Freelance Writer and Social Worker

Do You Have Writer's Burnout?

I'll never forget that Friday years ago when I hauled myself out of bed after only a few hours of sleep and stumbled to my computer for another full day of work. 

I sat there and stared at the monitor until my vision became blurry. My hands remained clenched in my lap. I simply could not bring myself to power the computer up for the day.

I didn't have writer's block. I had writer's burnout.

What Is Burnout?

According to Dictionary.com, burnout is "fatigue, frustration, or apathy resulting from prolonged stress, overwork, or intense activity."

The phrase was first used in the 1970s to describe the malaise of some people in the helping professions. Since then, mental health professionals have realized that people in just about any field are subject to burnout.

Fired! What to Do When You're Fired from a Freelance Writing Job

I've been a freelance writer since 2001. During that time, I've only been let go from projects a handful of times, but I can remember each and every occasion as if it had happened yesterday.

Sometimes being fired was completely my own fault, and I was able to accept responsibility for it and move on. Other times, the client and I reached a mutual agreement that things weren't working out. These rare occurrences were disappointing but not necessarily painful.

And then there were the last class of clients. (I can't believe I'm using these people and "class" in the same word.) They were hard if not impossible to please. They pushed boundaries, wanting far more work than the contract specified. And they usually walked away just before a payment came due.

I got blindsided by one of these types a few weeks ago. We had contracted for me to write a 20,000 word manual. Almost before the printer ink was dry on the contract, he upped the word count to 30,000 - with no extra pay.

I turned in the first section exactly as he had requested it. He paid me a pittance, then decided he didn't like my style after all. He disappeared, taking his business elsewhere. And that was that. Hours of labor and thousands of words gone to waste.

I wanted to cry. Instead I got to work on these damage control steps that you can use if you're ever fired as a freelancer.

1. Count to 10...or 100...or 100,000

Take some time to cool off, as much as you need. While flaming him to a crisp might sound like a good idea, remember that the freelance writing world can be a small place indeed. This client's input could keep you from getting a better job, so always try to respond like a professional.

A Post-Halloween Horror Story: 5 Terrifying Mistakes I Made as Newbie Writer

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. I love swapping ghost stories, going on tours of supposedly haunted places in the city, and watching movies that make me scream and hide my eyes.

But nothing scares me more than thinking about the mistakes I made when I launched my writing career. Honestly, it's a wonder I'm still in business! It took me some time to figure out what I was doing wrong, and more time after that to fix it. I think I'm finally on the right track...at least until the next scary mistake comes along.

1. Not "Vetting" Potential Clients

When I first started writing, I was desperate for work. Any work. I latched onto the first client who came my way without bothering to ask what kind of material he needed. Long story short, he turned out to be a pedophile. I "fired" him immediately, of course, but ever since then, I've refused to sign onto a project until I know exactly what sort of material I'll be working on.

What the Titanic Can Teach You about Your Writing Career

On April 14, 1912, at 11:35 p.m., the largest ship in the world steamed swiftly through the eerily calm waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Although she had received several warnings about nearby ice, the Titanic had not reduced her speed.

She was nearly on top of the iceberg when one of the men in the lookout tower spotted it and warned the bridge. The first officer slowed the massive ship as much as he could and swerved to avoid a collision, but it was too late.

The Titanic scraped along the berg, suffering a rip in her side that flooded five of the water tight compartments. The "unsinkable" ship had not been built to survive a wound like that.

The Titanic sank on April 15, 2012. Of the 2200 people aboard, approximately 1500 perished. The sinking of the Titanic is still considered one of the world's greatest maritime disasters.

So, why am I so fascinated by a ship that's been at the bottom of the ocean for over a hundred years? Because that ship taught me some valuable lessons about writing.

Beware of Calm Waters

If the sea had been rough on the night of April 14, the men in the lookout tower would have seen waves breaking against the iceberg in plenty of time to avoid a collision. Most people look to achieve a sense of smooth sailing in their own lives, but smooth sailing can make us oblivious to the icebergs that lie in wait for all of us.

