Writers' Treasure

Effective writing advice for aspiring writers

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How to survive as a writer in the digital age

This is a guest article by Indiana Lee. If you want to submit a guest article of your own, be sure to read the guest article guidelines.

The writer’s life has changed a lot over the last century. Hemingway used to get away with writing between 500 to 1000 words per day, while the contemporary novelist Stephen King commits himself to writing up to 6 pages or more. If you’re a full-time writer, you probably dream of the day when you can write 500 words in a day and call it good. But don’t feel too sorry for yourself. Hemingway may have worked to a self-paced writing schedule, but he didn’t have the opportunities that the web provides wordsmiths today.

The digital age provides you with more writing opportunities than ever before, as blogs, news outlets, literary magazines, and online journals are all looking for original content. You also have immediate access to every answer you’ve ever needed — imagine being a writer in the 1980s, writing without the ability to just Google a word that was at the tip of their tongue . . . it must have been agony!

But being a writer in the 2020s still takes discipline and a solid strategy. You can’t just wake up, type, and expect your work to appear all over the web. You have to get ahead of trends and learn the inner workings of SEO to survive in the deep waters of writing in the digital age.

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How to go full-time as a freelance writer

This is a guest article by Indiana Lee. If you want to submit a guest article of your own, be sure to read the guest article guidelines.

Many people who start freelancing do so as a side-hustle or part-time gig to make extra money. However, the gig economy has grown in popularity over the last few years. Combine that with the influx of people working from home throughout the pandemic, and more people are starting to dive into freelancing full-time.

It can be a bit scary if you’re going from a “traditional” full-time job to being your own boss. However, the benefits of flexibility and self-management often outweigh the risks.

Still, if you’re not sure how to make the transition from side gig to full-time freelance writer, we’ve got you covered. With a few simple tips, you can feel more confident about your decision, and more secure in your work.

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Leave Your Comfort Zone With Creative Nonfiction Writing

This is a guest article by Indiana Lee. If you want to submit a guest article of your own, be sure to read the guest article guidelines.

It can be easy to get stuck in a rut with your writing. Whether you’re usually focused on straight reportage or speculative fiction, you may find yourself creatively unchallenged at times. This is often because getting comfortable in routines, subjects, and styles is the enemy of innovation. It’s worth taking a little time to shake up your practice and explore something different.

Creative nonfiction writing is a valuable tool in this regard. In essence, this is taking factual material and using it to tell an engaging story. It blends the committed scrutiny of journalism with the imaginative power of narrative storytelling. You’ll also find you can apply a variety of formats from blog posts to graphic novels.

So let’s take a closer look at creative nonfiction writing. How can you engage with the process and make the most of your experiences?

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How to Retain Customers as a Freelance Writer

This is a guest article by Indiana Lee. If you want to submit a guest article of your own, be sure to read the guest article guidelines.

As a freelance writer, you are your own business. You have to wear a variety of hats, including marketing yourself to attract new customers. But, that’s only half the battle.

Like any business, one of your biggest goals should be not only to gain new customers but to retain your existing ones. When you’re a freelancer, it can give you a lot of comfort and peace of mind knowing that you’ll have consistent clients each month. It makes your job easier, you’ll be able to rely on a steady income, and you won’t have to constantly go fishing for new people.

The long-term success of your career largely depends on the customers you can keep. So, what can you do to retain clients with your writing services? Yes, it has a little to do with marketing. More importantly, however, it has a lot to do with educating yourself as much as possible.

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Becoming a Technical Writer: The Good, the Bad, and the Remote

This is a guest article by Indiana Lee. If you want to submit a guest article of your own, be sure to read the guest article guidelines.

When looking to start a career as a technical writer, understanding the general overview of what the job entails and how much you will be making is widely helpful. The best way to create a career that truly fits your lifestyle is to understand the demands of that career field.

This article will discuss some of the important aspects of technical writing, how it differentiates from traditional writing, and some of the pros and cons of choosing the career path.

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How to create character profiles for creative writing

This is a guest article by K.T. Mehra. If you want to submit a guest article of your own, be sure to read the guest article guidelines.

Character profiles let you craft your character’s personality, history, and everything about them without needing to write a line of your actual story. Character profiles are a list of facts, questions and answers, and other details about your character that you write before-hand just for yourself. These details let you subtly allude to characteristics while not blatantly stating them in your writing. They let you have a firm identity of your character that you can unconscious reference for each and every line your character speaks.

How to create a character profile

If you want a character that your readers identify with, you should create a character profile. Creating a character profile is simple and can be done on a piece of paper or a blank word document. Begin describing what you already know about your character, imagining they’re a real person you have a relationship with..

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