The caveat is—if you plan to make money writing—you’ll need to network effectively with writers and editors alike.

Rather than looking at other writers as competition, think of it like this: Writing is a team sport and your editor is the MVP. 

Why it’s necessary for writers to network

Collectively, writers face a few difficult truths of the trade.

By connecting with like-minded writers, you’ll create a support system to share ideas, combat backlash from low-paying content mills and increase your visibility (seriously, there’s a lot of noise to cut through these days).  

Equally as important is the fact that professional networking opens the door to more work. And more work equals more income.

For example, a prospect recently contacted me with a time-sensitive project proposal.

Unfortunately, I was booked out beyond her deadline. Rather than turn the prospect away empty handed, I was able to refer her to another writer in my network whom I trust and have good rapport with.

Alternatively, if a prospect approaches me with a project outside my area of expertise, I’ll turn to my network to find someone who does specialize in the project scope. Both scenarios are a win-win for the client and the writer.

But networking doesn’t stop among writers—writers must also network to sell ideas, services and products.

When it comes to selling, networking is key—as I’m sure any salesperson would agree.

Ultimately, it’s also the writer’s job to sell themselves, which leads to my next point.

How to build relationships with your editors

Let’s be real: Editors are the MVPs.

They work tirelessly to field pitches, ensure quality and provide feedback. They sift through the dredges to surface exceptional writing.  

As writers, we’re not entitled to publication—we must first prove our capabilities. With the editor as gatekeeper, you can see why it’s important to build amicable relationships with the editors you pitch.

By establishing mutually respectful working relationships, you’ll find good editors challenge and encourage you, ultimately improving your skills and marketability as a writer.

At the end of the day, you’re responsible for selling your ideas and your ability to execute them.

Use a pitching strategy that works for you, not against you—you only get one shot to leave a good impression with the editor. Make it a positive one by being professional, sincere and efficient.

It’s worth noting that rejection comes with the territory of being a professional writer. There are a plethora of reasons your pitches will be rejected, but as it pertains to your relationships with editors, there are a couple guidelines to follow:

• Do thank the editor for his or her time, always. You can ask for feedback, should they have bandwidth to provide it—but don’t expect it
• Don’t combat or speak ill of the editor. He or she is simply doing their job—don’t take rejection personally

Acceptance is a win all around. Rejection is an opportunity to iterate on your idea and pitch it to another editor.

Rejection by one editor might just be the start of a new working relationship with another.

Through thick and thin, acceptance and rejection, a collaborative attitude is key. Whether you’re working with an editor or client, maintain a helpful mindset: focus on what you can do for the people you work with and how your written words will provide a solution.

Employ these tactics to expand your network

We’re fortunate to have countless resources and networking platforms at our fingertips today. While this does create digital noise, it also cultivates opportunity.

Consider these three tips for networking, collaborating and getting more leads:

1. Assemble your own all-star team

You already know the importance of networking with writers and editors. Now take it one step further by expanding your team to include disciplines related to your writing focus.

For example, if you’re a website copywriter, it’s valuable to have a network of web designers and developers who you can refer your clients to. Likewise, those designers and developers will refer their clients to you for copy. This also creates a streamlined experience for the client, who no longer needs to search for multiple vendors.

2. Join networks and get involved

All you need is an internet connection to find a group of peers in your niche. There’s no shortage of online communities and forums, including the Freelance Writers Den, Writers Cafe and Scribophile to name a few.

You can also find writerly camaraderie through social media groups such as The Write Life Community, Twitter’s #scriptchat and the Scriptmag Community. And of course, there might just be a writer’s group waiting for your down the (literal) street. Check your area for Meetup groups.

3. Participate in webinars (or host your own)

I recently had the chance to attend one of Carol Tice’s webinars about mistakes freelance writers make. During the webinar, I had the opportunity to join a conversation with writers from around the world and share questions, answers and ideas.

Take note: Carol herself—now a major advocate for freelance writers—has built a large community of writers by hosting webinars and providing resources and support. Consider starting your own community or hosting webinars based on your own unique experience.

As a freelance writer, it’s vital to be pleasurable to work with—else, there will be another freelancer who is (and therefore gets the gig).

Strive to be that person. By being an advocate for other freelancers, you’ll soon discover your support network is larger than you imagined.

Ask any copywriter and they’ll likely agree with Ogilvy.

The headline is what hooks the reader’s attention. If you fail to write a gripping headline, you’ve failed your assignment, no matter how captivating the rest of your copy.

But attention isn’t enough — especially in today’s cluttered digital world where attention spans are shorter and newsfeeds longer. Now more than ever, writers are challenged to compel readers to stick around beyond the headline. But how?

Subheadings, also known as subheadlines and subheads.

