by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff

While it’s true that writing often can lead to a successful web writing career, that isn’t the only way to success. In fact, your business strategy should involve more than being productive. You should also know how to make the most of your existing content. As a career freelance writer and advocate to fellow web writers, I have years of experience doing just that.

Submit non-exclusive work as often as possible.

The more rights to your content that you can keep, the better. While exclusive pieces can sometimes net you more upfront, you won’t always make the most from exclusive work in that piece’s lifetime. If done right, evergreen (ever-relevant) non-exclusive work can net you more over time.

Save all of your work in more than one place.

Always have more than one copy of everything you write. For instance, if you save it in an online word/drive program (like Google Drive), make sure you also save it to your computer and also to a flash drive. This ensures that if something happens in one of those places, you’ll still have your work stored in another place. It never hurts to over-store your writing. But it can often hurt to under-store it. Just because one thing is reliable does not mean it always will be. At the very least, have your work stored in two places. But I recommend more, if possible.

Re-use your non-exclusive submissions whenever possible.

 The reason you want to submit your work as non-exclusive wherever possible is so that you can re-use that writing elsewhere. Many venues will accept work that has been previously published. This means that you can get more use out of one piece of content than if you had originally submitted it as exclusive. In fact, you can republish that content as many times as you wish if it isn’t exclusive to a particular venue or individual.

Keep your published content updated.

Generally, when you post content online, most of the time you’ll have access to keep it updated. This way, its “shelf-life” is longer. Links and information can get outdated. If you always keep your content as up-to-date as possible, readers will trust your work and you’ll be able to direct people to your content for longer periods of time. Many online venues pay per view. No one wants to look at stale content. But if your content stays updated, you can continue to promote it and keep people interested long after its original publication date.

Reference and promote your existing content often.

Don’t forget to link to existing content that is relevant to new things you publish. Also, when promoting new content, always remember to cycle promotion of your existing content as well. This keeps attention on your content for longer periods of time, which means more views and usually more money.

People often say “Work smarter, not harder”. I say “Work both smart and hard for the best results”.  You still have to write often to keep people interested. But making the most of your existing work will help you earn more from each piece of web writing you produce.

Photo Credit/Copyright: Lyn Lomasi

I originally published this elsewhere (no longer published there)

by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff

Last night, I may have slept in total (not all at once) for just about an hour. Why? Well for one, I’ve been battling a toothache that’s getting better. But that wasn’t what kept me up. My brain wanted to create song lyrics – lots of them. After tossing and turning and trying to fight it, I gave in and did a writer-all-nighter mainly for something other than my web writing.

When your brain is running full blast with thoughts, the best thing you can do is get them down. I’ve been a writer for a long time – since I was three years of age, in fact. Trust me; those thoughts will remain until you get them out. And you will feel much better when you get them out. As annoying as this writer’s habit is at times, it can be very beneficial to your career.

Not only did I manage to write song lyrics, but I also wrote some other things, got some work done for my day job, did some design work on one of my sites, and more. All of those will be beneficial for my various careers. I also had fun – so much more than I would have had if I had just laid there and let my thoughts and ideas torment me.

It may seem like a good idea to try and get some rest – and sometimes it is. But the thing is, if your brain wants to do something else, you may just have to let it. I’ve never been one to stick to strict rules on many things. I’m a go-with-the-flow kind of gal. I tried being a perfectionist once – for years. It was hell. There’s no such thing as perfection.

Listen to your ideas. Listen to your intuition. Take risks and just go with what comes. Life’s too short to spend it stressing.

You’re welcome.

Image Credit: Lyn Lomasi

I originally published this elsewhere (no longer published there)

by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E Media Staff

OK, so those of you who know me real well probably figured this one out a long time ago. But for those who haven’t or just don’t know me, I’m an extreme multitasker. When I say extreme, I really mean it. No exaggeration here.

A normal work day for me is something like this: Do a couple hours of work for my F/T job, open a bunch of tabs in FireFox that consist of all my social media outlets and possibly some research and other stuff too, open a bunch of blank docs all at once and write about half of them, possibly eat sometime in between, do 6 more hours of my F/T career, fill up the other half of those blank docs with more awesome writing from my head (hey, writers write), take care of a bunch of kids and pets during that time, and more.

Wait, there’s more? Of course there’s more. There’s always more when you’re talking about me and there’s always a way to squeeze something else in. Don’t I ever get overwhelmed? Every now and then I will have a frustrated moment, but generally, no.

