The year of Insane Bravery is finishing strong!
The older I get, the holidays are less about getting presents and more about just being overwhelmed with gratitude. This year is no different. Here’s to hoping you can find that measure of thankfulness. If you’re like me, you had one hell of a year!
Year end is my favorite time of year to reflect and plan. I’ve already heard a lot of great goals from friends and colleagues. Many of you are planning to put a lot more intention into your lives in 2024 — and I’m all for it! Share your goals for 2024 – and let’s make one of them bringing that new book into the world!
In the meantime, here are a few interesting things I’ve run into as we come sliding into home for 2023.
Word of the year – Oxford English “Rizz” Think of it as a shortened form of charisma (like “fridge” or “flu”.) Pertaining to someone’s ability to attract another person through style, charm, or attractiveness, this term is from the middle part of the word ‘charisma’, which is an unusual word formation pattern. It’s pretty snazzy when you think about it. We all need more rizz in our lives!
What’s your third space? It’s not a new idea, but one that I keep seeing pop up – the idea of a third space, that place where you meet friends or live that’s not work or home. Your third space is the café where you have coffee each morning or meet friends for drinks each evening. It can be the gym or even a library, wherever you go to engage. Lately, third space theory has intersected with the crisis of loneliness, especially in women. The idea is that finding or creating your third space can be critical to thriving in today’s crisis of loneliness. What’s your third space? How might you create one in 2024?
Speaking of hope: Chilean poet Pablo Neruda liked to write his poems in green ink. The Nobel Prize-winning writer viewed green as the color of hope. As an editor, I’ve long been a fan of pens that write in color. Are you picking your office supplies for next year? Isn’t it about time to rediscover childhood, write in colors, use the office supplies you were never allowed to, and discover your color of hope (or inspiration)?
Keys to Freelance Success: This year, I had some stretch goals and did pretty well, although I hit a rough patch with over-commitment, burnout, and anxiety in the fall. I learned some important lessons about how to unstick myself – and also how to ask for some help. Business coaches are important for a reason and I’ve got some exciting plans for next year as a result. How to find a coach? Don’t be afraid to meet a few and find a good fit – especially when it comes to your business segment and the inspiration you need. In the meantime, you’ll run across some great advice as you research and follow coaches and fellow colleagues.
Lately, I’ve run across several coaches offering freelancers financial advice which made me wonder what advice I’d give to new freelancers.
- Have a cushion. Lots of companies can take 4 weeks or more to turn around an invoice. Give yourself time so you’re not worried about paying the rent because a payment didn’t arrive. At least 1-2 months is best.
- Always be prospecting. It takes a long lead time to prospect and close on new projects. Give yourself some room.
- Use a professional accountant. I can do my own books, but when it comes to taxes – especially freelancer taxes – engage a professional. Trust me, when you get that letter from the IRS (and you will), you want a professional to handle it. It decreases the stress, worry, and hours spent sorting it out on your own.
- Turn down clients when you need to. It’s OK to pass on clients you know might not be ready or who you feel don’t fit what you can do for them right now. It can be scary – especially when you may feel underemployed, but it’s incredibly empowering and will get you to that next level of success.
Love or hate the popular (or annoying) POV content creator Timm Chuisano, his mantra stays with me: Become addicted to the outcome.
Making the ask: One thing I got much better at this year was making the ask. My notes from last January say “it just takes 20 seconds!” And it’s true! I got much better at sending that email pitching ideas, asking editors to keep me in mind for work next year, and lots of “I’d love to work together!” (Which is true!) Recently, someone tried to hit me up for their hybrid self-publishing company, suggesting I write my own book. A view through their website said they offer to ghostwrite many of these books, so I turned it around and said I wasn’t interested in my own book right now, but would love to talk with them about ghostwriting for them. I got a “thanks, we’ll let you know if we need you email.” My lesson? Turn it around. What can you offer to do for them? What can you sell them back? I’m sure I’ll never hear from them – but at least I feel like I got my own name out there. Maybe it will be my new favorite game to play on LinkedIn. And maybe, just maybe, one of those terrific turnarounds will turn into a neat project!
Fellowship Planning for 2024: All you writers out there, it’s time to add a few to-dos to you goal list. It’s time to make a list of all of those symposia, competitions, and fellowships with applications. Start a running list of deadlines, potential dates, and projects. They’ll never happen if you don’t put them on the calendar – and wouldn’t a great fellowship be a shot in the arm for that dream project that’s been on your shelf?
The value of dancing: I recently read something that stayed with me. We need to dance more. Wiggle. Move. Jam. Whether it’s swinging those hips when you make coffee in the morning or a boogie in your sock feet, there’s joy in that movement. Just connecting your brain to good music can make a huge difference in your mood. (Not to mention the benefit of motion for your body.) Formal classes aren’t needed – but a good playlist is. Activate that brain/music/movement connection to find some mood elevation.
And I’ll close out 2023 with this: Business book writer James Clear notes this in his newsletter:
“One version of confidence is: I’ve got this figured out. Another version is: I can figure this out. The first is arrogant and close-minded. The second is humble and open-minded. Be humble about what you know, but confident about what you can learn.”
When you start learning new things, it’s time to level up! And I’ve got some great ideas for leveling up next year!
Inspired? I want to hear what you’re working on.
Let’s connect online:
At my website: connectorcreator.com
On Facebook: Renee Wilmeth
On Instagram: @feedmedrinkme
At LinkedIn: Renee Wilmeth
Planning your projects or editorial calendar for 2024? I’m currently book projects through the spring. Non-fiction book proposals, ghostwriting, book concepting and development – I help you get your book to your agent or publisher even if you’re feeling a little overwhelmed. Let’s connect!
Warm regards,
Renee Wilmeth
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Connecting. Creating. 
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