Six years ago, I started writing for a travel blog. It was fascinating for me to even start thinking that a website would be interested in my travel experience, and as we went, and the money started flowing, to see that my writing could cover all my travel expenses to go on new holidays, and then some! At my peak period, I wrote for four blogs and a magazine, producing a ton of content every month. One website required short reviews of a restaurant, a hotel or a museum, and I wrote 200 such reviews per month. I won’t tell you that it was my finest literature as a writer, but on top of that, I was writing around 50 more researched posts per month, about various travel topics, from destinations to packing to visa formalities. Over the years, I wrote around 5,000 posts about travel. And then, what had started out as a passion gig that made me want to jump around in excitement turned into a drag. I started having trouble writing my 200 mini posts, and waited until the very last day of the deadline to turn them in. Mind you, on the other side, the people hiring you feel your exhaustion too. So how do you keep things fresh as a freelance writer?
Write down ideas
When I went on trips, I would take a notepad with me and write down the name of the restaurant I had eaten out, or a few notes about something interesting that had happened during the adventure. Ideas can come at any time, when you drive to work, shop for groceries, call customer service… try to always have a note on your phone or agenda handy to write them down. And always use the same note, to find your ideas easily later on.
I have a note on my iPod and also a notepad document on my computer. When I don’t know what to write about, I go back to it for ideas.
Write soon
Then I would go back home with my pad of ideas. If I would sit down right away to start writing my travel journal, things would be fresh in my mind and I would have no trouble remembering the name of the special dish I had, or the neighborhood I ate in. After a month, things were starting to get blurry. As I was traveling so much for work and usually making a long weekend out of it to explore and get content for my side gig, I often didn’t have time between trips to write it all down. So if you can’t write it all, try detailing your notes a bit more. Set up the big ideas, write down the names that will require hours of Google searches if you forget them.
Write when you feel like it
I usually set a time of day to write my travel posts, and many times, I was not motivated. So it would take hours to write something that otherwise would flow naturally in 20 minutes. So the times that I was really motivated, I put the writing first, and started typing frantically until my eyes hurt. When you have something good to write, write it. Try to make it a priority. The load of laundry can wait for writer’s block time.
Take breaks
Because I wrote such huge amounts of content month after month for four years, I burned out. It was to be expected. However, four years was still a long time, and what helped me last that long is the ability to take breaks away from writing. I had to turn my content in once a month. So I would sometimes spend the first two weeks of the months doing absolutely nothing, then work harder for the other half. Or build a queue of posts before taking off for a holiday. If I wrote my posts during the first week of the month and the last week of the following month, I could manage a 6 weeks break in between. That was usually more than enough to freshen up and come back rested.
If you are writing a weekly column where you talk about current events, it may be more difficult to take long breaks. But there are always a few evergreen topics you can talk about. You know your December post will be about Christmas, who cares if you wrote it in July?
At the moment, I have a few posts in queue for my blog until March, and am going to write about 80% of them, on both three sites I own, by the end of December, so I can spend Christmas away from the computer, enjoy my US trip at the end of January, and still have a few weeks worth of posts ready for when I get back home, so I can settle in no rush.
In the meanwhile, I will probably have a few more topic ideas and some fresh content for the second quarter.
Get organized
I usually write my posts offline. Drafts won’t disappear when the internet malfunctions and I can take my writing with me anywhere without needing a connection. I write on Windows Live Writer which is free and pretty awesome because you can format your text, then add pictures, and upload it in one click to your blog when you get online. It also saves me from the distractions of being online, when I type offline I don’t check social media or refresh my mailbox.
Then inside WordPress, I use an editorial calendar plugin that allows me to move the posts around. It is visual and has a drag and drop system so if you drag Monday’s post to Friday, it will be rescheduled automatically.
The less time you spend around your writing, the more time you will have for your writing.
Read
The last advice to keep your writing fresh is to read around what is being published. You may get many ideas from old and new content alike. It is a double edged sword, because sometimes you won’t feel like writing a similar post, reinventing the wheel every day is hard, and when you saw 5 posts on how to save money on groceries, you will be hesitant to throw in your own. However, there are also lots of good ideas you can get from other writers. You can counter their arguments, reply to their article, or simply make a whole new post out of a sentence that made you reflect.
How do you stay inspired with your writing?
