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productivity

When everything on your plate is a priority

By Michelle V. Rafter on November 19, 2009 | 9 Responses

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As the economy picks up and we writers get more offers of assignments, nobody has the heart to say no to work. So how do you decide what to do first?

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Posted in Freelancing | Tagged freelance writing, how to prioritize, productivity, running a freelance business | 9 Responses

WordCount Repeats: 10 ways writers can beat the recession

By Michelle V. Rafter on August 9, 2009 | 3 Responses

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While I’m away from my keyboard this week, I’m re-running a few posts that didn’t get the attention – or web traffic – they deserved the first time around. I’ll return with fresh insights on the business of writing next week. – Michelle Rafter You can’t control the economy, or the price of gas or [...]

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Posted in Careers, Economy, Freelancing, Writing | Tagged freelance writing, marketing your freelance business, productivity, The economy | 3 Responses

WordCount Repeats: 5 reasons freelancers need vacations

By Michelle V. Rafter on August 3, 2009 | Leave a response

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While I’m away from the keyboard this week, I’m re-running a handful of posts that didn’t get the attention – or web traffic – they deserved the first time around. I’ll return with fresh insights on the business of writing next week. – Michelle Rafter Don’t underestimate the power of a good vacation. I just [...]

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Posted in Careers, Freelancing, Writing | Tagged productivity, taking a vacation, time off, why freelancers need vacations | Leave a response

Freelance link love, for Friday, May 30

By Michelle V. Rafter on May 29, 2009 | 2 Responses

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Here’s what I’ve been reading this week: The Editor Unleashed The Editor Unleashed Guide to Good Blogging – Good advice from the former editor of Writer’s Digest. The Huffington Post 13 tips for actually getting some writing done The Urban Muse I Said, He Said, We Said – Picking a point of view for your [...]

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Posted in Blogs, Freelancing, Writing | Tagged Blogging, freelance assignments, freelance writing, Freelancing, how to blog, productivity, Social Networks, Twitter, Twitter hashtags, using Twitter | 2 Responses

To stay fresh, take a mental break between writing deadlines

To stay fresh, take a mental break between writing deadlines

By Michelle V. Rafter on March 11, 2009 | 5 Responses

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It’s hard to jump straight from writing “The End” on one assignment to “Once upon a time” on the next. Sometimes you need a mental break in between, even if it’s a short one. Think of it as a palate cleanser between courses. I recharge the old writing batteries by doing a quick activity between [...]

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Posted in Freelancing, Workplace Issues, Writing | Tagged freelance writing productivity, how to be more productive, productivity, taking a mental break | 5 Responses

WordCount weekly news wrap up for Jan. 31

By Michelle V. Rafter on January 31, 2009 | 5 Responses

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Is it just me, or does it seem like there’s a uptick in the stories and blog posts on the evolution of the news business and the role independents – writers and others – are playing in it? The sputtering economy is speeding up the pace of change. Here are some developments of interest from [...]

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Posted in Economy, Freelancing, Media Business, Newspapers, Online news, Writing | Tagged @mediaisdying, @mediaishirin, Beatb, BeatBlogging.org, CBS Interactive, freelance writing, Jonathan Weber, killer WordPress apps, Michelle Nicolosi, MoneyWatch.com, Newspaper Industry, NewWest.Net, people to follow on Twitter, Print to Online, productivity, Steve Boese, WordPress resources | 5 Responses

An ode to Twitter

By Michelle V. Rafter on January 26, 2009 | 7 Responses

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A cautionary tale: Of Twitter, beware. Your free time it won’t spare. All too soon, you won’t care Of your life what you share – And real work can’t compare. Log on if you dare.

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Posted in Social Networks, Technology, Web 2.0, Workplace Issues | Tagged ode to Twitter, productivity, time wasted on Twitter, Twitter, using Twitter at work | 7 Responses

Best of WordCount – Work smarter, not harder

By Michelle V. Rafter on December 31, 2008 | 1 Response

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While I’m on vacation this week, I’ll be rerunning some of the best WordCount posts of the year. Look for new posts, including my predictions for the top digital media personalities to watch in 2009, starting January 5. Happy New Year! Today’s reruns – Yes, it is possible to work smarter, not harder. Squeeze more [...]

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Posted in Freelancing, Workplace Issues, Writing | Tagged Freelance writing tips, how to get organized, how writers can get organized, productivity | 1 Response

How to celebrate the season – and write too

How to celebrate the season – and write too

By Michelle V. Rafter on December 3, 2008 | 8 Responses

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For the second year in a row, Dec. 1 rolled around and I’m slammed with work. I’m not complaining. With the economy and the publishing business in a shambles, it’s a nice problem to have. And it’ll help me pay for Christmas. But still, as a working parent, it’s a challenge to juggle the work [...]

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Posted in Freelancing, Workplace Issues | Tagged Christmas, freelance writing, productivity, working during the holidays | 8 Responses

Celebrate Cyber Monday and pep up your writing business with some electronic gadgets for Christmas

Celebrate Cyber Monday and pep up your writing business with some electronic gadgets for Christmas

By Michelle V. Rafter on December 1, 2008 | 1 Response

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It’s Cyber Monday, time to start thinking about holiday spending (or maybe not). When you’re getting presents for everyone else on your shopping list this holiday, don’t forget to get yourself something too. Preferably it’ll be something to help you be smarter and more productive in your writing business but that is also cute and [...]

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Posted in Workplace Issues, Writing | Tagged Christmas shopping, Cyber Monday, electronic gadgets for writers, IncTechnology, productivity | 1 Response

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Welcome to WordCount, a blog about the freelance writing business. You'll see fresh material throughout the week on writing basics, blogging, tech tools for writers and more. A good place to start is my Greatest Hits page, with links to 101 of my best posts. Don't miss the Friday reading list for writers, a week's worth of writing inspiration. Tune into my #wclw Twitter chat for writers on the last Wednesday of the month at 10 a.m. Pacific time. I also host the WordCount Blogathon, a blogging challenge to post every day in May. Use this form to register for this year's event. Subscribe to WordCount on your blog reader or get it delivered via email. Send email to wordcountfreelance@gmail.com.

Michelle V. Rafter

Reporter, editor, blogger, finance, business, workplace issues and media.

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