You'll be far more likely to see danger well ahead of time if you fight off complacency, push your comfort zone, and shake the waters up a bit. Of course, you don't want to spend all your days living in fear, but there's nothing wrong with maintaining a sense of watchful eagerness and excitement.

25 Writing Tasks You Can Accomplish When the Internet is Down and Out

Okay, I admit it. When I can't get Internet access, I panic. That's partly because email is my lifeline to clients and gigs, and partly because I've developed the habit of researching and writing at the same time. Yes, I know. Twenty lashes with a wet noodle.

Anyway, Midwest thunderstorms being what they are, and modern technology being what it is, there are times when my Internet service is simply knocked out flat. Rather than crouching in the nearest corner with my arms over my head--my first instinct--I've made a list of some of the writing tasks that I can accomplish without being online.

May you find it useful, and may you have to resort to it only rarely!

1. Organize your writing space. Clear off all the trash, get your files in order, and put all the pens, notebooks, and paperclips back in their places.
2. Shred documents you no longer need.
3. Read any writing magazines you haven't been able to get to.
4. Read an instructional book about writing or about running a small business.
5. Read anything at all. Reading improves your writing.
6. Work on editing any projects that need it.
7. Write fiction, poetry, or an essay.
8. Make cold calls to businesses you would like to work with.
9. Brainstorm ideas for 25 articles.
10. Craft query letters for at least five of these ideas.

5 Excuses Writers Can Use to Turn Down Problem Assignments (Or, You Want Me To Write WHAT?)

It's really, really hard to turn down gigs in this economy, but sometimes it's the only way to keep your sanity and your self-respect intact. In the last year, for instance, I've refused to edit a business letter that was filled with profanity, racial slurs, and thinly veiled threats of violence. I also declined the once-in-a-lifetime chance to work on a homophobic rant that would have made Fred Phelps look tolerant, as well as the chance to ghost write a book for a pedophile about how to groom victims. Finally, I ditched a client who was increasing my blood pressure but not my bank account.

Of course, they weren't all that bad. Sometimes I didn't take a job because I knew less than nothing about the topic, and the pay being offered didn't inspire me to learn. Other times the client was rude and demanding during our first contact, and I figured that if I took him or her own as a client, things would only get worse.

So, once you've decided you're not going to work with a client, how do you communicate the decision to him or to her? Depending on the situation, I use five all-purpose excuses.

1. "I'm booked for the foreseeable future."

This is the one I use on clients whom I find mildly annoying, but whom I might be willing to work with at some point. I usually follow up the "I'm booked" message by adding, I know you'll find another great writer, but if my schedule clears, I can send you an email and see if you're still interested in my services." In other words, I leave the door about half open.

2. "I'm afraid I don't know anything about..."

I usually save this one for projects that just don't interest me, especially the ones that do not pay well. Again, I leave a foot in the door by saying something like, "I'd love to hear from you again if you have work in the areas of..."

Getting Stuck on Your Writing Projects? Try Taking a Break!

Have you come across a problem with plotting or writing one of your articles that you just can't seem to resolve? Are you determined to power through it, no matter what? That may not be such a good idea.

Instead, it's a better idea to take a break. Here's why:

1. Your brain can be overtaxed, just like a muscle. When you lift weights at the gym, what do you do when your muscles start to get tired? Do you pile on more weights and force yourself to keep going, or do you take a break, switch to a different type of exercise, and allow the tired muscles a chance to rest and rejuvenate? Your brain is a little like those tired muscles. The more you try to force it beyond its capacity, the weaker it will become and the less effective you'll be as a writer. Give your mind a little R & R when you first start to feel fatigued, and you'll soon be able to return to your project with new enthusiasm and ideas.

