“I’m dying for a break,” said my client Tim, the chief physician of adult and family medicine at a large health care system. “But even when I try to take a single weekend off, I can’t seem to go more than a few hours without opening my work email. Logically I know I don’t have to — and I don’t really want to — but I feel compelled to check. To be honest, I become restless and insecure if I don’t.”

“I thought that when I finally secured funding and launched this business I’d be content,” said Samantha, an entrepreneur at a fast-growing technology company. “But I was wrong. And I’m a bit worried that if this isn’t enough, I’m not sure what will be.”

“I’ve long felt the pull of distraction and I’ve long had a tendency to overthink things,” explained Ben, the CEO of a large software company. “Yet it feels intensified now. Like hyper-distraction. It’s harder than ever to be present. I can deal with it; but I don’t like it.”

“I cannot stop obsessing about getting my book published by a major house,” bemoans my friend Ben. “I wish I could, but it’s become this nagging force pulling on my self-esteem.”

Here’s my other friend, Sarah: “I thought that once I got published by a major house I’d be satisfied. But it turns out, now I spend all that time thinking about hitting a major bestseller list. And on social media. And on all these other sources of stimulation that are not writing.”

How to stay grounded in the face of heroic individualism

Everyone wants to be successful. But few people take the time and energy to define the success they want. As a result, they spend most, if not all, of their lives chasing what society superimposes on them as success. Examples include a bigger house, a faster car, a more prestigious position, greater relevance on the internet, and so on. Yet, even if someone finally attains these so-called successes, they are often left wanting.

Many men describe an ever-present pressure, a cumbersome need to be bulletproof, invincible. Many women report feeling like they must be everything always, continually falling short of impossible expectations. I’ve come to call this heroic individualism: an ongoing game of one-upmanship, against both self and others, paired with the limiting belief that measurable achievement is the only arbiter of success. Even if you do a good job hiding it on the outside, with heroic individualism you chronically feel like you never quite reach the finish line that is lasting fulfillment.

Long before heroic individualism, in ancient eastern psychology there was a concept known as the hungry ghost. The hungry ghost has an endless stomach. He keeps on eating, stuffing himself sick, but he never feels full. It’s a severe disorder. And it is one that too many people are still suffering from, as evidenced by skyrocketing rates of anxiety, loneliness, depression, burnout, and substance abuse.

It’s none of our faults, per se. After all, the survival of a consumerist economy, like the one most of us live in, depends on the creation of hungry ghosts and heroic individuals: people who feel like they never have enough, always on the lookout for more, trying to fill emptiness with stuff and outward achievement, on a treadmill that keeps spinning round and round. But you, me — all of us — can choose to opt out of this game. You just have to know how.

Enter: groundedness, a transformative path to success that feeds — not crushes — your soul

Groundedness is internal strength and self-confidence that sustains you through ups and downs. It is a deep reservoir of integrity and fortitude, of wholeness, out of which lasting performance, well-being, and fulfillment emerge.

Groundedness does not eliminate passion, productivity, or all forms of striving and ambition. Instead, it is about ditching an omnipresent and frantic anxiety to begin living in alignment with your innermost values, pursuing your interests, and expressing your authentic self in the here and now.

When you are grounded there is no need to look up or down. You are where you are, and you hold true strength and power from that position. Your success, and the way in which you pursue it, becomes more enduring and robust. You gain the confidence to opt out of the consumer-driven rat-race that leaves you feeling like you are never enough. And, you get much better as a writer—because you can focus on the craft itself, not all the stuff surrounding it.

How to stay grounded: 6 principles of groundedness for writers

The concept of groundedness is the result of the last five years I’ve spent coaching, researching, and reporting for my own book, The Practice of Groundedness: A Transformative Path to Success That Feeds — Not Crushes — Your Soul. It is drawn from both the latest research in psychology, neuroscience, and sociology, as well as age-old teachings from Buddhism, Taoism, and Stoicism. It offers six principles as a roadmap to a different kind and better kind of success. 

As you’ll see below, each of these principles is especially important for writers. 

Accept where you are to get you where you want to go

Seeing clearly, accepting, and starting where you are. Not where you want to be. Not where you think you should be. Not where others think you should be. But where you are. You can’t work on something in a meaningful way if you refuse to accept that the thing is happening to begin with. You don’t have to like what is happening, but you have to accept it.

Many writers fall into the trap of wishing they had this deal or that deal, that they got their work accepted by this publication or that one. As a result, we tend to engage in a lot of wishful thinking. This wishful thinking often gets in the way of the writing itself. Acceptance means focusing on the work, even if you don’t already have publishing glory lined up. After all, there is no publishing glory without doing the butt-in-the-chair work. If you are struggling to get started, remember: you don’t need to feel good to get going, you need to get going to give yourself a chance at feeling good.

Be present so you can own your attention and energy

Being present, both physically and mentally, for what is in front of you. Spending more time fully in this life, not in thoughts about the past or future. Distraction is tempting — perhaps for some, even addicting — but the research is clear: happiness, well-being, and peak performance emerge from full engagement in what you are doing.

Writers, take note: do not rely on your willpower to overcome distraction. Schedule time to write, and during that time, keep your phone in another room, close your Internet browser, turn off your email client. If that’s not enough, consider buying a cheap computer with no internet connection, and use it only for writing (something I’ve done before when struggling with distraction).

Be patient and you’ll get there faster

Giving things time and space to unfold. Not trying to escape life by moving at warp speed. Not expecting instant results and then quitting when they don’t occur. Realizing that we often do things quickly — not better, but quickly — to gain time. But what is the point if in the time we gain we just do more things quickly? I have yet to meet someone who wants their headstone to read, “They rushed.”

Let the process unfold. This often means stopping a bit short today so you can pick up in a good rhythm tomorrow. Ernest Hemingway was known for forcing—that’s right, forcing—himself to stop working when he was still in a groove so he could resume from that place the next morning. There is nothing wrong with a marathon session; but don’t make it a habit. Consistency compounds. Small steps—or in this case, sentences—taken every day compound into something big.

Embrace vulnerability to develop genuine strength and confidence

Being real with yourself and with others, at work and in life. Eliminating cognitive dissonance, the inner turmoil and distress that arises when too much of your outward life is performative, when there is too wide a gap between what the sociologist Erving Goffman called your “front stage” and “back stage” selves.

Don’t be scared to take big swings and to put your heart on the page. Writing that feels the most vulnerable is also writing that resonates the most with other people. Why? Because everyone is going through something always. What feels unique to you rarely is. Research shows the more vulnerable we are, the more connected to other people we become. This is every bit as true on the page as it is off of it. This is how to stay grounded.

Build deep community

Nurturing genuine connection and belonging. Building supportive spaces in which individuals can hold each other through ups and downs. Prioritizing not just productivity, but people too. Remembering that on our deathbed we are less likely to harp on the gold-medal, promotion to regional vice president, bestseller, or any other outward achievement, and more likely to savor the bonds and relationships we forged along the way.

The best way to get better at any craft, including writing, is to surround yourself wisely. Connect with other writers. Share you work. Brainstorm together. The title and the sub-title of The Practice of Groundedness both came from conversations with other writer friends. 

Move your body to ground your mind 

Regularly moving your body so that you fully inhabit it, connect it to your mind, and as a result become more situated wherever you are. This doesn’t mean you have to be an athlete. It just means to make movement a part of your life, even if only in some small way.

Study after study shows that the single best way to enhance creativity is to move your body. I consider exercise a part of my job as a professional writer. At least 60 percent of my best ideas have come while on the trail. Even though it can feel like you are sacrificing precious writing time to exercise, it’s actually the opposite that is true. By moving your body, you are bolstering what you bring to the table during your precious writing time.

Brad Stulberg’s book, upon which this story is based, The Practice of Groundedness: A Transformative Path to Success that Feeds — Not Crushes — Your Soul, is available on Amazon.

As writers who have spent our whole lives getting notebooks under the tree, we’re here to tell you: you can do better!

The gift ideas for writers below range from the ridiculously silly (“Poe-pourri”, anyone?) to the wonderfully useful (fingerless writing gloves). Use one of these clever gifts to make your favorite writer laugh, or simply to show you understand just how much writing means to them.

Gift ideas for the writer in your life

We created this gift guide with holidays, birthdays and anniversaries in mind. Choose one of the thoughtful gifts below, and that special writer will know just how much you care.

Here are some of the best gifts for writers:

1. Adult coloring book for writers

Yup, adult coloring is totally a trend. Why should kids have all the fun?

Studies have shown that coloring reduces anxiety, creates focus, and helps people become more mindful. Plus, it’s a perfect non-writing activity to declutter your writer’s brain. No wonder there’s an adult coloring book specifically for writers!

2. Online course for improving their writing

If your favorite writer is always looking to improve their craft, gift them a course or ebook they can absorb on their own schedule.

A few we recommend:

• The Freelance Writers Den offers tons of courses, bootcamps, training materials, networking opportunities, and other perks for members, and it’s just $40/month. It’s the perfect gift for freelance writers!
• Come Write With Us, a course on freelancing from Kristin Wong and Alex Webb for just $197
• Our article 20 Online Gold Mines for Finding Freelance Writing Jobs offers tons of ideas for earning money from your craft

Need more suggestions? We’ve rounded up our favorite online courses for writers.

3. Books about writing

You can never go wrong with giving a writer a book, especially when the book is about writing. After all, most of us are self-proclaimed bookworms, and we’re eager to improve our craft.

Here are five books every writer should read more than once:

• Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott
• On Writing by Stephen King
• The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron
• You Are a Writer by Jeff Goins
• Published by Chandler Bolt

Want more to choose from? Here are 34 of the best books on writing.

4. Aqua Notes, the waterproof notepad

Know how you often get your best ideas in the shower? And then immediately forget by the time you’re out?

