Most writers I know are happy to spend their time writing away either at their computer or with pen in hand...anytime and anywhere. I include myself in that group but I find the researching part just as interesting and fun as the writing process itself. It's like feeding my mind with something different every day.
What I am discovering as my writing business develops, is that the other seemingly mundane tasks such as editing and proofreading are as much in demand as writing itself. I cannot tell you how many potential clients I have met who 'started' writing something and then got lost and need help. I like to pride myself on being a 'finisher'. Many people are perfectly capable writers so they'll give the project a try only to discover that it was more work than they imagined or that their vast knowledge on a subject resulted in a mere 300 words when they thought it would be ten times that.
Part of the fun of being a writer is being able to help out folks in that situation. It feels wonderful to take something and turn it around. The old 'sows ear into a leather purse' scenario. I think it also brings value to a project when you can help the client to develop their own skills and become less dependent on you. This may not sound like logical business practice, but it is my experience that developing relationships (which includes doing joe jobs and teaching writing lessons) is infinitely more valuable than getting the job, doing it and moving on. We may be poised in front of a keyboard for the better part of a day, but it's our interactions with people that develop our character and consequently our 'saleability'. If I want to be truly spectacular at what I do, it starts with being the best person I can be and sharing that through my writing and my interactions with others. I'm still a work in progress.
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