2. Shifting perspective is a great way to come up with answers. I love to work jigsaw puzzles. Sometimes, though, I get disgusted when I can't figure out where a particular piece fits. I've learned long ago that the harder I look, the less success I'll have. My best bet is to walk away, focus my attention on something else like reading a book or working a logic puzzle, and return to the jigsaw in about thirty minutes. Nine times out of ten, I immediately find a place for the troublesome piece. The same is true with writing. If I give myself permission to walk away and work on something else when I get stuck, I almost always come back to the troublesome project with a new batch of workable solutions.

My Favorite Freelance Writing Posts

Isn't it a shame that when you write a blog some of your best posts slip away into obscurity. (Then, of course, there are the posts that truly should slip away into obscurity, but that's a different story.)

Anyway, this week I was feeling a little nostalgic, and maybe a little lazy as well, and decided to rerun some of my favorite posts from the last year or so. If you missed the originals, I hope you'll find something amusing or something informative in these selections.

1. 25 Strategies for Smashing Through Writer's Block. No, I'm not going to take the time to argue about whether there is any such thing as writer's block. Whatever we want to call it, most of us have had times when we're simply stuck, and these tips can help.

2. Freelance Writers: 7 Tips for Caring for Your Hands, Wrists, and Arms. We may not be professional athletes, but we still rely on our bodies to make a living. If you aren't already, start treating those hands with kid gloves.

3. Dear Debra - A Letter to My Sixteen Year Old Self. My personal favorite blog posts. I just wish someone really had been around when I was 16 to give me that advice!

What Do People Say When You Come Out as a Writer?

Parties just aren't my thing. If you looked up the word "introvert" in a dictionary, you'd probably find it illustrated with my picture. I've discovered that going to parties and networking events is even harder when you're a writer.

When I was a social worker, I could get through the "So, what do you do?" exchange with a minimum of fuss. Most people aren't that interested in social workers.

Now, however, I have to tell people I'm a writer, and that elicits all kinds of comments--some of them rude, some funny, and some so far off base I have to bite my tongue to keep from laughing. Here are a few of my favorite examples.

1. HAVE YOU WRITTEN ANYTHING I'VE READ?

What I'd like to say: If you have to ask, probably not.

What I say instead: I do quite a bit of producing blogs and other web copy, and I ghostwrite a lot. You've probably come across my work somewhere without even realizing it.

2. HOW MUCH MONEY DO YOU MAKE?

What I'd like to say: None of your damn business.

What I say instead: Oh it varies so much from month to month I couldn't even give you a ballpark figure.

3. YOU'RE SO LUCKY. I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO BE A WRITER.

What I'd like to say: Then sit your butt down in a chair and start writing.

What I say instead: Actually, luck doesn't have a whole lot to do with it. I've worked and practiced really hard to get where I am.

25 Quotes to Cheer You Up After Your Writing is Rejected

I consider myself a good writer--not eye-poppingly great, mind you, but good enough so that I probably won't find myself immortalized in any slush pile horror stories. But good or not, I still get rejected. A lot.

And it still hurts. A lot. Yes, I know that it's all part of the business and that if you want to survive you have to grow a skin thicker than rhinoceros hide. Normally, I'm pretty good at sloughing off harsh words.

Some days, though, when I'm really struggling, it helps to go back and read what others have said about being rejected in the arts and in life in general. I hope you find these words as much as a pick-me-up as I do.

1. "Don't let anyone, or any rejection, keep you from what you want." - Ashley Tisdale

2. "I could write an entertaining novel about rejection slips, but I fear it would be overly long." - Louise Brown

3. "I really wish I was less of a thinking man and more of a fool not afraid of rejection." - Billy Joel.

4. "I submit all my plays to the National Theatre for rejection. To assure myself I am seeing clearly." - Howard Barker

5. "I don't want anyone who doesn't want me." - Oprah Winfrey

6. "I take rejection as someone blowing a bugle in my ear to wake me up and get going, rather than retreat." - Sylvester Stallone

7. "I think a hero is an ordinary individual who finds strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles." - Christopher Reeve