Freelance writing can be a great way to earn extra income and gain endless freedom, but it's also one that requires a lot of discipline and self-motivation.

While everyone has different methods for staying motivated and inspired throughout the day, we've found ways you can keep your writing juices flowing all day long:

1.   Use the Pomodoro Technique

If you're not familiar with the Pomodoro Technique, it's a way of writing that involves setting a timer for 25 minutes and working in complete silence.  When time is up, take a 3-5minute break before going again.  Repeat this process for 4 "Pomodoro" (that's what they call them in Italy) or 2 hours of focused work.  It can be very hard to stay focused for this long, but taking regular breaks will allow you to avoid the burnout that is so common when writing.

2.   Read Something You Love

While you're working on something new, make sure you take some time to read something that inspires or excites you.  Magazine articles, blog posts, books ... whatever it is you love reading.  It can be a great source of inspiration and will help fuel your passion for writing. This will also help if you ever get stuck because it will remind you of what types of writing are your favorite to read.

3.   Keep a Writing Journal

You can use this journal for anything from daily log entries to responding to prompts, but whatever you do, don't look at it until the end of the day!  By that time, you'll have so many things you want to remember, and it will inspire you to continue writing. Some people find that writing about the day's events helps them process what they've done or seen, while others just like to write because it helps them relieve stress.

4.   Try the 100 Things Challenge

This is a great exercise for those who struggle with writer's block.  Make a list of 100 things you want to write about ... anything!  It can be anything from "I want to write about how much I love Mexican food." or "I need to write an exercise article because working out is so good for me."

5.   Read Everything You Write Out Loud

This is a great way to tell if your writing is engaging and interesting.  Reading out loud lets you catch errors you might otherwise miss, but it also helps inspire creativity.  There's nothing quite like hearing how your words sound to get the juices flowing!

Frequently Asked Questions

1.   Where can I find good material to write about?

You can find inspiration from anything, even if you think it's not related to writing or blogging! Log on to Facebook and read through some of the posts.  See how they've been written and which ones get the most attention.  Often, popular articles will be full of quotes and statistics that can help give you ideas for your very own content.  You can go to Wikipedia and pick out some interesting topics related to your niche, or you can head on over to Google Trends and find the most popular search terms in your niche.  From there, you'll know exactly what readers are interested in reading about!

2.   How do I stay focused and avoid writer's block?

Everyone goes through periods of feeling like they have writer's block, but there are ways to overcome it.  You can try setting your timer for 25 minutes and forcing out as many words as you can within that time period.  This is a great way to get started, so you can create momentum.  Or you can post writer's block memes on your social media sites to remind yourself that you still enjoy writing!  If you're experiencing writer's block that lasts longer than a week, it may be time to change things up.

3.   What does an average day look like for a freelance writer?

That all depends on the type of writing you do and how much time you have to devote to it.  If you work full-time, then your off-hours will be dedicated to writing or planning for future articles.  This is why many bloggers recommend scheduling times for blogging in their planners. When doing freelance writing, make sure you have a clean and distraction-free environment to write in.  I recommend having a separate work area that you can close off from your family or locking away a small office within the main room of your home.

4.   How often should I be blogging or publishing content?

This is something that can change depending on your niche and your goals.  For example, an SEO writer would need to publish more frequently than a travel blogger because their targeting keywords change week by week.  The important thing is to try and stick with a schedule to know what days and times to expect new content.

5.   How can I develop a writing style?

Writing styles are something that comes naturally to people, but they can also be developed over time.  I recommend sitting down one day and simply reading your posts out loud.  If it sounds interesting or engaging, you're on the right track! Make sure to read through your new content and give yourself time to let it sit for a few hours or even overnight.  If you wake up the next morning ready to publish, then it's working!