start & scale your freelancing career
tips, guides, and resources to grow
What you'll
learn in the academy
- Basic steps for laying a foundation for freelance writing
- How to land your first client and get paid for writing
- Tips for scaling your business and taking it full time
- Scripts for pitching prospective clients
Testimonials
You can become a better writer
Below are additional freelance writing resources that I personally recommend to help you grow and scale your freelance writing.
Grammarly
write better
One of my absolute favorite tools is Grammarly. I have it as a Chrome plugin, and it helps me stay on top of my writing. It's like having an editor available for me all the time. Grammarly works well with WordPress, as well as in Google Docs and other sites. It will catch common usage errors, spelling and grammar issues and even make smart suggestions to improve your writing.
Hemingway
pithy, active writing
Get rid of passive voice and overburdened sentences. If you want to write actively and get straight to the point in a powerful way, the Hemingway App is the way to go. It's available as an online tool, but you can also get the desktop app. I've thought seriously about just using it for my writing in general, mainly because of how awesome it is at forcing you to think about your sentences — and use every word to advantage
Asana
project management made easy
If you want to keep track of projects and deadlines, Asana is a great choice. I use it regularly. The fact that you can switch between list and calendar, and even track invoicing, is great. You can also use Asan to collaborate on projects and work with your virtual assistants (if you have them).
Are you a blogger looking to create the best content?
Two course recommendations for you
Enhance Your content
I love this course from my friend Ashley Barnett. This course takes you through the ins and outs of helping you create better content for your blog.
How to turn your blog into a business
My friend Larry Ludwig built a successful blog and sold it for seven figures. While you might not end up with a seven-figure blog, you can still make money with it.
The Freelance Blog
a collection of guest posts, guides, and helpful freelancing tips
Freelance Writing
What's the Easiest Way to Raise Your Freelance Rates?
Hoping to raise your freelance rates? Look no further! I've got one easy tip! I'm asked all the time how to raise rates. It's probably the number one question I'm asked. Well, after what I'm doing during this whole COVID-19 thing. People ask this even more than they ask about my schedule or about how to start
6 Things to Include in Your Freelance Writer Bio
Your freelance writer bio is the elevator pitch at the end of any article you write. Make sure it encourages others to hire you. One of the challenges that I faced when I first began writing online was creating a bio. A freelance writer bio is your chance to hook other potential clients. Other than
Freelance Resource Review: Freelance Writers Den
Looking for tips on higher paying gigs and access to a freelance resource toolbox? The Freelance Writers Den can be a solid choice. One of the realities of going out and getting higher-paying gigs is that you need to hustle for it. There is a great deal of work involved. Freelance resources like the now-defunct
Pro Blogging
5 Realities of High Paying Freelance Gigs
If you're looking in the wrong places, you'll have a hard time finding high paying freelance gigs. One of the most common questions I receive has to do with finding high paying freelance gigs. When I presented on the subject of getting and keeping high paying freelance gigs at FinCon15, one of my slides dealt
Just What is a High Paying Freelance Gig, Anyway?
We all want to land a high paying freelance gig or two (or three). But how do you know if that gig is truly worth your time and effort? At FinCon15, I offered a short presentation on how to get paid more for freelance writing. Many writers are interested in this topic because many of
Want a Higher Freelance Rate? Ask For It
If you aren’t getting something you want, don’t assume you just can’t have it. You can ask for a higher freelance rate. Even though I’ve been freelancing for more than 10 years, it’s still difficult for me to ask for a higher freelance rate. Over time, I’ve become better at getting paid more, but I
Writing Tips
The Writer's Guide to Success
Looking for a little help when it comes to finding a writer's guide to success? The folks over at OnBlastBlog.com put together this massive — useful — infographic to help you with your writing efforts. When it comes to writing, there are a few tips and tricks that can help you enjoy more success as
3 Reasons to Participate in NaNoWriMo — Even If You Don't Write Fiction
Even if you don't normally write fiction, you can benefit when you participate in NaNoWriMo. Welcome to November! As a writer, there is no way to avoid NaNoWriMo in November. As a freelancer — and a fairly uncreative writer at that — I don't usually get excited about NaNoWrio. I did participate in NaNoWriMo once and even
[Video] How to Improve Your Writing
After a few months of craziness, and trying to figure out what to do with myself, I'm getting back to my online freelance writing videos. Since my last video, I've discovered Periscope. I'll use Periscope for a weekly writing tip every Wednesday right around 12:45 pm Eastern. At least that's the plan. My first tip
Productivity
How to Batch Your Writing — And Improve Your Productivity
I'm constantly asked about how I manage my productivity. By learning how to batch your writing, it's possible to take your freelance business to a new level. Over the years, I've tried just about every productivity trick in the book. I mean, I've been freelancing since 2005 — it's my 15th anniversary of working online
That Time I Took a Year Off from Writing
It’s been a long, strange year. And, even though I wrote every.single.day, I didn’t do writing for me. So it’s really like I took a year off from writing. But I’m ready to dive back in. One of the biggest downsides to freelancing is that you don’t always make time to write for you. I
What Should You Do When You Miss a Deadline?
At some point you’ll miss a deadline. Here’s how to handle the situation. Recently, I’ve become the world’s flakiest freelancer. I’ve had a lot going on in my life the last two years. From two cross-country moves to a divorce to becoming more involved in my community to the fact that my son is a