“A Professional Writer Is An Amateur Who Didn’t Quit.”

First Post in Months!

Hey, hey, hey! It's been quite a while, and I've been meaning to sign back in and post, but I just haven't gotten around to it… until now.

I'll start off by sharing the reason I had stopped posting altogether. I was dealing with anxiety (which led to depression) for some of February and a good chunk of March. I've been dealing with it for years, but it became unmanageable and disrupted my diet and sleep habits. Since finding a psychiatriast (in addition to my therapist), I've gotten my medication changed and adopted healthy outlets (i.e., Animal Crossing and getting outside), and my anxiety is back at a mangeable level.

Next, work had picked up across several platforms, so I've been busy with my writing orders. I'm not complaining though; I'm grateful for the work, even when I was swamped. I would rather be stressed because I have too much than worried because I don't have enough.

Finally, I've been working on my work-life balance, so once I'm finished with my work, I'll usually shut down the laptop for the night. I decided this evening that I should really get in here and post something.

So, that's basically where I've been. I'll try to do better at sharing updates on my writing journey. If anyone reads this, or even if you don't, I hope you're all doing well! :)

Oh nice! I want to share this with fellow writers, and I'll be saving it for myself as well.

8 Proofreading Tricks (That Save Valuable Time)

In this post, Writers Write reveals simple proofreading tricks to improve any manuscript or draft.

“Stop doubting yourself. Work hard and make it happen.”

— Unknown

Introduction.

Recently, I realized that I have shared a few posts on here, but I never actually introduced myself. For starters, I'm Tammy! :)

I have always loved writing. I can remember writing stories (alone and with my younger sister) as a child. As a teenager, I enjoyed writing poetry, and I loved the creative writing class I took as a sophmore in high school. Throughout my teenage years and early 20s, I was constantly writing in online journals because I love being able to express myself through words on a screen (or even on paper).

Now, at 37 years old, I am a freelance writer on various websites. I am a member of a discussion website that allows you to practically blog for a small payment (spare change, basically, but a great website). I also have several non-work-related blogs for no reason other than the fact that I wanted to blog. Finally, I recently started journaling offline again, as a way to get my thoughts off my chest, but for my eyes only.

I've often said that if I won the lottery tomorrow, I'd still take on my writing orders with my clients, and I'd still run my other blogs for fun. I would get bored otherwise.

Writing as always been a part of me. Being a writer is who I am.

I am not sure where I am going with this blog, or what order my experiences, memories and thoughts will be posted in. It's just a way for me to share my journey as a freelance writer, and as someone who enjoys writing for fun.

Speaking of which, I have an order on Fiverr to work on soon. I hope everyone reading this has a great day! :)

Good Evening, Writers and Readers.

I hope everyone is doing well! When my anxiety was bad, I dreaded Mondays. I felt they were the start of another anxious, depressing week. Now that my anxiety is back at a manageable level, I'm back to enjoying Mondays. For me, Mondays are for fresh starts; another chance to work toward my goals and make positive changes. This could be an insanely productive week. I could start fixing my sleep schedule again. Maybe I'll FINALLY figure this time management thing out. You never know what the week may bring. Right now, I'm working on a few writing orders on a writing platform. It's something to fill in the gaps as I wait for my clients to prepare and send off my work for the week. The orders are for a writing team, and I'm looking to knock out as many as I can before they're all gone. Then, I'd like to bake some cupcakes. Since I've been in an autumn/Halloween mood, I'm going to decorate them with black and orange sprinkles. So, baking is another thing I'd like to accomplish today. Writing orders and baking... how's that for a work-life balance lol?

Welp, I'm going to wrap this up, but I hope everyone has a great week! Take care! :)

Writing at The Coffee Shop.

I live pretty close to a local coffee shop, which offers free Wi-Fi. I decided to start working on my writing orders at this coffee shop 1-2 a week. It was going well. I was able to get out of the house a few days a week, and it helped me to focus on my work with minimal distractions. It's only a few minutes from my home, and my niece works here, so we can walk together at times. Now? I'm here 4-5 days a week. My brain associates it with work, so I'm able to focus better on my writing orders. I barely get distracted by anything or even open social media. It's just me, my headphones, and my work. It's not crowded often and the employees are so welcoming. The prices are also reasonable, which is a must because I won't write here without at least purchasing a beverage. It's a small/local business, so I want to support them as best as I can. Having a place to just focus and write has been a game-changer for me. I think I also needed to get out of the house (without constantly walking to the store to do so). It's been working out for me, and I think coming here is one of the best decisions I've made for my writing. Furthermore, I can stay home if I need a mental health day, the weather is unkind, or I feel under the weather. But I also like the option of being able to walk up here at the last minute to get out or focus on an order. :)

“Start writing, no matter what. The water does not flow until the faucet is turned on.”

— Louis L'Amour

I'm Offering A Writing Gig of 1,000+ Words On Fiverr

I offer multiple writing packages on my Fiverr gigs, which are 300, 500, and 700 words. Of course, I also offer custom orders for those who need more than 700 words. I've had clients need to place an order for 1,000+ words. After several years of custom orders, I decided it was time to create a separate gig.

My writing gigs are for specific topics, of course, but they also vary in topic. My main topics include apartment/home living, children and family, and holidays. My sub topics are an expansion of the main topics, i.e., “How To Make A Small Space Feel Larger,” “Tips For Taking A Road Trip With Your Family,” and “Host A Halloween Party With These Ideas.”

I've taken other topics, within reason, of course. 

My latest gig features three packages, which are 1,000, 1,500, and 2,000 words, as well as custom offers for even longer content. It's pricier than my other gigs because there is more time that goes into a longer order. I'm spending more time researching, writing, proofreading, and editing to ensure it fits my client's needs. In addition, I always proofread my orders twice. Sometimes three times if necessary.

My goal is to deliver quality content by the deadline, and this is not something I take lightly. 

Well, here comes the "Call To Action" portion of my post. I can add a CTA to your content as well. ;)

If you need content of 1,000+ words, written by an author who only wants to deliver the best content possible, please check out my latest gig. I'm available Monday through Friday, but I can discuss your project over weekends. Thank you so much!

Fiverr.com

Tammy85: I will write over 1,000 words on a variety of topics for $50 on fiverr.com

For only $50, Tammy85 will write over 1,000 words on a variety of topics. | Please do not place an order without contacting me first, as I n

I've Joined Two More Writing Websites.

I recently decided to take the leap and join Medium and Vocal Media, which have both been added to my Linktree. I’m grateful to be a freelance writer. I love what I do, and I enjoy working with my clients. But sometimes, I need a creative outlet to just express myself and interact with others. I can do just that on Medium and Vocal Media. Now, I don’t expect to make bank on either website (I was just accepted into the Medium Partner Program and Vocal Media pays per view. I’ll have to elaborate on each website at some point). It would be a nice little side hustle; spare change to add to my savings account. However, I know that’s going to take time to get to that point. I’ve been freelance writing since 2009, so this isn’t my first rodeo. I took my time gaining followers on Medium, so I can take my time with earning on both websites. Right now, I’m enjoying having other places to share my thoughts, feelings, and experiences. :) And hey, maybe I’ll make some new friends! I don’t really have a lot of friends in the writing community because it’s not something I thought or knew to branch out in, so maybe that’ll change on these websites.

I did link both of my pages in the opening paragraph, so you’re welcome to follow me on either if you have an account and want to  (but no pressure or obligation). Okay, I do have a freelance writing order for a client to work on, so I need to get that finished. I may catch you all a little later. :)