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I think keeping an ideas list is absolutely essential. I know some bloggers who just sit down and start writing but don’t plan topics. I could never do that. Plus the ideas randomly pop in my head and if I don’t write them down right away I forget them. Reading is another great tip.
DC @ Young Adult Money recently posted…How I am getting a free $400 for travel in the New Year
I got a few posts published in reaction to an article, but some sites do 80% of their posts starting with something FT said or something they read on Kiplinger.
I’m actually looking to dip my toes into the world of freelance writing, so this is really helpful. Though I don’t think I’ll be able to write 200 posts per month! I will definitely agree that the editorial calendar has been extremely helpful for me just with my own blog. It’s really helpful to see everything mapped out and know that you’re on top of it.
Matt Becker recently posted…How to Know When You Need Life Insurance
they were just 300 word each, but it still was a lot of work. staff writing is cool because you can recycle king of the same post on a few sites.
Good tips. I agree to write when you feel like it because that motivation isn’t always there. Of course I hate it when I have other video work I HAVE to do and feel like writing. 🙂 I get a lot of my inspiration when I’m running and cleaning, and then jot my ideas down on paper as soon as possible. I rarely use an editorial calendar though. I’m more free flowing with my posts.
Tonya@Budget and the Beach recently posted…BATB TV: 12 Days of Budgets
The calendar is great even if you don’t have a stream, to build a queue for when you are busy or on holiday, you can see in one go when you have posts and when you need to come up with something.
Great tips! Especially when it comes to writing ideas down. I’ve gotten in the habit of making sure I have my little Moleskine notebook and a pen with me everywhere I go, so that whenever I have a thought I can jot it down. Before I did that, I’d have a ton of ideas while out and about.. and couldn’t remember any of them when I finally sat down to write!
Kali @ CommonSenseMillennial recently posted…Busted Budget? Try a No Spend Week
I am a find of paper notes, although now I tend to do them on the ipod. and then autocorrect messes with it and I don’t remember what the note is about haha!
Even if you’re not a freelance writer, these are all still good habits to get into for putting out good content on your blog. You never really know when you’re going to get a good idea, and it helps if you can write it down (text yourself, email yourself, write it on paper, etc) the second they come up.
MMD recently posted…Getting Serious About Building Up My Multiple Streams of Income in 2014
The notepad tip is something that works well for me. Well, a digital notepad! 🙂 I also agree with ‘write when you feel like it’. You don’t have to have a set time for writing!
Moneycone recently posted…From the blogs I read…
Wow am I ever impressed you were able to write that many posts for so long!! I can’t even seem to do a fraction of them! One of my goals for Christmas is to write a bunch of posts for next year.
Anne @ Unique Gifter recently posted…Baking Mixes in Mason Jars as Holiday Gifts
I got burned out, and even then, they were in two languages so sometimes I was just translating word for word, no “thinking” required. It was a lot.
I always try and keep a running list of ideas that I’ll add to when one pops in my head. I think reading is a great source of inspiration. You never know what will spark from reading others’ thoughts on a topic. I like the idea of pre-writing posts so that you can take care of other things in between. I imagine this is especially useful for those who plan on traveling.
E.M. recently posted…Buying Breakfast: Is It Worth It?
I just put 1-2 ideas, at most the paragraph titles and then leave the posts, but coming back to it I remember the argument.
Oh man, I am exhausted thinking about that. I’m not really an ideas person, which is one of the reasons I’m not interested in freelancing full time!
eemusings recently posted…Confession: Our finances are a mess right now (and I’m okay with that)
Well you’ve been at it way longer than I have, so you are proof you still have ideas!
Sometimes there are a lot of distractions along the way while writing. That’s why I start writing my post early morning while my family are still sleeping. Writing regularly and while fresh are very useful tips.
My Wealth Desire recently posted…How Bill Gates Reclaims World’s Wealthiest Man Title
I totally use the notepad function on my phone to jot down ideas. Otherwise I’m with you, I’d totally forget the ideas!
Dee @ Color Me Frugal recently posted…Start 2014 With Cash Giveaway
I use a number of these things to help out. I think having some sort of journal/notepad is very important as things come to you at the craziest times. I like to write ahead, so I use my editorial calendar as well as having a few standby’s just in case.
