From time to time an opportunity to take on new assignments comes forward. In actuality, I am asked on a regular basis to accept various projects, but I generally turn them down especially if I am in the midst of a long term assignment as I have been for most of this calendar year.

Still, it is kind of nice to be wanted [smile] and there are times when a project is small enough and interesting enough to bid on. Just recently, I accepted two new assignments and one of them has already been completed and forwarded to the client. I might add that my new customer was delighted with my work and will be using me again shortly.

I have created a certain rhythm that has helped me successfully complete assignments fast and accurately. First of all, if there is any area that is unclear concerning the accepted assignment, I always contact the client to ask additional questions before beginning to write. What I have learned to ask will vary, but generally this will include the following questions: What is the target audience for a particular article? Is there a certain keyword that needs to be emphasized? Do you require paragraph headers? Do you need an introductory paragraph?

Second of all, I write out a rough outline featuring the following: a topic sentence, 3-4 bulleted points for the body of the article, and a concluding sentence. I don't always write this information down on paper; depending on just how familiar the topic is to me, I can have these points "written out" in my head. I simply "flesh out" each point as I go along.

Finally, once I have written the article I reread it to make whatever changes are necessary. Then, I put the article to the side and go to my next article. Later, when my mind is fresh I return to the original article and make whatever additional changes that I feel may be needed.

Typically, this pattern has worked extremely well for me. Rarely do I have to rewrite anything that I submit to a customer as I have found that by taking time and separating the writing and editing segments works wonders for me. I like the rhythm that I have created as it is a beat that flows nicely for me and has been warmly welcomed by my clients, new and old.

Copyright 2006