Working Writer's Coach - Writing Coach for the Freelance Writer

Do You Cling to Self-Limiting Behaviors?

Working Writers Coach — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 18:51:23 +0000

As a writing coach, I meet people all the time who want to create the writing career of their dreams.

But when I mention they might need to make changes in the way they do things, they passionately CLING to their self-limiting behaviors.

They desperately want to continue doing the exact same things they’ve been doing, yet get different results.

But, we all know, the definition of “insanity” is doing the same things yet hoping for different results.

The cold hard fact of the matter is that if you want to get different results than you’ve been getting, something needs to change.

This usually doesn’t mean you need to change your entire life. Quite often, one little change can give you the different result you’ve been hoping for.

So, make sure you aren’t clinging to self-limiting behaviors.

If you say things like “I can’t” or “I don’t know how” or “I’m afraid,” then you are probably clinging to some sort of self-limiting behavior.

This self-limiting behavior can be comfortable, even if it isn’t leading to the success you SAY you want.

But just try doing one little thing differently today and see what happens.

freelance writing, self limiting behaviors, success tips, successful freelance

It’s Not too Early to Make Career Plans for 2009!

Working Writers Coach — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 18:16:33 +0000

As 2008 draws to a close, it’s a good time to start evaluating what worked and what didn’t work to help you reach your career goals this year.

Once you know that, you can start planning your goals - and making a plan for attaining these goals - for 2009.

Join me tomorrow night, Wednesday, December 3, 2008, at 7:00 central time for a free teleseminar called Building Your Business Write in 2009 - How to Make Your Plan!

2009, freelance writing, goal setting, writing career, writing goals

Two Free Teleseminars Coming Up!

Working Writers Coach — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 16:47:56 +0000

If you’d like to learn how to write and publish your own stories and other work for kids, join me and host, Carma Dutra, next Monday night, December 1, 2008, for a FREE teleseminar called, Anything and Everything You’ve Always Wanted to Know about Writing and Publishing for Children.

During the live call, I’ll be answering questions that were submitted prior to the call. Here’s your chance to ask a question and have me answer it next week. Just sign up for this free teleseminar, then attend the LIVE call to hear the answer to your question.

I also offer free weekly teleseminars through www.buildyourbusinesswrite.com. This week’s teleseminar is tomorrow night (Wednesday, November 26) at 7:00 central. The topic for the evening will be “Why You Should Be Using Social Networking Sites to Build Your Business.”

To attend this live teleseminar tomorrow night, register up here.

Build Your Business Write, free teleseminars, social networking, writing for children

Learn to Hustle!

Working Writers Coach — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 03:56:46 +0000

If you’re trying to create a career as a successful freelance writer, you need to learn to hustle - and I’m not talking about dancing here!

How many hours each day are you doing something with your goal as a successful freelance writer in mind?

Writers who make a fulltime living usually produce a LOT of work in a week’s time.

They know how to hustle!

Generally, they set aside time each day to: 1) finish up current projects, 2) start new projects, and 3) look for MORE new projects.

Are you treating your writing as an actual J-O-B and giving yourself regular “working hours”?

If not, you should be.

Today, make a list of each activity you do that relates to writing and your writing business.

Also, at the end of the day, write down the total number of hours you “worked” at your business today.

If you don’t have any paying assignments yet, you should have more time to set aside for writing queries.

After you write a couple of queries, set aside another chunk of time today to promote your writing and writing services in some way - post to your blog, or write an article for an article directory, for example.

Next, look for new assignments by visiting online job boards, and then respond immediately to any jobs that look interesting.

Learn to hustle, and you’ll soon have enough work coming in to create the momentum needed to get (and keep) your writing career rolling along.

Try it!

freelance writing, writing career

Turn Your Passion for Writing into a Fulltime Career!

Working Writers Coach — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 06:47:32 +0000

Last night I was interviewed on Authors Access. I talked about how to turn your passion for writing into a fulltime career.

