By Lis Garrett
Keywords: resources, freelance writer, business cards, how to write, desk
One of the joys of being a freelance writer is the having the flexibility to work when you want and where you want. However, if you are finding that sitting cross-legged on the couch with your computer perched in your lap or in a raucous mall café amongst disruptive teenagers is becoming a drain on your productivity, now is the time to graduate to a real desk. What resources should you keep at your desk, though, aside from the computer? Here are five ideas on how to organize your desk so that you can be a more efficient freelance writer.
Hang an oversized desk calendar and marker board and use them as resources for creating a daily flow chart, taking notes and keeping track of important information. As an organized freelance writer, you'll need a highly visible space for posting your work schedule, project goals and deadlines.
Purchase reference resources that teach you how to write articles that are informative and market specific. If your interest is print publication, invest in the latest edition of Writer's Market, a compilation of available publications and tips on how to write marketable material. In addition, every freelance writer should keep an updated dictionary and thesaurus at her desk.
Retain copies of your current resume with business cards attached so that they are readily available for contacts and prospective clients. You can order free business cards from VistaPrint or design your own low-cost business cards at Moo Cards. Put together a writing portfolio that contains your resume, business cards and clips from current writing projects.
Keep contact information up-to-date and well organized in an address book or filing system. You can even make notes about each contact including company details and freelance services provided.
Have plenty of incidentals -- pens, pencils and paper clips, for example - on hand at your desk. In addition, fill a drawer with blank paper, lined notebooks or journals on which to brainstorm ideas.
Organization breeds efficiency, so follow these tips to experience a greater degree of productivity in your busy workday.
Lis Garrett is a work-at-home writer living in Upstate New York with her husband and three children. In addition to her work as a contract writer for Writers Research Group, she writes site and product endorsements, maintains a blog for novice freelance writers, and edits a school newsletter.
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