific themes when writing short stories.

I love writing short stories. I can turn out 3 to 5 stories, hand written 1^st drafts, in a weekend of relaxing in bed or on a sofa. Then it is a simple matter to type them up, edit them and add them to a book.

Creativity is fun. Ideas can come from anywhere. For example, you can create a story from the dream you had last night. Go ahead. Try it :-)

Challenge

Create a series of short stories this year, and put them together to create an eBook. Edit it, and then publish.

Quick Writing Tip

Write down your dreams, and use the ideas in your short stories.

5 Writing Prompts

1. Short Story Idea: The Doll’s House

2. Short Story Idea: The Den

3. Short Story Idea: Carnival of Death

4. Novel Idea: What is human, really?

5. Novella Idea: Watch the Killer

Quote

The role of a writer is not to say what we all can say, but what we are unable to say. ~ Anaïs Nin

Copyright 2012 Shannon L. Buck: How to Live the Freelance Life

April 15, 2012

Writing Non Fiction

In all honesty, when I was young and knew I wanted to write I did not want to write nonfiction at all. I wanted to write novels.

Now, I like writing non fiction. It can be much fun.

To write non fiction, write what you know and love. It can make all the difference in the world. Writing about what we enjoy lightens up the work. Makes it more fun. Ask yourself what you are an expert at. What can you teach others if you choose to write about it?

Challenge

Create a series of articles about a topic that you are passionate about. Submit them to an article directory.

Quick Writing Tip

Write blog posts while watching television during the evening hours.

5 Writing Prompts

1. eBook Idea: How I began My Freelance Writing Career

2. eBook Idea: What My Freelance Writing Career has Taught Me

3. Special Report Idea: 10 Tips for the Freelancer

4. Special Report Idea: How to Market Your eCourse

5. Article Idea: What is Social Networking

Quote

You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you.  ~Ray Bradbury

Copyright 2012 Shannon L. Buck: How to Live the Freelance Life

February 27, 2012

Mood

I write best when relaxed, and on sunny days. The sun motivates me :-) I sleep only a few hours at night, so I will generally nap try to nap for a couple hours in the morning before I begin. I am best at writing when I am feeling happiness, joy. When the world seems bright.

I am not good at writing when I have any negative feeling at all, unless I am angry about something and writing to get my point across on the subject. Even then, I will have to wait until I am in a good mood to edit, or I risk going overboard with my rant.

What mood do you have to be in to work? Try writing when in various moods to find out. Before beginning your writing tasks each day, try to recreate the mood and atmosphere that works best for you.

Challenge

When waking each morning, before you even move, repeat a mantra that you create.

Example: I am a successful writer. I am happy and I am healthy.

This will not only put you in a good mood, it will aid you in having a productive day.

Quick Writing Tip

If you can, write when the mood strikes. Ideas will flow more smoothly and not feel so forced.

5 Writing Prompts

Article Idea: Creating time.

Article Idea: Mood Swings… the why of it all.

Poem Topic: Mood.

Novel: Son has terrible mood swings.

Novella: Abusive father-in-law.

Quote

A whim, a passing mood, readily induces the novelist to move hearth and home elsewhere. He can always plead work as an excuse to get him out of the clutches of bothersome hosts.

Copyright 2012 Shannon L. Buck: How to Live the Freelance Life

January 30, 2012

Membership Sites: A Sense of Community

What is a membership site?

A membership site is generally based around a theme or idea. For instance, a homemaker may create a site to aid others in homemaking, requiring them to sign up to join the site. She will offer advice on the many aspects of homemaking in the form of recipes, quick tips and articles.

Paid or Free?

She may also ask a fee from each potential member, in hopes of earning a living from her information. The site may have a free membership which offers the basics, as well as paid area where these special members receive ebooks, special reports and other offerings for their paid subscription.

Why create a membership site?

A membership site provides you and readers a place to gather online, giving everyone a needed sense of community. You are able to create bonds and friendships this way, which is not always possible when using other online venues. Forums and chat rooms aid in creating this community, as does a blog.

Challenge

Brainstorm a few ideas for membership sites. Spend some time thinking about each idea, and create a list of ideas for each. Is one of these ideas motivating you to create your own site? Now may be the time to start one.

Quick Writing Tip

Create a few freebies for your site members, such as a special report, and ecourse and an ebook. Keep them all on topic.

5 Writing Prompts

Article Idea: What is a membership site?

Article Idea: Building a sense of community.

Ecourse Idea: How to create an ecourse.

Article Idea: How to write and ebook.

Special Report Idea: Ideas for membership sites.

Quote

The community which has neither poverty nor riches will always have the noblest principles.  ~ Plato

Special Report

Your Teen Can Help Your Freelance Career

In this Special Report, you will see how it is possible for your teenager to help you out while you are building your freelance career and how much, if anything, you should pay him or her for that help. Teens can be a big help with things like:

* Their younger siblings.
* Keeping up the house.
* Business tasks.

