The Best of EssayLancers: 20 Manuals to Become Your Desk Assistant

Essaylancers

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By Essaylancers

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Freelance Tips, Writers Beyond Writing, Writing Tips and How-to’s

11.09.2017 07:34

Either it is a new writing season, or you are just new to academic writing, you have to pull yourself together and provide your clients with the best results possible. Consequently, to ease this process, EssayLancers decided to create an ultimate wealth of guides that will help you refresh your memory and get armed for a new season. Well, off we go!

Your Client Is Your Backbone

#1: How to Make a Client Trust You

As soon as you are assigned to the order, the very first mission is to show your best self and make sure this client will add you to the “favorite authors” list.

Quick Note:

• Always make a plan;
• Communicate with a client;
• Respect client’s time;
• Keep your promises;
• Be interested in the order.

#2: How to Make a Client Leave a Positive Review

Positive reviews make your business alive and kicking and support your reputation. Get to know how to make your client share with others what a great experience is to work with you.

Quick Note:

• Do NOT be shy and ask your client for a review;
• Send 50% of the work done for approval;
• Propose a bonus.

The More You Give, the More You Get

Of course, your income is the item that worries you the most. No academic writer would say: “I am ready to work gratis”. But you always have to keep in mind that no client will pay you for poor work. That is why the more you give them, the more they pay you.

#3: How to Raise Your Rates

One more question that probably irritates you every single day - how to raise your rates, doesn’t it? Let’s have a look at the ways to increase your income and when is the best time for it.

Quick Note:

• Tell about the price boost in advance;
• Offer a one-time bonus/discount;
• Ask your client for advice.

Credible Sources Is the Halfway to Success

#4: 9 Free Online Libraries for Academic Writers

When writing an academic assignment, you have to focus on reliable sources only. To ease your search, we have created a list of free online libraries you can refer to when valid sources for an academic work are needed.

Quick Note:

• Internet Archive;
• Library of Congress;
• National Archives;
• etc.

Grammar Rules Are Your Holy Book

Even the small omission can cost you a lot. Here is a list of the most practical guides to address when you have a question mark in your head.

#5: Compounds – Outlaws of English Grammar

One of the hardest issues is compounds, and you have to know how to cope with each point. This article will help you make sure your writings have no such mistakes.

Quick Note:

• Open (two or more words written separately. E.g., mineral water, mountain plants, etc.);
• Hyphenated (two or more words with a hyphen(s) between them. E.g., non-English-speaking, two-mile walk, etc.);
• Closed (several words spelled as one. E.g., sheepdog, milkman, etc.);
• Permanent (accepted publicly and can be found in the dictionary. E.g., road sign, matchbox, etc.);
• Temporary/Situational (they can be created for one-time use, though sometimes become permanent. E.g., office newsman, bedroom reading, etc.)

#6: Infinitive or Gerund? That Is the Real Question!

How many times, when writing a paper, do you wonder whether you have to use gerund or infinitive? Bet, a lot! We have a piece that will solve this problem. Have a look!

Quick Note:

• Use an infinitive: to express the purpose, after question words (what/where/who/how/etc.), after certain verbs (afford/decide/offer/etc.), verb + object (advise/leave/tell/etc.), after adjectives, after nouns and pronouns related to verbs.
• Use a bare infinitive: after modal verbs, after certain verbs and constructions (let/make/see/hear/had better/would rather/help/why/why not).
• Use a gerund: as nouns, after prepositions, after certain verbs (face/risk/postpone/etc.), to express general preferences, after certain expressions (in addition to/look forward to/the idea of/etc.), with passive meaning.
• Use gerunds and infinitives: with particular words (attempt/advice/forget/be sorry/etc.) that change or not the meanings.

#7: Numbers in Academic Writing: 18 Rules to Remember

Do you use numbers in your papers? Sure! As you have to provide facts, you have to use numbers. Let’s recollect how you should do it in academic writing.

Quick Note:

• 0-100 (in general, these numbers should be spelled);
• 21-99 (they are always hyphenated);
• Beginning of the sentence (they are always written here in words, no matter what kind of number it is);
• Whole number + hundred/thousand/hundred thousand/million/billion (they have to be written in words);
• Day without a month and year (write it in words);
• Simple fractions/centuries/decades/time of the day.

#8: How NOT to Go Too Far: Modal Verbs in Academic Writing

At first glance, it seems that everything is quite clear, but when you encounter modal verbs in writing, you understand that they have some tricky pitfalls. Not all of them are used in academic writing, and you have to learn which ones are common for college papers.

Quick Note:

• Modal Verbs of Possibility - would/might/could/may/etc.;
• Modal Verbs of Ability - can/could/be able to/etc.;
• Modal Verbs of Suggestion - shall/can/could/etc.;
• Modal Verbs of Necessity - need to/should/ought to/have to/etc.