I thrive on having multiple tasks at once. It’s when I am at my happiest. This is true in all aspects of my life, not just work. If I actually watch TV (rare for me), you can bet I am doing something else too, like writing an article, playing a game with kids, or talking on the phone with a friend – most likely all of the above.

When it comes to pretty much everything, I don’t do just one thing. I just don’t. OK, so if someone I care about asks me to, I’ll deal with it. But I don’t prefer it at all. Yup I am an extreme multitasker and I love it.

But, give me a little credit for still being able to live while I do all this. My kids and I have many awesome adventures regularly. Also, I did recently just slim down my app notifications by miles.

Do you multitask? Why or why not?

Photo Credit: Lyn Lomasi
(Photo is free to use for both commercial and non-commercial purposes with credit to Lyn Lomasi as the photographer and a link back to this page as the source)

 I originally published this elsewhere (no longer published there)

by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer

Because of my career choices (and because it became quite fun), I found myself spending tons of time on Facebook daily. Although I have the application on my phone AND receive text and email notifications, I would always have at least one tab open in FireFox with something from Facebook. But lately that has changed and here’s why.

I’m busier with other aspects of my career. I offer a good portion of support surrounding my work via Facebook. There is also much more to it than Facebook support. Once I answer what is necessary there, I simply have to go away to get other things done, such as answering emails, writing articles, writing reports, publishing, editing, and so much more. Sometimes that means I can’t answer my friends right away. But I will always answer eventually.

I’m spending more time with family. Summer break is over and my younger kids are back in school (the older ones are in homeschool). That means that when I pick them up from school in the afternoon, once I’m finished with my work, they want my attention. They haven’t seen me all day. Therefore, they want and deserve my attention. I love my family and friends on Facebook too and I do my best to keep up with everyone. But as any parent knows, the kids must come first. I’m a single mommy as well, which adds to their need for me to be there.

I’m doing more things that keep me away from Facebook. Blogging is one of the things I like to do that keeps me away from Facebook. You may get an indicator that I’m online and think I’m available to talk. But really, I’m probably in another tab on FireFox posting to my blogs. Or maybe I locked the computer screen instead of turning it off and I’m actually gone walking the dogs on the trail. I’m a busy person, both in work and play. While I do have Facebook installed on my phone, it isn’t always appropriate to check it, depending on what I’m doing. For instance, if I’m cuddling up to someone I love while watching a scary or suspenseful movie, I’m sorry, but I’m not checking Facebook. My phone is probably on silent in the other room with the screen locked and I probably won’t see it for a while.

I’ve organized my notifications to prioritize work and family. Another thing I’ve done on Facebook is create lists, as well as organize my notifications in various ways. This means, I look at things related to work and family first. Then, I answer other things, based on time, as well as urgency. Sometimes I even miss things because I get thousands of notifications daily. Also, if you message me and I’m not your friend on Facebook, your messages are likely not going to show up in my regular inbox. They’ll probably be in my “Other’ inbox, which I don’t check as often because honestly, sometimes I forget about it. I have strict filtering activated on Facebook, due to spam issues.

I just don’t have the time. I know that many of my Facebook friends are used to me responding as soon as they send messages, tag me, or leave a post on my wall. But the thing is, it has gotten to a point where there are just so many that I can no longer do that every time and still have time for everything else going on in my life. There was a point where I couldn’t stand to leave anything unanswered longer than a couple minutes. Now, it can sometimes take a couple days or more for me to reply to a message. There are just so many of them and so many other things going on in my life that I just don’t have the time anymore to spend so much time on Facebook.

Nowadays, aside from career-related support and tasks and conversing with my closest family and friends, I haven’t been doing much on Facebook. Although, I usually do come in at random times and meme-bomb my wall. I’ll look in my favorite lists I’ve created from various pages rather than the regular newsfeed and I’ll post a bunch of memes in a row and then leave. Hey, I can’t help it! They’re funny! Facebook is supposed to be fun!

**Photo Credit: Lyn Lomasi

I originally published this elsewhere (no longer published there)

by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff

The English language is a diverse one with so many words to choose from. So, why of all these words do I choose a word such as f**k as my favorite word? I'm a writer. Shouldn't I know more words or choose something more creative?

You tell me what word is more creative than f**k. I dare you. What other word can you stick anywhere and have it fit in perfectly? It colors any sentence, adds more meaning wherever it is placed, and honestly, it's simply fun to use.