Instead of letting your gems swirl down the drain, let Aqua Notes help you capture them. This waterproof notepad, which mounts to the shower wall, allows you to document the greatest of ideas and grocery lists…or leave notes for whoever showers after you.

Want even more creative ideas? Check out this collection of great gifts for writers and bloggers by Smart Blogger.

5. Domain name for a new writer website

Does your writer have their own website? If not, they probably have it on their list to start a blog this year.

Gift your writer with their very own domain name, giving them the boost they need to make their writing public or start blogging.

Bluehost makes it easy to grab the domain name of your choice, and most domains cost around $12/year. If you’re not sure which domain to buy, your writer’s first and last name is a good bet, like this: SusanSmith.com. If that’s not available, try SusanSmithWrites.com.

6. Literary socks

Gone are the days when socks were a lame gift your ancient aunt gave you.

You could easily fill a whole dresser with the cool socks available these days. The writer in your life is sure to like:

• Jane Austen socks
• Banned Book socks
• Shakespeare socks

7. Clever coffee mug

Keep your writer caffeinated and amused with a clever coffee mug.

We especially love this humorous one: “Please do not annoy the writer, she may put you in a book and kill you.”

If you’d like to give your favorite writer a boost of confidence, this one may do the trick: “I write. What’s your superpower?”

8. Noise-canceling headphones

Shhhhh! Writer at work! While some writers prefer the energetic buzz of a coffee shop while they write, many writers crave peace and quiet.

Noise-canceling headphones can give the writer in your life the silence (and productivity) they need to put pen to paper. Bose has a number of options that range in price. 

9. Fingerless writing gloves

Fingerless gloves could help your favorite writer stay warm, while still allowing them to keep typing away—it doesn’t hurt that they’ll look stylish in the process.

Even better, we found pairs that are covered in text from classic novels. Storiarts fingerless gloves come in lots of colors and themes, including “Alice in Wonderland,” “The Great Gatsby,” “The Raven,” “Still I Rise” and “The Night Circus.” 

Fashionable and practical, this is one of the best gifts for writers out there.

10. Literary jewelry

Know a stylish writer? Here are a few pieces they could add to any outfit:

• A cuff bracelet with a Hamlet quote 
• A bracelet that says, “She is too fond of books and it has turned her brain.”
• Jane Austen cufflinks

Whether your writer loves Austen, Shakespeare or Poe, the JezebelCharms Etsy shop is filled with literary-inspired jewelry and accessories.

11. Novel Teas

Is your writer a tea-lover, or do they want to be one?

Novel Teas could be the perfect present, one they can enjoy while working on their novel or freelance project.

Each bag comes with 25 individually wrapped tea bags containing English breakfast tea and a quote about books from a variety of authors.

12. Literary perfumes

Inspire your writer with the scent of the masters who have gone before. Immortal Perfumes’ Dead Writers Perfume uses scents like black tea, clove and tobacco to evoke memories of first editions in old libraries.

One fun example is Pemberley: A Jane Austen Inspired Perfume. It features hyacinth, honeysuckle and peony—all flowers found in the garden of Chatsworth House, the estate believed to have inspired Austen’s Pemberley.

13. Literary tattoos (temporary)

If you want to give your writer something that lasts a little longer than a spritz of perfume—but not so long that it becomes a permanent life decision — shop from Litographs’ Literary Tattoo Collection.

These temporary tattoos include famous literary quotes such as Lewis Carroll’s, “We’re all mad here,” and Jane Austen’s, “My feelings will not be repressed.” 

14. T-shirt that features your (entire) favorite book

From a distance, designs on Litographs t-shirts represent a theme, character or setting from popular classics such as “The Phantom of the Opera,” “Phenomenal Woman” and “Wuthering Heights.”  

But if you look closely, you’ll see the designs on each Litograph product are created from teeny tiny words—every word in the novel the design represents, in fact. Each T-shirt contains roughly 40,000 words! 

15. Literary action figures

These action figures are a good reminder that writers are superheros, too.

Your writer could use these to add some personality to their home office or stage an elaborate battle when they should be revising.

Accoutrements has a line offering Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, Oscar Wilde and Edgar Allan Poe.

16. “Writer” Bookends

What writer doesn’t love books?

Here’s a fun way to display them with “writer” bookends available on Etsy:

17. Card catalog notecard set

Writing easily gets complex. Give your writer a better way to keep plot lines and story ideas organized with this card catalog notecard set.

It’s way cooler than Post-It notes and packs a nice dose of nostalgia.

18. Writing-themed cookbooks

A good book can suck you into its world, inspiring you to see, hear, feel and taste the things it describes.

Help your writer enjoy the “taste” bit with cookbooks inspired by literary classics. Options range from “A Feast of Ice & Fire” (Game of Thrones) to “Dinner with Mr. Darcy” (Pride & Prejudice) to “The Little House Cookbook” (Little House on the Prairie).

19. Kindle Unlimited subscription

With Kindle Unlimited, your favorite reader can access over a million books, plus thousands of audiobooks, for a flat monthly fee.

If your writer already has a Kindle, this could be a good option!

20. Comfy pajamas

Every writer has days where showering and changing into “real” clothes takes a backseat to getting that draft finished. (For some of us, that’s most days.)

Why not give them a set of comfy pajamas that explains why they’re greeting the UPS driver disheveled at 3 in the afternoon? CafePress has lots of fun options.

21. Personalized embosser

Create custom stationery, give your party invitations an official flourish or ensure those who borrow your books remember to give them back.

A customized embosser allows you to stamp a raised seal with your name, address and more.

22. Edgar Allen Poe air freshener

Freshen up your car with some “Poe-pourri.” This Edgar Allen Poe air freshener is perfect for a self-proclaimed literary nerd.

Plus, according to reviews, it smells pretty good.  Enjoy scents like Emerald Sea, Island Breeze and Cucumber & Fresh Mint.

23. After-work glassware

Write drunk, edit sober? Er…something like that.

This literary-themed shot glass set features the likes of Dorothy Parker, Oscar Wilde, and more.

24. A Starbucks or Amazon gift card 

When you want to support a writer but you’re not sure what to get them, a gift card is a safe bet.

If you don’t know which books your writer has read already, give yourself a break—and make your writer happy at the same time—by giving them a gift-wrapped Amazon Gift Card. This one even says, “Happy reading” so they’ll know it’s for books.

You also can’t go wrong with credit to their favorite locally-owned cafe or a nationally-available shop like Starbucks.

25. Writer’s clock

Give your writer the gift of soft nudges and a bit of direction with this humorous writer’s clock where each hour is labeled with a task. 

Now when your writer aimlessly stares at the clock, they’ll be reminded to either “review” or “edit” something, or know it’s time to “drink heavily” and “cry.”

26. The Writer’s Toolbox 

Writers everywhere are familiar with the frustrations of writer’s block—that’s what makes this gift a perfect choice. 

Help the writer in your life cure theirs with this toolbox designed specifically to nourish creativity. It includes 60 exercises, as well as games, prompts and more that are sure to get stories across the finish line. 

The Writer Emergency Pack is another great gift for writers struggling with writer’s block.

27. A subscription to try different literary journals

Journal of the Month sends different print literary journals to subscribers on a regular basis. It’s an ideal gift for new writers eager to learn about the small magazine scene, emerging writers seeking a home for their writing, or experienced writers in need of fresh inspiration.

The price varies depending on how frequently your writer receives journals, and if they already subscribe to some, you can opt out of those.

28. A poster for keeping track of books they’ve read

Perfect for the voracious reader, the 100 Books Scratch-Off Poster lets your writer track progress as they read a variety of books ranging from classics to contemporary hits.

This is a fun challenge, a cool piece of art to hang in at home, and a #humblebrag, all in one.

29. Editing software

Give your writer a leg up and super clean copy with a grammar checker like Grammarly, ProWritingAid or AutoCrit.

They’ll keep your writer from making embarrassing grammar mistakes before submitting to magazines or literary agents, at a fraction of the price of a real-person editor. 

30. Writing-themed coasters

We love coasters as gifts because they’re both creative and practical.

Add some sparkle to your writer’s desk or living room, while giving them a place to put their coffee or tea mug (or tumbler of whiskey) with any of these cool coaster sets:

• Typewriter coaster set
• Jane Austen books coaster set
• Pun book coaster set

31. Office supply storage

Help them keep their pens, Post-Its and other supplies in order with a fun storage solution like this library book desk organizer or this Hemingway typewriter pencil cup.

32. A love book

If you love a writer, tell them how much you care in a language that will make them fall head over heels: a personalized Love Book. You can customize everything from the cover to the number of pages and choose from a wide selection of illustrations and text to make a book that’s unique to your love story.

The Write Life contributor Kelly Gurnett got one of these as a gift from her husband for their anniversary, and she wrote, “It was the best gift I think he’s ever given me.” Talk about a personal touch!

33. “Being a writer is easy” mug

Writing can be tough, stressful work. Make your writer laugh a little with this “Being a Writer Is Easy” mug. It’ll be a good reminder for your writer to not take the craft too seriously when it gets complicated. 

34. Book cover postcards

Sometimes you’ve gotta judge a book by its cover. Postcards from Penguin: One Hundred Book Covers in One Box pays tribute to the iconic Penguin paperback book covers and packs 100 of them into one (easy-to-wrap) box.

This gift also pays tribute to your recipient. Hopefully, they’ll be inspired to write 100 notes to loved ones or 100 very, very short stories.

35. Bananagrams

Writers tend to be word nerds who enjoy word games. But Scrabble feels…boring. So how about Bananagrams?

Bananagrams is an anagram game similar to Scrabble, but requires no pens, notepads or playing board. This makes it extremely easy to transport and play on-the-go.