If the headline is like a highly-anticipated first date, full of excitement and intrigue, the subheading is the follow-up call that makes or breaks the deal. A lackluster follow-up can diminish the chances of an ongoing courtship, and no follow-up at all quickly negates those chances.

Too often, subheads are overshadowed by headlines, poorly executed or neglected altogether.

To craft compelling subheadings that convert browsers into readers, you first need a functional understanding what defines a subhead. Let’s take a look.

What is a subheading?

Subheadlines come in two common forms, depending on what type of content you’re writing. The rules are more or less the same, but the location and function varies.  

1. The short-form subheadline (just one, under the headline)

If you’re writing short-form content, such as a web page or advertisement, your subheadline will appear directly below a prominent headline at the top of the page or ad. The purpose is to expand on your headline and drive the reader to your call-to-action (CTA).

Contently once had this great example on the homepage of their website. The bold headline is eye-catching and gives a high-level explanation of what Contently offers and to whom. Meanwhile, the subheadline offers a more detailed explanation before asking the reader to take action by watching a video.

Image: www.contently.com

2. The long-form subheadline (multiple through the story)

If you’re writing long-form content, such as blog posts, editorials or whitepapers, you’ll likely use multiple subheadlines.

For example, you might include a subhead directly below the title, similar to the web page example, and you’ll also likely use subheads throughout your body copy to clearly divide sections, as I’ve done in this article.

Using multiple subheads throughout your writing serves several purposes:

• Outlines your main points in an easy-to-scan format
• Draw your reader’s attention to each section
  
• Optimizes your post for search, so it shows up high in Google results (Our SEO writing post explains this in more detail)

Nicole Dieker’s article, The 3 Biggest Pitch Mistakes This Editor Sees Every Day, shows editorial subheads in action. Her title tells the reader there are three pitch mistakes, while the three subheads throughout the article expand on those mistakes so the reader can quickly identify what each section is about.

Think of subheadlines like supporting characters. They’re not the star of the story, but without them the plot lacks context and development. Just as every great protagonist has a great supporting character, every great headline has a great subheading.

What’s in a subheading?

Now that you have a solid understanding of what a subhead is and where it appears in various types of written content, it’s time to put your pen to paper — or fingers to keyboard.

The most effective subheadings pack a punch by answering your target readers’ questions with concise, benefit-oriented copy.

Here are a few tips for crafting successful subheads.

1. Answer questions before they’re asked

Whether you’re writing about a product, service or idea, make it clear upfront who you’re writing for and what you’re writing about.

Recall the Contently headline. It states what’s being offered (storytelling) and for whom (the modern marketer). Although interesting, the headline alone leaves room for questions like: What does this storytelling help the modern marketer do? Enter: the subheadline, which further explains who uses Contently (the world’s best brands) and what they use it for (engaging audiences and driving measurable business outcomes). Now the target audience has a broader understanding and is more likely to take action.

Here’s how to apply this thought process to your own writing. Once you’ve nailed down your headline, make a list of every outstanding question your audience might have. Then, write down answers to your hypothetical questions. This exercise will help you refine your subheadlines and ensure you’re answering the right questions.

2. Choose your words carefully

You have roughly seven seconds to make a first impression. This is about the time it takes to read a headline and subhead.

In an ideal world, a perfect headline would inspire readers to carefully comb through every sentence you write. In reality, today’s readers are toggling between social feeds, email inboxes, text messages and internet browsers — and writers must vie for their attention.

Don’t waste readers’ time with superfluous words. Keep your headlines and subheads concise, without sparing clarity.

Take this subheading for example: “Researchers recommend leveraging high intensity interval cardio training to optimize fat-burn and increase overall workout effectiveness.” (Are you still with me? Okay, good.) Now let’s simplify. By removing unnecessary words, we get a more engaging subheadline: “Researchers recommend HIIT workouts to boost fat-burn and effectiveness.”

When in doubt, make your subheadlines easily digestible in order to connect with distracted, on-the-go readers.

3. Give your readers what they need  

If you’re writing on behalf of a company, client or publication, you’re not writing for yourself. You’re writing for their audience.

Know the audience and determine how your writing can improve their lives in some way.

With this in mind, use your subheadlines to provide a snapshot of the benefits they’ll receive by reading on. Benefit-focused subheads are a powerful tool for persuading readers to care.

For example, if you’re writing an article titled, What 10 Minutes of Exercise Each Day Does to Your Brain, your subhead can emphasize the benefit by saying, “Adding these three activities to your daily routine can sharpen your mental wit.” The subhead doesn’t reveal everything, but does hint that the reader will benefit by learning about three specific activities.

Readers need a reason to care, whether it be to gain useful information or enjoyment. Use your subheading to make your reason clear.