Pick any other word and try to fill it in where I've filled in f**k (or f**king) in the following sentences and I can guarantee you it will sound extremely awkward, unlike my f**k word, which sounds perfectly normal anywhere.

I f**ing love posting my f**king writing on this f**king site. It's the most f**ing awesome f**ing thing since f**ing sliced bread.

Now try to place any other so-called creative word there in place of f**ing and see just how colorful it becomes. Not so colorful anymore,is it?

Yes, I am a writer who creatively chooses f**k as my favorite word and is darn proud of it.

Besides, as Harry Widdifield says, cursing is one of our given rights. It's just language, which we have the right to use.

I dare you to show me a more creative and colorful word in the English language.

But that's not ladylike! Hmmm...

Do you share my favorite word? Do you think my creative word is not so creative? Tell us in the comment section.

Photo Credit: Lyn Lomasi

I originally published this on BUBBLEWS (no longer published there)

by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff

People often ask me how in the heck I get so much done in each day. I'm a single work-at-home mom of four. My careers include writer, online community advocate, website owner and designer, social media manager, and so much more all rolled into one. Did I make you tired yet? It's really all about figuring out how to divide things up, as well as keep the peace. We're all a little crazy in our own ways. But here's how I get things done without losing my remaining marbles.

Use more than one computer
Sometimes just having split screens isn't quite enough. I often have many things open at once, due to the fact that I do so much at one time. If I'm working on gathering research or data, I may open several tabs in Firefox on one computer and several office documents on the other. Though these could all be on one computer, I find it quicker – and less taxing on each system – to type up my reports or articles on a separate computer than my research. This is so that I don't have to switch between docs and the internet browser. While this is not by far the only way it comes in handy, it sets a good example for the possibilities. I've used as many as four computers at once to get the job done. I most often use two or three.

Move at least once per hour
At least once per hour I get up and clean something in my home, do a yoga pose or two, meditate, or run around the house and wrestle with the dogs. One thing working at home on a computer all day can do is wreak havoc on your body. But it doesn't have to. That's why I make sure to get up and move around once or more each hour. I also listen to music while I'm working. So if it's the right beat, I will sort of dance in my chair moving to the beat while typing. Yes, I also sing while I write. But that's another topic for another time. Bonus: All of this movement helps focus the mind to get the work done. Because I am the ultimate multitasker, exercise is more likely to get done by squeezing it in this way. It's also been more effective for me than when I did longer workouts. I still take long walks with the dogs at certain times. But this helps keep me active during the rest of the day.

Mix business with pleasure
Yeah, yeah, I know what they say. But since when have I been one to listen to what “they” say, whoever they may be? I don't follow the crowd. Never have. I'm proud to call many of my readers and fellow writers my friends. They are one of the big reasons I do what I do and they get me through the day. In this accidental strategy, I've also experienced how readers like to relate. They like to know there's a real person behind the content and my personal style of writing gives them what they are seeking. So, not only does having fun with my audience help me get through my day. I believe it also helps me to succeed. They can tell I really do enjoy them and what I am doing.

Use Pre-Made Templates
I also make myself templates that I use for each venue and/or type of piece I write. Sometimes I forget about a template and go with the flow. But the templates really help me keep organized and get things done quickly. If I make these ahead of time, it helps reduce time, as well as stress. My templates are sometimes simple, including a space to put a title, subheaders, and other text. Other times, they actually include the title, subheader points, and a spot for the text. My template also includes a place for my tags and referral link. You can see examples in Quick Web Writing Tips: Make an Easy Outline to Speed Productivity.


Photo Credit: Lyn Lomasi

I originally published this on BUBBLEWS (no longer published there)

by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff

Have you ever been writing a new post and had your mind wander completely? I don’t mean just the usual switch of topics, but maybe something you’d want to write but never considered writing before. You know, those things you’d like to say, but don’t? Following your rabbit hole(s) can lead to productivity for many reasons.

When you write what you want, you are enjoying yourself and thus will produce more work faster. I’ve written about this regarding switching topics. It’s the same concept. Going with the flow generally is more effective than trying to force topics that just aren’t happening.

Getting those usual “don’t go there” thoughts on paper can be freeing in a way, which helps your mind focus on what needs to be written. The more open and happy your mind is, the more readily you can slam out the work as fast as you are able to. This can be important for those who make a living doing web writing. If you try to force the topics without a clear mind, the quality of your work is likely to suffer. Even if you never end up publishing your “rabbit hole” topics, they can still aid in productivity in this way.