Players race against each other to build a crossword grid off each others’ words. Perfect for a writer who loves a little competition!

36. Reading is Sexy swag

For a great stocking stuffer that will make your writer smile, grab a Reading is Sexy, mug, bumper sticker or button.

37. Literary poster

Pop Chart is known for its beautifully designed infographic posters, and its literary themed posters are just the gift for a writer with blank wall space to fill.

Check out The Cocktail Chart of Film and Literature Poster, which is available as a framed or unframed print. The company describes it as a “catalog of 49 drinks culled from great works of film and literature, depicting everything from Philip Marlowe’s Gin Gimlet to Fredo Corleone’s Banana Daiquiri.”

We also love Women of Letters: A Literary Fiction Scratch-Off Chart, which showcases the work of more than 50 female fiction writers.

38. Things that smell like books

Any true book lover savors all aspects of the reading experience—the feel of a page between their fingers, watching as a cover slowly becomes dog-eared, and, of course, the smell of books.

(If you don’t know what books smell like, then you’ve been found out, because you are clearly not a book lover.)

Give your beloved book nerd the smell of their favorite thing. If they love reading by candlelight, try these Library Set candles with scents like “antique books” and “ancient scrolls.” If they enjoy a little cologne now and then, consider The Library of Fragrance’s Paperback cologne, which the company describes as “sweet and just a touch musty, a lot like Pym’s world come to think of it.”

39. Book-lover pillow

“Just one more chapter…”

Does your word nerd say this all the time? Especially when they should be sleeping?

Then this book pillow is the perfect way to get comfy in bed.

40. High-tech pen

Why use a regular pen when you can have a cool techy one? Invest in this Livescribe Smartpen, which saves notes and audio recordings directly to your computer.

41. A bathtub book caddy

Help your favorite writer relax at the end of a long day with a hot, luxurious bubble bath, some candles and a favorite read, thanks to this bathtub book caddy.

It’s even got a spot to hold a glass of wine!

42. Bookish jewelry

Let your writer keep their favorite book close to the heart (or wrist or ears) with these pieces of literary jewelry made from real pages of popular novels like “Treasure Island,” “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” and “The Handmaid’s Tale.” 

43. Literary wine

If you’ve got a wine-drinker on your hands, they’ll get a kick out of these Writer’s Block wines. You can choose from Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and more.

44. Cocktails with a literary twist

Looking for the perfect drink pairing for your writer to take to book club or enjoy during quiet evening hours curled up with the classics? They’ll love Tequila Mockingbird: Cocktails With a Literary Twist.

This fun mixology book contains 65 literary-inspired drink recipes like A Rum of One’s Own and The Last of the Mojitos. 

It’s also full of clever illustrations and commentary, bar snack recipes and drinking game ideas.

45. Be Brave mug

Inspired by a Dear Sugar column written by Cheryl Strayed to a young, aspiring writer, The Rumpus Mug is an anthem for all writers, no matter what their specialty, genre or level of experience.

It’s a good reminder to go along with your morning coffee.

46. Scrabble magnets

Here’s an oldie but goodie: Scrabble magnetic refrigerator tiles. We like the vintage wood look, too.

If that special writer in your life is a huge Scrabble fan, you might also throw in the Scrabble tile mug.

47. Out of print t-shirt, sweatshirt or tote bag

Some writer nerd clothing can be downright—well, nerdy. Out of Print tees, hoodies and totes, which feature the covers of iconic and often (you guessed it) out of print books, buck the norm and are actually fashionable.

Plus these gifts do good; for every item they sell, Out of Print donates a book to literacy programs around the world.

48. Literary insults chart

We love Uncommon Goods’ description of this product: “Relish the caustic creativity of this collection of zingers from great authors.”

The Literary Insults Chart includes some splashes of color, so it makes great wall art… and shows off your writer’s personality, too.

49. Adjustable footrest

Writing requires a comfortable setup to ease the pain of sitting in the same spot for hours on end. To ergonomically support your writer, buy them this adjustable footrest that can slide right under their computer desk. 

50. Back rest for desk chair

If you want your writer to be able to knock out long works of writing without crawling away in upper, middle and lower back pain, buy them this lumbar support pillow. 

Most lumbar support cushions use ineffective materials like gel—this one, on the other hand, uses thick memory foam that keeps its shape and feels both soft and comfortable.

51. Subscription to MasterWriter

MasterWriter says it’s the “leading songwriting, lyric writing and creative writing software.” If your writer is a songwriter or a creative writer, consider purchasing a monthly, yearly or two-year license.

With this software, they can access a suite of writing tools that will encourage them to express themselves in “a unique and meaningful way,” whether they create songs, poems, scripts, novels or blogs. 

You never know—they might be moved enough to write something just for you. 

52. Rocketbook smart reusable notebook

The Rocketbook smart notebook takes the traditional pen-and-paper experience and brings it into the digital age. 

This year, upgrade your writer’s musings and doodles with a notebook that is infinitely reusable (as long as it doesn’t get lost) and connects to cloud services.

Yup, with this notebook, they can connect to their iPhone or Android smartphone. Even if your writer prefers the authentic feel of writing, this paperless notebook is still a great option because they’ll use dry-erase markers or a Pilot FriXion pen to write handwritten story ideas or quick thoughts—just clean off the surface with water and a cloth.

53. Give the gift of writing time

Finding the time to write is often difficult to do, especially with hectic work schedules, children, pets and house chores.

Over the holidays, support your writer by lightening their load so they can actually, you know, write! Here’s what you do: Volunteer to take 5 or 10 hours off their hands — but don’t let us stop you there—by handling their responsibilities, such as making dinner, doing laundry, cleaning the house, or watching the kids. 

If you think your writer needs extended writing time, send them on a writing retreat or writing residency and split the cost. Take our word for it: they’ll be really grateful for either gift. 

54. Give them writing time (but with discipline)

With this gift, you’re giving your writer time to write plus the gift of making sure they actually get it done—the most important part. 

Just because we’re at our computers doesn’t mean any magic is happening, what with at-home distractions or email and social media distractions. 

Help your writer solve this age-old problem by giving them undisturbed writing time that leaves them out-of-the-loop of any fires that need putting out (except for real ones), like running errands, helping kids with homework and any last-minute duties. Try to block out two or three hours.

55. An annual subscription to their favorite tool

There are a ton of awesome writing tools your writer likely has their eye on but can’t afford since they tend to be costly. Fulfill their desire to have a nifty writing assistant that will catch the errors that always manage to slip through. Start with these popular options:

• ProWritingAid
• Grammarly
• Hemingway App
• Medium

If you want to be extra sure, it never hurts to ask them directly. 

56. Donation to a literary cause, in the name of the receiver. 

You can never go wrong with the gift of charity. Everyone’s philanthropic at heart, so it’s a safe bet your writer will feel honored you wanted to better the world in their name. 

This holiday, donate to a library, literary charity or other nonprofit organization you think your writer would love to support—perhaps one that encourages children’s imaginations. 

57. A one-on-one with an expert

Does your writer follow a certain author, writer or publication? Do they swoon over a particular writing coach? You know what that means: they’re dying to talk to them. 

Reach out and request and/or purchase a one-hour virtual chat, or even a three-hour mentoring session. If possible, gift them a package of sessions because you know your writer has a boatload of questions. 

Pro-tip: Besides Googling their name, LinkedIn and Twitter are great platforms to find professionals and their websites, so be sure to include those platforms in your search. 

58. Professional photo shoot

Writer websites and social media profiles look a lot more credible with well-lit and expertly shot photos. When people see you invest in yourself, they might be more inclined to do the same—that’s why a professional photoshoot capturing both casual and executive looks makes a great gift for your writer. 

Albeit pricey, think of it this way: what your writer will eventually earn from these professionally shot photos will far exceed the cost. Plus, former Managing Editor Jessica Lawlor did it and she said it was “well worth it.”

Pro-tip: Search Groupon or your Facebook Marketplace to start looking for affordable photographers near you.

59. Ergonomic wrist rest pad 

Similar to the footrest and backrest, snag these wrist rest pads for your writer’s computer keyboard to complete the ergonomic setup that helps prevent carpal tunnel, arthritis and other pains. (Writing shouldn’t be any more painful than it already can be.)

We updated the post so it’s more useful for our readers. Farrah Daniel, Nicole Dieker, Kelly Gurnett, Jessica Lawlor, Meryl Williams and Betsy Mikel contributed to this article.

This post contains affiliate links. That means if you purchase through our links, you’re supporting The Write Life, and we thank you for that!

If you were paid for every hour you spend working on your freelance writing business, you’d be rich.

But when you work for yourself, there’s a lot you need to do to keep your business running smoothly. Administrative tasks like invoicing, keeping track of payments, client management and bookkeeping can eat up loads of time — and you’re not paid to do them.

The more efficiently you can manage these tasks, the more time you can spend on paid work. And if you can automate a few things, even better.

Enter FreshBooks, the freelance writer’s time-saving and money-saving dream.

You may already be familiar with this online invoicing software that makes it easy to send invoices and receive payments. But did you know FreshBooks can also save you a boatload in invoicing fees? And that it can help you stay on top of your business expenses? Or that there’s a time-tracking feature?

Read on to learn how you can use FreshBooks to more efficiently manage your business and free up time to focus on paid freelance writing work.

1. Track your time

Whether you have clients on retainer, are paid a flat rate per project or bill hourly, it’s always a good idea to keep track of how much time you spend on each client.

Why? Because you could be logging more time than you thought. And when you know exactly how long you need to complete a particular task, you can better evaluate the projects you take on and rates you charge.

For example, you may think you need two hours to write a blog post, but by tracking your time you discover it takes three. Say you’re being paid $50 for the post. That means you’re making $16.66 an hour, not the $25 you thought — a big difference.

