In fields as competitive as freelance writing and editing, setting yourself apart as one of the best is crucial to maintaining a thriving business. Once clients discover your high-quality work, they are going to spread the news. Not only that, but they’ll be willing to pay what you’re worth, especially once they’ve had one or two encounters with your less-than-professional colleagues. If you incorporate these 12 disciplines into your writing or editing life, you’re sure to deliver an excellent product every single time.

 

1. Prioritize Sleep

The most important tool you have in this career is your brain. And to help your brain function at its highest level, you should get enough sleep. It’s tempting to want to “grind it out,” especially if you’re trying to meet a deadline or if you’re tight on meeting your budget, but if you sacrifice your sleep, you may be sacrificing the quality of your work. It’s not worth it. Commit to getting good-quality sleep right now. Keep your priorities straight, so your clients don’t suffer. If that means missing a deadline, simply let your client know right away that it’s going to take a little longer than you thought, and then adjust your estimates for the next job to allow for more time.

You might have trouble falling asleep. Often, our minds race when we hit our pillow, and we just can’t fall asleep. I went through years of insomnia due to a fussy baby, post-partum depression, the death of my spouse, and a major cross-country move. But there were a few things I discovered about sleep that helped me start snoozing again. It is easier to fall asleep when you have a deep sense of being loved and valued and when you feel safe. If you are having difficulty falling asleep, think over and over about how loved you are and how valuable you are. You have a purpose, and your life is significant. In regard to feeling safe, I mediate on Scriptures from the Bible about how much our Father loves me and His promises to keep me safe. Find what works for you. Another thing that has been very effective is to think of the things I am holding against myself or others and say out loud, “[My name or name of the other person] I forgive you for [whatever the offense was] and I release you from the debt you owe me.” I’ve gotten some of the sweetest sleep after going through this forgiveness ritual.

 

2. Prioritize Good Nutrition

Our guts are so interconnected with our brain function that we shouldn’t ignore what we’re eating. Eat high-quality, unprocessed foods. This includes fresh fruits and vegetables, grass-fed beef, organic chicken, and wild-caught fish. Instead of looking at the nutrition label on packaged foods, read the ingredient list, and avoid foods that have ingredients you can’t pronounce or are mysterious. One of the easiest ways to eliminate inflammation in your body and increase clarity of mind is to eliminate cow dairy products (switch to goat dairy) and gluten.

 

3. Exercise

You’ve probably heard that movement is life. Get out and take a walk or a short run at least twice a day, once in the morning and once in the afternoon. You can also find some great exercise videos for free on YouTube. One of my favorite exercises is Pilates. It’s designed to incorporate dynamic stretching and strength movements that build your core muscles, which are the foundation for all your muscles. The deep, regular breathing during a Pilates workout oxygenates your brain and invigorates your body. Even 10 minutes of this workout a day will make a notable difference in your performance.

 

4. Don’t Worry

In a culture where stress and anxiety are the norm, it’s a rare thing to find an editor or writer who isn’t worried about some aspect of the job. But humans do their best creative work when we are super chill and confident. If you can master this discipline, you’ll set yourself head and shoulders above your colleagues.

I’ll tell you how I discovered what works for me, but you can use what works for you and feed the rest to the birds if you like. Several years ago, I had a dear friend try to convince me to start using marijuana to help take the edge off the anxiety I was experiencing. I assured my friend that marijuana would only be a coping mechanism, not a cure, and I wanted a cure. In the course of our conversation, it surfaced that trusting in Jesus was the answer, and a switch inside of me flipped. I realized that while I’d been a follower of Jesus most of my life, I didn’t really trust him to take care of things for me. I decided I had more to lose by taking my own responsibility for my career than by turning everything over to Jesus. I told him He was now responsible for my reputation, for meeting my deadlines, and for my quality of work. And that day, I started practicing casting my care on Him—taking the things I cared about and letting Him do all the caring about them instead. Practicing means I messed up quite a bit and got to try again. But the more I practiced the better I got. And since that time, I’ve never missed a deadline or disappointed a client. I attribute the success of my thriving business solely to the Boss Man, and work is more play to me. I hope you find your own way to let go of worry even while you diligently work.

 

5. Invest in a Blue Light Filter for Your Computer

I only discovered this after I started working full time. I realized my eyes were beyond fatigued after standing at my computer eight hours a day. So I did some research and discovered that our computers put off something called “blue light.” It’s very hard on our eyes, and you know how important our eyes are to this kind of work. If your computer doesn’t already have a blue light filter, don’t wait another day to find a product that has great reviews and order it!

