If you’ve ever put up a fence – or even watched anyone – you’ll know that it involves several steps. You don’t just walk out there, stand up a ready-made fence and walk away. No, you have to measure, dig holes, make sure things are level, and so on.

Freelancing is no different. You don’t just walk into a publication’s office and plop your article or book on their desk and end up with your work published immediately – and without editing.

It’s a process.

You have to put in the time. Some of us do things differently, but basically we: study, research, write, rewrite, edit, proofread, query, follow up, invoice, read, correspondence, and more…

Here’s a fun summary of how fence building is similar to building a writing career…

Example 1: The Plan and Outline

Fence Building

Once you’ve decided you want a fence, you must figure out what type of fence you want. Is your fence for decoration? Simply curb appeal? Or is it to keep pets or children tucked safely within the perimeters of your property? How much money can – or will – you spend on your fence project? Will you hire a professional – or do it yourself?

Writing

The same applies to freelancing/writing. What kind of freelance writer do you want to be? The author of several books? Do you want to be featured in top-notch, glossy magazines? Do you want to be a famous blogger? All of the above? And what will you write about? How much money (and time) are you willing to spend on your dreams? Will you hire an editor or fellow writers? Or will you be the only go-to source of your business?

Example 2: Research and Preparation

Fence Building

Once you’ve chosen the details of your fence project, you’ll need the correct tools. Will you dig each fence post hole by hand, with post-hole diggers, or will you buy (or rent) a tractor and augur? Pick up your screws, concrete mix, tape measurer, level, and anything else need to complete your project – including a quality pair of gloves!

Writing

And when you know in your heart what topics or genres you’ll be writing in, where will you go from there? Will you attend writer’s conventions or retreats? Will you invest in books, classes, or seminars that may help you advance in your writing career? What about a new computer? Office? Desk? Chair? Bookshelves? How far will you go to gather everything  you feel necessary to soar in your writing career? Don’t forget high-speed Internet!

Example 3: The Finishing Touches

Fence Building

As each post goes in, your fencing project is progressing. Things are moving along. Then as each panel is installed, the fence will start to look finished, complete. You begin to feel good about yourself, about your abilities, and that you stuck with it instead of calling someone to finish for you. Or, if you hired someone, you’re feeling relieved at this point that it will be over soon and your life can resume its normal routine.

Writing

Just because you write a fabulous article or essay – or even a book – doesn’t mean that you’re job is finished. You then need to promote your work, build a readership, study publisher’s guidelines, etc.

And so you see, building a fence is similar to writing in that even once the fence is built and you’ve done a wonderful job and people drive by, admiring the beauty and all your hard work – you will need to maintain that fence. If it’s wood, you’ll need to keep it painted over the years because it will naturally weather and will require your attention and polishing to make it look new again and keep it in the condition you desire.

What is your favorite fence? How does it relate to your writing business? My dream fence is a tall, iron one like you see in the movies. I wonder if that’s because I’m a homebody and love to write from the safety – and peace – of my own home? Can you see how building fences is similar to the writing process? What resonates with you the most?

Photo Credit: 10-10-09 © jcgsees