The more topics you are willing to write about, the more ideas you will have. This is another way to increase productivity. Some people have trouble coming up with ideas. Following your rabbit holes gives you much more to work with.

Are you writing any rabbit hole topics? Why or why not? Do you have similar productivity tips? Let us know in the comment section.

Photo Credit: Lyn Lomasi

I originally published this on BUBBLEWS (no longer published there)

by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff

Ever been working on an important project only to have your mind wander elsewhere? Me too. But I'm here to tell you from experience that it doesn't need to mean failure for you. Go with the flow.

You heard me right. If your mind wanders in the middle of a project, run with it. Take that inspiration and see where it leads you. I often have at least 20 documents open at once. Sometimes I focus on just one. But more than likely, my overly-creative mind wanders from one topic to the next.

Instead of letting my wandering mind be the source for a writer's block, I use it to my advantage and write on each topic as much as my mind allows for. When it switches topics, so do I. Sometimes I focus longer on one particular post and other times, I may jump all over the place. Once a topic is finished, I edit and submit it where intended.

This strategy has never failed me, even during intense deadlines. When it gets down to the wire, I do work to keep my mind focused on what's necessary. But I find that doing my best to just go with the flow also leads to doing the best job where productivity is concerned.

Photo Credit: Lyn Lomasi

I originally published this on BUBBLEWS (no longer published there)

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Tips for Easier Writing and Blogging From Your Smart Phone

5 Ways to Make the Most of Your Web Content

by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff

The other day some friends and I were discussing working from a smart phone. Some of them felt it would be too difficult. I actually felt the same until trying it. True, the keys and screen are smaller but there are many ways to make it easier to write and even post using a Smartphone.

Take your own pictures and use your cell phone camera
You’d be hard-pressed to find a good Smartphone that doesn’t include a camera these days. Some of them are better than others but they all do the job. Always take the pictures for your posts with your cell phone camera. This will make it much easier to upload the pics when posting your writing online from your phone.

If you take notes, take them on your phone and make them usable in your post
Most cell phones have some sort of application that stores notes. Use that if you need to jot down information before writing. Better yet, formulate any notes in a way that they could be a part of your writing. That way, you can just copy/paste the needed info into your post straight from the phone, if necessary. If you don’t have an app that will allow note taking and don’t have room or capability to download it, text the notes to yourself. If you text yourself, you’ll have two copies of each thing you send. But it works in a pinch.

Use a stylus pen
Some people complain that the keys on a phone keyboard are too small, making it more difficult to type. Try using a stylus pen. This object looks like a pen but it has a tip designed to touch Smartphone touch screens instead of using your fingers. This can save tons of time, especially for those who haven’t yet mastered typing from a small touch screen.

Use voice recognition
Most newer smart phones have voice recognition capabilities. You speak into the phone and it translates your text into the application you’re using it with. It does sometimes get the words wrong. However, fixing a few typos is probably easier than typing out all of those words for someone who isn’t experienced at quickly typing on a Smartphone.

Stay logged in to applicable websites
Keep in mind that it can be more risky security-wise to stay logged into websites at all times. However, at least during the time that you’re making your posts, it is so much easier if you are logged into the sites that you need and they stay remembered. For sites that store your post drafts while you’re working on them, this is even more important. You don’t want to receive a phone call and have a post lost because the information didn’t auto-save while you were entering it. Not all sites allow you to save drafts. Therefore, this advice mainly applies to those that do.

**Photo Credit/Copyright: Lyn Lomasi
(Yup, that pic was taken using my cell phone)

I originally published this on BUBBLEWS (no longer published there)

by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer

Try doing a Yahoo search on anything related to freelance writing jobs and you’ll pull up a multitude of opportunities, many of them scams. The simplest way to tell if one’s a scam is that it usually starts with “make easy money” just like any other scam. While it’s true that some aspects of a freelance writing career will become easy to an experienced writer over time, freelance writing as a whole is NOT an easy full time career path. But it’s worth it.

As a full time freelance writer, I used to spend countless sleepless nights thinking, researching, and typing out the results endlessly. Wait, “used to”? If I’m no longer a full time freelance writer, what do I know? The thing is, I spent years as a full time freelance writer and I slowed down, not because of the lack of money or interest, but because I wanted to help other freelance writers. That’s right. Now my full time job is helping others do what I did. But I still write almost full time as well. Therefore, I assure you, you can trust my experience.

