I’m a freelance writer, which means I get paid to write content for other people. I work from home and sometimes from my favorite coffee shop down the street. It’s a great life!
But it hasn’t always been easy. When I first started as a freelancer, I was full of questions: How do I find clients? What should they pay me? How much time will I have to spend on each assignment?.
These are just some of the many questions that new writers ask themselves when starting their careers, and some of these are difficult questions that can take years to answer correctly. So what did I do?. Well, first off, I went online and read blogs written by freelance writers who were more experienced than me. Here’s what they said:
| Takeaways |
|---|
| 1. Freelance writing is a serious endeavor that requires dedication and commitment. |
| 2. Building a support system and finding strength in community can be beneficial for freelance writers. |
| 3. Success in freelance writing may involve starting with little or no experience but learning and growing along the way. |
| 4. Turning copywriting skills into a freelance writing business can lead to a lucrative career path. |
| 5. Freelance writers can achieve significant financial success by aiming to build a six-figure career. |
| 6. Balancing freelancing during the summer is possible with effective time management and planning. |
| 7. Health insurance is crucial for freelancers to protect themselves during unpredictable times. |
| 8. Freelancing may come with challenges, but it provides opportunities for personal and professional growth. |
| 9. Understanding the realities and myths of freelance writing can help aspiring writers make informed decisions. |
| 10. Being open to exploring various freelance opportunities and niches can lead to greater career prospects. |
Be Prepared For Rejection
The second lesson is that you will be rejected. It’s a fact of life, and it’s not going to stop happening. Yeah, sure, you get your first few gigs (probably through some combination of luck and nepotism). But as soon as you start submitting more widely, there are going to be plenty of rejections in your future and they’ll sting like hell.
The best way to handle rejection is just the same way we deal with any other obstacle: Get back up and try again! This isn’t something that happens overnight; it takes practice and persistence to learn how to take rejection in stride. And when all else fails? Give yourself a little sympathy you’re not alone!
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You Don’t Have To Be The Best To Succeed
You don’t have to be the best at everything. You just have to be willing to learn, share and help others.
This is what we call the “passion of learning.” It is much easier than most people believe it to be and has many benefits for your life as well as your career. The more you know about something, the more valuable you become in whatever field you choose (and if writing isn’t your thing, these tips apply equally well to other fields).
Don’t Let Writer’s Block Stop You From Writing
So you have a big project coming up, and the thought of it just makes your heart sink. You’re not sure what to write about or how to approach it.
Something could be wrong maybe you don’t have enough knowledge on the subject matter yet? Maybe it needs more research? Your writing might not even be good enough for publication yet. These are all valid concerns that every writer has experienced at some point in their career (or life).
But here’s the thing: writer’s block happens to us all at one time or another and sometimes even regularly when we get into certain ruts with our workflow and routine.
The best way to overcome this is simply by writing anyways! Get out of your headspace and onto paper whatever comes naturally first don’t try too hard at first either because chances are those thoughts will come later once they’ve been put down on paper for a while so don’t worry about anything being perfect right now either!
The Sooner You Learn To Do Things On Your Own, The Better
The sooner you learn to do things on your own, the better. While there are many benefits to working with an editor or contractor (someone who helps writers with their work), the process of finding someone can be time-consuming and frustrating. And once you have a good relationship with someone, it’s easy to let them take over too much.
You’ll eventually find yourself in situations where neither option is available: when you’re writing a long article that requires research and information gathering, for example; or when you’re trying to make money by taking on a project but haven’t yet built up enough experience in freelancing as an independent writer.
The sooner you’re able to handle such tasks on your own and efficiently, the easier it will be later on down the road when they arise again and again throughout your career as a freelance writer especially because most editors want their writers’ work done by deadlines rather than weeks later after getting comments from them all over social media channels about how hard it was for them!
Embarking on a freelance writing career with zero experience? Fear not! Our step-by-step guide on How to Become a Full-Time Freelance Writer Even If You Have Zero Experience will equip you with the necessary skills and confidence to start your writing journey with a bang!
Being Unfairly Treated By A Client Isn’t Fun, But It’s Not The End Of The World
You’re not always going to have the best time with a client, but that doesn’t mean you should let it ruin your experience. You know what? Some people are just unreasonable. The world would be a much better place if we could all agree to treat each other kindly, but we can’t expect others to act like adults when they aren’t even grown-ups themselves.
The bottom line: don’t take things personally and don’t let one bad client get the best of you! They’re out there, but they’re not everyone (and sometimes their work is good enough that it almost seems worth taking on). So stand up for yourself once in a while and remember: You’re doing this because you love writing!
