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10 Easy Ways to Succeed at Freelancing: #4, Get Dressed

April 24, 2022 by Karin Beery Leave a Comment

I don’t understand the psychology behind this, but I know from experience that one easy way to increase your success as a freelance writer (editor, designer, etc.) is to get up and get dressed. (I’m not the only person who thinks this either—check out these articles in The Guardian, Freelancer FAQs, and Ms Career Girl).

You don’t need to get up every day at 6 a.m., take a shower, and put on a suit, though. I don’t think what you wear is as important as the act of getting dressed:

When you take the time to change out of pajamas and into work clothes, it triggers something that let’s you know it’s time to work.

What Should I Wear: Wear something comfortable, but also something you’re okay being seen in. My rule of thumb is this—if I had an unexpected Zoom call, would my outfit be appropriate? I have a closet full of tops that are as comfortable as cotton t-shirts but not as casual. If I had to appear in a Zoom meeting, they’d be fine (but they’re also comfortable enough to nap it).

And for pants…I live in leggings. They’re comfortable, but they also give me that “dressed for work” mental feeling. Sometimes I swap one pair of leggings (that I slept in) for another pair (to work in). No one ever sees them, but mentally I’m prepared to work.

When Should I Get Dressed: One of the joys of freelancing is setting your own schedule. If you’re a morning person, you can work in the morning (so you should get dressed in the morning). But you can work any time you want.

Just like it doesn’t matter what you wear, it doesn’t matter when you get dressed—just make sure you do it before you sit down to work. Flip that mental switch.

That’s it. There’s nothing overly complicated about this step, which is why it’s on a list of easy ways to succeed.

Check back in next month for another tip. Until then, don’t forget to follow me on Facebook and signup for my newsletter for more writing, editing, and publishing tips throughout the month.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

10 Easy Ways to Succeed at Freelancing: #1, Write It Down

January 5, 2022 by Karin Beery Leave a Comment

If you want your freelance editing or writing business to succeed, you need to establish some best practices. I’m going to share ten freelance best practices with you throughout the year, and today we’re starting with a lesson I should already know but keep forgetting:

Write it down.

Go ahead and grab some paper and pen.

Write. It. Down.

Why Should I Write It Down?

I don’t care you young you are. I don’t care how many state capitols, phone numbers, or X-men plot lines you have memorized—if you don’t write down important information, you will forget it.

The publishing industry can move at a snail’s pace, so it’s not uncommon to contact an author or editor, then not hear from that person for months. Are you sure you’re going to remember what you talked about?

I always think that I will. I never do. That’s let to me forgetting about once-discussed but not-confirmed projects; when the author reaches out to schedule the project, I have to search through my email to figure out what’s going on.

One time, I offered a client a discounted editing rate. Another client with a similar name contacted me a few weeks later. I wrote my contract for the second client with the first client’s discount, so I ended up doing both projects at reduced rates.

Sigh.

Don’t let this happen to you!

What Should I Write Down?

I’m glad you asked. Here are just a few things:

  • Name, contact info, and the best way to reach them
  • You contact’s time zone!
  • What you discussed AND your impression (if you felt excited/uncomfortable/uncertain, etc. write it down)
  • RATES! (If any rates were discussed, note it.)
  • Confirmed deadlines
  • Proposed deadlines
  • Any special arrangements or considerations

Not sure if you need to write something down? Write it down anyway. Your clients will appreciate it, and so will you.

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Filed Under: Uncategorized

How I Write: Ginny Dent Brant

October 11, 2021 by Karin Beery Leave a Comment

Writing a book is hard enough. Writing a book while battling cancer? I can’t even imagine!

Ginny Dent Brant doesn’t have to imagine–she did it. And she published it. And she’s won awards for it.

Today, she’s sharing tips and wisdom from her experiences as a nonfiction and cancer survivor.