Some people think “Oh, I can write. My poems from high school are great. I should be a writer.” And if that’s you, writing might be a good career choice for you. But just keep in mind that writing for the web and writing a poem here and there are two entirely different things. Freelance writing as a full time career path will involve writing for a considerable amount of time most days. Decide which you REALLY want to do and do that.

Writing for the web as a full time freelance writer is hard work. Yes, work. Forget all those scammers out there telling you it’s easy. Yes, it’s easy for them at first because they’re copying and pasting the text that I (or another talented writer) put real time and heart into in order to create it. But it no longer becomes easy for them when we decide to pursue it legally.

Ah yes, there’s another thing about freelance writing. You’re not JUST a writer. You’re a writer, researcher, marketer, CEO, manager, self-appointed attorney, and many other things.

The first part – the actual writing – may come easy to you sometimes and maybe even most of the time. But there will be days when you may not be able to form a complete sentence no matter how many deadlines you’re facing or how much money is on the line. Even for writers who seem to just sprout creative words in an instant, writing all day every day can become difficult. And you WILL need to write very often (among other things) in order to make the most money at web writing.

I know what you’re thinking because it’s me as well. I definitely said it too. You’re saying “but I love writing. I already write all day long, nonstop. I can do this.” If so, then you probably can, just like me. However, keep in mind that even you will likely have days where you just can’t. Also keep in mind that everything you write, though it may come from your heart, is for someone else. And, while you are in charge of yourself, you do still have to actually work. Otherwise, what are you getting paid for?

Up until this point, I may have turned some people off already because it sounds like a big complaint. But heck no! I love what I do and wouldn’t trade it for the world. The thing is, if you’re going to be in the business, someone needs to tell you the real facts. Yes, I can spend more time with my kids (human and fur variety). Yes, I make a fairly decent income when I’m consistent with it. But it does take real work and effort and if you can’t commit to that, this is NOT the career for you because if you stop working, the money stops coming.

For me, the benefits of staying home with my kids, the satisfaction of knowing my words may help people, being able to finally start saving some money, and some of the other things directly related to being a freelance writer are worth the hard work. It’s not easy, but it’s worth it.

Still want to be a freelance writer? If you said yes, I commend you. Feel free to reach out to me on my Facebook page for help getting started: facebook.com/LynLomasi

(No, I’m not going to charge you anything for advice, unlike those scammers out there looking for a quick buck. NEVER pay for work. You’re the one working. YOU should be the one getting paid.)

**Photo Credit/Copyright: Lyn Lomasi

I originally published this here on BUBBLEWS (no longer published there)

by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer

How many of my friends use a pen name when publishing their work? The name I use for the majority of my published work right now is Lyn Lomasi. If you use a pseudonym, do you have a creative way that you came up with your name or does it have special meaning? Mine is both creative and sentimental.

The name Lyn means "waterfalls" or "rain showers" and the name Lomasi is generally used as a first or middle name in a Native American language. It means "pretty flower". I chose to use it as a last name to be different. A good writer buddy also used to call me "pretty flower" so I purposefully chose a native name that meant as much. Lyn is my birth middle name. Combined, the two names mean to me "When the rain falls, a pretty flower emerges".

It holds significance to me because I identify with it on many levels. Obviously, one reason is because of my friend. Another is because I have been through quite a bit in my life. But, like a flower, I always emerge strong and beautiful no matter what kind of storms life brings into my life.

Tell us about your pen name in the comment section.

Photo Credit: Lyn Lomasi
(Yep, it's another pic of me)

(I originally published this on BUBBLEWS (no longer published there)

by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer

Let's just cut to the chase. I sing while I write. Wait, what? Usually, when I tell people this -- or they discover it by hanging out with me while I am working -- they wonder how in the heck I can do this.

The truth is, I can't answer how, but I can tell you more about it. You see, ever since I was a small child, singing was my first love. Once I learned to write, at the tender age of three (yes, three, ask my mom Jaipi Sixbear), they were a tie. I haven't put down the pen (or keyboard) or microphone (aka thin air sometimes) since. At some point (not really sure when) they just started happening together.

I sing many of my waking hours. The most active time is while I am writing. It helps me to concentrate. Friends often ask if I accidentally type song lyrics into my work. It's possible that I have a time or two -- or that I will in the future. But as far as I know, I haven't unless it was my song I was listening to and composing at the time. Please tell me if I do it in something else, however. I don't think the original artists would appreciate me doing that very much.

