by Lolly Spindler

via Robbie Brown Work Evolution

Being a freelance writer can be a difficult task. There’s no one around to keep you accountable and it’s easy to get distracted, especially if you’re working online. Therefore, it’s important to come up with a routine and a daily checklist to keep you motivated and on task.

According to Brian Tracy, a best selling Canadian author:

“Successful people are simply those with successful habits.”

In other words, in order to truly make freelancing a viable career, you need to foster successful habits.

5 Habits You Need to Nurture Now

Without further ado, here are five habits you should develop in order to be the most productive freelance writer you can be.

1. Get to Know How You Work

In order to develop or change a habit, you first need to know those you already have. Ask yourself questions like “During what time of the day do I get the most writing done?” and “What websites distract me the most when I’m supposed to be working?”

2. Develop a Routine

Many of the most successful people have routines they follow everyday. These routines not only help them stay focused, but they increase their productivity. Whether rising early and exercising before getting down to the grind is your thing, or you get more done after a mid-day coffee break, create a routine and stick with it!

3. Stay Organized

via Robbie Brown Work Evolution

Designate an exclusive working space for yourself and keep it clutter free. According to Becoming Minimalist, a study conducted by the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO) found that 91 percent of people said they would be “more effective and efficient if their workspace was better organized.” As a freelance writer, forms and online content for different clients can get jumbled. Make sure you keep physical forms in labeled folders and web content in separate folders on your computer.

4. Keep Yourself Accountable

If you only have enough time to dedicate to a certain task, make sure you complete it within a given timeframe. A great practice to keep yourself accountable is to set alarms on your phone or computer for when you should be completing a piece of content, have a phone meeting with a client, or need to move on to another assignment.

5. Remove Distractions 

If you’re the type of person who gets easily distracted while working, try to remove all distractions you can anticipate before you start writing. Block websites that tend to lead you astray, or put away your phone or other devices when it’s time to get to work.

Why Productivity Matters

Productivity is an important aspect of a freelancer’s life. If you’re not productive, you won’t earn a living. What’s more, your clients rely on you to deliver well-written content in a timely manner. After all, given the importance of content marketing in today’s digital world, their business in part relies on your productivity.

By adopting the above five habits, your career as a freelance writer will not only begin to take off, you’ll find that the process becomes easier and more like second nature. Productivity is important because it becomes a habit itself. Once you start producing more content and increasing your income, you’ll only want to write more and reach new freelancing heights.

Call for Artists
Our first exhibit represented a cross section of Long Beach's finest artists, but as you know, Long Beach has a LOT of amazing artists! So, we are extending our cross section theme into WE Show II before focusing on narrower themes. If you would like to be considered for this WE Show II, please see the submission instructions below and submit your art for consideration no later than midnight on March 6th, 2015.

Call for Curators
Both Work Evolution and the Arts Council are very much interested in helping further develop a strong curatorial talent pool in Long Beach. With this in mind, we will be selecting guest curators for each of our quarterly WE Show exhibitions in 2015. The Arts Council will be generously supporting this guest curator with a $250.00 stipend.

If you are interested in this opportunity for WE Show II, please submit a cover letter, resume, a biographical statement (250 words or less) and a short (500 words or less) curatorial perspective statement (how you approach art appreciation) to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Submissions must be received by March 4th in order to be considered. Guest curators should expect to commit two afternoons or evenings to this work and be available for the WE Show II opening (April 1st) and our monthly Art tours during the second quarter of 2015.

About WE Show and Art Submission Guide
In recognition that exhibition space is at a premium for Long Beach artists, Work Evolution and the Arts Council for Long Beach are partnering on an exhibition series just for Long Beach artists. Submission is open to all artists who are signed up on the Arts Council for Long Beach, Arts and Cultural Registry.

The Arts and Culture Registry is a free service designed to be a comprehensive and inclusive list of artists and arts organizations serving Long Beach, California. It improves visibility for Long Beach’s impressive talent pool and offers a vehicle for local exposure and networking. The Registry is open to any artist who lives, works, performs or exhibits in Long Beach, California.

Work Evolution is Long Beach’s co-working and creative space located downtown at 325 East Broadway. Their large, inviting space also serves as a gallery and event location, making this a unique opportunity for Long Beach artists to expand their audience.

Shows will exhibit on a quarterly basis and will be featured through regular We Labs Art Tours. The opening reception for our second quarterly exhibition will be on April 1st, 2015. Additionally, Work Evolution and the Arts Council will partner with participating artists to actively promote the show.

Work Media: Most 2D media; limited space available for 3D work.

Work Size: 6’X6’, 80 LB. max.

Entry Requirements:
Artist’s information on the Arts Council for Long Beach, Arts and Cultural Registry must be current and complete.
Digital images (JPEG) of up to three works may be submitted either by email (using We Transfer) to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or on CD/DVD, mailed or delivered to: Work Evolution, 235 E. Broadway, 8th Floor, Long Beach, CA 90802
Artist Resume including biography, educational background, and exhibition record
Artist Statement
Sales price (if applicable)
Timeline: Opening Reception: April 1, 2015

Entries Due: March 6th, 2015

Notification to artists: March 13, 2015

Accepted Artwork: All 2D artwork must be installation-ready (wire or sawtooth hangers).

Delivery: Artwork to be delivered to Work Evolution by March 20th, artists will be notified of delivery days and times after selection process.

Opening Reception: April 1, 2015, 7PM to 10PM

Exhibit or Event Ends: June 20, 2015