Full-Time Freelance Writer While Pursuing Other Things?

Freelance writing is an excellent job for a lot of reasons. It offers you flexible hours, the ability to work from home (or anywhere else), and the opportunity to be your own boss. There are some downsides, though, such as the difficulty in making a full-time income.

A lot of freelance writers end up working another job while they try and build up long-term clients that pay well usually, by doing work that doesn’t pay well because it’s easy to get or easy to complete.

This can all suck up time that you’d rather spend on things other than work, like spending time with your kids or going fishing on Saturday morning. So how do you make sure your freelance writing career is truly taking off before you go part-time with the “real” job?

How to Make Money Freelance Writing (For Beginners)

Takeaways
It is possible to become a full-time freelance writer while pursuing other commitments.
Time management and organization skills are crucial for balancing freelance writing with other responsibilities.
Setting realistic goals and prioritizing tasks can help maintain productivity and focus.
Building a strong client base and reputation through networking and marketing efforts is essential.
Developing a diverse skill set and staying updated with industry trends can open up more opportunities for success.

Table of Contents

It’s Best To Work With A Niche

Your niche will be something that defines you and your work. It can be very broad or very specific, but it should be something you are passionate about so that when people read your articles, they feel like they’re reading something that was written with them specifically in mind.

Once you have a niche, build up your brand around it by writing great content and promoting yourself on social media sites like Twitter and Facebook (and LinkedIn if you want).

Don’t worry too much about how many followers or friends you have; just focus on creating good content over time and eventually people will start following/friending/liking/etc. but don’t get discouraged if it doesn’t happen right away! It’s not easy growing an audience from scratch, but with time and patience, anything is possible!

Building a strong portfolio is essential for every freelance writer. Learn valuable tips and tricks on how to make a portfolio that gets you the job in our comprehensive guide on creating an impressive portfolio.

Make Client Research Your Best Friend

One of the most important pieces of getting your freelance writing career off the ground is finding clients. Finding clients can be a challenge because you have no idea how many writers are out there competing for the same jobs as you.

And since you’re just starting, there will likely be more experienced writers who can write better content than what you can produce at first.

But don’t panic! There are ways to overcome this obstacle and find good, high-paying clients who will hire you regularly.

Do Not Underestimate The Value Of Having A Website

You might think that having a website would be more trouble than it’s worth, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. There are so many benefits to having your website that you should seriously consider making one as soon as possible.

A lot of people don’t realize how much value a website can add to your career as a freelance writer, but it is an important piece of the puzzle. A good site can help you land clients and promote yourself in all kinds of different ways, which will ultimately lead to more money in your pockets at the end of each month.

Balancing a full-time job and freelance writing can be challenging. Discover effective strategies and insights on how to maintain a full-time job while pursuing your passion for writing in our article on managing a job and freelance writing.

Get Acquainted With Social Media Marketing

Social media marketing is of great importance for promoting your content and improving search engine rankings. The more people who know about you, the more likely it is that they will read your blog or website.

There are many ways to utilize social media for promotion. You can use Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat to create a presence for yourself outside of just writing articles on topics related to freelance writing. Your goal should be to build an engaged fanbase who follows you because they enjoy reading what you have to say (or see).

Although it may seem like a daunting task at first glance, once you get started with social networking sites such as Twitter or Facebook it’s easy enough that anyone can do it – even if they aren’t tech-savvy! That being said, however…

Find Your Rhythm And Stick To It

Know your strengths and weaknesses. Don’t try to be something you’re not. While it’s important to work on all parts of your writing, some areas will come easier than others.

For example, if you’re someone who struggles with spelling and grammar, don’t force yourself into a position where you have to proofread the work of others. Instead, stick with what comes naturally to you (like writing or editing).

Know how much time can dedicate to your work. It may seem trivial but this is one of the most important factors in determining whether or not freelance writing is a viable option for bringing home an income consistently over time.

If there isn’t enough time available in your day/week/month then it won’t matter how much money could potentially be made from freelancing because there won’t be any time left after school drop-offs and grocery shopping etcetera!