Some of my favorite artists to sing with (at least at the moment -- this will change often with me) include Epica, Kina Grannis, Adele, P!nk, Alanis Morisette, Melissa Etheridge, Mariah Carey, Christina Aguilera, Alicia Keys, and many more.

Do you do something seemingly out of the ordinary while writing?

Tell us in the comment section.

Photo Credit/Copyright: Lyn Lomasi
(Yup, that's me)

I originally published this on BUBBLEWS (no longer published there)

by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer

When you write an article and publish it on the web, you don't know who is going to read it. Your high school English teacher might read it. But then again, so might someone with minimal understanding of English or a person with low vision. You need to be able to target as many people as possible when writing for a web audience. One way to do that is to toss the "educated jargon." You're a journalist. We all know you can read and write. Keep it simple and keep the readers.

According to the Yahoo! Style Guide lesson entitled " Translate Voice Into Words " (pg. 36), using simple words is helpful. It's not a good idea to practice all those big words you used in school in web writing. This is not to say that web readers aren't smart. But, when a person searches for something on the internet, they just want to find and scan the info quickly. If you have too many big words, they'll just click away and move to the next, costing you a potential reader. Lighten your vocabulary load.

As an experience web writer, I agree with the Yahoo! Style Guide on this point. When I first started writing for the web, some of my work contained too many big words and complex language. You can still be considered a professional without having a talk with your thesaurus every day. Simple wording does not mean you aren't smart. It just means you're catering to your audience.

Another vocabulary-related mistake is being too formal in web writing. Take this sentence for example: "According to authorities, Amanda was unwillingly arrested, due to the unruly bar commotion she provoked." There is nothing wrong with the sentence. But it's not as easy to read as the following: "Amanda is said to be in jail after refusing to go with police. Reports state that she caused some ruckus at the bar before that." Which one is easier to follow? Most likely, it will be the second one.

There's also your unique voice. Your content should be written in a way that immediately tells readers it's something you wrote. Think of the books and articles you read often. Are there authors that stick out? Do you know right away who wrote something, based on the topic and tone? That's what you want readers to do with your work also.

One way to do this is to create your own wording for certain things. For instance, I call myself a "Momtrepreneur". When I say that, I am referring to the fact that I'm a mom and an entrepreneur at the same time. I work at home and stay home with the kids. I've received countless comments and messages over that one term. Also, just the way in which someone "speaks" in their writing should tell you who the author is. Two people can write about the same thing and have it come out entirely different. Give your content that special touch that only can come from you, but at the same time, keep it simple.

Source:
Yahoo! Style Guide by Yahoo! and Chris Barr

**Photo Credit: Lyn Lomasi

**I originally published this content on Yahoo! Voices on Aug 2, 2010

by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer

I’ve often written about how to come up with ideas when you’re struggling to find topics as a writer. However, I am one of those writers who always has too many ideas. I can’t be the only one who has docs, notebooks, and cell phone space full of them. So, how do I deal with all of these ideas? What exactly do I do with them and what can you do with yours?

Sort and organize your ideas for ideal use – Many writers write to more than one venue or have somewhat of a designated space or time period for certain topics. It may help to sort your ideas into categories based on topics, venues, styles, in alphabetical order, and more. We each have our own way of doing things. Therefore, only you can decide the exact sorting method that will work best for you specifically. Whatever you choose should make it easier to find and take advantage of all of your ideas.

Give away good ideas you’ll never write – We all have those ideas that sit in a notebook or file somewhere that we keep skipping over for various reasons. Some of those ideas are ones that we may come back to eventually, while others are those which we know we will never write. Take the latter ones out of your records completely and compile them to share with fellow writers who need ideas. Most writers are friends with other writers and you may even be able to think of an exact person who’d appreciate at least some of the ideas.

Create blank docs with titles ahead of time – This is one of the many things I do to help keep track of ideas, as well as to save time when I am ready to write. I title a blank document using the idea and try to make the title one I can use for a potential article or other piece of writing. I save the documents in the most appropriate folder for that specific idea. This could be a folder of docs designated to a specific client, a specific category of ideas, or for one of my own websites. If I don’t yet know where it might go, I save it under the regular documents folder and move it accordingly after it has been written and published.

