How to ask for help as a writer

Plus: Editors apparently are NOT our enemies? Who knew?!

The Clothesline is a weekly newsletter from Vanessa Chiasson offering cozy business content for writers who love to plan, read, and travel. Please share with a friend!

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Join me on September 27 for my Q4 planning workshop. Have you ever agonized over how to keep your cash flowing during the winter holidays? Or do you struggle with an onslaught of last minute assignments - great for income, but horrible for enjoying a winter break. Do you feel like you have let all your 2024 goals slide? Or are you not sure what to focus on next now that you’ve met your main objectives? Planning workshops help with all this and more.

How to ask for help as a writer

Happy Friday, friends.

I’m currently reading Lara Wellman’s You’re Not Lazy and there’s a very helpful section that addresses asking for help. The author emphasizes how this isn’t a sign of weakness but rather one of strength. However, it occurred to me that while many writers would agree with this advice, we don’t always know how to put it into action.

How do you ask for help when you’re a business of one, when your creative vision is yours and yours alone? Here are some thoughts on resources and avenues for help that all writers should have by their side.

Reach out to your editor.

Guys, did you know that editors are really nice? And they’re smart and helpful, too? Why are we living in fear of our editors, terrified of not delivering the perfect pitch and copy? It’s a scarcity mentality. We think there’s not enough quality work for all of us, and we’ve become scared of annoying our editors and sharing vulnerabilities. But the editors are ON OUR SIDE. Contact them for feedback, advice, and resources if you’re struggling with an aspect of your story.

Connect to your guild, union, or association.

I can’t count the times I’ve been hanging out on the Canadian Freelance Guild’s Discord channel, and someone has had a question about some aspect of freelancing. How can they track down a particular source? Who has experience with incorporation? There’s always someone around to help.

Consider a co-working space.

I joined a co-working space for six months, and while I loved everything about it on paper, I only actually went two times in that period. I blame a combination of apathy and pricey parking for dragging my heels, but I know that for many people, these supportive communities of diverse, self-employed folks are a great place to be. 

Initiate your own co-working tradition.

Shout out to my friend Stephanie, who is often at the same coffee shop as me on Sunday mornings! Joining or founding a writing group or coffee shop working group is a great way to find support and resources.

Reach out to the resource providers.

I don’t even want to tell you how long I was freelancing as a travel writer before I realised that tourism boards are there to help you. Like, they WANT to help you. But I was clueless, spending hours on research to find the best craft shop in Yukon and the cutest bee farm in PEI, utterly unaware that there are entire teams of well-paid people whose actual job it is to connect media members with story sources.

There are organisations and associations for just about every single sector of society. Can’t find them? Your local librarian can help with your search.

Subscribe to newsletters.

Feel like you’re starting from scratch every single time you go to pitch? There are tons of newsletter-based resources out there for writers. In fact, you’re reading one right now! Study Hall is one I read weekly as it contains a round-up of all the calls for pitches.