Tracking your time when you need to be doing actual work may seem like a drag, but the FreshBooks app for iPhone, iPad and Android makes it super easy.  Just select your client and project, then start the timer — or pause it when you need a break — and you’ll be well on your way to time tracking bliss.

FreshBooks is also compatible with several desktop widgets such as ChronoMate for Mac OS-X and Toggl, so you can track your time even when you’re offline.

FreshBooks also makes it easy to note which of your services you’re using for any given project. For instance, perhaps you’re a freelance writer who offers blogging, copywriting, and SEO services. Noting which of these skills you’re utilizing on each timer you set can help you discover which of your services is most lucrative — and thus, which aspects of your business to invest more time and energy into.

Pro tip: To set your freelance writing rates, it’s helpful to know exactly how much time you spend on every single aspect of your business. To get a handle on how much time you spend doing stuff that doesn’t bring in cash, create a new client: yourself. Then track any time you spend on marketing, business development or administrative tasks.

Having a full 360-degree view of where your time goes could be eye-opening. You may realize it’s time to raise your rates because you need to account for that unpaid time you’re dedicating to your business each week. (Need a little more encouragement? Check out FreshBooks’ ebook on how to charge what you’re really worth.)

2. Increase your chances of timely payment

Every freelance writer fears the unpaid invoice. To help avoid this uncomfortable situation, each invoice should remind clients of the payment terms you agreed to in your contract. (If you don’t have a freelance writing contract, it’s a good idea to start using one.)

FreshBooks has done the heavy lifting here and analyzed what language for payment terms works best. They found that being polite, telling clients exactly how many days they have to pay and adding interest for late payments increase the likelihood that you’ll be paid on time.

Pro tip: You may not have the same payment terms for all clients. You can edit the default language on each invoice to ensure the terms you and a particular client have agreed upon are correct.

3. Manage your incoming payments

“I love keeping tabs on all my clients to make sure they pay on time,” said no freelance writer ever.

When you’ve got handful of invoices out for payment, it can be hard to keep track of when each payment are due — and which clients may have missed their deadlines to pay.

With FreshBooks, it’s easy to keep track of who owes how much and when they owe it — all you have to do is click on “Accounts Aging” at the bottom of your home screen to generate a full report.

Pro tip: You can set up your FreshBooks account to automatically send a reminder to clients who have missed their payment deadline. Set up a late payment notification, personalize your message and clients will receive a gentle nudge if they accidentally forget to pay.

4. Calculate expenses and tax deductions

Come tax time, you better believe you can deduct every $5.50 almond milk latte (well, technically half of each one) you sipped while doing client work from your favorite coffee shop. Use FreshBooks to track your business expenses throughout the year and even add photos of receipts in case the IRS wants them later.

While you’ll have to be diligent about logging and categorizing each expense throughout the year, this will come in handy when you need it most. FreshBooks will calculate the exact amount you’ve spent in each category, making it a breeze to fill out those pesky tax forms.

Pro tip: Do you need to submit expenses to a client? No problem: FreshBooks makes it simple to mark an expense as billable, so you can invoice it to your client down the line.

5. Professionalize and personalize your invoices

There are a few other small things you can to to customize your invoices and show off to clients how amazingly organized, professional and lovely to work with you are.

If you’d like your invoices to look a bit more professional, simply drag and drop to add your logo. You can even choose from a variety of preloaded templates, colors and fonts to give your invoices some pizzazz.

Use the notes section to start building a good relationship with a new client. A short-and-sweet thank-you note never hurts. In fact, FreshBooks claims that including a polite “please” and “thank you” increases the chances of your invoice being paid.

Have a client who communicates some other way than email? You can choose to export your invoice as a sharable link instead of sending it through the FreshBooks client, which allows you to send it whichever way your client prefers — which might help you get paid in a more timely fashion if you work for someone who doesn’t strive for Inbox Zero.

6. Pitches, proposals and pricing

Customisable proposals and pitches give your clients all the details, supported by images and attachments. Scope it out, outline their needs and how you meet them, the click send and win that business.

With in-app commenting, online approval and eSignatures, Proposals help your clients take action. Align timelines and easily convert Proposals to Invoices to save time billing.

In progress, viewed, or accepted. You always know the status of a Proposal. Client questions? Respond right in FreshBooks. Need an old Proposal? Track them all in Client Profiles.

Want to learn more? Try FreshBooks free for 30 days or get 50% off for the first 3 months!

Do you use FreshBooks to manage your invoices and expenses? Did we miss any of your favorite hacks or strategies?

This post contains affiliate links. That means if you sign up for FreshBooks through our links, you’re supporting The Write Life — and we thank you for that!
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One of the best ways to learn how to do it is to first read the best books on public speaking, then go and practice to get feedback. 

Despite what some may think and what some people do, public speaking is much more than getting up on a stage and reading from a bit of paper without making any mistakes. It is more than just a performance and a presentation, communicating effectively requires engaging the audience enough to earn their eyes, ears, and if you’re really good, their hearts.

Whether you’re giving a maid-of-honor speech at a wedding, or a personal pitch in a job interview, public speaking skills are valuable for people from all walks of life, whether introverted, extroverted, talkative or shy. Public speaking (and overall communication) is an essential skill for modern-day business. 

Fortunately, there are plenty of great resources you can look at in order to learn about the art of public speaking. And better still, I have done the leg work for you to track down the top ten public speaking books on the market to improve your skills. Enjoy!

The Quick and Easy Way to Effective Public Speaking – Dale Carnegie

This book is perfect for anyone looking to get into public speaking or improve their existing skills. Dale Carnegie published this book over half a century ago, but the lessons still ring true, especially for beginners and people who suffer from stage fright. Not only does it teach you methods to overcome that fear, but also to improve your conversational skills once you pluck up the courage to stand on stage. There is a reason his books are still being used 60 years later, because they are effective!

Communication Skills Training – Ian Tuhovsky

The subtitle of this book reads, “A Practical Guide to Improving Your Social Intelligence, Presentation, Persuasion and Public Speaking (Master Your Communication and Social Skills).” Unlike some of the others on this list, Ian Tuhovsky’s guide is much more than a book on public speaking and improving communication skills. He teaches the reader how to positively express anger and how to handle arguments. Essentially, it’s a guide on social intelligence and its importance to everyday life. Fortunately, a lot of these lessons can be valuable when it comes to public speaking in general.

The Successful Speaker – Grant Baldwin

This book is definitely unique and not everyone’s cup of tea, but it can be very effective at setting someone along the path to becoming a professional speaker. It can be difficult to know where or how to start along that path, but this book manages to pack a whole lot of information and advice into a quick and simple read. If you want to know how to scale your business and skills from scratch, this is the book for you.

Exactly What to Say – Phil M Jones

This guide is all about mastering your words and how you apply them, meaning speakers and writers alike can benefit. Phil M Jones believes that words have the power to open doors, and once you gain control over them, you can open these doors at will. For anyone looking to become more persuasive in writing or public speaking, this is a great book to study. If you are conducting public speaking for a very specific business purpose, this book has a lot to teach you.

Unleash the Power of Storytelling – Rob Biesenbach

When it comes to public speaking books, this is by far one of the most fun and entertaining to read – as well as being very helpful. It’s like Rob Biesenbach has invited you out for coffee and is talking you through the subject in detail, but with such friendly ease. He has so much knowledge to share and, like any good public speaker, you hang off his every word.

TED Talks – Chris Anderson

We have all seen a TED Talk or two in our years, and they are often viewed as the pinnacle of public speaking in many ways. The time of standing up on stage and spouting a non-stop monologue to your crowd is long gone. It’s now all about getting your information across in an entertaining and engaging way. Chris Anderson teaches you how to perfect your speaking and delivery in order to create a TED-Talk-worthy speech.

Art of Public Speaking – Stephen Lucas

This book really does what it says on the cover. Stephen Lucas takes all the fundamental skills you need to improve your public speaking and puts them in an easy-to-read and easy-to-understand format. To put it simply, by reading this book cover to cover and applying the lessons within, your public speaking will improve. There is a reason that most universities use this guide as a textbook for public speaking. Yes, it may feel very formal and pointed, like a textbook often does, but all the key information is there to bring about improvements. It is the best of the best in that respect.

Speak with No Fear – Mike Acker

As the name suggests, this book is all about dealing with the fear often associated with public speaking. If you suffer from nerves while on stage, or crippling fear that prevents you from getting up there in the first place, then this is the book for you! Mike Acker includes many personal anecdotes, encouragement for the reader, easy-to-understand tips, and more. He even breaks down his teachings into seven tried and tested strategies in order to improve your speaking and release the presenter within. You will feel the fear fall away with every turn of the page.

Talk Like TED – Carmine Gallo

This is often viewed among the very best books for public speaking, alongside TED Talks and Speak With No Fear. This offers a far more comprehensive look at the art of public speaking, moving beyond top tips and how-to guides, and delving more into a comprehensive review of the art itself. TED Talk presenters have mastered the art of public speaking in recent years convincing hundreds, and even hundreds-of-thousands, of people to lend their ears… but the real skill is keeping those ears. Carmine Gallo talks us through his extensive research into TED Talks and what makes them the pinnacle of public speaking. This includes the secrets behind the formula of the most effective TED Talks, and how we can apply those lessons to our own public speaking.

Speak with Confidence – Mike Acker

Have you ever stood up on stage, but the words refused to come out? Have you ever felt nervous standing up to speak in front of others? Do you feel uneasy about the idea of making yourself the center of attention? Are you ready to put all of that behind you?

Then Speak with Confidence is the book for you!

The Recap

I went through dozens and dozens of books, articles, blogs, podcasts, and more in preparation for this article in order to ensure I recommended the best of the best. During this process, one book stood out against the others for all the right reasons, and that book was called Speak with Confidence.

