As writers, we should all be constantly looking for ways to improve our skills, but during the summer, you’re more likely to be taking vacations, time off, and spending time with the kids and the family. The freelancing life is best geared toward people with a lot going on in their lives (flexible hours, yay!) and the summer is the time when that takes the forefront.
Teach a Class. If you’re a mom and you need to put your kids somewhere for the summer, consider volunteering to teach a class at your local community center on writing for kids. Not only can this be a great way to spend time with the little guys, but they can offer you a fresh perspective on how a younger generation experiences the written word. If you’re not a mom, considering volunteering your skills to teach a course to adults in your area on how to make extra money online. You can make new contacts, foster new writers, and probably even get some extra hits on revenue share sites. Some places do pay writers for these kinds of programs, depending on experience and local funds.
Take a Class. Maybe YOU are the newbie, or maybe you want to expand your writing to a new genre and you want to get a little more info before you dive in. Check with your local colleges and community centers, because many of them offer summer courses that aren’t too expensive and can help you learn a new craft.
Enjoy Your Vacation. Just do it with a writers eye! Keep a journal, try writing a travel piece, and keep your eyes open and your mind alert. Every step you take can offer you new inspiration, especially a step in a new direction or foreign location. Keep yourself in a writer’s mindset, constantly engaged in your surroundings, and you never know what you’ll find.
Take a Writing Vacation. There are many retreats for writers out there, but often they can be expensive and not necessarily in the locale you had in mind. If you need some time to write (finish that novel? invest in that passion project?), take the laptop, hit the airport, and go to some remote location for a week all by yourself. That way you can keep yourself constantly free of distractions and always immersed in your writing.
Try a Retreat, Conference, or Workshop. Availability will vary by area; Mitali Perkins wrote about some great New England options, Writers Digest puts out Writers Online Workshops (never tried but heard good things!), and in Boston Grub Street usually has fantastic writers workshops and conferences. Do a quick Google search for stuff in your area, and remember, anything you invest in to improve your skills is tax deductible.
What are your favorite things to do to sharpen your skills? Let us know here or @WanttoFreelance on Twitter!