Use your ideas to create templates/outlines that speed productivity – This is taking the blank doc idea one step further. I have a method I use to speed up my productivity when creating content. I make myself templates or outlines that have all of my ideas listed so that I only have to think of how to explain it in each section and type out just that part when ready to write. To see samples of how I do this and exactly what I mean, go here: www.articlewriterforhire.com/1/post/2011/07/quick-web-writing-tip-make-an-easy-outline-to-speed-productivity.html

Stop staring at them and just write! – You knew I was going to say this at some point, right? The most obvious thing to do with all of your ideas is to just start grabbing them and write! It really is just that easy. Do the voices in your head keep switching back and forth from idea to idea? Let them. I have an easy way that I deal with that issue as well: http://www.articlewriterforhire.com/1/post/2014/10/tips-for-writing-multiple-articles-at-once.html

What do you do when you’re overwhelmed with ideas?

**Photo Credit: Lyn Lomasi

I originally published this on BUBBLEWS (no longer published there)

by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer

Help! I can't stop writing! I told myself I wouldn't write anything for a couple days - you know, actually take a break for more than errands and doing things with the kids. Well, here I am doing it anyway. Writing is such an addiction. I am so addicted to writing that I asked Facebook friends for tips on how not to be productive. Then, it came to me. I could write an article about not being able to stop writing. See, I'm doing it again! It's a never-ending cycle.

Every time I do something - anything - an article idea arises. So much for not writing today. I guess I'll have to try again tomorrow or would that be the following day instead? This is my life as a natural born writer and natural born multitasker. Sure it's my career. But I love writing so much I want to do it all the time. No, I don't just want to. I have to. I even write tips on how other people can write more often like I do.

Oh no! Somebody stop me! I'm spreading the workaholic addiction! I even became a volunteer Community Guide (and later, community staff) at Yahoo! Contributor Network so I could teach others my addictive techniques. What will I do next (queue scary music)? Ooh, it is getting close to Halloween. Time to start writing some Halloween articles. See what I mean, the ideas just never end!

Natural multitasking and a love for writing is a very dangerous combination. I should know. I have mastered writing large numbers of articles quickly and even writing on multiple computers to speed productivity.

Can somebody please help? Seriously. Alright, in all honesty, I really don't want help on this front. But wait, doesn't that prove the addiction even further? Oh well. I'm already too far gone for help at this point.

OK, so I'm just having fun and it's not really that bad. But sometimes us writers do wish we could turn off the ideas in our heads just for a little while. Writing does feed and clothe my family and it keeps me really happy. A happy mom is a good mom, right? Yes, that's it! See, I don't need help at all!

So what should I write about next? Oh, never mind, I have plenty of ideas already!

**Photo Credit: Lyn Lomasi

** I originally published this content at Yahoo! Voices on July 17, 2010.

by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer

If you browsed my Facebook wall (or other social media sites I am a member of) and hadn't before (or were not made aware of what I do), you might quickly become confused. Why? I often share work written by my friends as well as what I create myself. This means some topics might conflict with my personal viewpoints and other things posted -- and that's okay. However, it is confusing to some people and I receive questions about it often.

Here's the deal. Freelance writers often get paid based on page views. Therefore, I frequently share to help them out once I have read a piece. Sometimes I agree with the points made in my friends' articles and sometimes I don't. I don't always share based on topic because I can disagree with a topic and still feel the article has value. Even if someone doesn't agree with me, they have a right to speak their mind as well. Unless it's harmful to others, opinion doesn't affect my choice to share the link to someone's work on various social networks.

My strategy for reading when my friends do the same is to click what I'm interested in and ignore the rest. It's silly to send a message to someone asking them not to post certain things. Yes, I have had that happen: (http://www.articlewriterforhire.com/1/post/2013/10/please-dont-tell-me-what-to-post-on-facebook.html). I realize I do share lots of stuff on social sites. Please ignore what you aren't interested in and only share what you are. After all, sharing should be organic, not forced.

What's your sharing strategy? Do you use opinion as one of the deciding factors in sharing content on social media?

Photo Credit/Copyright: Lyn Lomasi

I originally published this on BUBBLEWS (no longer published there)

by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer

Being a momtrepreneur with several active careers (yes, several) and a house full of kids and pets, I don't have much time. Therefore, I have many tricks to help me get everything done. Drafting titles is one of them.

There are several ways to draft titles. If you are going to be posting on or submitting to a venue that allows you to save drafts online, you can create and save drafts with titles reflecting your desired topics. I usually save multiple titles and try to make them as close to titles I would actually use so that changes are minimal to non-existent. With all the titles right there, all I will need to do is paste in the content once I write it. It also helps keep me with a steadily flowing stock of ideas.

