This book has been designed specifically for students in writing classes and other writers interested in developing proficient writing careers in a professional environment. As professional writing continues to change rapidly alongside digital developments, this book frames professional writing particularly for 'creative' and other writers. The professional world needs writers with a diverse portfolio of skills and capabilities; if writers can master these, they are more able to make a living from their writing and support their more creative endeavours. Each chapter includes a comprehensive range of exercises to build professional skills, along with learning objectives, case studies, worked examples, tips for success, and suggested websites and further reading.
Author(s): Lisa Kesteven, Andrew Melrose
Edition: 1
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
Year: 2022
Language: English
Commentary: TruePDF
Pages: 194
Tags: Creative Writing; Writing Skills; Career Skills
Contents
1: Introduction to Professional Writing
What Is Professional Writing?
Can Writing Really Be a Profession?
This Book Approaches Professional Writing from These Three Perspectives
Why Is Professional Writing Critical to Business?
What Are Some of the Causes of Poor Professional Writing?
How Is Professional Writing Different to Other Forms of Writing?
Lose Your Own Voice and Become an Imitator!
Write to Specification
It May Be on a Subject You Don’t Know Much About or Have Very Little Interest In
It’s Professional
The Demand for High-Quality Content and Copy
Business Style and a Consistent Image
Key Chapter Points
2: Writing for Business
External Communication
Internal Communication
Business Language and Tone
How We Communicate Creates an Image
Identifying the Subject, Audience and Objective
Reader-Friendly Writing and Readability
Sentence Structure and Word Choice
Engaging with Readers
The Way of Communication
Pressure to Stay in Touch
It’s All About Image
Writing Professionally and the Freelancer
The Professional Freelancer …
Key Chapter Points
3: A Career in Professional Writing
Writing as a Profession in Business
Jobs Available to Professional Writers
Turning Your Written Words into a Paying Proposition
The Life of a Freelance Writer
Standing Out from the Crowd
Key Chapter Points
4: The Art of Communication and the Freelancer
The Freelance Writer and Communication
How Does Communicating Professionally and Business-like Differ from Other Forms of Communication?
Getting Your Message Across
Use Active Voice
Avoid Passive Voice
Stick to Simple and Shorter Sentence Structures
Be Specific
Be Positive But Curb Enthusiasm
Avoid Qualifiers
Keep It Professional at All Times
Write from the Point of View of the Company
Write More Univocally
Avoid Nominalising Verbs
Recommend Action Rather Than Refer to Individual Mental States
Avoid Qualifiers That Weaken Recommendations Or Express Doubt
Avoid Personalising Pronouns, and Personalising Problems
Use the Imperative Voice
Use Verbal Rather Than Nominal Forms (Verbs Changed into Nouns Or Adjectives) of Words
Use Parallel Structure
Eliminate Unnecessary Words
Select Words in an Appropriate Register (Vocabulary and Tone) for Your Reader
Provide Possible Solutions and Any Implications
Be Cautious with the Use of Jargon
The Humble Email
Emailing for Success
General Email Etiquette
Addressing an Email
Subject Line
Body of the Email
Some Examples
Why Is This Better?
Bad Email Habits
Good Email Habits
Disclaimers
Signatures
Key Chapter Points
5: Writing for an Online Market
Writing for Digital Media
The Style Guide
Digital Platform Choice
Creating Scannable Content
Copy People Want to Read!
The Visual and Verbal, Alongside the Written
Assessing and Evaluating Online Copy
Key Chapter Points
6: Self-promotion
Becoming an Expert Self-marketeer
Have a Website Dedicated to Your Freelancing Writing
Blogs
Forums
What Are You Good At?
Identifying Your Strengths and Weaknesses
A Standout Profile
Making Your Profile Stand Out
The Freelance Writer’s Portfolio
Change Your Portfolio Regularly
Refresh Your Content
Portfolio Content
Some Potential Ideas Include
Volunteering
How to Have a Positive Volunteering Experience
Key Chapter Points
7: Finding Work
Finding Work
Traditional Sources to Find Writing Gigs
Online Sources to Find Writing Gigs
Engaging in Networks
Building Customer Relationships
Creating a Freelancer’s CV
CV Style
Profile
Skills List
CV Highlights
Other Sections
Building Your Elevator Pitch
Key Chapter Points
8: Navigating the Bid Process on Freelancing Platforms
Freelancing Platforms: How Do They Work?
Identifying Suitable Opportunities
Writing Successful Bid Responses/Proposals
Read the Project Description: And Then Read It Again
Make an Impression
Sell Your Specific Strengths
Details of Your Proposal
Personalise Your Bid
Answer Any Questions
Provide Estimates
Be Polite
Supporting Your Proposal
The Price
Your Questions
Show Your Experience
Be Clear with What You Will Provide
Manage Expectations
Proposal Outline
Getting Your Proposal Noticed
You’ve Won the Bid: Now What?
Key Chapter Points
9: Estimating Writing Projects
Estimating Rate and Work Effort
Your Basic Rate
Pricing Your Services
Price per Project
Price per Hour
Price per Word/Page
Calculating Rates
Per-Word Rates
Per-Page Rates
The Marketplace
Know Your Value
Other Benefits?
What to Charge?
Negotiating
Scoping the Work
Have Some Standard Guides
Pricing a Job
Going Under Your Base Rate?
Retainers
Rates Are Not Set in Stone
Getting Better at Estimating
Some Useful Guides
Writingassist.com
Key Chapter Points
10: Planning and Managing Writing Projects
Planning Writing Projects
Planning Process
Getting Started: Identify the What, Who, Why and How
What Are You Really Writing About?
Who Cares?
Why Is This Piece Needed?
How Will This Piece Be Delivered?
Step-by-Step Planning for Writing Projects
Discussions
Keeping Track of Project Information
For Each Client
For Each Project
For Each Task
Project Management and Writing Projects
Asengana
Basecamp
Evernote
FreshBooks
Podio
Redbooth
Taskboard
Thrive
Trello
Ulysses III
Wrike
Do You Really Need a Fancy Tool?
Key Chapter Points
11: The Editing Process
Thinking About Ways to Edit
Narrative Voice
Negative Positive or Should That Be Positive Negative?
Active Voice
I Would Like To
Punctuation
Word Smart
‘Out of Work’ Words
Muscular Verbs
Who, What, Not That, What Not
Currently, Presently, Truly, Deeply—And Killing the—Lys and—Ings
Informal Contractions
Your Little Word and Phrase Tics
Tools to Help with Editing
Key Chapter Points
12: Building a Successful Career as a Professional Writer
Understanding Your Skills and Capabilities
Have a Niche or Two … or Three … or Four …
Learn, Learn, Learn
Be Realistic
Develop a Thick Skin
Be Persistent
Become a Risk Taker
Got to Really Want It
Having Long-Term and Short-Term Career Plans
When Things Go Wrong
Key Chapter Points
Appendix: LGA-Banned Words
Index