Turn In Assignments Ahead Of Schedule, If Possible

This is a simple but important point, so I’ll go into it in detail. You can get more assignments by turning them in ahead of schedule. If you’re working on a project for two weeks and it’s due at the end of that period, turn it in early.

If you want to work on the next project immediately after finishing your previous assignment, then turn that one in early too so long as doing so isn’t going to cause a problem for anyone else involved with the work.

You can get better assignments by turning them in ahead of schedule. The same goes here: if an assignment is due at the end of two weeks, try handing it off after just one week (or even before).

In many cases where this has been done successfully, writers have gone back later with another idea they’d like to explore further; then their new boss will ask if any other ideas are lying around yet that could be turned into something bigger!

It’s not uncommon for freelance writers nowadays to have multiple projects lined up at once without having had any trouble getting started on each one when asked about them during weekly check-ins or even bi-weekly check-ins…and often even daily ones!

They’ve simply gotten good at giving their employers what they want quickly and efficiently and then moving on to whatever else comes next without delay or complaint!

Freelancing platforms like Upwork and Freelancer have their pros and cons. Explore the reasons why freelancing on these platforms can be challenging in our insightful post on the downsides of freelancing on Upwork and Freelancer.

Keep Track Of Your Earnings

The first step to becoming a successful freelance writer is keeping track of your earnings. This can be as simple or as complicated as you want it to be; in fact, there are plenty of ways for writers to keep track of their earnings. Here are some methods:

A spreadsheet or other writing software that automatically keeps track of your earnings

A financial app such as Mint or LearnVest (for women who like spreadsheets)

Writing down all the money you make in a notebook and adding it up at the end of each day/month/year

Whatever method works best for you is the one that should be used as long as it accurately reflects what’s coming into your bank account after taxes, which means being honest with yourself about how much time and effort went into each project and how much money they earned.

Assess Whether Your Rates Are Reasonable

First things first, it’s important to determine whether or not your rates are reasonable.

Do you have a reasonable hourly rate? Can you afford to pay for health insurance? Are there other costs that may arise from being self-employed, such as retirement savings or other investments?

As an independent writer, it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of getting paid for something you love doing and forget about the practical side of being self-employed. You need to make sure that whatever income streams come into your life can sustain all of your daily expenses before quitting your day job.

Know When You’re Ready For A Rate Hike

But how do you know when it’s time to ask for a raise? One way is to look at how much you’re making. If you are doing your job well and keeping your clients happy, they will be more than happy to pay more. However, there is another important consideration: knowing what’s fair for the market and your industry.

If you are currently undercharging for your services, it’s time to start negotiating with clients on a more regular basis about their expectations of value for money. And if that means asking them questions about where other writers in their business niche charge per hour or per project (and then comparing this with what you’re charging), then so is it!

Seal Deals With Signed Contracts

The first step in creating a contract is to make sure that both parties agree to the terms and conditions. If you are hiring a freelancer, make sure they are looking at it from their perspective as well so they know what they are getting into. Once you have agreed upon everything in your contract then it is time to sign it by both parties.

A good freelance writer will always have contracts signed before any work begins on a project and should include terms such as deadlines, payment structure, number of revisions allowed, etc., so make sure you cover these things when writing your freelance contract for other writers!

Learn How To Say No

And when you do say yes, make sure it’s something that’ll benefit you.

Be assertive. Don’t be afraid to turn down opportunities if they don’t fit your schedule, or if they aren’t a good fit for your skillset. Be polite but firm.

If someone asks for a favor, try saying “no” in a way that makes it clear that you aren’t trying to hurt anyone’s feelings but also doesn’t give them any hope of changing your mind.

For example: “I’d love to help out with this project! Unfortunately, I’m busy with other work right now and won’t be able to dedicate any time or energy toward this project at the moment… but I’ll let you know if my schedule opens up!”

Maternity leave doesn’t mean you have to put your freelance writing career on hold. Learn how to effectively manage freelance writing while on maternity leave in our helpful guide on freelance writing during maternity leave.