You may recognize the name Mike Acker and that’s because he has already appeared in this list. Don’t worry, you don’t have to scroll back far to find his Speak with No Fear – a book that many other lists consider to be the very best in the sector of public speaking. However, I believe that Mike’s latest work could go even further.

Most public speaking books create a list of lessons they want you to learn and take you through them one by one, which is a great way of learning. Others describe the theory behind public speaking and talk you through some supporting anecdotes. What Mike Acker has done is create a three-part framework to teach you about every corner of public speaking – Determine Your Identity, Define the Message, and Develop New Skills. This book is all about finding your inner confidence, nurturing it, and maintaining it. Mike manages to define and teach the concept of confidence in such a helpful and relatable way that makes his information not only relevant, but also doable. For the unique take on public speaking education and the accessibility to speakers of all levels, I predict that Speak with Confidence will commonly be regarded as the best public speaking book within the next 12 months or so. 

After many hours of reading and research, this is my top ten based on my final conclusions. However, the only thing that really matters is whether you find a book that resonates with you and you alone. After all, this is about improving your public speaking! So, let’s celebrate you taking positive steps toward your next goal!

PS: Check out this article if you’re an author looking to book more speaking engagements for yourself.

This post was written by Jazzmyn Villamanca, a guest writer.

If you’ve spent any amount of time in online writing circles, you’ve probably already heard of NaNoWriMo, an annual contest which challenges its participants to write fifty-thousand words during the month of November. The contest is designed specifically for novelists, but it attracts writers from all corners of the web looking to push their word count to its limit.

But NaNoWriMo isn’t the only writing contest the organization runs. Have you heard of Camp NaNoWriMo?

In this article, we’re going to talk about what Camp NaNoWriMo is, why you might be interested, how to enter, and what you can do to make the most of your Camp NaNoWriMo experience.

What Is Camp NaNoWriMo?

Camp NaNoWriMo is a writing event which takes place during the months of April and July. Like NaNoWriMo, the event lasts for the entire month. Unlike NaNoWriMo, the event does not involve writing fifty-thousand words! Also, as the name implies, Camp NaNo is more of an event than a contest—you can still win, but there isn’t as much of a competitive edge.

Let’s break down the rules for Camp NaNoWriMo:

1. The event begins at the start of the month (either April or July) and ends at the end of the month.

2. Participants can set their own word goal. This can be fifty-thousand words, but it could also be literally any other number.

3.  Participants are invited to write anything. Where NaNoWriMo asks its participants to put fifty-thousand words towards, specifically, a fiction novel, Camp NaNo does not. Nonfiction, fan-fiction, memoir, poetry, grocery lists, and break-up texts are all fair game.

And that’s really all there is to it! This event is more lax compared to NaNoWriMo, and to me, that’s what makes it feel less competitive. Of course, you can technically write whatever you want for NaNoWriMo itself, and there’s no one forcing you to personally decide to write fifty-thousand words (NaNoWriMo is a self-challenge, which means you’re holding yourself accountable for meeting the goal or not).

However, the lowered expectations around Camp NaNoWriMo create a more relaxed atmosphere. It feels more like a camp, where everyone’s taking a break from their regular stuff to hang out and talk about their projects, meet other writers, and hear from published authors. Camp NaNoWriMo also boasts a host of resources for writers to learn from as they work on their projects.

Why do Camp NaNoWriMo?

Maybe you hated NaNoWriMo, and the thought of voluntarily subjecting yourself to another month of similar torture sounds asinine. First, that’s a little dramatic, but second, I think Camp NaNo is worth a shot even if NaNoWriMo didn’t work out for you. Here’s a brief list of reasons why.

1. It’s easy to participate… and to win

We’ve already talked about Camp NaNo’s comparatively lax criteria to NaNoWriMo and how that lax criteria gives the whole event a calmer feel, but I’d like to elaborate a little bit here.

First, even though participants technically can do whatever they want for NaNoWriMo, Camp NaNo means you can set your own goals without feeling left out or anything like that. There’s literally no ideal word count, and that means it’s pretty hard to rib yourself for not getting fifty-thousand words, even if you told yourself you couldn’t.

Second, participants get two different chances to participate in Camp NaNo—April and July—and that makes it more likely that you’ll be able to do it. November is a busy time of year, especially for students and teachers, and especially with the holiday season right around the corner, so it’s not always possible to drop everything and commit to a project at that time.

2. Camp NaNoWriMo’s resources can be helpful

Camp NaNo also boasts resources for writers to take advantage of while they’re working on their projects. Let’s go over two of the biggest features as listed on Camp NaNo’s website.

First, NaNoWriMo (the organization which hosts both National Novel Writing Month and Camp NaNo—don’t be confused!) hosts regular local writing events like write-ins, author q+a’s, and workshops around specific topics. Check what they’ve got going on in your area, not just during Camp NaNo, but year-round!

Here’s the Google Calendar for NaNoWriMo’s events in July, for reference:

And here’s that same month in agenda form, so you can see the specific events a little more clearly:

In addition to these local events, Camp NaNo also has Camp Counselors—these are published authors who offer support, advice, and guidance throughout the month. This was the Camp Counselor lineup for July:

3. Camp NaNoWriMo offers community

The resources that Camp NaNo has to offer are great for keeping you grounded and supported throughout the process. It’s great to feel like someone’s rooting for you, and it’s awesome to have professionals to turn to for mentorship!

It’s also great to have a community surrounding your writing and the writing of other authors in your area. You might not know any other writers in your day-to-day life—this is pretty normal! It’s an oft-isolating industry, usually done alone, and usually not involving a ton of connection to other people.

And if you don’t love the idea of in-person events, guess what? Camp NaNo also has a ton of chances for online connection—their forums allow you to get in touch with local writers online and support one another as you work. You might even make some lifelong friends!

How to Make the Most of Camp NaNoWriMo

Now that you know what Camp NaNoWriMo is and why you should definitely try it out, let’s talk about how to make the most of your experience. Even if you prefer not to connect with other writers and instead do Camp NaNo totally solo, some of these tips will help you out!

1. Pick a project you’re excited about

Ultimately, you can choose to work on anything, but in my opinion, these kinds of events are best when you’re working on something that excites you. If you’ve got an idea for a book, but you just haven’t found the time to get started, guess what? The time is now! If you’ve got a weird idea for a poetry collection, bam—Camp NaNo material.

You can also use Camp NaNo to knock out a project that’s been stewing on the back burner for a while. Maybe there’s work to be done, maybe there are essays for college to be written—if it’s not something that you’re super stoked about, at least pick something that you’ll be glad you worked on.

Is there anything you shouldn’t bring to Camp NaNo, you might ask?

This is absolutely one-hundred-percent just my opinion, but I don’t like to bring established, deep-in-the-works projects to events like this. Usually I’ve already got a clear idea of where I want to go with the project, so I’m not looking for a ton of feedback, and it’s usually developed enough that there’s not a lot of exciting new stuff happening with it. I’m talking about novels that I’ve already drafted a few times, short stories that just need polishing—stuff like that.

Camp NaNo creates a ton of energy, and in that way, at least to me, it’s like rocket fuel. Some of your projects or ideas might need rocket fuel to take off and get going—some of your projects might not. You’ll be the best judge of that.

2. Use Camp NaNoWriMo to establish good writing habits

Unless you’re already writing for a living, you probably don’t write super regularly. Events like Camp NaNo might be the only months out of the year that you’re consistently returning to the keyboard for regular writing time. And that’s completely fine!

However, if you want to be a pro, you’re going to have to develop discipline. This doesn’t mean drafting everyday (in fact, it definitely does not mean drafting every day), but it does mean coming to your keyboard as consistently as you can to keep your skills honed and your story fresh.

Try finding a consistent time to work on your Camp NaNo project. You might find that you work better in the evening, or that you prefer outlining by hand, or that you prefer ten-minute writing sprints to twenty-minute writing sprints. Maybe you envisioned writing during your lunch break, but it turns out the break room at work is way too distracting—that’s good to know! Take note of what works and what doesn’t and bring that knowledge with you beyond Camp NaNo.

3. Try getting involved with the community around Camp NaNoWriMo

Of course, the option to do Camp NaNo solo is available to you. It’s a self-challenge, and as such, you’re free to keep to yourself, work on your project, and pat yourself on the back at the end of the month when you’ve completed your goals.

However, consider this: Camp NaNo is putting you in touch with other writers. Likely, some of these other writers are also readers who might be interested in reading your book when it’s published. And to be clear, I am not saying you should get close to people under the guise of friendship with the ultimate intent of selling them something—in fact, don’t.

What I am saying is that if you are self-publishing, you’re going to want to build a platform. Platforms require readers, yes, but they also require connections to other authors. Who else is publishing in your genre? What kind of stuff are they writing? Connecting to these other authors means building up your platform a little bit, and that’s going to be absolutely vital when it comes time to publish.

Additionally, working with other self-published authors is a great opportunity to compare resources. Someone might know a great editor for your genre, and someone else might have already tried the cover designer you have in mind. You can combine knowledge in this way to save yourself some time and make the best decisions possible for yourself and your work.

4. Have some fun

Here’s the thing: ultimately, Camp NaNo is meant to be fun. Going in with some kind of plan will help you optimize your experience, but if you don’t have one, I absolutely encourage you to log in on July or April 1st, set up an account, and announce a project, even if you literally just thought of it on the spot. In fact, that might be the most wholesome way to participate.

However you choose to play, have fun out there!

Have you ever done Camp NaNo? How did it compare to NaNoWriMo? Let us know in the comments! 

Firstly – let’s crack the code of what web copywriting is…

Web copywriting is any text that is written with the purpose of advertising and marketing on the internet. You are trying to sell something with your words, and sometimes this is referred to as “sales copy.”