#9: Minutes of Grammar: 4 Most Used Tenses in Academic Writing

So as with modals, not all grammar tenses are used in academic papers. Let’s recollect which ones you are more likely to use in such assignments.

Quick Note:

• Present simple;
• Past simple;
• Future simple;
• Present perfect.

#10: 9 Punctuation Marks That Can Save Your Reputation

Punctuation also will not let you switch off. So, make sure you remember all the tricky points.

Quick Note:

• Use commas after the introductory clause/in series/with numbers/before quotes/before the independent clause/with nonessential clauses;
• Use periods at the end of an utterance/after shorted forms of words;
• Use semicolons to relate clauses/in citations;
• Use colons when exemplifying;
• Use apostrophes in possession/contractions;
• Use quotation marks in direct quotes/titles;
• Use question marks in interrogative sentences/doubts;
• Use exclamation marks in exclamations;
• Use dashes to introduce/summarise the material.

Phew! We are done with grammar, but that is NOT it...

Mind to Keep an Eye Out

#11: Setting Boundaries as a Way to Stable Earnings

Your work is not only about orders, clients and your support team. It also depends on your friends, relatives and the space you work in. Learn how to organize the whole process not to get distracted from earning money.

Quick Note:

• Organize your working space;
• NEVER work in bed;
• Respect your boundaries.
  

#12: 10 Academic Writing Traps You Need to Avoid

Academic writing is full of pitfalls and to avoid them, you have to learn where they can wait for you and how to avoid them.

Quick Note:

• Do not take too many orders;
• Do not promise that you can’t give the client;
• Do not overtire yourself;
• Study all the time;
• Focus on your work.

#13: 5 Tricky Decisions Academic Writers Get Burned on

Make sure you do not turn to some disastrous decisions that may ruin your career.

Quick Note:

• Do NOT use your mate’s PayPal account;
• Do NOT buy accounts on the Internet;
• Do NOT search for employers on Facebook;
• Do NOT provide bonus services till you are sure it is not a hopeless job.

#14: The Trickiest Grammar Traps ESL Writers Should Avoid

Not only ESL writers face difficulties with grammar. Everyone should know the traps they can get into due to their inadvertence. Grab this guide to assist you.

Quick Note:

• Know the difference between make and do;
• Do not overwhelm your writings;
• Use valid facts.

NO Time to Sit Twiddling Your Thumbs

#15: 9 Alternate Ways to Beat the Writer's Block

It may happen that you can’t write even a word and, you have to make a lot of efforts to connect your thoughts. Such symptoms tell that you suffer from a writer’s block. We know how to beat it.

Quick Note:

• Change the scenery;
• Write something off topic;
• Do something you like;
• Take a cold shower;
• Do some yoga;
• Do some sports.

All these tips will help you easily overcome the lack of thoughts and bring you back to writing a worthy paper.

Get a ‘Good Boy’ Award

#16: Correspondence Ethics in Academic Writing

Being a good writer means not only to have great writing skills but also to be a good communicator.

Quick Note:

• Be always available to your clients;
• Be friendly, but stay professional;
• Know your rights;
• Focus on solving the problems, not on getting rid of them.

#17: How to Deal with Bad Reviews in Academic Writing

You are not going to receive positive feedback only, and you have to know how to deal with negative ones.

Quick Note:

• Tell that you will improve your weaknesses;
• Say that you are sorry;
• Fix the issues in writing immediately;
• Ask to modify a negative review;
• Draw conclusions.

#18: How to Communicate with Your Employer

Your client is not the only person you have to rate highly; your employer also needs honor. Get to know how to maintain dignity.

Quick Note:

• Inform them about your progress;
• Present your interest;
• Be polite;
• Back up your opinion;
• Be precise.

Make Use of All the Possible Life Hacks

#19: Non-Native Writing PRO: How to Write Better than an ENL

If you are an ESL writer, it is still quite easy to become successful. To reach the target, you do not have to spend all your spare time on writing. Being aware of some professional life hacks will help you become a master even faster.

Quick Note:

• Let your words flow;
• Get rid of passive voice;
• Do not reinvent the wheel, use the words and phrases that already exist.

Ability to Have Rest Is the Must-Have Skill

#20: How to Take a Day off the Right Way

The enclosing part of our guide is dedicated to the ability to have fun. It is quite easy to go mad if you do nothing but work 24/7. Your body needs rest as well. So, learn to do this the right way.

Quick Note:

• Turn off all the notifications;
• Notify your clients/employer in advance;
• Do not think about work;
• Spend a day in the fresh air.

No matter where you are going to put this ‘priceless treasure’ (save to the bookmarks, print out, etc.), make sure it is easily accessible when needed. Do not break your head psyching yourself up for success as well as perusing the Internet in search of the academic writing guides. You already have what you need, and now you have some time to bring the last point of that article to perfection! Good luck ;)