Special Report

A Freelancer’s Helper

In this special report, A Freelancer’s Helper, I will show you the value of having people to help you with every day tasks while you work. Each person will have different needs, and this report will help you to decide what help would be best for your circumstances.

Copyright 2011 Shannon L. Buck: How to Live the Freelance Life

                                                 Be A Success

What is success?

For some of you, success is defined as having regular visits to your blog. For others, it means making thousands of dollars a year from your freelance writing career. For many, however, success is somewhere in between.

To me, success is somewhere in the middle, and it means that I will get to do some traveling and exploring. I want to write fiction and nonfiction, and I do. I am not traveling yet, but I will. Success also means that I get to do what I want with my career.

How can you create your success?

Get started. You cannot be successful at obtaining what you want of you don’t start the venture. Stop delaying. Just start. Then continue to work at it a little each day, or a lot if you have time. Eventually, you will get there.

How can you live a successful life?

By continuously working hard at your goals for success. Even if you also work at McDonalds, you are still a freelance writer, or a photographer. So, when someone asks what you do, tell them you are a freelance writer or a photographer. You get the picture. Think you are. Believe you are. You will be.

Quick Writing Tip

Create a membership site. Topic: Success.

5 Writing Prompts

1. Article Idea: What does success mean to you?
2. Novellette Idea: Successful Man Loses Everything.
3. Novel: Single fathers’ climb to success.
4. Article Idea: Creating your success.
5. Poem Topic: True Success.

Quote

Develop success from failures. Discouragement and failure are two of the surest stepping stones to success.

Challenge

In your journal or on a sheet of paper, write down what success means to you. Not your wife. Not your children. Not your parents. You. Read this once a week until you reach your goals.

Special Report

Your Teen Can Help Your Freelance Career

In this Special Report, you will see how it is possible for your teenager to help you out while you are building your freelance career and how much, if anything, you should pay him or her for that help. Teens can be a big help with things like:

* Their younger siblings.
* Keeping up the house.
* Business tasks.

Special Report

A Freelancer’s Helper

In this special report, A Freelancer’s Helper, I will show you the value of having people to help you with every day tasks while you work. Each person will have different needs, and this report will help you to decide what help would be best for your circumstances.

Copyright 2011 Shannon L. Buck: How to Live the Freelance Life

                                         Journaling

Journaling is important for a variety of reasons. It gives your brain a rest from the regular writing you do, if you are a writer by profession. It helps you to relax and to get things off your mind. It is also used to jot down ideas, allowing you to clear your mind, and is good for mental health.

There are different types of journals. Your word processor allows you to set up a document to use as a journal. Blank and lined notebooks can be used, or you may choose a binder and loose-leaf paper.

However you decide to journal, you will need some prompts. Here are a few to get you started:

• Write about your favorite childhood memory.

• Journal about the freelance career you are building.

• What are your hopes and goals.

Be sure to set time aside for journaling. Mornings and evenings are both good times. Schedule time for this task if necessary, at least a few times a week.

Quick Writing Tip

Journal about your writing experiences and how they make you feel.

5 Writing Prompts

1. Article Idea: Journaling prompts.
2. Novella Idea: Child lives fabricated journal life.
3. Newsletter: Creative journaling.
4. Article Idea: Benefits of keeping a journal.
5. Blog Idea: Journaling your life.

Quote

Sometime in your life you will go on a journey.
It will be the longest journey you have ever taken.
It is the journey to find yourself.

~Katherine Sharp~

Challenge

Purchase a journal and a special pen for yourself. Make it a habit to write in the journal for 5 minutes each day.

Special Report

Your Teen Can Help Your Freelance Career

In this Special Report, you will see how it is possible for your teenager to help you out while you are building your freelance career and how much, if anything, you should pay him or her for that help. Teens can be a big help with things like:

* Their younger siblings.
* Keeping up the house.
* Business tasks.

Special Report

A Freelancer’s Helper

In this special report, A Freelancer’s Helper, I will show you the value of having people to help you with every day tasks while you work. Each person will have different needs, and this report will help you to decide what help would be best for your circumstances.

Copyright 2011 Shannon L. Buck: How to Live the Freelance Life

                                          Take Care of Yourself

Freelancers go through periods of time where they are so focused on the task at hand that they forget to take care of themselves properly. This usually happens while beginning their career path, but can happen at any time.

This process may last a day, a few days or even weeks. We forget about everything else, such as cooking, cleaning and, at times, even proper grooming. We just don’t seem to make room for much else, starting work on a project as soon as we get up in the morning and continuing until the wee hours of the next morning when we just cannot seem to stay awake any longer.