It Takes Time And Lots Of Practice To Master Writing Skills
It takes time and lots of practice to master writing skills. Good writing is not an innate ability, but a skill that can be learned with practice. The more you write, the better you’ll be at it but don’t let that intimidate you. Even if you’ve never written before, there’s still plenty of room for improvement, so don’t give up.
One way to get started is by reading articles and books on grammar rules or style guides. Another option is participating in online communities where writers share their knowledge about writing techniques as well as what they’re working on now.
Some Days You Will Think What You Have Written Is Amazing, Other Days You Will Hate All Your Work
The most important thing I learned from my first year as a freelance writer is that you will never be perfect. You will always have something to improve, and you should not expect your writing to be like that of established writers or editors in the industry. This is normal and to be expected for beginners, but if you are not aware of this truth it can get discouraging fast.
You need to learn how to accept that sometimes it will be good and sometimes it will be bad just like everything else in life! It’s okay for your work not always be great (or even good). But with practice, hard work, and determination, good things will happen too!
Sometimes Things Go Wrong, And That’s Okay
As you start working as a freelancer, the first thing you’ll probably notice is that things don’t go perfectly. You’ll make mistakes, get sad about them and then move on with your life. But it doesn’t have to be like that!
If something goes wrong, learn from it! Think about why it happened and whether you could do something differently next time to avoid making that mistake again. If not, then ask someone else or look around online for tips on how to improve yourself!
The great thing about being a freelancer is that there are always new opportunities out there if one doesn’t work out (and even if they do). It might take some time before finding the right gig becomes easy but once it does and once you know what kind of job fits best with your skillset you’ll be able to keep doing this forever
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Don’t Be Afraid To Put Yourself Out There Literally
Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there literally. Ask people for advice and ask for jobs, your willingness to take a chance could get you a job opportunity.
Don’t be afraid to reach out. If you need help or advice with something, reach out to someone or even a group of people who can give it to you. The worst thing that can happen is someone saying no or “no” not being mean but just not having the time at that moment.
Be willing and able to take risks for your freelance writing business to grow. This doesn’t necessarily mean making risky investments with money; rather, it means taking chances by trying new ways of doing what has worked in the past so as not to be stuck doing things the same way each time (which isn’t always effective).
You May Want To Keep Some Personal Information Private When Promoting Yourself Online Or In Person
As a writer, you’re going to be putting yourself out there. You’ll be promoting your work online and off, so it’s important to keep some information about yourself private. Remember: don’t share personal information with anyone unless you know them well and trust them completely. This includes sharing your full name, location, phone number, or address with people you don’t know very well including potential clients!
I’m not saying that everyone is out to get you but the Internet makes it easier than ever for criminals to steal your identity or use personal information against you in other ways.
If someone asks for too much information from the get-go (or if they seem too eager), there is probably something fishy about their intentions. Be careful who we trust with our data online; this applies equally whether we are writing articles for publication or simply posting updates on social media sites like Facebook or Twitter.”
You Need To Stay In Touch With Freelance News, Trends, And Content
There’s always something new to learn about the freelance industry. You can take a look at some of these resources:
The Freelance Writing Gigs Blog – This blog is an excellent source of information for freelancers who want to succeed as writers. It covers everything from writing tips to dealing with clients, along with other useful advice for freelancing.
The ProBlogger Community – If you want some personal advice on becoming a successful blogger, then head over here and join the community! You can ask any questions that you might have regarding blogging or becoming a more successful writer in general by posting them in this forum area where other bloggers are waiting to answer them (and help out).
Always Keep Looking For Different Opportunities For Freelance Work, Or Full-Time Work Too If That’s Your Goal
When you’re freelancing, it’s important to always be looking for different opportunities for freelance work, or full-time work too if that’s your goal. Don’t get discouraged by rejection. It happens to everyone! Just because one person turns down your offer doesn’t mean there won’t be someone else who wants to hire you.
Don’t get stuck with one client either; try and find others in addition to the ones you already have. It’s so much easier when you have multiple sources of income coming in at once (and not just from freelance writing) because then no matter what happens with any particular client or project (they don’t pay their bills on time or they cancel a project last minute).
It doesn’t derail everything else going on in your life and career as a writer who earns money from many different sources instead of just one employer at once.”
Curious about the potential of freelance writing? Discover the true story behind one writer’s biggest paycheck in our captivating article on The True Story Behind My Biggest Freelance Writing Paycheck. Get inspired and see the possibilities freelancing holds!