Yes, headlines are often the most important element in any content piece. But a compelling headline paired with an impactful subheadline is a powerful combination that can greatly increase the clarity and effectiveness of your writing.

4. Make the reader want more

While you want to provide plenty of information so the reader gets what they need, sometimes it works to ask questions or give readers a hint of what’s to come so they keep reading.

This post, for example, asks in the headline, “Is Upwork Legit?” And then in the subhead, “Why do freelance writers hate Upwork so much?” If the reader is curious about that question, she knows she’ll get what she needs if she keeps reading.

When done well, this feels good, and the reader leaves feeling satisfied. When it’s done poorly, for example, when the question isn’t answered entirely, it can feel like click-bait. If you make a promise in your subheading, be sure to deliver it.

This is an updated version of a story that was previously published. We update our posts as often as possible to ensure they’re useful for our readers.

Photo via wong yu liang / Shutterstock 

I was that introverted six-year-old sitting a safe distance from the playground, nose perpetually glued inside a book. By third grade, I’d finished the entire Goosebumps series. Luckily high school rolled around and I’d graduated to the classics.

As with many literary students, my obsessive reading habits led to an interest in writing.

Awestruck by the way my favorite authors so seamlessly painted vivid pictures with words, teleporting my imagination to faraway worlds and back again for the price of a paperback, my inspiration was kindled. So, I earned an English degree and became a writer.

Along my professional writing journey, I’ve come face-to-face with a few difficult truths of the trade.

Identifying these truths and understanding how to navigate them will improve your skills as a writer and as a professional, whether you’re freelancing with clients or working full-time with a dedicated team.

1. Criticism is guaranteed

You’re going to cross paths with many people who write during your career, from the clients you work with to the graphic designers you collaborate with.

While this doesn’t necessarily make them writers by trade, you will have to face the fact that because they also communicate through writing, they will have opinions about your writing.

This will be frustrating at times – trust me, I’ve been there – but I’ve learned a few ways to handle unsolicited feedback.

First and foremost, listen. Don’t let your ego get between you and criticism because you might miss out on garnering useful feedback. It’s every writer’s job to listen and observe. Even if you don’t receive applicable feedback, you can mine these experiences for a topic to write about, say, for one of your freelance gigs.

Secondly, you’re going to receive a lot of rejections — via email, snail mail, text message and maybe even by tweet. Know this, process it and grow a thicker skin because there’s no way around it.

Writing is subjective and not everyone is going to like your writing. That’s okay. Rejections, followed by revisions, are part of the creative process. The best way I’ve found to reduce the frequency of rejections received is to read — set aside time to thoroughly read publications before you submit to them, and take breaks to read between writing and editing your work. Doing this will broaden your perspective and help you better tailor your voice.

Lastly, know when to brush it all off, have a glass of wine, and get back to writing — because sometimes, you just need to reset.

2. You won’t always like what you write

If you’re anything like me, you’re going to find yourself writing about topics you’re not particularly fond of at times. But with a little luck and a lot of perseverance, you will get through this period and find yourself blissfully choosing between projects that interest you.

For example, my first full-time gig was writing SEO content for an advertising agency.

Cool, right? Well, I forgot to mention it was an agency servicing “elective healthcare professionals” (AKA plastic surgeons). I never in a million years would have guessed I’d be a tummy tuck expert, but here we are. And I’m grateful for that opportunity because it provided the stepping stone I needed to propel my writing career from zero to something.

Even if you’ve chosen to pursue a more lucrative day job while spending your evenings working on a novel or essays, you’ll find yourself writing many unsatisfactory first drafts. You will read them over and over, doubting your abilities.

When I was in this phase of a creative writing project, a wise friend and fellow writer told me, “Doubt is part of the creative process.” This couldn’t be more true.

Consider every opportunity, and always do your best work. Embrace each step of the process, learn as much as you can and focus on how your present situation can catapult you towards your future goals.

Regardless of which path you choose for your writing, be patient and persevere. Don’t be discouraged by doubt — only after countless revisions will you begin to fall in love with your own work.

3. Writing demands perseverance

Some people are natural athletes who can pike-kick-spike like nobody’s business; others are gifted wordsmiths with an unwavering ability to make sense of nonsense.

Even if you’re not a natural-born writer, the skills can be learned with enough tenacity.

There are plenty of resources and techniques to improve your writing. And whenever writer’s block sets in, pick up a book. Reading a well-crafted story always inspires me to get back to the keyboard. They key to practical success is dedication to learning.

While writing techniques can be learned, intuitive qualities are also central to excelling as a writer. Aspiring writers must be cordially accepting of criticism and capable of empathy. Without these qualities, you may find it difficult to stand out from the crowd.

