Your output goals will not be accomplished by simply putting a resume online and waiting for people to call (If only it were that easy!) Freelancer writers are one profession that has to have balls up in the air at all times. You must brainstorm story or article ideas, research markets, write up and send out query letters, bid on projects, search for new markets, complete projects, and submit articles simultaneously. You never want to stop thinking of story ideas, or sending out queries or writing articles for previously accepted projects. Think of it like a bus station. You have busses coming, busses going, and a schedule to make sure everything is running as planned. Successful freelancers must set aside time each business day for these tasks.
Create, and use, a daily to do list for short and long term goals and marketing tasks. Print out the following form and use it as your daily to do.
Freelance Writers Daily To-Do List
Date:Â
Today’s Most Important Tasks
1.___________________________________________________________________
2.___________________________________________________________________
3.___________________________________________________________________
4.___________________________________________________________________
5.___________________________________________________________________
6.___________________________________________________________________
7.___________________________________________________________________
8.___________________________________________________________________
9.___________________________________________________________________
10.__________________________________________________________________
Projects Currently Working On
1.__________________________________
2.__________________________________
3.__________________________________
4.__________________________________
5.__________________________________
Send 5 Query Letters
1.______________________________
2.______________________________
3.______________________________
4.______________________________
5.______________________________
Articles/Queries Currently Working On
1.__________________________________
2.__________________________________
3.__________________________________
4.__________________________________
5.__________________________________
Think of 5 Story/Article Ideas
1._____________________________
2._____________________________
3._____________________________
4._____________________________
5._____________________________
Follow-Ups
1.___________________________________________________________________
2.___________________________________________________________________
3.___________________________________________________________________
4.___________________________________________________________________
5.___________________________________________________________________
Today’s Deadlines
1._________________________________
2._________________________________
3._________________________________
4._________________________________
5._________________________________
Errands
1.______________________________
2.______________________________
3.______________________________
4.______________________________
5.______________________________