Just Because Someone Has More Experience Than You Doesn’t Mean They Should Disrespect You Or Your Work
Just because someone has more experience than you doesn’t mean they should disrespect you or your work. If anything, it makes them the most valuable resource in your freelance writing career because they can tell you what might be going wrong and how to fix it.
If someone is giving you flack for asking questions, that isn’t their way of teaching; it’s their way of trying to intimidate you into leaving so that they can have all the work for themselves. And I promise: If a client does not respect your questions and wants only answers from YOU (instead of both sides collaborating), then that client is not worth working with anyway!
Balancing freelancing during the summer can be challenging, but it’s not impossible! Learn effective strategies to manage both in our insightful article, Freelancing During the Summer: Can I Do Both?. Make the most of your summer while still excelling in your freelance career!
Final Thoughts
The biggest thing to take away from this article is that while freelancing can be a great fit for so many people, it’s not an option that should be taken lightly. It’s important to remember that freelancing is like any other business venture and in some ways, it’s even more difficult.
But if you take the time to educate yourself on what it will take and decide if it’s right for you before jumping in headfirst into freelance writing as a full-time career, then we wish you luck on your journey!
Further Reading
The Freelancer’s Year: Inevitable Truths: Explore the undeniable truths of being a freelance writer and gain valuable insights into the world of freelancing.
The Freelance Writer’s Guide: 13 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Become a Freelance Writer: Delve into the reasons why freelance writing might not be the right path for everyone and make an informed decision about your career.
Nonprofit Copywriter: Freelance Writing Myths: Bust the common myths surrounding freelance writing and get a clear understanding of what it truly entails.
People Also Ask
How Do I Become A Freelance Writer?
It’s not easy. You have to be willing to put in the time and effort, and it’s not always easy. But it can be done!
The first step is just getting started writing one thing that you’re passionate about or want to learn more about. You don’t have to be an expert at anything; you just need a passion for something, and the willingness to learn more about it. Once you’ve got that, it’s all about building on your successes from there.
What Are Some Of The Challenges Of Being A Freelance Writer?
The biggest challenge is probably time management there are so many distractions out there, it’s easy to get distracted by them before getting any actual work done! But if you can find ways around this challenge (and there are many), then you’ll be well on your way to success as a freelance writer.
How Do I Get Started?
The best way to start freelancing is to just do it! Don’t wait until you have all the answers, or the perfect portfolio just start working on something now. You can use that first project as a sample piece in your portfolio later on.
What If I Don’t Know What To Write About?
A good place to start looking for ideas is at your local library or bookstore. Pick up some books on topics that interest you, and start reading them. When you’re done with one book, pick up another one and keep going until you find something that speaks to you!
How Do I Decide How Much I Should Charge For My Services?
The first thing to consider when deciding how much money to charge for freelance writing services is how much time it will take for you to complete the project. If you’re just starting as a freelancer, it might be worth charging less than someone who has been doing this for years and has proven expertise in their field. But if you want more clients or more money for future projects
How Do You Make Money As A Freelance Writer?
This is the million-dollar question, isn’t it? And it’s one that everyone who’s looking to go out on their own has to ask themselves before they leap. To answer this question, I’d say that there are three main ways to make money as a freelance writer:
First, you can work with companies or websites that want original content written for their business. This could be anything from blog posts about hot topics in your industry to articles about how to better manage your team or customers. These projects are typically paid per piece, and they’re usually pretty easy to find if you’re willing to put in some time searching on sites like Upwork and Fiverr.
Second (and my personal favorite), you can work with clients who need help writing their books or other projects that require multiple writers this is called ghostwriting.
This type of project can be very lucrative because it allows writers like myself to hone their craft while helping others achieve their dreams at the same time. The best part is that these jobs often allow for creativity when coming up with ideas for chapters within a book or how each chapter should flow together.
Is Freelance Writing A Good Career Choice For Me?
Freelance writing can be a great way to pay the bills, and it’s also a lot of fun. But you should know that it’s not always easy, especially at first. You’ll have to learn how to market yourself and get clients, and there will be times when you’re working hard but not earning much money.
If you want to succeed as a freelancer, you need to be willing to put in the work required, even when it feels like nothing is happening.
Can I Make Good Money As A Freelancer?
Yes! Depending on what kind of writing you do, your rates can range from $15 per hour up to the thousands of dollars per hour. You can make more money by increasing the hours that you work each week or by finding better-paying clients.
What If I Don’t Have Any Experience?
It doesn’t matter if you have any experience or not you can get started right away by taking free training courses and reading books about freelancing. You’ll also have opportunities every day to learn from other freelancers who are more experienced than yourself, which is one of the most valuable things about being part of our community!
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.