Thank you so much for joining me today. Please tell us what you write. How/why did you pick your genre?
I write memoirs and Christian living books. I enjoy writing about real people. I’ve also written over 50 articles that are interviews with Christians about their faith. Some of those articles have made it to The Baptist Press, Townhall, and The Christian Post. My most popular articles were my tributes to Chuck Colson (carried by 15 different newspapers/magazines), Billy Graham, Robertson McQuilkin, and Dr. Avery Willis after they passed.

What’s the most difficult part of writing? How do you work through those challenges?
I wrestled with God over writing a book about my cancer journey. While meeting with the hospital chaplain about the dilemma of dealing with cancer, he told me, “Consider this a gift from God for you to help other people. You’re a writer and a speaker—think of all the people you could help.”

My response, “No way. I don’t want this gift.” But the more I researched, the more I felt compelled to share with others what I’d learned. It was difficult to do the hard work while with dealing with the side effects of treatments and medications.

In my first book, Finding True Freedom, the difficult part was deciding which intimate details to share and getting the okay from family members. A memoir about your own family can be like walking through a field with landmines.

How long does it take you to: write the book? Edit it? Finalize it?
Unleash Your God-given Healing required two years of research, one year of writing, one year of editing and polishing, and 18 months of promoting it. I’m still doing podcasts and interviews.

Which was harder: the first book or the following books? Why?
This recent book Unleash Your God-Given Healing was harder because it is loaded with footnotes to medical research. My editor made me type out every name noted in the research articles instead of using “et al”. I was also asked to recheck all of the footnotes several times, note the last date I checked the websites, and verify all the difficult to spell names!  Oh my! Memoirs that require a lot of footnoting can be difficult to write, and they also require the most of the writer including fiction techniques.

What’s your favorite writers conference? What do you like about it?
I’ve attended the Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writer’s conference four times. They have a wonderful faculty, and many experts have poured their lives into me. It’s also a great place to make connections with other writers, publishers and agents. It’s only 90 minutes from my home.

If you’re self-published, why did you decide to go that route? If you’re traditionally published, why did you decide to go that route?
My first book was traditionally published. For this second book, I knew that Christian publishers do not usually publish books on health and wellness. I knew a “cancer book” would be difficult to get published. I remember going to writer’s conferences and seeing acquisition editors with signs saying, “I’ve heard enough cancer stories.”

I then submitted to eight publishers I had connections with. I heard from three immediately who did not publish health books. In a few weeks, I heard back from three other interested publishers who wanted to see more. One suggested I get a doctor to write commentary in each chapter. I took their advice. Three of these publishers took my book up the ladder. It got close with two publishers, but all of them wanted the doctor commentator to be the co-author.  I could not provide that. My book is from the patient’s perspective. It’s not about what the doctors do. It’s about the role the patient can play in their own prognosis. All the publishers said, “This book needs to be published.” That was reassuring.

At that time, I made the decision to self-publish. I went with Westbow Press because they’re the self-publishing arm of Thomas Nelson (Harper Collins). If my book sold well, they would begin distributing it. As of two weeks ago, Harper Collins is both distributing and promoting my book. After winning three awards (Golden Scrolls First, Selah Award Second, and Director’s Choice Award Second for Non-fiction overall), Westbow Press recognized my book with the Lighthouse Recognition Award.

Congratulations! What advice do you have for new authors?
Chuck Colson was the cover endorser for my first book. He advised me to start in the middle of a crisis. I did that in both books. He also advised me to use a theme from beginning to end to tie my story together.

In Finding True Freedom, the theme was dance. My father taught me to dance, he met my mother at a dance, and from a young age, we danced to the same tune, When I gave my life to Christ, we began spinning in different directions. My father tried to block my path, but God moved in his heart, and he became everything he forbid me to be including a missionary. In the end, we were dancing to the same beat with our heavenly Father.