Some of the best writers I know are also the most empathetic — able to embrace vulnerability and truly feel the world from the perspectives of others, allowing them to tell authentic stories that resonate with their audience. Empathy will also go a long way in understanding criticism without allowing it to hinder your productivity.

I encourage everyone to write.

Stand strong in the face of criticism and persevere through the nights and into the weekends, if you must. After wandering down several career avenues — from video production to project and account management — the path has always led me back to writing.

Despite these sometimes difficult truths, the fulfillment that comes from writing is worth every rejection letter, every critic and every late night. Writers have the unique gift of storytelling to share with the world.

And with great writing comes great empowerment.

What other truths of the trade have you learned to effectively navigate?

We insert pieces of ourselves into our writing, drawing us closer to our work than with many other professions. However, becoming overly attached can lead to decreased productivity, weighing down creativity like a backpack full of bricks.

Admittedly, I’ve struggled greatly with over-attachment throughout my career – my desire to write an award-winning perfect first draft often leading to complete writer’s block (and a lot of incomplete Word docs).

So when the idea of non-attachment serendipitously fell into my lap during a yoga class, I was eager to explore its practical applications in regards to my perfectionist writing dilemma. This slight shift in mindset has worked wonders for my productivity and creative well-being.

Here are three ways practicing non-attachment can improve your productivity and writerly well-being.

1. Releasing self-imposed expectations

The philosophy of non-attachment is characterized by overcoming attachment to desire, leading to a heightened perspective.

When applied to writing, non-attachment has the ability to relieve negative emotions often associated with self-imposed expectations – that is, your predispositions toward desired outcomes.

After all, we don’t have control over how others will respond to our work once we hit send, submit or publish. It’s out of our hands and letting go will ease outcome anxieties while waiting to hear back from the reader – whether it be an editor, publisher, client or friend.

For example, I recently submitted a piece of short fiction to a literary journal. After spending weeks molding my blank page into what I thought was a near-perfect story, I’d grown rather attached. I expected to hear back from the editor with acceptance and accolades. Needless to say, my expectations let me down when reality handed me a one-sentence rejection email.

In this instance, my premature speculation cost me energy that could have been used more productively. And when it comes to creative professions, like writing, energy is time and time is money.

Alternatively, I could have avoided the frustration associated with this scenario by making a conscious effort to not expect a specific outcome beyond my control. Imposing incalculable expectations on the future is about as tangible as the wishes we make when blowing out birthday candles.

The takeaway: Maintaining a non-attached mindset will save time and energy, which you can put back into producing new ideas and creating more content.

2. Letting go, literally and figuratively

Boiled down, non-attachment is simply the practice of letting go of desires and feelings that do not serve you.

In a literal sense, letting go has helped me double my submission output month-over-month. I once struggled to submit anything short of perfection. Since shifting my perspective, I’ve managed to increase output by literally letting my work go out into the world.

Prior to incorporating a non-attached frame of mind, I often found myself unnecessarily spending hours rewriting and proofing, only to convince myself the piece was unworthy of publication. Now, two rounds of drafting and a final proof are sufficient.

Which leads me to my next point: letting go emotionally.

From a less literal standpoint, there comes a time when you’ll have to let go of ideas you’ve held safely in your own mind. If you’re a writer, you will have to open those safe spaces. You’ll have to pair your ideas with words and share them with the world. This requires vulnerability – and practicing non-attachment eases that vulnerability.

Letting go emotionally will also help you overcome pesky emotions associated with rejection, unconstructive feedback and negative reviews. Effectively, this will leave more energetic space for you to focus on the present tasks at hand.

The takeaway: Letting go allows you to increase your output and maintain a clear focus, rather than agonizing over miniscule (and often unnecessary) details.  

3. Accepting “what is” – not wishing “what if”

Not to be confused with indifference or apathy, non-attachment is an objective state of mind that allows you to maintain an honest perspective of what actually is – not what you wish or expect it to be.

It allows us to accept and appreciate what we have without desire for more or less.

Writing, in its own right, is subjective. A writing style that resonates with you isn’t guaranteed to resonate with others. The way you express an idea with words might not align with the way someone else imagines it. That’s okay.

By building a non-attached relationship with your writing, you can more efficiently process feedback, criticism and rejection for what it is. Don’t overthink it.

Contrarily, you could brood over all the what ifs. What if I’d written the intro differently? What if my protagonist was less of a jerk? What if I’d taken a different angle on that pitch? Albeit, this approach is guaranteed to hinder your productivity.

The takeaway: There’s far more power (and productivity) in embracing the present, as compared to wallowing in the past or fretting over feedback the future may hold.

By combining a non-attached mindset with straightforward techniques to improve your writing, you, too, can write more freely and increase your productivity.

What other techniques do you employ to improve your productivity?