Can anyone be a copywriter? 

Absolutely. It’s a great way of making an extra income, and it’s super easy to get the hang of (once you understand the art of it). 

You may be thinking, “Yeah, I love to write, but I’ve never thought of building a career out of it!”

I thought the same. 

I had no confidence in my writing and didn’t know how to take it to the next level – let alone make money from it!

But after implementing these three tips for successful copywriting, I saw my writing transform from being stale and lifeless, to totally binge-worthy. 

In this guide, we’ll break down the game-changing tips to help you become a better web copywriter: Let’s have a quick look at them: 

• Grab Your Audience’s Attention Immediately
• Choose Benefits Over Features
• Include Constant Call-To-Actions

👀 Grab Your Audience’s Attention Instantly

Every great piece of copy I’ve ever read, I knew it was great because I simply kept reading it!

The average attention span is about 8 seconds. 

Literally, that’s it. 

So you have 8 seconds to hook your reader in which means you need a killer introduction, which gets straight to the point and answers the reader’s question. 

Let’s take a look at an example:

Say your article title is, How to Choose Between Etsy and Shopify When Wanting to Sell Products Online. 

Your intro straight away should say something like,

“Let’s get straight to the point, Shopify is slightly better than Etsy because it’s a lot more personal, flexible, and lets you easily scale up your store.”

A common mistake writers can make is that they include unnecessary introductions of Shopify and Etsy, and by the time you know it, the reader has bounced off the page. 

Your audience is already aware of how great both of these platforms are, hence why they’re now at the stage of just choosing between them to start selling products. 

Try not to overload your audience with information they’re likely to have – keep it concise and to the point.

🤝 Benefits Over Features

The second rule is a MUST in any writing that is trying to convert sales. 

Always write about benefits over features. 

Another common mistake that most writers make is they will list all the factual pieces of information, rather than talking about how the product or service can serve them. 

Truth be told, there’s one question on your reader’s mind when making a purchase decision, which is:

“What’s in it for me?”

The purchasing process is driven by emotions so talk about the experiences a customer will gain from it instead of stating technical points that hold little meaning for the reader. 

Let’s take a real-life example:

If someone’s looking to buy a vlogging camera, writing about the ‘’large sensor and optical image stabilisation’ might not cut it on its own – especially if the customer only cares about how good their YouTube vlogs will look!

Always highlight the benefit of this large sensor by adding:

“The large sensor makes this camera the best option on the market for vlogging in natural daylight – so you don’t have to worry about changing the settings before heading out!”

Shine the light back on your reader, and explain why the camera is going to make their life a whole lot easier. 

Listing endless features of the camera might not make sense to someone who’s not tech-savvy either.

📞 Include Constant Call-To-Actions

What is a call-to-action?

A call-to-action (CTA) is anything on the page that prompts an immediate response from your reader. 

It’s a way of pointing them in the right direction to finalise a purchase of a product of service.

Call-to-action buttons are not always for monetary purposes – they’re also great at prompting your reader to share the article with others for more site traffic.

They’re often seen in the form of buttons like these:

Web copywriting is important and you need to keep the reader moving through the article, but it’s not that useful if your reader has no idea where to go next. That’s where a CTA comes in.

You’ll rope in the reader with your majestic words, but you’ll have to tell them explicitly how to get their hands on this product or service with call-to-action buttons.

Even if it’s just a number to ring, make it really obvious to the reader how they can go ahead with a purchase, or just learn more.

There are also definitely things such as bad CTA writing! Make sure the CTA is obvious, direct, and ambiguous. 

Writing for the Web: Summary

And that’s a wrap!

We’ve broken down the three steps for successful web copywriting. If I may add a bonus tip: don’t be afraid to bring your character through the copy because, when it feels like you’re speaking to a friend, it’s a lot more engaging for the audience!

Let’s have a quick recap at what these tips are:

• Grab Your Audience’s Attention Instantly – Keep your intro concise and to the point!
• Write About Benefits Over Features – Avoid including a list of product features, instead discuss the value of it.
• Include Constant Call-To-Actions – Let your reader know where to go next!

Becoming an awesome copywriter doesn’t require you to be a pro, it’s all about implementing a good strategy and sticking to it. 

• Related: Make Money Writing
• Related: Copywriting Examples to Inspire You

Now that you have these top tips to refer back to, it’s time to take action! (See what I did there?)

Grab your pitch checklist, so you can land more web copywriting gigs.

Now, all there’s left to say…Happy Writing! 😎

Written by Zara Choudhry, Founder of AnonymouslyZara – a platform inspiring women through articles about faith, lifestyle, career tips and healthy relationships. 

Every November, writers from around the world get together and work on cranking out an entire novel in a month. Originally founded in 1999 by Chris Baty, the goal of NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) is to write 50,000 words over the course of the month since that is roughly the length of an average novel. Over 400,000 (and growing) people buckle down every year to attempt the challenge.

While it’s hard to write a fully polished novel in that amount of time, most of the focus is on simply sitting down and putting words to paper as fast as possible. For people with writer’s block, it can help them smash through the internal barriers that prevent them from getting their story on paper.

A ton of writers also enjoy the camaraderie and the community that comes with joining NaNoWriMo, since everyone is in the same boat of working on hitting their word and page goals every day.

Writing a novel is a serious undertaking, let alone trying to do it in a single month, so let’s break down everything you can do to prepare for what’s ahead. Here’s your guide on how to prepare for NaNoWriMo.

1. Set your writing schedule

If you want to hit your 50,000 word goal, that comes out to about 1,667 words per day. It can be hard to say how long that will take since everyone has a different writing pace, but the average is about 2 to 3 hours per day.

Keeping all of this in mind, you need to take a hard look at your calendar and figure out how you can fit in the required time to get your writing done.

Some people say it’s much easier to start with a higher goal, such as 2,000 words per day. That way, you’re ahead so when you have a bad day you don’t have to catch up with hundreds or thousands of words.

You might be able to get up earlier or stay up later and fit in a whole chunk of uninterrupted writing time. However, if you have kids or other responsibilities on your plate, you might want to break your writing up throughout the day into 30-minute or hourly chunks.

On top of that, you should schedule your writing sessions at your peak writing times. Some people have much more clarity when they first wake up or they love to burn the midnight oil and write while everyone else is sleeping.

Planning your writing blocks during a time you know you’re always tired is just setting yourself up for a losing battle.

2. Let the people around you know about NaNoWriMo

No, this doesn’t mean you need to recruit people to join you (although you can), this simply means you should let people know that you’re going to be taking your writing seriously.

This can mean they shouldn’t interrupt you during certain hours or maybe you set up a babysitter for your kids. What you don’t want to happen is to take on this huge writing commitment and then get mad at everyone around you when they interrupt you but you never let them know about your new writing journey in the first place.

Make sure all of the people in your life know what you’re doing and why you need certain quiet, focused hours.

3. Account for off days

No matter how motivated you are, there will be days when the words refuse to pour out of your fingers and no amount of coffee helps.

On the days you feel good, sometimes it’s worth it to go the extra mile and crank out a few extra words here and there to get ahead and account for the off days. While it would be nice to imagine that we’re all robots and can crank out pages of work every single day without a problem. Instead, you should plan for a few bad days throughout the month and plan accordingly.

4. Have your writing easily accessible

One key to succeeding at NaNoWriMo is to have your writing easily accessible. Whether you carry a notebook around or have a writing app, you’ll want it nearby and easy to write in.

That way, when you have things such as missed appointments, are stuck in a long train commute, or have some spare time while your kids nap, you can crank out a few hundred words.

You’d be surprised at how many small pockets you can find in a day to put in a little writing here and there. It might not seem like much at first, but you would be surprised at how fast it can add up.

Ideally, you want it to also be quickly accessible because you don’t want to spend half that time just trying to open your app or find the notebook you’re using. Ideas will also come to you throughout your days so you will need somewhere to quickly capture them on the go.

5. Track your progress

Whether you choose to use software with built-in word counters or you choose to make something like a NaNoWriMo bullet journal spread, it’s a good idea to know where you are in your overall progress. Seeing the word counter continuing to grow can help keep your motivation going, even on your bad days.

6. Outline your story

If you want to go the extra mile, having a thorough outline and your ideas all in one place can help you write faster when the month begins. Unless you have a free and open schedule all month, you’re going to be writing in focused chunks of time and need all of your ideas ready to go, even if they change as you write during the month.

You don’t want to sit down and forget your storyline or what you wanted to happen next in your novel. Then, you’re wasting 20 or more minutes searching for that note somewhere in one of your notebooks and poof, there goes time that could have been used for writing.

If you prefer visuals, some people put storyboards on a whiteboard or other physical sheet in front of them so they can see where they are in their plot. Janice Hardy, a fiction writer and teacher, has suggested using Preptober in this way:

Week 1: Focus on the novel’s setup

Beginnings introduce the characters, story problem, and story world or setting to readers, and they set the stage for the rest of the novel.

A strong start will provide you with solid scene goals, giving you something to write about every day.

Things to determine:

• How the protagonist is introduced

What traits do you want readers to know right away? How might you show those traits in action? What likable qualities does your protagonist have? How can you show those qualities in your opening scene or first chapter?

• The problem the opening scene deals with

An opening with an interesting problem to solve gives the story drive and the characters reasons to act. What problem might your protagonist face when the novel opens?

Remember, the goal of an opening is to a.) hook readers and b.) lead the plot to the core conflict of the novel.

• The inciting event

If this event did not happen, there would be no novel. It either drives your opening, or is the bridge between your opening scene and the beginning of the middle (act two).

Week 2: Focus on how problems get solved in the middle

This middle is where the bulk of the novel unfolds as your characters work to resolve their problems and fail a lot. The number of attempts and failures will vary by the type of story, as thrillers have different expectations than romances.