John S @ Frugal Rules recently posted…How to Hustle to Pay Off Credit Card Debt
Love the tips here, Pauline. I’ve finally learned that when I get an idea, I have to write it down immediately, or it goes away, often never to be retrieved. 🙂
Laurie @thefrugalfarmer recently posted…How to Get out of Debt: Beware of the Self-Justified Pity Party
I’m pretty new to blogging so I still have a good amount of ideas, plus I haven’t really posted that consistently. Even with the ideas, sometimes I have a hard time putting it into paper. I get writer’s block expanding on the idea and trying to make it more interesting. It definitely helps to read other people’s writing and to take breaks to keep motivated.
Andrew@LivingRichCheaply recently posted…Do You Judge Someone’s Financial Worth By The “Cover”?
Great tips, Pauline, and a topic I think a lot of your readers will enjoy. There is something oddly motivating about the deadline, so I try to set artificial ones for myself throughout the week.
Done by Forty recently posted…A Case for Outsourcing
I keep a list of ideas. Also, if I’m in the “mood” to write, I usually do. Sometimes it’s gone if I don’t write it down quickly.
Holly@ClubThrifty recently posted…Are Humans Meant to Eat Meat? A Rant
I write based on my own interests, and then filter to see if I think they’ll be of interest to readers. Picture a funnel. But the top of the funnel has to be things the writer is interested in, so the interest and passion for the topic can make it through to the article.
Keeping a running list of topics that come to mind is something I do, and those topics can emerge at any time. Also, I go with the flow on my blogs – if I feel like writing, I might write quite a bit. If I’m stuck or just not feeling it that day (or days), it’s time to take a short break. Personally, such breaks seem to recharge me.
Tie the Money Knot recently posted…100 Ways to Make Extra Money on the Side
It was a pretty awesome dude who told you about LiveWriter, I think….
I have trouble staying inspired, also. I know that when it rains, for whatever reason, I’m super prolific, so I try and cancel everything around the days it’s going to rain (which isn’t very often). I also try to write early. My brain is better first thing in the morning.
Average Joe recently posted…A Look Back on 2013: My Personal Accomplishments and Failures
Yes, you know him? He runs the best financial podcast.
Waiting for rain in TX is tough, you should come here, it hasn’t stopped since I got back.
Rainy season was supposed to be over 2 months ago…
I find that when I don’t write about things soon enough, they start to get blurry quickly- particularly experiences.
Stefanie @ The Broke and Beautiful Life recently posted…Budget Travel: 3 Days in Las Vegas
Wow Pauline, you have done a ton of writing! I am still getting the hang of just having enough content for my blog. nevermind freelancing 🙂
Liz recently posted…Do You Participate in an Employee Stock Purchase Plan?
that was a ton indeed, that’s why I burned out. Hopefully not in PF!
This is a fantastic post Pauline. All great ideas. Taking breaks is huge. If nothing is coming to you, walk away or you’ll end up with a huge chunk of wasted time.
Catherine recently posted…My Pre-Christmas Haul
All great tips. I write for a few other blogs and I can’t just sit down and churn out posts. There are times when I feel like writing and when I do, I make it a point to sit down to write. I can easily write for a few hours, knocking out posts. But again, I have to be in the mood to write. At first, I would get frustrated when I would sit down and couldn’t write but now I just move on to other things that need to get done and write when I feel the urge to.
Jon @MoneySmartGuides recently posted…5 Ways To Save Money On Groceries This Christmas Season
Another thing I do is just write. No uploading, finding pictures, putting keywords, linking… that can be done when I have no ideas. Writing time is just to write.
You are such an interesting writer and this article has been very helpful. I have writings on a hard drive, a USB, in my notes on iPad, in various random notebooks, on my Pages app, printed in a 3 ring binder, scraps of paper…….I frustrate myself because I seem to be so disorganized. I do not write a blog or do freelance writing…..but maybe I should. I seem to have the writings but no outlet. A 2014 New Year Resolution?
Could be! Thank you for your kind words. I got frustrated too as I would start drafting a post, and leave it in email drafts, or google docs, or a Word document, or note on the ipod… and then look for it and it was nowhere to be found. Now in windows live writer everything is under one roof. That is also the idea behind a blog, just random thoughts and an online house for them…
I love freelancing. Not only is it great bread and butter money, but it’s encouraging to see something you wrote in print in a relatively quick turn-around time. I would encourage any writer to consider freelance writing as well. Great article with very useful tips and encouragement.
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