The theme tied throughout my Unleash Your God–Given Healing book was an analogy to the Wizard of Oz. The analogy begins when my doctor shows me the MRI that looks like a tornado has invaded my body. Like Dorothy, I desperately want to get back home to a normal life. When discussing the eight steps, each one has a shared truth from God’s Word and a tie to the Wizard of Oz. For example, in the chapter on hydration, how ironic that Dorothy killed the Wicked Witch of the West with a bucket of water!

I would advise any authors to take Chuck Colson’s advice.

How do you self-edit your manuscript?
I was under cancer treatment during most of the process. I was actually making mistakes I’d normally not make due to brain fog. I asked five friends to go behind me and look for errors and recommendations. Two were English majors, two were nurses, and one was a cancer patient. They caught many mistakes. Mistakes are part of the process. I even found ten mistakes after my first book was published. Although mistakes are normal, you must do everything you can to catch them.

I couldn’t agree more. Thank you so much for joining me today!


Ginny Dent Brant is a speaker and writer who grew up in the halls of power in Washington, DC. She has battled cancer, ministered around the world, and served as a counselor, educator, wellness advocate, and adjunct professor. Brant’s award-winning book, Finding True Freedom: From the White House to the World, was endorsed by Chuck Colson and featured in many media interviews. Unleash Your God-Given Healing was released in May 2020 after her journey with cancer. It was written with commentary by an oncologist, and was recently given a Golden Scrolls Award and named a Selah Award Finalist.

Cancer prevention and wellness blog at www.ginnybrant.com 
Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/ginny.d.brant/
Instagram  https://www.instagram.com/ginnydentbrant/

Filed Under: interview, Uncategorized Tagged With: author interview, Chuck Colson, Ginny Dent Brant, How I Write, nonfiction, self-editing, writing nonfiction, writing tips

Can Your Work Become an Idol? by Barbara Britton

November 18, 2019 by Karin Beery Leave a Comment

Recently my church was doing a study on Tim Keller’s book Every Good Endeavor. The book is about work and how a Christian should view their profession. I was asked to speak in the adult education class about being an author and how I handled the idols in my work.

Idols? Does a writer have idols? After I thought about the publishing industry and how it has changed in the past twelve years since I began writing, I did discover some idols. When I began my publishing journey, there was no internet sales or social media. The rise of Amazon, Facebook, Twitter, and a whole host of new inventions have brought some “watch outs” into the writing life.

I am a Christian and a child of God. What is a child of God? John 1:12 puts it this way:

“Yet to all who received him (Jesus), to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” (NIV)

Since I believe in Jesus, I write my stories from a Christian worldview. I hope people like my stories, feel better after reading my stories, and in the case of my Biblical fiction, learn something new about God and the Bible. When people praise my novels or think I am somehow on a higher plane since I write novels, I have to set my idol warning to high.

I believe God has given me the talent to write stories. It’s a gift. Just like some people have gifts of singing and painting and business and athletics. The list is endless. One gift is not better than the other in God’s eyes. When readers say nice things about me, I thank them, enjoy the moment, but see their praise in the bigger picture of God’s gifts. God wouldn’t be please with diva moments.

I Peter 4:10 says, “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in various forms.”

I pray that I am administering well, but people have different ideas about what “well” means. I have heard from readers who weren’t impressed with my stories. Sometimes the review of my work overflows onto my being. My relationship with God is attacked and less than nice things are said. Ouch! When that happens (and it can be in a book review or through e-mail), I have to remember who I am in Christ. I remember the John 1:12 verse above and realize that I am a child of God. No two Christians are the same and not every piece of art is for every reader or for every patron of the arts.

The idols of doubt and discouragement can sink into my core if I let them. Social media allows words to soar through the internet without the typist realizing there is a beating heart on the other side of the screen. If I’m okay with my story, and I believe God is okay with my story, then I have to let a bad review sink into oblivion.

So, are there idols in writing? Are there incidents that can take our eyes off of God? Definitely.