Treat Freelance Writing As A Business And Yourself As Ceo

Freelance writing is a business, and you don’t have to be a genius to know that businesses are run by CEOs. The CEO’s job is to ensure that the company can do what it needs to do for the health of its customers.

As a freelance writer with other interests, you’re going to be your CEO. This means making sure that you have all of the tools available to succeed in your career as a freelancer: an organized office space or work area, plenty of pens and paper (ideally lined), calendars for both personal events, and business meetings, etc.

The best way to make sure everything goes smoothly is by having a detailed plan laid out before you start working on any project which brings us back full circle since this was Step 1! Making sure those details are spelled out clearly will help avoid hiccups later on down the road when things get busy (or if something happens unexpectedly).

Continually Adjust Your Strategy According To Results

You have to continually adjust your strategy according to results. If you don’t, you risk becoming stuck in a rut that prevents you from reaching your full potential as a writer and freelancer. Some things may work for others but not for you, so you must consider what works best for your situation

If something isn’t working, try something else! Try something new or different. You can also ask someone else who knows more about the subject matter than yourself (such as me) how they would approach the situation if they were in your shoes. This can be an opportunity not only to learn but also to help out another person who might be struggling just like yourself at some point down the road.

Learn How To Deal With Rejection Gracefully

You’re going to be rejected. It doesn’t matter if you have an amazing portfolio or if you can write rings around the next person who applies for that job you will, at some point in your career, get turned down for a gig.

When you do get rejected, remember that it isn’t personal; it’s business. The editor is not rejecting YOU as a person but rather something about what he has seen from YOUR writing sample (or lack thereof). So don’t take it personally! Instead…

Becoming a freelance writer is nothing like holding down an office job, but it can be just as rewarding, and will hopefully provide you with the flexibility you need to pursue other endeavors in life too.

A freelancer is someone who works for themselves, so they can pretty much set their hours. If you’re a freelancer, you may have to work hard and long hours at times, but it will be up to you how much time you want to put into your job and how often.

The main benefit of becoming a freelance writer is that it offers flexibility in terms of time and location.

You can choose when and where you write. If certain topics interest or inspire you more than others, then focusing on those things will make the process easier overall because they’ll come more naturally down the road when writing them down doesn’t feel like work anymore; it’s just something fun!

Are you interested in becoming a freelance blogger? Our comprehensive guide on how to become a freelance blogger provides valuable insights, tips, and resources to kickstart your blogging career and excel in the freelance world.

Conclusion

So if you want to become a full-time freelance writer, realize that it can be done while pursuing other things. You just need to be aware of some of the challenges ahead and have a plan to overcome them.

If you write for the right clients at the right time, there is no reason why you can’t earn a living writing while still doing something else that you love! And who knows? Maybe one day your writing will become your main source of income!

FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions about becoming a full-time freelance writer:

What skills do I need to become a freelance writer?

To become a freelance writer, you should have strong writing skills, a good command of grammar and language, creativity, research abilities, and the ability to meet deadlines consistently. Building a portfolio of writing samples and continuously honing your craft are also important.

How do I find clients as a freelance writer?

Finding clients as a freelance writer can be done through various methods. You can join freelance platforms, such as Upwork or Freelancer, network with other professionals in your industry, create a professional website or blog to showcase your work, and actively market yourself through social media and online communities.

How do I determine my freelance writing rates?

Setting freelance writing rates can vary based on factors like your experience, niche, and the type of writing projects you undertake. Researching industry standards, considering your expertise, and evaluating the value you bring to clients can help you determine appropriate rates for your services.

How can I manage my finances as a freelance writer?

Managing finances as a freelance writer involves tracking income and expenses, creating a budget, setting aside funds for taxes and business expenses, and maintaining a steady cash flow. Utilizing accounting software or working with a financial professional can help streamline financial management tasks.

What are the pros and cons of being a full-time freelance writer?

Pros of being a full-time freelance writer include flexibility in work hours, the ability to choose projects and clients, and the potential for higher income. However, cons may include inconsistent work and income, the responsibility of managing your own business, and the need for self-discipline and self-motivation.

Costantine Edward

Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.

Can You Become A Full-Time Freelance Writer While Pursuing Other Things?