7 Non-Writing Skills That Help Me Make $8K/Month Writing

I started out as an engineer and I always knew I wanted to be in charge of my own destiny. I left engineering after being laid off twice and then decided to go back to school for writing.

The company that laid me off was paying for tuition, so it was a win-win situation. After graduating from college with my degree in creative writing, I found that I loved it. Ever since then, what non-writing skills have helped me make $8K/month?

Skill #1: Self-Awareness

One of the keys to making money with writing is understanding who your audience is and what they want. This requires self-awareness or being aware of who you are, what you like, and what you have to offer as an author.

Self-awareness is the first and most important skill I have. It’s what enables me to go into my writing not with a sense of entitlement, but with a sense of awe at how fortunate I am to be able to do what I love every day.

Skill #2: Active Listening

One of the most important skills for any writer is active listening. This can be defined as “an active form of assessing and understanding what another person may be saying.” In other words, writers must listen to their clients very carefully in order to craft a piece according to their specifications.

I often have a number of clients who need content written with different personalities and voices, so it’s important that I understand who they are and the message they want to communicate before I start writing.

Skill #3: Networking

I put my best work out there, but I’ve found that networking has been one of my most important skills. By meeting people, you can learn about opportunities before they happen to other people and make a big difference in your paychecks.

I work in a local business incubator, and I have forged relationships with the many entrepreneurs in that space. This has been a huge help for me because I am able to tap into their expertise and knowledge. I also attend conferences on entrepreneurship and innovation where I meet people who might be interested in my services.

Skill #4: Time Management

Managing my time has been important for me over the years. I start my day by looking at what I need to accomplish that day. I make a list of everything that needs to be done and then prioritize them in order of importance.

When I’m done for the day, I make sure to do some research about other writers who have made it or people who have an inspirational story that I can learn from.

Time management is essential for a writer. I spend a lot of time researching and writing. However, I also make sure to schedule time for other things that are important like emailing and social media. If I don’t keep my work in perspective with everything else, then I will get burned out.

Skill #5: Basic IT Knowledge

One of the skills that I learned after starting freelancing was basic IT knowledge. As a writer, you need to know how to use basic computer programs such as Microsoft Office and Adobe Photoshop. But most importantly, you also need to know how to do simple things like send an email or change your WordPress password without scrambling for instructions online.

With IT knowledge, I have been able to set up WordPress and other tools for clients so that they could focus on the content. I also troubleshoot compatibility issues, design website banners, and find ways to optimize websites for search engines.

Skill #6: The Art of Doing More with Less

I don’t want to be a machine, I want to be human. That being said, in order to create more hours of writing time each day, I’ve adopted a few non-traditional strategies that allow me to produce more than the amount of content you would expect from an average writer.

This is a skill I learned from my dad. With 8 kids in the family, he was always teaching us to do more with less. Whether it was making something out of what we had available to us, or doing multiple tasks at once, he taught us that most of the time, there’s an easier way to accomplish what we want.

We all need to learn these skills for life. If you can teach your child these skills, you will be giving them the gift of being a pro at problem solving and multitasking. Being able to do more with less is one of the best non-writing skills that I have right now.

Skill #7: Creativity in Many Forms

One of the things I do to keep my creativity flowing is to change up my writing environment. Sometimes I write in the office, sometimes I write with classical music playing in the background, and sometimes I write by the ocean. The point is, it’s important to experiment with different approaches to see what works best for you.

Creativity is not just limited to writing. In order to be a successful writer, you need to express yourself in many forms. For example, I can paint, sew, and make art with my hands. I find that these creative outlets are satisfying and help me maintain a sense of peace and balance in my life.

Conclusion

The blog post talks about the skills that are a necessary part of writing, but not the actual writing process. The writer shares what they’ve learned and then provides their conclusion.

As you can see, writing takes a lot of work and skill. But the non-writing skills I talked about today are also important to my business. Being confident with your abilities, giving yourself deadlines, and understanding your audience are just some of the skills that I use to make $8K/month as a writer.