Enjoy the good times of your profession but keep walking in humility. Ask God to help you when a discouraging remark zaps your enthusiasm. The Holy Spirit is the best comforter when we are hurting. And remember, the giver of good gifts does not make mistakes.

Do you see any idols creeping into your work?


Barbara M. Britton lives in Southeast, Wisconsin and loves the snow—when it accumulates under three inches. She writes Christian Fiction for teens and adults. Barb brings little-known Bible stories to light in her Tribes of Israel series. Barb is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, Romance Writers of America and Wisconsin Romance Writers of America. She is published by Harbourlight Books an imprint of Pelican Book Group. Barb has a nutrition degree from Baylor University but loves to dip healthy strawberries in chocolate. Find out more about Barb and her books at www.barbarambritton.com.

Follow Barb on Twitter, Facebook or BookBub.

Filed Under: Professionalism, Uncategorized Tagged With: Barbara Britton, best practices, integrity

Novelization or Narrative Retelling?

May 21, 2019 by Karin Beery Leave a Comment

I recently read a book that was described as a novelization of a true story. Based on that description, I had several expectations for the story—a structured plot, some character development, incorporating the senses, etc. Instead, I got some history, some explanations, and several chapters of helpful information, but no story.

Overall, the book disappointed me. I wanted to get pulled into the characters heads; to experience their lives with them; to be transported into their homes and situations—everything I expect from a novel. But that book wasn’t a novel, and it never should have been labeled that way.

But, but … it had dialogue! It was written in third person!

Yes, it was, but that doesn’t make it a novel. A book needs to meet certain requirements before you can call it a novel; without those things, you have a creative or narrative retelling, but you do not have a novel.

What does a book need, then, to be considered a novel? Whether you’ve created everything or are telling someone else’s true story, a novel needs:

  • Plot Structure (three acts work well)
  • Setting
  • Characterization (including GMCs and character arcs)
  • Engaging writing that creates mental pictures

Take all of those, organize them well, and POOF! A novel. If you’re lacking any of these things, you’re probably not writing a novel. How can you tell?

  • The dialogue doesn’t add to the story; it’s just there.
  • You have whole chapters of information without showing the characters do anything.
  • Your book is more about giving information than it is about entertaining the reader.

If the above bullet points describe your book, it doesn’t mean you have a bad book—it just means you’re not writing a novel. These subtleties make a big difference when you’re marketing your book. It’s important to understand the difference, because mislabeling your book (and thereby mis-advertising it) can set you up for failure.

Take the book I recently read: if it had been called a narrative or creative retelling, it would have been a pretty good book. I would have been better prepared for the history lessons and lack of structure. Because I wanted to read a novel, however, it disappointed me. As much as I wanted to leave a good review, I couldn’t because I didn’t have a good experience reading the book (I do still recommend the book, but I tell people it’s not a novel).

Don’t stop writing your book and don’t change your style. Just know what you’re writing so you can get it into the hands of the right audience.

Have you ever read a good book that disappointed you? What happened?

Are you interested in learning more? Would you like to receive tips and special offers sent directly to your inbox? Sign up for my newsletter today, and receive your FREE copy of Simple Tips for Finding the Right Editor!

Filed Under: Uncategorized, writing Tagged With: characterization, fiction, fiction writing, How to Write a Novel, novel writing, plot

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ABOUT ME

Editor. Teacher. Novelist.
A passionate lover of fiction, Karin doesn't just write novels, she helps others write their best stories! A certified substantive editor with the Christian Editor Connection, her goal is to help authors to put her out of business by equipping them with the tools they need to become better writers.

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Karin understood my advertising and marketing writing needs and accomplished the project in record time. She asked all the right questions up front to equip herself with enough … [more]

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Substantive Fiction Editing: A substantive edit looks at the big picture. Start here to tackle the big issues before moving on to the nit-picky details. Substantive edits not only point out … [more]

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