Author | Lightnews

Shelby Dennis @shelbydennis.bsky.social · Mar 21

Love this question! I take a similar approach:
"I'll be gone for [dates]. Based on our current assignments, I'll have everything squared away before I go.

Let me know by this Friday if you absolutely need anything else pre-trip. Otherwise, we'll touch base again on [usual date] as usual!"

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Shelby Dennis @shelbydennis.bsky.social · Mar 21

If you #WFH in an open space, use visual cues to communicate when you're available versus not.

For example, I wear a comfy, but giant, set of headphones so my loved ones know I'm in "Do Not Disturb" mode. Often I'm not even playing music etc.

Sounds basic, but it really works. #freelancesuccess

Shelby Dennis @shelbydennis.bsky.social · Mar 19

One of life's greatest joys: Having a #writer friend who, out of the blue after 6 months of not messaging each other, reaches out with a #bookupdate and asks how yours is going.

AND THEN when you say "ugh I only have this Keep note of plot beats..."

They give you ideas and feedback.

#gratitude

Shelby Dennis @shelbydennis.bsky.social · Mar 11

I got my first #YouTube subscriber. I only started the channel so I could easily share instructional videos with my existing coaching clients.

But I set the videos to public because hey, why not. And now a #freelancewriter I've never met is benefitting from my lessons.

Wow. Just wow. 🥹

Shelby Dennis @shelbydennis.bsky.social · Mar 7

Can you say more about this? Ain't funded as in SEO writers in the game space, writers for in-game dialogue, all of the above? Been wanting to break into this industry since I first played N64 at age 8!

Shelby Dennis @shelbydennis.bsky.social · Mar 7

Writing the next few issues of my weekly newsletter, prepping for my next writers' coaching call, and writing the offer page for my new course for aspiring freelancers with ADHD!

(and, of course, drinking this GIANT caramel latte.)

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Shelby Dennis @shelbydennis.bsky.social · Mar 7

A #freelance #writer reached out to me for support/strategies to help with some struggles.

A couple days later, they emailed back to say the tips were working, and they were excited about their progress!

THIS is why I do what I do. Helping passionate people get closer to living their dreams. 🥹

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Shelby Dennis @shelbydennis.bsky.social · Mar 5

🧠 #ADHD #freelancer tip: Time blocking doesn't have to mean rigid hour chunks. Try "task batching" instead.

Group similar tasks and work through them during your natural focus periods, whenever they happen to strike!

#ADHDFreelancers #WorkSmarterNotHarder

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Shelby Dennis @shelbydennis.bsky.social · Mar 1

Question for #neurodivergent #writers and #freelancers:
Do you feel like you can't successfully freelance or find clients because you "don't fit" the mold?

Working on a project about this issue and how much it's impacted me as an adult with #ADHD. Do you feel this way, too? Please let me know!

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Reposted by Shelby Dennis

Anime Herald @animeherald.com · Feb 27

Hey, freelance writers: We're always looking for pitches for articles from members of the community, and we'd love to work with you all.

We pay $55/article, and our editorial team is pretty amazing. 💖

Guidelines: hera.fyi/guidelines 📖
Pitch Form: hera.fyi/pitch ✍️

#writing #jobs #anime

Screenshot from the New Game! anime that depicts Ko, a blonde woman in a black top, smiling as she gives a thumbs up to Aoba - a purple-haired girl in a suit. Ko is sitting at her comptuer workstation, which has the Anime Herald homepage on the screen

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Shelby Dennis @shelbydennis.bsky.social · Feb 27

"There are two paths we can follow, Kids: creation or destruction. In opting for the former, you not only get to make a thing, you might get to make a little loot too - but the best thing you’ll make is someone who cannot do what you do very happy."

-Kevin Smith

#freelancewriter #powerofcreation

Shelby Dennis @shelbydennis.bsky.social · Feb 21

I love HIM 🥹

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Shelby Dennis @shelbydennis.bsky.social · Feb 21

"The antidote to #negativity isn't #positivity. It's warmth."

HAD TO share this quote!!

Next time you're feeling negative about putting your #writing out there, don't say 'Chin up, I have nothing to be afraid of.'

Say 'I'll do it scared with a warm cup of tea.'

#writingjourney #freelance

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Shelby Dennis @shelbydennis.bsky.social · Feb 19

My favorite trick for #copywriting is an oldie but a goodie:
With any new client, ask for the best example of their content/copy.

Then, copy it down 3 times... by hand. (Take breaks to avoid hand cramps!)

This trick, often called "copy osmosis," taps into memory and pattern recognition skills.

Shelby Dennis @shelbydennis.bsky.social · Feb 18

Before you stress-delete that pitch email for the 47th time, send it to yourself first. Read it as if you're the client. Tweak it. Then send the real thing before your brain can object.

#writerslife #freelance #impostersyndrome #justhitsend

Shelby Dennis @shelbydennis.bsky.social · Feb 17

Your clients aren't paying for your years of experience. They're paying for your ability to solve their problems. And guess what? You can do that right now.

#impostersyndrome #freelance #writing #mondaymotivation #followyourbliss

Shelby Dennis @shelbydennis.bsky.social · Feb 14

Just met for the first time with my final "trial client" for my newest coaching program.

I am SO blessed to get to lift up these incredible creatives. All of them come from different walks of life and they're all fucking MAGICAL and tremendously gifted in their own ways.

#gratitude #successcoach

Shelby Dennis @shelbydennis.bsky.social · Feb 13

This lines up PERFECTLY with what we're currently focusing on in my freelancer coaching program!! Not sure if Matty has a presence here on Bsky - I grabbed this from his LinkedIn. Definitely worth following him!

#worklifebalance #freelance #writing #honoryourvalues

Shelby Dennis @shelbydennis.bsky.social · Feb 11

It's normal to feel fear when you're freelancing. The secret isn't to get "good enough" that you're above fear...

It's learning to walk hand in hand with it across your freelance journey, and not letting it stop you from taking the next step.

#freelance #writing #smallbusinesssuccess

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Shelby Dennis @shelbydennis.bsky.social · Feb 10

Getting ghosted by potential clients isn't a reflection of your worth. Sometimes people just aren't ready to invest in themselves, & it has NOTHING to do with your pitch.

Keep pitching. Speaking from experience, your dream clients are out there wondering where you've been. ❤️🤝

#freelance #writing

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Shelby Dennis @shelbydennis.bsky.social · Feb 7

PSA: You can be terrified AND talented. Being nervous about pitching doesn't mean you're not ready... it means you're human and you care about the quality of your work.

Now send that email anyway. 😎❤️ #freelancing #impostersyndrome #copywriter #takeimperfectaction #writing

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Shelby Dennis @shelbydennis.bsky.social · Feb 6

#sorrynotsorry - this legitimately made me snort. Sharing in case you need a laugh this #Blursday.

#wordplay #writinghumor

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Reposted by Shelby Dennis

grace @gracemachine.bsky.social · Feb 6

Goal for this year is to be a more proactive and prolific pitcher but any time you commission a freelance writer an angel gets its wings.

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Shelby Dennis @shelbydennis.bsky.social · Feb 6

The most successful #freelancers I know still Google 'basic' stuff daily... myself included! We're all just figuring out what works and evolving as we go.

The secret? We charge premium rates anyway. Because learning = growing. #growthmindset

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Shelby Dennis @shelbydennis.bsky.social · Feb 6

For me, a quick way to silence imposter syndrome is to remember that it has no authority.

Your inner critic doesn't pay rent, run errands, keep the house clean, or do anything to support you.

So why should it get any say at all? I often tell mine it needs to get a new hobby.

#freelancesuccess

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