Listen to the interview HERE.

Authors Access, freelance writing, Suzanne Lieurance

Writing Stuff That Matters

Working Writers Coach — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 01:04:09 +0000

People often tell me they want to start writing more, but they want to write “stuff that matters.” They want to write something of importance, not just fluffy novels or silly magazine articles.

When I hear this, I realize it’s just another excuse for NOT writing.

It lets the person who is afraid of writing something that won’t be well received or won’t be the BEST piece of work EVER, stay within the comfort zone that can only exist for us when we don’t write anything.

It’s just another excuse created to avoid fear and uncertainty.

But here’s the deal.

People who succeed as writers learn to leave their comfort zone and walk that tightrope between soaring to success and falling to absolute failure.

It’s just part of the writer’s life.

And in order to eventually write something “that matters” - something “of importance” - you usually have to write a LOT of not-so-important stuff BEFORE you develop the skills, the insights, and the knowledge needed to write something of any real consequence.

So, if you want to write, just write. Who cares if it’s silly stuff? Who cares if it will never sell? Who cares if it is the worst writing EVER written?

Everyone would be a writer if it were EASY to write something of importance.

Have the courage to write anything. Then continue to write and write and write.

Eventually, you WILL write something of importance, something that matters.

freelance writers, freelance writing, writers excuses, writing tip, writing tips

I’ve Been Tagged by Dawn Phillips!

Working Writers Coach — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 15:38:04 +0000

I have to come up with 7 interesting or random facts about myself, and then tag 7 other people to do the same.

You can read more about children’s author/illustrator Dawn Phillips at her blog:

http://www.rdchildrensbooks.blogspot.com/

7 Random Facts About Me

1. I met my husband when we were both teaching for the Bureau of Indian Affairs on a reservation in South Dakota.

2. I lived on Guam when I was in high school.

3. I’ve ghostwriting everything from an economics dictionary for high school students to an adaptation of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” for kids.

4. I once had my own pet sitting service and took care of dogs, cats, hamsters, and even tarantulas and opossums.

5. I love to work at home (write) in my pjs.

6. The sound of the ocean is one of my favorite sounds, so is the sound of children giggling.

7. To Kill a Mockingbird and Howard’s End are my favorite movies of all time.

I am tagging:

http://www.carmaswindow.blogspot.com

http://www.newteacherresourcecenter.com

http://www.peaceandlaughter.blogspot.com

http://www.heartfeltwords4kids.blogspot.com

http://kidsbooksuk.blogspot.com

http://www.simon-rose.blogspot.com/

http://margotfinke.blogspot.com/

blog tag, Carma Dutra, Dawn Phillips, Margot Finke, Simon Rose

Sharon Poppen and Other Authors on Tour This Week!

Working Writers Coach — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 15:09:27 +0000

All this week the National Writing for Children Center is hosting author Sharon Poppen on a virtual tour for her new book After the War, Before the Peace.

Sharon Poppen, author of After the War, Before the Peace

Find out more about Sharon and her book at the National Writing for Children Center site.

Visit these other authors who are hosting and taking part in this virtual book tour:

National Writing for Children Center, Sharon Poppen, virtual book tour

Join Me In Cortona, Italy to Write the Book of Your Dreams!

Working Writers Coach — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 20:51:50 +0000

Are you ready to have the time of your life while you write the book of your dreams?

Then join me next spring in Cortona, Italy, for a week long writer’s workshop.

Enjoy this short video to get a taste of Cortona:

Find out more about the Workshop HERE

Cortona, Italy, Suzanne Lieurance, Toscana Americana, Write the book of your dreams, writers workshop

Make Money with Special Reports

Working Writers Coach — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 22:20:30 +0000

One easy way for freelance writers to make money is with special reports.

And now, you can learn all you need to know to get started with special reports when you order my new special report - How to Create, Market, and Make Money with Specials Reports.