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I’m taking a page from one of my favorite Tina Turner songs, “I’ll be your private dancer, dancer for money!” as an incentive to set fire to my creative endeavors and get the ball rolling; the juices of creativity flowing by setting my networking skills on full blast!...I’m dancing into the year 2012 with my high heel sneakers on as I prepare to reach my projected profit goal as a woman in business.
There are things I’m still learning on this solo journey into freelance and already set in motion by landing my first major client just before the Christmas Holidays (can you say, “oh, happy day?!”) and I’m gearing up for my first at home telephone interview from another possible client. I’m not a great dancer and I’m a bit too settled to do it for money, but I am confident in my ability to help others turn their vision into reality.
Over the last three years, through trial & error, submissions and rejections , encouragements and online classes, I’ve gained a bit of know-how in learning &incorporating trade secrets to build my freelance writing platform.The stuff I’ve learned from seasoned pros is meant to be shared, I think, as a preamble to prospering from paying it forward.
I’m also writing this post from a position of having to explore my own passion. Put myself and my vision out there freely for an oftentimes discriminate world to examine. I ask that you be kind in your critiques, but, if not, it’s all good! The five steps to promotion that I’ve found works best for bringing my personal vision to the forefront and I offer up to all you creatives with dreams:
1. Define your niche
Initially, I fought against this because I felt I’d dipped my pen into too many inkwells to be selective; no more! You must find that one thing that drives you and explore the possibilities. When you answer the questions people are sure to ask as in “What makes your product different?” you know you’re on the right track.
2.Stay positive and focused
It’s hard when your thoughts are like jumping jacks. Your dreams are many and your vision ever changing, but, you must find a way to manipulate your creativity.Have it do your bidding in a purposeful, concise manner. Organize your thought patterns.
3. Seek counsel
I’ve been blessed to have an older woman/adviser who acts as my writing mentor. She has encouraged and soothed away my writing insecurities over the years and for this I remain truly grateful… I also have a firm belief in “spirit”. I “know” that I am never alone in this often lonely freelance writer business. It matters very little who/where you turn for comfort. It matters most that you do.
4. Network
I’m finding myself opening up to the possibility of making new friends on this journey in freelancing. Recently, I came across a blog whose writer impressed me. I invited her, along with several writer friends, to meet and greet at my home. The events of the evening included good conversation, poetry recitals, tales of life lived in foreign countries, business cards, plugs and plentiful helpings of good food & wine . Also, the blogosphere & Twitter have allowed me to network with people as far as New Zealand and as close as the Southside ofChicago, Illinois and the hits just keep on coming!
5. Enjoy what you do
I think this last bit of advice when embarking upon growing your freelance writing business is a given. If you don’t like the long hours, hard, and sometimes tedious work… if you’d rather be out and about having fun with your friends, instead of sitting in front of a computer screen 99% of the time or just abhor waiting for a response to a query… if rejection causes you to go into a eternal funk; Maybe you’d better get out now while the getting is good!