This is good way to burn ourselves out, however, and we need to remember to take regular breaks – even if it means setting timers for ourselves. We need to be able to give our brain a little rest, and to accomplish other things.

Set a timer for every 1 to 2 hours during the day, and commit yourself to having a good lunch at one of those times, as well as a healthy snack once or twice. Dinner will also be needed, and breakfast should be eaten before starting work in the morning. Use each break to also perform another task:

• Take 10 minutes to clean each room in the house. Ten minutes PER room, split up by breaks. This will aid you in keeping a healthy home.

• Spend a few minutes out in the garden. This is exercise during planting and harvesting time, and a chance to relax any other time.

• Read an article or a chapter in a book. A great way to relax.

• Journaling is great for mental health.

• Shower. Clean is healthy, and you won’t offend visitors with odd odors.

• Run errands. Done on foot or using a bike, this is also great exercise.

• Exercise, even if just doing three mini workouts a day. Great for both physical and mental health.

• Return phone calls.

There are other ways in which you can take time for yourself. Schedule them if you must, but keep them in your routine to be at your best:

• Take at least one day a week off from work. Two would be better. I try to take at least one day off during the week.

• If no full days can be taken, then portions of days should. I usually do not start work until 9:00 AM or later. I also take a few hours in the afternoon off from work tasks at least once a week.

• Each morning or evening, shower and pamper yourself a bit. Relax for at least 30 minutes after this.

Quick Writing Tip

Write about what you know. What you live.

5 Writing Prompts

1. Article Idea: Your spa experience.
2. Novella: Self-centered man meets all American girl at a spa.
3. Article Idea: Massage therapy.
4. Article Idea: Relaxation techniques.
5. Short Story Idea: What happens when Chris does not take a break from work, other than for a few hours of sleep during the wee hours of the morning, for three weeks straight?

Quote

Self-preservation is the first law of nature.

  ~Samuel Butler~

Challenge

Schedule at least 2 evenings a month just for you. No work and no responsibilities.

Special Report

Your Teen Can Help Your Freelance Career

In this Special Report, you will see how it is possible for your teenager to help you out while you are building your freelance career and how much, if anything, you should pay him or her for that help. Teens can be a big help with things like:

* Their younger siblings.
* Keeping up the house.
* Business tasks.

Special Report

A Freelancer’s Helper

In this special report, A Freelancer’s Helper, I will show you the value of having people to help you with every day tasks while you work. Each person will have different needs, and this report will help you to decide what help would be best for your circumstances.

Copyright 2011 Shannon L. Buck: How to Live the Freelance Life

                                             Nurturing Friendships

What do you and your friends have in common? Work? Families? Keeping up with your homes? Life is hectic, and friendships often suffer.

Because I am building a freelance career from the bottom up, I spend a lot of time right now just working. Writing, marketing, promoting… it all takes so much time. I rarely have time for myself, let alone time to be hanging out with everyone I would like to hang out with.

Make it a point to get together with your best friend at least once every one to three months, no matter how busy you both are. I do this. Once a month is obviously preferred, but there is not always time. I try to get together with other important friends at least once a year as well. Of course, we can always keep in touch on Facebook or Twitter and, in reality, Facebook is how I usually do keep in contact with people.

Friendships are important, and need to be nourished. Once in a while, my bestest and I get together for a day and photograph nature. We have been known to scrapbook together as well. Or yard sale. Find something that will help you to nurture the friendships that are important to you. By doing so, you will be giving yourself a much needed break from work once in a while, and you will have a chance to enjoy yourself and some good company.

And who knows… you may come up with some writing material while you are hanging out with friends. If you make a trip to the coast to photograph the ocean and try the local foods, write a travel article about your experience. Alternatively, you may choose to write a review about the place you decide to eat at. Maybe you will do both.

Quick Writing Tip

Friends are great sources for stories.

5 Writing Prompts

1. Article Idea: Coastal living
2. Article Idea: Vacation ideas
3. Blog Idea: Friendship journal
4. Poem Idea: Friendship
5. Newsletter Idea: Travel log

Quote

The most I can do for my friend is simply be his friend. 

~Henry David Thoreau

Challenge

Make it a point to get together with your friends. Schedule time now for this. Try for at least one get-together a month.

Special Report

Your Teen Can Help Your Freelance Career

In this Special Report, you will see how it is possible for your teenager to help you out while you are building your freelance career and how much, if anything, you should pay him or her for that help. Teens can be a big help with things like:

* Their younger siblings.
* Keeping up the house.
* Business tasks.

Special Report

A Freelancer’s Helper

In this special report, A Freelancer’s Helper, I will show you the value of having people to help you with every day tasks while you work. Each person will have different needs, and this report will help you to decide what help would be best for your circumstances.