Should you selected a contract writing profession with the notion you’d spend your days solo, ideas uninterrupted, blissfully typing away from a location of your selecting…nicely, you’re partly appropriate.
The caveat is—in the event you plan to generate profits writing—you’ll must community successfully with writers and editors alike.
Somewhat than different writers as competitors, consider it like this: Writing is a crew sport and your editor is the MVP.
Why it’s crucial for writers to community
Collectively, writers face a number of troublesome truths of the commerce.
By connecting with like-minded writers, you’ll create a assist system to share concepts, fight backlash from low-paying content material mills and improve your visibility (severely, there’s a variety of noise to chop by today).
Equally as necessary is the truth that skilled networking opens the door to extra work. And extra work equals extra earnings.
For instance, a prospect not too long ago contacted me with a time-sensitive mission proposal.
Sadly, I used to be booked out past her deadline. Somewhat than flip the prospect away empty handed, I used to be in a position to refer her to a different author in my community whom I belief and have good rapport with.
Alternatively, if a prospect approaches me with a mission exterior my space of experience, I’ll flip to my community to seek out somebody who does specialize within the mission scope. Each situations are a win-win for the consumer and the author.
However networking doesn’t cease amongst writers—writers should additionally community to promote concepts, providers and merchandise.
Relating to promoting, networking is vital—as I’m positive any salesperson would agree.
In the end, it’s additionally the author’s job to promote themselves, which results in my subsequent level.
How one can construct relationships together with your editors
Let’s be actual: Editors are the MVPs.
They work tirelessly to discipline pitches, guarantee high quality and supply suggestions. They sift by the dredges to floor distinctive writing.
As writers, we’re not entitled to publication—we should first show our capabilities. With the editor as gatekeeper, you may see why it’s necessary to construct amicable relationships with the editors you pitch.
By establishing mutually respectful working relationships, you’ll discover good editors problem and encourage you, in the end bettering your expertise and marketability as a author.
On the finish of the day, you’re accountable for promoting your concepts and your means to execute them.
Use a pitching technique that works for you, not in opposition to you—you solely get one shot to go away an excellent impression with the editor. Make it a constructive one by being skilled, honest and environment friendly.
It’s price noting that rejection comes with the territory of being an expert author. There are a plethora of causes your pitches can be rejected, however because it pertains to your relationships with editors, there are a pair tips to comply with:
- Do thank the editor for his or her time, at all times. You may ask for suggestions, ought to they’ve bandwidth to offer it—however don’t anticipate it
- Don’t fight or communicate ailing of the editor. She or he is solely doing their job—don’t take rejection personally
Acceptance is a win throughout. Rejection is a chance to iterate in your thought and pitch it to a different editor.
Rejection by one editor may simply be the beginning of a brand new working relationship with one other.
Via thick and skinny, acceptance and rejection, a collaborative angle is vital. Whether or not you’re working with an editor or consumer, keep a useful mindset: give attention to what you are able to do for the individuals you’re employed with and the way your written phrases will present an answer.
Make use of these techniques to develop your community
We’re lucky to have numerous assets and networking platforms at our fingertips in the present day. Whereas this does create digital noise, it additionally cultivates alternative.
Think about these three suggestions for networking, collaborating and getting extra leads:
1. Assemble your personal all-star crew
You already know the significance of networking with writers and editors. Now take it one step additional by increasing your crew to incorporate disciplines associated to your writing focus.
For instance, in the event you’re an internet site copywriter, it’s priceless to have a community of net designers and builders who you may refer your shoppers to. Likewise, these designers and builders will refer their shoppers to you for copy. This additionally creates a streamlined expertise for the consumer, who not must seek for a number of distributors.
2. Be a part of networks and get entangled
All you want is an web connection to discover a group of friends in your area of interest. There’s no scarcity of on-line communities and boards, together with the Freelance Writers Den, Writers Cafe and Scribophile to call a number of.
You may also discover writerly camaraderie by social media teams resembling The Write Life Group, Twitter’s #scriptchat and the Scriptmag Group. And naturally, there may simply be a author’s group ready on your down the (literal) road. Test your space for Meetup teams.
3. Take part in webinars (or host your personal)
I not too long ago had the possibility to attend one in all Carol Tice’s webinars about errors freelance writers make. Throughout the webinar, I had the chance to hitch a dialog with writers from around the globe and share questions, solutions and concepts.
Take be aware: Carol herself—now a significant advocate for freelance writers—has constructed a big group of writers by internet hosting webinars and offering assets and assist. Think about beginning your personal group or internet hosting webinars based mostly by yourself distinctive expertise.
As a contract author, it’s important to be pleasurable to work with—else, there can be one other freelancer who’s (and due to this fact will get the gig).
Try to be that particular person. By being an advocate for different freelancers, you’ll quickly uncover your assist community is bigger than you imagined.
