My Freelance Writing Project Timeline
Even though every project is unique, there are several steps that I follow with each job that I take on. As a freelance writer, it is very important to stay organized, and to also know how to proceed when a new job comes across your desk. If you a new to this industry you may have yet to perfect your project timeline. Hopefully by taking a look at how I complete projects from start to finish, you will have a better idea on how to proceed.
1. After a client awards me a project, I ask for any details that may be needed. This includes the length of the article(s), keywords, topics, and perhaps most importantly, the deadline. If you forget to ask about any details up front, you can always touch base with the client as you move forward.
2. Either the same or next day after accepting the work, I take the time to set up the project in a separate Word document. This allows me to have a blank slate to work with, and helps to keep my organized. Some freelance writers like to work on paper first, but this is not something that I usually do.
3. If no further research is needed, it is time to work on a first draft. During this step I am not obsessed with being perfect. Instead, I simply attempt to gather my ideas and get an outline for the end result.
4. Once the first draft is complete, I read it over and make notes on changes that jump out at me. As you can imagine, some drafts need changed quite a bit and others are almost ready to send off to the client. This all depends on the type of project, and how much I know about the topic.
5. When putting together the final draft you must always strive for perfection. After all, this is what you are going to be sending the client. Make sure that you take your time during this step; it is always nice if you can catch mistakes as you write.
6. Proof the final result before attaching it to an email and sending it to the client. If you are worn out from a long day, you may want to proof your work the following morning. This will go a long way in ensuring that you do not miss any silly mistakes.
As you can imagine, this timeline is not set in stone. With that being said, I always follow these steps in one way, shape, or form. If you are still working on a freelance writing timeline that you are comfortable with, consider adding a few of the steps that have helped me throughout the years.
