Welcome to Writer Rants–where every Friday a writer just lets loose on whatever the heck is bugging her this week. Enjoy.
There are ideas and inspiration to be found in nearly everything. A trip to the store or a trip around the world can yield lots of topics and ideas to help you in your writing, whether it is personal or for a client. The following tips will help you utilize your daily activities to help further your writing career and increase your bottom line.
Be Open
A topic for an article or blog post can be found anywhere. See an interesting exchange between two people at the store? You may be able to work this into a piece later. Think of a different angle for a topic that you’ve written about a hundred different ways already? File that away for later use. Find something that you want to know more about? Do the research for your own personal use, but keep notes that you can use for an article or blog post later.
Don’t Limit Yourself
Some writers will discard an idea for the simple fact that they don’t currently have an order pending from a client that can use that information. You may think of inspiration for an article that deals with a topic that you don’t normally write about. Don’t limit yourself to only orders that you currently have on your work plate. You never know what kind of work will come your way later. While you may not need the idea now, it may be very useful down the road.
Make a Note
When you see something interesting or come up with an idea that you may be able to use later, write it down. Carry a small pad of paper and a pen with you, or utilize a notepad app on your smartphone or tablet. You can store these ideas for future reference. While many writers spend their free time fleshing out freelance writing rates, consider using your time to create income. You can also flesh your ideas out into actual work products during your down time, like those long moments spent on the train, on the way to work, or waiting at the doctor’s office. While you may never have a client order a piece on the topic you came up with, you can work these into viable articles that you can market to buyers on your own.
Maggie O is an active duty member of the United States Air Force, who attempts to keep a freelance writing career afloat in her free time. When she’s not writing or serving her country, she spends her time with her family, her dogs and her growing empire of Mazda vehicles.