Things to consider:

• How the setup transitions to the middle

Everything in your beginning will lead to the middle, where the protagonist will make that all-important choice to accept responsibility for resolving the plot, and move into act two. The opening scene leads to the inciting event, which leads to this decision.

• The major problem or event revealed in the middle

Adding a big shake-up, problem, or reveal at the novel’s center can prevent the all-too-common boggy middle. The mid-point event creates the goal and problem the second half of the middle will have to resolve, and set up what will happen in the ending.

• How the middle transitions to the ending

The protagonist has failed, feels utterly lost and hopeless, and things are at their worst. What the protagonist does here will launch the ending and lead to the climax of the novel.

Week 3: Focus on how the novel ends

The ending is how the novel’s core conflict problem is resolved. It starts with the protagonist at her lowest point and drives her to the ultimate showdown with the antagonist.

Things to determine:

• How the protagonist plans to defeat the antagonist

Although the plan may (and often does) fail, this is the goal that launches the ending and propels the protagonist to the climax. What are some of the steps that will take the protagonist from hopeless to victorious (or hopeless to defeated, if that’s how it ends)?

• How the novel ends

You might not know the details at this stage, but it helps to have at least a general idea of how the core conflict of the novel is resolved.

• How the protagonist is changed by the experience

In most novels, the protagonist grows and becomes a better person by the end of the novel. What changes for your protagonist? How is she better off? How is she worse off? What did she learn?

Week 4: Focus on major turning points of the story

Flesh out whatever you need to write your novel.

If your story is character-driven, you might plan the character arc and focus more on the internal journey of your protagonist and discover the plot as you write.

If you’re a plot-driven writer, you might prefer to map out the major plot points and figure out who your characters are by how they solve those plot problems.

Whatever your process, look at the key turning points and elements you need to keep your story moving forward. I suggest aiming for three major points per act (beginning, middle and ending), but develop as many as you like to keep your plot on target.

Final Days: Write a book proposal

It might sound crazy, but I recommend writing a rough query pitch to make sure you have enough figured out to write your novel.

The book proposal is a fantastic way to verify the necessary elements of your plot and characters, and find holes before you fall into them.

7. Prepare your space and tools

If you love to write in the same place so you can build the habit, setting up a dedicated space can help. Put your favorite plant on your desk, a good notebook nearby, and keep it clean so you’re ready to dive in and work.

You want your space locked and loaded to dive in completely on November 1st so you can get right to writing without anything getting in your way.

This might be the time you need to invest in some better tools to support your writing. If your keyboard is missing some keys or your pens always leak, you’ll want the best tools so writing is as easy as possible.

Set up rewards for yourself

Don’t forget to reward yourself along the way. Whether or not you hit your goal of 50,000 words, you should set benchmarks along the way to celebrate. Any words you can get on the page is a celebration, even if it’s not a full novel.

As writers, it’s easy to overlook progress. When it comes to something like writing and publishing a novel, you have to understand how long it can take to make it happen. Novels are marathons, not sprints. That’s why it’s essential to celebrate every little benchmark.

Whatever season you find yourself in, settling down with a romance book can take you places you never dreamed of. 

There are an eclectic array of romance novels and they are loved in a variety of ways. Whether you prefer the westerns, the historical romance, present-day slow burns, or a mix of each, romance is a story trend that never goes out of style.

From the original folk tale of Cinderella to, the bestselling novels on the New York Times list, romance is in.

In this article, we cover nine of the best romance books, part of why they are loved, and what sets them apart. Spoilers ahead, so consider this fair warning! 

#1 – The Longest Ride

There are many tremendous books on the craft of writing, but sometimes it helps to see the rules applied, and broken, through fiction. Nicholas Sparks’ novel, The Longest Ride, intertwines two love stories into one novel. What could be better?

Sparks’ novel includes the time period of WW II and present-day, North Carolina. A New York Times bestseller, The Longest Ride tells the story of two couples who must overcome difficulties. 

A cowboy, a stranded elderly man, and a college senior lead this story from the first page to last. A great summer read or book to pick up when winter seems like it won’t end. 

#2 – The Mountain Between Us

The captivating book, now a major motion picture starring Kate Winslet, begins in Salt Lake City, Utah. Focused on the story of a surgeon named Ben and a writer named Ashley, The Mountain Between Us shares their journey through the wilderness in winter. 

With nothing but pain, secrets, and love to keep them going, the two form a bond. However, tragedy is known to bring people together—but will it last? 

The story of Ben and Ashley will keep you on the edge of your seat as you join them from freezing altitudes in a charter plane to the icy cold of a frozen lake. Reading this one at the beach may be a good offset to the spine-chilling, heart warming story that is Charles Martin’s The Mountain Between Us. 

#3 – The Nightingale 

Written by Kristen Hannah, The Nightingale is a number one New York Times bestseller, Wall Street Journal Best Book of the Year, and praised by People as “Powerful…an unforgettable portrait of love and war.”

This historical fiction follows the romance and hardship of two sisters, Vianne and Isabelle. Set in France in 1939 in the village of Carriveau, it may not seem like the setting for a romance. However, when the Nazis invade France trucks and tanks fill the streets and planes fill the once blue sky, both love and war invade Carriveau. Vianne and Isabelle could not be more different, and each perspective presents a different point of view that adds depth and beauty to the story.

#4 – Submerged  

The first novel in Dani Pettrey’s Alaskan Courage series is set in the quiet town of Yancey. However, when two deep-sea divers turn up dead, a sabatoged plane enters the story, protagonist Bailey Craig realizes she didn’t return home for only one funeral. 

With a murderer in her hometown, a place Bailey vowed never to return to, she discovers her past walking back into her life—Cole McKenna. With Cole helping the police on the murder case and her own past blurring her vision, Bailey has to choose what to see and decide if Cole could be part of her future. 

#5 – The Four Winds

Also by Kristen Hannah, The Four Winds is a riveting romance set during the drought of the Great Plains and the Texas Gold Rush. Elsa Wolcott marries Rafe Martinelli—hardly more than a stranger. 

Fighting against her own choices, struggling through her marriage, and desperate to beat nature in the battle for her children’s lives, Elsa faces a perilous future. Caught in a dilemma, she must choose between her farm and her future, decide what will define her family, and if she will ever be able to love herself. 

#6 – Pride and Prejudice

Jane Austen’s classic is a must-have on this list! The Bennett’s are a family with five daughters—one must bear the weight of marrying rich in order to support the family. But when wealth takes the form of a bad first impression, pride enters society and prejudice fights for control, Elizabeth Bennett is left with a difficult choice. 

A beloved novel and a case study on character, Pride and Prejudice will take you on a journey through the English countryside, to elegant balls, and through the highs and lows that are so prevalent when marriage is tied to the safety of a family. 

#7 – The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society 

Both a Netlfix film and a New York Times bestseller, this heartwarming novel whisks you off to the island of Guernsey. With scenes set during the German Occupation tied together with Juliet Ashton’s new book project, this touching story will make you forget you’re reading. 

The characters are as close to human as language can make them, a book club stars as a type of protagonist in the novel, and heartbreak and new love both make an appearance. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is a novel for all seasons. 

#8 – Crazy Rich Asians

Now an acclaimed major motion picture, Crazy Rich Asians is the story of New Yorker Rachel Chu. Her boyfriend Nicholas invites her Singapore to meet his family, she does not realize what she’s getting into. 

In fact, rather than a relaxing vacation with her boyfriend, Rachel’s summer turns into a holiday of roadblocks between old money, new money, Nicholas’s relatives, and the social climbers she engages with. 

Why? Well with the invitation, Rachel’s boyfriend didn’t quite explain he’s the wanted boyfriend of the country and his childhood home is more of a childhood castle. Forced to evaluate her priorities and her love, Rachel’s story is warm, hilarious, and will keep you turning pages.

#9 – Truly, Madly, Deeply

In love for the first time, a son’s decisions about the future divide his family in this fearless and This New York Times bestseller is the story of Tommy Baxter falling in love for the very first time. Set on becoming a police officer and in love with his girlfriend, everything should be going well for Tommy…but it’s not. 

His girlfriend enters a life and death fight, and secrets turn Tommy’s world upside down. Now more than ever determined to fight injustice, Tommy’s story is one of romance, drama, and intrigue. 

Your Turn: Did we miss one of the best romance books?

These nine stories barely dent the pile of loved romance stories. What are your favorite romances and why do they hold such a special place in your heart? Articulating the answers to these questions can help you not only enjoy your reading more but bump your writing to the next level. 

Add these nine to your reading list, or make your own. Whatever you do, don’t forget to read like a writer and learn from authors a little further down the road! 

These days, as long as you have a steady internet connection, most writers could write anywhere. However, some cities seem to brim with inspiration at every turn, while some cities seem to fall flat. We looked into what writers look for in a city and compiled a list of the 12 Best Cities for Writers. 

Even if you aren’t looking to pack up and move to a new city tomorrow, one of these cities might be a good option if you are looking for a place to take a writer’s retreat.

Santa Fe, NM

Santa Fe, New Mexico is known for its vibrant creative scene and eclectic art culture. If you are looking to be creative and surround yourself with creative people, you are sure to find that here. The city literally brims with music, from street performers to the Santa Fe Opera.

Apart from the culture and mix of people that make up Santa Fe, the city is a great place for writers to be inspired by the distinct natural beauty of the American Southwest. 

If you are looking to make a move, Santa Fe has one of the more reasonable rent prices, averaging $1,500 for a one-bedroom apartment.

Chapel Hill, NC

Chapel Hill, North Carolina is a beautiful town on the east coast, perfect if you are looking for a beautiful place to explore. While Chapel Hill experiences all 4 seasons, they are mild compared to some areas of the country.

