I have always said that you should have someone else edit your work. You have more of a chance of skipping over spelling mistakes and grammatical errors when it’s your own writing. However, when you are writing your own blog posts, you usually don’t have that luxury. Yes, coming back a couple of hours later and editing your writing helps. Or, you can also start on the last sentence and read backwards. This way you are reading each sentence independent to the one before it.

We are still human and will make mistakes. If I’m reading a great review on a new bike, and the person accidentally forgets a letter in a word, does that really make it hard for you to understand his review? Or if someone is writing about how to keep up with your goals, can you give the person the benefit of the doubt if she forgets a comma? I know there has been a huge debate about how bloggers are butchering the English language, and how journalists think they are better than bloggers. Like I stated before, bloggers usually don’t have editors who can go around with a red pen or turn on track changes and catch all the mistakes for them. We usually have to rely on ourselves to do the editing as well. We also have faster turnaround times, so we don’t have a formal editing process that companies, government agencies, magazines, and newspapers have.

If you really can’t let go of that one grammatical mistakes, then send the blogger a private note letting him/her know about it.

I have seen some blogs that have a huge disregard for grammar. However, the ones I am referring to are the ones who have made one or two mistakes in like a year.

On purpose, I didn’t edit this post.

Spend a couple of hours coming up with a schedule

Create a schedule that works for you. Not everyone is programmed to work 9 to 5, so you have to think about the hours that will allow you to create your best work and spend the quality time that you need for family, friends, and/or you. Mine will not look like yours, and yours will not look like someone else’s. You have to really think long and hard about a productive schedule.

Block off times that you will not work

On the weekends, I unplug and spend it (almost) electronic free with my children, family and friends. Unless, a client has an emergency that needs to be addressed that weekend (remember setting up your fees? You should have a fee for these types of emergencies), then I don’t work. I barely answer phone calls or emails because this is my quality time to forget work and enjoy life.

Make your clients understand that you are not a robot

It would be great if we could work 24 hours a day and still have time for ourselves, but we don’t. Make your clients understand that you can’t always be there. If they don’t, then you have to make them understand or reconsider the relationship (it’s not you; it’s me). You need time to de-stress and focus on the other parts of your life. We are not one-dimensional creatures. We have different roles (e.g. mother, sister, daughter, friend, etc.) that we play in this life, so you can’t ignore them or you will not be happy, which can cause you to no produce your best work.

Even if you work full-time and freelance part-time, you need a schedule that you follow and your clients understand. Your life needs to balanced; not just one-sided.

I am also going to change the format of Chicwriter to be more personal. I want to share real-life stories that might motivate new technical writers and business analysts to keep moving forward. I’m glad that I have found a career that I am extremely passionate about. I never got into technical writing for the money. If that was the case, I would have continued on my path to become a software developer. Instead, I switched majors and focused on a field that I would love doing even after many years later. Furthermore, this career makes it easy to spend quality time with children who are my first priority in life.  It’s something that I always tell the kids in my family (including mine). Do what you are passionate about. Money comes and go, but doing something that puts a smile a smile on your face is priceless.

I’m also going to be writing about my quest to relocate to San Diego, CA or Austin, TX.  One of the great things about freelancing and consulting is that you can do it from any location.  This is what I plan on doing.   If anyone knows of any great companies in these areas, comment below.

I hope that everyone has a wonderful week.