 

6. Invest in a Standing Desk

Having a standing desk contributes to frequent exercise. Our bodies weren’t designed to sit all day, and since I began using a standing desk with a cushioned mat, I have less back pain and have noticed that my knees, ankles, and feet have gotten stronger. It’s nice to be able to take a 30-second break and do some squats and spine twists.

 

7. Invest in an Ergonomic Keyboard

Anyone who’s been in this business for a long time understands the kind of pain that can develop in your wrists. Although there may be a short learning curve as you adjust to the different position that an ergonomic keyboard requires, you’ll likely find immediate pain relief. A side note here: when I started getting chiropractic adjustments in my neck, that also greatly relieved my wrist pain. Chiropractic may be a great option for you when it comes to taking care of your wrists.

 

8. Keep a Schedule

Working from home requires a great deal of discipline. It’s amazing how quickly the time it takes to do “quick” house chores eats away at your work time. Set a schedule for yourself and stick to it. Avoid the temptation to put a load of laundry in the washing machine or vacuum the floors “real quick.” Instead, remind yourself that you can do these once your workday is over.

 

9. Eliminate Distractions

This key compliments keeping a schedule. It’s mind-blowing how quickly phone calls, text messages, emails, and social media can drain our work time. When you’re on the clock, focus on the job that’s in front of you. Check messages at your next break to see if any of them are work related. And have an appointed time to read and answer emails.

 

10. Get Dressed

I hope this one made you smile. Or maybe it made you roll your eyes. But there’s something about getting dressed for the day and putting on shoes that signal to your brain that it’s go-time. Even if you change from one set of pajamas to another, getting dressed makes a difference. On top of that, if you can fit in a shower or at least wash your face, this will also contribute to positioning your mind to produce quality work.

 

11. Go Slow

Now we get into the nuts and bolts of copyediting. You’ve taken care of your body and you’re ready to hit the ground running. Pull up the manuscript on your computer screen, and slow down. Examine every character and question if it should be there, whether it be a punctuation mark, a capital letter, a lowercase letter, a numeral, a spelled-out number, a source citation, a word with multiple spellings, etc. Question everything. And if you don’t know the answer, stop, and look it up.

After you finish examining a sentence, question the sentence. Did it make sense? Did it flow well?

After you finish a paragraph, question the paragraph. Did all the sentences belong in this paragraph? Are they in the right order? Do they make sense? Do they flow well?

An attorney I once worked for told me, “Haste makes waste.” And I’ve proven this phrase to be true too many times. Trust me. Slow down.

 

12. Trust Your Gut

If something doesn’t seem right. Stop and look it up. I can’t tell you how many times my brain has said, “This is right,” but my gut said, “Something’s wrong.” Occasionally, my gut will be wrong, but more often than not, it is spot on. Give your subconscious some credit. Sometimes it knows things our consciousness just can’t.

 

Giving a quality product every time will set your business apart and give you a great deal of satisfaction. With these 12 keys in place, doing your best will be as easy as breathing. Were any of these 12 keys new to you? Which ones do you find the most difficult to remain disciplined at? As you move forward to greater heights of writing and editing, remember that your voice is significant, and your contribution is unique.

 

Rachel E. Bradley holds a BS degree in paralegal studies from Northeastern State University in Oklahoma and graduated summa cum laude in 2006. She is a gold member of the Christian PEN: Proofreaders and Editors Network, is an established freelance editor with the Christian Editor Connection, is an instructor with the PEN Institute, is a judge for the Editors’ Choice Award, and has served as faculty for PENCON, the only conference for editors in the Christian market. After serving nine years in the legal field and becoming an advanced certified paralegal, Rachel started her business as a freelance editor and indexer. She now owns Revisions by Rachel Inc. In 2018, she lost her first husband, Matthew, after an intense battle with brain cancer. She now edits with a new understanding and a fierce compassion for people who feel broken and hurt. In celebration of continued life and hope, she became a licensed skydiver and takes to the skies with her rainbow canopy, “Promises,” any chance she gets. In early 2021, she asked God to choose her next husband. In an incredible tale of trusting God and giving him her yes without exception, she is now joyfully married to Alexander Bradley. They have been assigned the awe-inspiring and continually humbling task of raising two incredible children. Beyond reading, Rachel enjoys Bible studies, dancing during church worship, skydiving, swing dancing, rock climbing, reading, teaching, discussing important issues, watching Star Trek, sewing, cooking, Pilates, horseback riding, water sports, playing guitar, and snow skiing.