What is Thursday Thirteen?

Thursday Thirteen is a blog concept that comes with a lot of freedom. If you want to join in, you post thirteen of anything. It could be thirteen books, thirteen things you’ve learned, thirteen great sites, and so on. There’s only one rule. It must be posted on a Thursday - any Thursday.

Thursday Thirteen usually follows a theme. Thirteen is a baker’s dozen - 12 plus one more thrown in for good measure.

Thirteen Tips for Aspiring and New Writers

I’ve listed thirteen basic things (in no particular order) which an aspiring or new writer needs to launch a successful freelance writing career. Do you have what it takes to Grow Your Writing Business?

1. A passion for writing, coming up with ideas, and a way with words and sentence structure.

2. Well written clips (published article samples - online or in print)

3. Clients (and/or the drive to go about finding them)

4. Marketing skills (85% of writing is marketing yourself and your business)

5. Research skills, & knowing how to mold facts & concepts into an article/manual/report etc.

6. A sense of humour, being able to accept knockbacks, and a big dose of flexibility

7. Willingness to hone your writing craft, and genuinely wanting to learn, grow and succeed

8. Patience, maintaining a focus of where you want to head & being willing to take risks

9. Business & People skills (making sure you get paid for starters, handling difficult clients etc.)

10. Organisational skills (time management, priotiritising, organising self, work & personal life)

11. Being able to write to a client’s specifications, including requested changes & time frame

12. Staying true to yourself & balancing $$$ with targeting markets you really want to write for

13. Never losing sight of why you chose to be a writer in the first place, and of your goals

The Down & Dirty Basics of Launching a Successful Writing Career

When it comes down to the very basics, for my Thursday Thirteen, I could also have said -
Write, Write, Write, Write, Write, Write, Write, Write, Write, Write, Write, Write. That takes care of 1-12. Number 13? Just go for it!

Let’s Keep the Conversation Going

These are only starting points. Which other points have I missed? Tell us about your experiences. I’m sure other writers and those starting out, would love to hear your thoughts.

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