As a freelance writer, you’ll quickly find that publishers can become some of your best friends within the industry. But developing communication skills as a writer is often a necessary step towards developing rewarding relationships with publishers. Here are just a few important tips for writers to consider before they embark on new writing projects in earnest.
Be Forthright About Your Expectations
If you have particular time constraints when working on a project, don’t be afraid of letting your publisher know about these limitations ahead of time. Overextending yourself as a writer can quickly lead to burnout or even missed deadlines; both of these things should be avoided where necessary!
Be Realistic About Your Word Count Limits
In many respects, word counts exist within the publishing industry for excellent reasons; about articles, blog posts, or books, most publishers are looking to produce word counts that appeal to readers. If you don’t think you can meet your publisher’s word count expectations, trying being honest about what you feel you can do. Don’t wait until the due date is approaching to inform your publisher that your piece is hundreds or thousands of words short of their needs. You’ll let down both your publisher and yourself!
See the Project From Your Publisher’s Perspective
To succeed as a freelancer, try looking at your assigned project from your publisher’s perspective. What will they get out of this project if the project is done correctly? Why have they chosen a particular line of subject matter to explore? If you can make your goals in writing align with your publisher’s needs, you’ll almost always do an exceptional job as a freelancer.
Honesty Matters
No one expects freelance writers to be experts in every field imaginable; however, freelancers should not misrepresent their knowledge of a particular subject area to their publisher. Be realistic! If your understanding of a specific subject is limited, let your publisher know this at the start of a project. If your knowledge of a subject area is lacking, discuss your research requirements with your publisher before writing your article, story, or book. Most publishers realize that freelancers need time to familiarize themselves with key concepts related to complex subjects.
Let Your Passion Do the Talking
To find projects that work for both you and your publisher, you must take the time to discuss subjects that you are both interested in. When you’re passionate about a particular topic, you’ll write more compellingly. That will make your writing project more compelling to readers. After all, that is what freelancing is all about!