If you cannot save drafts to your desired venue, simply use the same technique in your word processing program. For instance, I have hundreds of blank documents saved in OpenOffice. The document titles are my possible article titles -- and they can always be changed later if I decide to change one after writing it. Sometimes, once a piece is written, the title isn't quite right any longer.

No matter which of theses methods you use -- and you may use both -- when you draft out your titles ahead of time, it can give you more time to focus on the actual writing. Sometimes, thinking up ideas can take more time than the writing itself. But if you keep a stockpile of these title drafts at all times, you won't have to stress about your ideas when you should be writing instead. make sure to add to your title drafts every time you get ideas. I set aside time each day just to focus on titles. If the ideas keep flowing, I extend that time until I run out of ideas. Then, I move on to writing.

Do you have strategies for drafting titles? Please share in the comment section.

by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer

Are your readers getting bored with your posts? Are you getting tired of writing them? The quality may be good but for some reason, no one is reading. Why? One reason may be lack of creativity.

You aren't writing a text book. Get creative! Make your content shine by showing off its style within the text. Obviously, it needs to be readable. But there is no need to be straight facts and no fun. Dress up your content as if you were dressing up yourself. Get glammy, glittery, and gluey -- if that's you.

No one wants to read the same thing they can read anywhere else on the web. people want something different. Don;t just report the facts. Talk about what you would do or have done in the same scenarios -- and don't be too mainstream in how you do it. Just be your creative self. You're an artist, correct? Remember, that is what we writers really are deep down? Use that to your advantage and show it off.

Have you been taking advantage of your creative side?

Why would online article writers need a website if many article submission sites allow a professional profile? This is a question I get asked often when I mention the idea. Learn some of the many reasons all freelance web writers need a website of their own.

Writer's Resume

When applying for online writing jobs and gigs, reference links and/or a resume are often required. This will be much simpler for those with a website. Some may create an area where a client can download their resume by requesting the link. Others may post links to samples. Yet others may do both or handle it another way. Online article writers need a website in order to reference their work all in one place.

Professionalism

Professionalism is key, even though you don't see your clients face-to-face when writing online. A freelance writer's website is like a virtual resume, meeting place, and office at the same time. This is where you can let your clientele know you are professional by including all of the right things. A bio, samples, and a contact page are just a few. Read "8 Musts on a Freelance Writer's Website" for more details on those and other must-include items for professionalism.

Info Source

Even if a client finds your work elsewhere, they may want to know more than they can find in a limited bio attached to your profile on a content site. This is where your website comes in handy. Many content sites allow article writers to place a link to their website in their profile or bio. Also, be sure to link to it from any blogs or other profiles you have. Giving clients (both potential and current) a place to find more information about you as a person and as a writer is very beneficial to them as well as to your writing career.

Announcements

If you have any big writing projects, off days, exciting news, etc it can be posted to your website. Of course you don't want to announce information that is too personal, but a web writer's website can serve as a great way to spread the word. Doing this has many benefits. Some include letting clients see that you are accomplishing things, engaging with your audience, and also depending on the announcement it might bring in more readers or clientele.

File Storage

Depending on how much bandwidth your site allows, this can be a great place to store certain files. Of course you still need a hard copy backup, but storing them in a secure, hidden location on your website can help you keep everything related to your online article writing all in one spot. This also can free up space on your computer if you'd rather not have the files there. Just be sure, as mentioned above to keep a hard copy if you go this route.

by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff

Do you have non-exclusive writing lying around collecting dust? If you write for a living, chances are that not everything you submit or publish is exclusive to one party. What are you doing with the work that you still hold publishing rights to? If you answered "Nothing" you are not making the most of your work.

Offer reprints.

What are reprints? Put simply, reprints are pieces that have been previously published but can be published again.

If you submit your work to someone non-exclusively, you still have publication rights. Always read the fine print everywhere that you publish your work to be sure who has the rights. Just because you still hold the copyright, does not always mean you still hold publication rights.

Once you have determined that you do hold publication rights, there are several ways you can offer reprints.

Here are some of my favorites:

• Get them published with online venues that accept non-exclusive content and customize the content to each venue.
• Have a reprints page  on your website or offer it on your regular services page.
  
• Republish them on your own website to draw traffic to your services and/or advertisements.
• Get them published in print publications that accept non-exclusive work, again customizing to fit the venue.

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