Becoming a freelance writer is a dream for many people, and with tons of different blogging websites to choose from, this dream can become reality. In order to be your own boss, you need the discipline and work ethic to crank out multiple articles in one sitting.

As a freelancer who makes $1,900/month writing online, here are the four steps that help me optimize my writing process.

#1. Create a running list of your ideas

Inspiration strikes all the time. If you have a fleeting idea, quickly write it down. I use my Notes app on my phone to store my ideas, but a paper notebook works all the same.

If I'm in the shower and suddenly get an idea, I repeat it in my head until I get out and am able to write it down. Trust me, you will forget the majority of your ideas, but writing even 25% of them down will help you next time you want to write.

I suggest organizing your ideas list into various subcategories or creating multiple lists if your ideas are based on a wide variety of topics. I like to put all my freelancing article ideas in one subsection of my master list and the restaurant reviews for a client in another section entirely. This practice helps me pick by topic what I want to write about each day, and then narrow it down to a specific article idea.

#2. Accept article suggestions from your audience and people you know

I love my readers. I've been writing here since July 2020 and have only received one negative comment since I began. My audience will often comment on my articles asking my opinions about other topics. I like to write these topic ideas down and add them into new pieces I'm working on.

My friends and family also read my work. I get a lot of ideas from my mother and from my best college friend, R. They help me brainstorm when I'm in a writing rut.

By taking suggestions, I am getting free article ideas as well as satisfying the requests of my readers. It's a win-win, and you should be doing it, too. It helps readers feel more connected with you.

#3. Flesh out ideas with 3 bullet point subsections

I find it daunting to select an idea off my list without knowing how I'm going to format the article. In my experience, I find that each article I write needs to have at least three sections in order to top 500 words or be a 4-minute read, both of which are very important for me on the different platforms I write for.

Because of this, I always write three bullet points under each idea in my list. When I sit down to start writing, I already know how the article will be organized. I am able to spend less time planning and more time writing.

#4. Set a timer for an hour (or however long one article takes you)

Depending on how heavily researched your articles are, they may take you multiple hours to complete. My articles take forty-five minutes to write, on average, and then I spend another fifteen to twenty minutes editing. Many writers would consider this short amount of editing time to be absurd, I know.

I like to set a timer when writing (and editing) because it forces me to complete my article by a specific point in the day. If I give myself the entire day to write an article, it will take me the entire day. I'll take breaks and watch YouTube, have a long lunch, or run to the store all without writing more than a couple of paragraphs. I prefer to force myself to do the task at hand within a set period of time so that it isn't hanging over my head the entire day.

As someone who can write nine articles on a great day and five on a moderately busy day, this approach works well if you are able to stick to a schedule. As long as you budget your time to include breaks and snacks, you won't sacrifice writing quality.

Final thoughts

Perfectionism is the enemy of progress. Write down any ideas you have in a notepad and take audience idea suggestions. Bullet point subsections for each of your ideas, and then pick the ones you like best to write about.

Give yourself a large list of ideas to choose from, even if specific ideas do not seem exciting at the time. You may be having an atypical day and want to write about topics outside your comfort zone. No idea is a bad idea to have on your list. It may very well be a bad idea to write about, but it won't do you any harm sitting on your private list.

Remember that your work will fill the time you give it. If you want to be productive outside of your writing commitments, do not let writing take up the entire day. Budget time for specific articles and work hard without distractions to finish writing and editing within your allotted time period. You are your own boss when it comes to freelance writing, and you need to treat yourself well for maximum performance.

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