10 Mistakes by a Freelance Writer

Freelance writing is very interesting, challenging profession and also needs great patience and perseverance. Here, is my 200th article I tried to analyze some of the major mistakes and problems that as a freelance writer faced that made me not to reach my set goals. Some of these mistakes or problems could be common to other writers too.

Specific goals
It is mandatory that you should plan your goals very meticulous in any profession and more so when you are in freelance writer. Your plans should accompany with systematic and very detailed sketch broken down to specific with time bonded.

Analysis: I had aimed in reaching 1000th article by the end of December 2009 and also aimed at reaching 100000 page views by the end of this year. But I didn't do meticulous planning and specific with time bonded action plan. That is the reason I could only reach 200th article by this time.

Action Plan
Each specific target should have backup action plans which have to be completed with accurate detailed plan for daily, weekly and monthly basis. And these action plans have to be time specific.

Analysis: I had planned to write two to three articles per day so that I can write 90 to 100 articles per month. And by the end of year able to reach my goal that is 1000 article. But did not stick to my action plan from the beginning and the whole planning went wayward. I didn't do my SWAT analysis properly.

Review
Review play very vital role for keeping one in the right track. Review of your goals and action plan have to on monthly basis. You have to be very critical while having self reviewing process.

Analysis: My review was not very critical, hence couldn't reach to my goals. I had not taken corrective steps for non-recurrence of my reparative mistake.

Proper language and grammar
To establish as a freelance writer your ideas have to back up by correct language and grammar. Your readers will interest read whole of your article and be regular reader provided it is written crisp and proper language and grammar.

Analysis: Still my language and grammar are to improve. I have to do regular reading of different books of great authors.

Proof-reading
Proof-reading plays vital is checking your spelling, grammar and typo-graphical mistakes. Never hurry in proof-reading, check and recheck before publishing your article.

Analysis: Needs further improvement in proof-reading. If needed should take help of another person for checking my article.

New pitching
As a freelance writer you have to find new avenue and new writing opportunity so that your income remains constant as well as you can reach your financial goals. In reality one has to accept that as a freelance writer your finance plays important part in keeping your family pot burning. If you have regular source of income you will be more inclined to focus on your goals.

Analysis: I had concentrated with few clients and didn't focus on new clients. As a resulted few jobs in hand and tight monetarily conditions. Some times due to financial crisis undertook some jobs which were very tight time bonded and due to lack of crucial time quality of work suffered and lost and annoyed good clients.

SEO
As a freelance writer or anyone who is writing articles or blogs should use SEO based keywords and key phases for proper page viewers ship. For search engines to pick up your articles keywords are the most important. It is the life line for online writers.

Analysis: Still have to improve and master SEO, hence fewer viewer ship. One of the reasons for not being able to reach my goals in the viewer ship is concerned.

Health
There is an old proverb Health is wealth. For freelancer writer health plays most vital aspect for seeing as a winner or looser.

Analysis: My health didn't support me. I had to quit my regular job for health reasons. I had still 18 years of service, but had to resign my job. And for the same reason couldn't keep to my action plan. Therefore, instead of reaching my 1000th article I am still at 200th article. I pray to God to help me to recover from my health related problems.

Multi Tasks
Having your own office at home and as a freelance writer you have to avoid multi tasking. Stick to your regular office hours, no entertainment of personnel calls. Don't take too many jobs at a time. Instead, prioritize your jobs and duties. Focus on your most important job first. Don't do firefighting task. Here you're planning plays most crucial part.

Analysis: Having remained at home and due to bad health unable to avoid personal visitors and phone calls. Being a house daddy sometimes you are also to take care of your children when your wife goes to office.

Dairy writing
For proper time management dairy writing is very essential. You have to take half an hour from your whole day sit coolly at one place. Put your thoughts and action to be taken on the next day. This will help you to focus and prioritize your job. You can also get enough time to complete your uncompleted jobs. Time management helps to reduce your stress and helps healthy and quality of job and quality of life.

Analysis: Still have to be more regular in writing dairy daily. Still needs further correction in me.

Source:
Personal experience