With 8 colleges in the area, Chapel Hill has plenty of affordable housing options for those looking to rent. And with colleges come book stores – Chapel Hill averages 43 book stores per 100K residents. One of our favorite independent bookstores is located in Chapel Hill, Flyleaf Books.

Vancouver, WA

Not to be confused with Vancouver, BC in Canada – Vancouver, WA is just across the Columbia River from Portland, Oregon. The natural beauty of Vancouver, a city surrounded by Mount St. Helens, the Cascade Mountains, and Mount Hood, is a great backdrop for aspiring writers. 

If you are a writer that appreciates good coffee and thrives on finding new coffee shops and other inspirational places to write, Vancouver is the place for you. With its close proximity to Portland and all of its coffee shops, Vancouver has 54 coffee shops per 100k residents. One of our favorite local coffee shops to sit down and write at is Relevant Coffee.

While Vancouver is close to Portland, it has more living space and is considered a more affordable city to live in – which we also love! 

Pensacola, FL

Sun, sand and writing – sounds like a winning combination, right? Pensacola is a beautiful town on the Gulf of Mexico with access to miles of beautiful beaches, perfect for the writer that wants to walk the beach looking for inspiration.

Pensacola also has a great parks system, a lower median house price than the national average, and residents of Florida do not pay income tax – which may be an incentive to writers looking to lower their living costs.

Portland, ME

Writing in a coffee shop along the northeast coast while the waves crash up against the rocks outside your window sounds like a scene out of a movie. The beauty of both the coast and the town just can’t be beat. 

If you are looking to be inspired by a quaint town with breathtaking coastal views at every turn, Portland, Maine is the perfect destination for you.

Plus as an added bonus, if you are a recent college graduate from any school in the United States, you may have a financial incentive to live in Maine. The Educational Tax Credit applies to graduates from 2015 to the present.

New York City, NY

Writers, artists, musicians and other creatives looking to find inspiration and make it big have flocked to New York City for decades. 

The city buzzes with energy – from its people that gather there from all over the world, to the vibrant art and culture scene, to the historic buildings that make up the city. 

There is a huge community of writers living and working in New York City, so spend some time looking through the options before you get connected. Catapult, the Gotham Writers, and the Writers Studio all offer writing help and community.  

While New York City is definitely not known for being an affordable place to live (an important quality many writers need when they are first starting out), it is still a favorite among writers. Several of the big publishing houses are located in New York City, which might be helpful if you are a writer that has hopes of publishing a book.

Palm Springs, CA

For the writer that is trying to get away to a sun-drenched town and evoke the cool vibes of the past, Palm Springs, CA is the place to go. Palm Springs first became popular when the mid-century modern style was all the rage, back in the 50s and 60s. 

If you can find time to write when you aren’t lounging by one of the many pools, Palm Springs could be the perfect setting for you. Get connected with other writers in Palm Springs by looking into the Palm Springs Writers Guild!

Chicago, IL

Chicago, IL is a big city with a vibrant writers’ community. With multiple writers’ communities such as the Chicago Writer Circle and the Writer’s Studio there are many opportunities to write and learn with others that share the same passions as you.

Chicago also rates high on the walkability scale, making it an easy place to live and get around. Located on Lake Michigan, Chicago boasts water views that rival the ocean views of the coasts.

Boulder, CO 

With its close proximity to the Rocky Mountains, Boulder is a great place for writers that thrive being outdoors year-round. Colorado’s moderate climate is attractive for writers that incorporate hiking and writing into their daily routine.

Boulder has great local coffee shops to work in and plenty of opportunities to connect with other local writers. We suggest checking out the Boulder Writing Studio for their workshops and community events.

Juneau, AK

Don’t let the cold scare you away, Juneau, Alaska is a beautiful place to live and write. And the good news about the long winter Alaska is historically known for? You will have plenty of time to cozy up by a fire and write.

What distinguishes Juneau from the rest of Alaska is the city amenities and milder climate compared to the rest of the state. 

Connect with other writers in Alaska to continue to refine your craft through 49 Writers – A Community of Alaskan Writers.

Kansas City, MO

Kansas City is a growing city in the midwest. With a small-town feel, but plenty of city amenities, Kansas City is a pleasant and affordable place to live if you want plenty of space to spread out and write.

There are many opportunities to get involved with other writers currently living in Kansas City! Check out The Writers Place to get help working on your next manuscript.

Philadelphia, PA

With its lower cost of living and big city amenities, Philadelphia is a great place for writers to live and work. Traces of US history are around every corner, which is perfect if you are not only a writer but a history lover as well. Or both? Historical fiction writer?

Philadelphia has a thriving community of writers if you are willing to get involved. Look into the Philadelphia Writers Workshop as a place to start getting connected! 

Where is Your Favorite City to Write?

We love these cities for what makes them special – either their history, their beautiful backdrops, or even their coffee shops.

What makes your city a great place to write? Tell us in the comments!

Looking for even more inspiration for when you visit one of these new cities? Try one of these Creative Writing Prompts, in conjunction with Self-Publishing School. 

Have you been a freelancer or hobbyist for a couple years and you are starting to wonder what’s next? How do you grow your business, continue to set yourself apart, and stay excited about writing when you may not always be writing about topics that are personally exciting for you?

• You could start your own blog or get back to your blog you started already. Be more consistent with your posting schedule.
• You could look at your social media presence and attempt to be more visible and active.
• Or, maybe you’ve been wondering, “Should I write a book?”

7 Reasons You Should Consider Writing a Book

Now before you laugh, say you don’t have time, or say something about having no good ideas (or too many ideas!), stop for a moment and consider what writing a book could mean to you and your brand – both now and in the future. Writing a book could open you up to more business in the future, could open doors for new streams of revenue, and could be the creative outlet you need to be better at everything else. We compiled a list of a few reasons that might entice you to give book-writing a try.

Writing a book will stretch you as a writer and improve your skills

Writing a book will help you become a better writer. The time you spend writing your book will also stretch your language and writing skills as you write more than you’ve probably written in the past.

Because writing a book requires you to be more organized than you have been with smaller projects, it will also just require more from you in general to get it done. You will need to outline effectively, organize your chapter concepts and storyline, and you will need to write cohesively and consistently throughout the book.

Managing a project of this size also forces you to take hold of your time so you can plan ahead and meet your deadlines, both internal ones you set for yourself and any external deadlines you have with publishers or editors. When you have finished, you can look back and clearly see all you have accomplished and grown from the process.

Give yourself a creative outlet 

If you are like many full-time freelance writers, it can be a struggle to find time for a creative outlet of your own. You are focussed on using your writing for making money and not necessarily for getting your own ideas out or letting your own voice be heard. But if you devote a little time each day to getting out of your business space and instead let your mind imagine, design, and then craft a book, you are exercising a creative piece of you that needs to be exercised. Our minds benefit from switching things up, and a book is the perfect outlet.

You can carve out time for yourself creatively and then continue to work on the freelancing work that might become easier when you know you have a creative outlet to get back to.

Write about a topic you love

Speaking of creativity, not only does writing your own book give you a chance to use your own voice, but it also gives you the chance to write about a topic you love. Choose something you are already passionate about and write a book about it. 

This passion you write about might be a hobby of yours you can turn into a book to inspire others to pursue. It could be stories that you reflect on from your past that you turn into a memoir. Or you could take a look at a fiction genre you are obsessed with and then consider crafting a story in that genre yourself.

Don’t limit yourself to what you think people will want to read, but instead choose a topic for your first book that you can be excited to tell a story about and that you know you can complete.

Make a little passive income when it’s all done

While most first time book authors don’t make millions from their first book, you can start to create some passive income once you have a finished book to sell. It doesn’t take a major book deal to distribute and make money from a book. Instead it takes a few good tools, the right avenues to sell your book, and a few fans that love you and love your book.

Selfpublishing.com is a great tool with tons of resources to help you with every step of the book-writing process, from the writing and brainstorming itself to the publishing of your finished product. You don’t need to be a household name already to write and publish a successful book.

Build credibility for your writing brand 

The next time you are talking to a prospective client for freelancing work, not only will you have current blog posts and writing samples to send over, but you will also have a completed book to show them. This puts you in another league over the average freelancer. You can market yourself beyond what you were doing before and show the amount of effort, hard work and dedication you bring to a project. Don’t be afraid to go after projects that require a more senior writer than you considered yourself pre-book, since you will have pushed yourself in a more advanced writing position than you were in before. 

Prove you can ghost-write

This may go without saying, but having a book to show a prospective ghost-writing client can only help you win the contract. You will have a better idea of the time required for a project of that size, the amount you should charge, and the scope that you can expect and be ready for. You will be more prepared for the editing process and the organization and design of the book. Doing it all for yourself is great practice for landing those types of contracts and will give you better clarity about which types of projects are right for you.

Cross off an item on your bucket list

Outside of all the practical pieces that might come with writing and publishing a book, keep in mind the big picture of book writing and what it would mean to you and your family once you have completed your first book. 

Most people do not write a book in their lifetime. 

It is instead a small group of devoted people that sit down and have the dedication and desire to put the time and effort into writing a book and then turn around and see that book published. It is something to celebrate while you are doing it and something to celebrate once it is complete. Just take a moment and picture yourself telling people about the book you wrote and holding a copy of it in your hands with your name as the author. It is a huge accomplishment and is something that is completely possible if you choose to tackle it.

So, now that you are considering writing a book, what do you do next?

First, take this assessment to figure out which book you should write first.

Second, make a list of your own reasons for writing your book. It might be business-related, it might be more personal, or it might be a bit of both. Keep that list available so you can stay motivated and then dive into it.

Third, take a look at this article How to Write a Book in 12 Simple Steps to get thinking and planning what you need to do to get started and to succeed with your book.