Are you having a tough time getting your freelance writing career on the right path? Have you been working as a writer but now feel as if you are in a rut? If you answered yes to either one of these questions you will want to determine how you can jump-start your career. Believe it or not, there are a few quick steps that you can take in order to get your career moving in the right direction without delay.
1. Get your mind right. No matter if you are a full-time or part-time writer, you need to schedule time to write each day and show up at your computer in the right frame of mind. You need to take writing seriously even if you are simply doing it as a side job. There is no denying that you will face times when your brain simply doesn’t want to work. That being said, if you are prepared and willing to get your mind right you should be able to minimize these times.
2. Do not be afraid of rejection. One of the most common reasons for slow development is fear. For instance, if you do not send query letters because you are afraid of rejection you will find that progress is hard to come by. I have had a bit of success as a freelance writer, yet I receive rejection letters time after time. Does this mean that I am a bad writer or that all my ideas are no good? Of course not. Remember, rejection is part of becoming a success as a writer.
3. Just write. Do not make the mistake of wasting time no matter what excuse you think you have. If you are a writer you need to write. For those with regular clients this is usually quite simple. If you do not have any work for clients, make sure that you are writing something. This could be anything from blog posts to query letters to a book proposal. Simply put, writers write!
These three tips should help you to jump-start your freelance writing career no matter why you have slowed down.   Â
As you probably know, I opened my freelance writing course to the “public†just about a month back. Over the past few weeks, I have received many emails asking how everything is going. Some people want to know if the members are enjoying it, others want to know when a spot is going to open for them. While I have done my best to answer each email, I wanted to touch on a few things in this post so that everybody can get a good feel for the direction of the course.
First and foremost, it has been great to communicate with all 10 members on a regular basis. I would say that I speak with 7 or 8 of them at least once every other day, or more. The rest seem to be a bit busier with their full-time job or freelance writing workload; and there is nothing wrong with that. I am still available to help them out when they need it.
Each day, I send out a “daily email†to members. This is meant to get their mind moving, and hopefully spark up an area of discussion. From there, some members call with questions, others instant message me, but most send an email response. Email is easiest for most, and I have to agree with this to a certain extent.
Is there any space for me? At this time, I have a waiting list with a few names on it. Although I would like to accept everybody into the program, time restraints make this impossible. That being said, out of the 10 members currently enrolled, a couple of them may not stay on board.
If you have any interest in quite possibly getting into the course in the near future, probably next week, please let me know via email. I will put your name on the list, and let you know right away if there is a spot.
Anyway, that is a quick update on how the freelance writing course is coming along. If you want to join the waiting list or just have a question, feel free to get in touch! Â
Just wanted to say thanks to everybody who has subscribed to my RSS feed. A few weeks back I posted about my goal of breaking 300 subscribers by the end of July. While this number still fluctuates over and under this mark from time to time, it is safe to say that I have reached my goal.
That being said, it is time to set another goal. After all, you need something to strive for, right? While 400 subscribers may seem like a long way off, I am confident that I can reach this mark by the end of August.
If you have yet to subscribe, I would love to have you as a regular reader. And of course, don’t forget about receiving updates via email. As an email junkie, this is my preferred method of receiving updates.
Anyway, thanks again for the support and here is to hoping that 400 subscribers come sooner rather than later!
As a freelance writer, you are self-employed. This means that you do not have access to company sponsored benefits such as health insurance and a retirement plan. For this reason, you need to be in charge of these areas on your own. One important detail to consider is how you can save for both short term goals as well as your retirement. After all, freelance writers have the right to retire just like everybody else!
Although I am not entirely sure if I am on the right path, I have several accounts that help me to save as much money as possible. At this time, I have one personal checking account, a business checking account, two savings accounts, and an IRA that I manage myself. As you can imagine, the business account is used to pay business expenses. The personal checking is for personal expenses, and the savings accounts are for, you got it, saving! As far as the IRA is concerned, this is something that I have been contributing to for a couple years, and as long as I keep up the pace I should be set in 40 years or so.
Freelance writers often times find it difficult to save money because they do not have a set income that they can rely on each month. For instance, I may earn $5k one month and $10k the next. How do I know where the money should go with so many things changing month in and month out? Simply put, this is something that you will have to get used to on your own. There is no denying that it can be difficult to deal with a fluctuating income. But once you have some money in the bank and get a good feel for your career, you should become more comfortable.
Just like anybody else, freelance writers need to save money. But on the same token, many of them struggle. The best advice I can give is to organize your finances, and do your best to become comfortable with an income that can and will fluctuate.
Before you accept any freelance writing project you will want to work out the payment terms with the client. In many cases, this can throw a wrench into your plan of moving forward right away. The main reason for this is not seeing eye to eye with the client on how you are going to get paid. While this can come up from time to time, it is not a problem that you should have to deal with. Instead, you should accept as many forms of payment as possible in order to ensure that this issue does not hold you back from obtaining a new client.
I know of several freelance writers who only accept payment via PayPal. They do not want to receive checks, and are afraid of bank wires because they think it will compromise their financial information. Personally, I think that this is a dumb move. If you do not accept checks you can forget about doing business with most magazines and bigger companies. Simply put, the majority of them pay by check because they have an accounting department that is big enough to handle each and every invoice that they receive. By only accepting PayPal, you may be missing out on a lot of work.
You have probably noticed on my freelance writing income report that I accept payment via PayPal, check, and bank wire. While PayPal is definitely the leader, I usually receive a couple of checks and wires each month as well. And guess what? If I only accepted PayPal, I would be leaving several thousand dollars on the table each month. Obviously, this is not something that I plan on doing.
Why don’t you want to receive certain forms of payment? Sure, it can be a hassle to drive to the bank to deposit checks but do you want to lose a client over this? Your answer should be no.
All in all, it should be your goal to make things as easy as possible on your freelance writing clients. When it comes to accepting payment, this means being open to receiving your money in many different forms.Â
What is the freelance writing leap: this is when you decide to quit your day job and go “all out†in order to chase your dream of becoming a full-time writer. While this is easier said than done, there comes a time when you either decide to take this leap or stay behind your entire life. Before I move on, let me say that there is nothing wrong with being a part-time freelance writer. I know many people who work in this capacity, and most of them enjoy writing as their side job.
For those of you who are ready to take the leap, there is one word to keep in mind: preparation. You need to make sure that you are prepared for every possible detail that could arise. Even those that may seem far fetched can and probably will come into play sooner rather than later.
Unfortunately, while many people prepare for a full-time freelance writing career they end up scaring themselves back to their day job. This is something that you need to avoid at all costs. Is it scary to leave a secure environment for the life of a freelancer? It sure is. But even if you know that you can make a solid income as a writer you will still experience some fear. The bottom line is that you are going to be scared no matter what position you are in; this is normal. The key is to avoid letting this fear hold you back from accomplishing your goals.
To prepare for the freelance writing leap, you must organize and detail every step that you plan on taking. This includes everything from when you are going to quit your day job to where you are going to work. Trust me, the better plan you have the more confident you are going to feel when it finally comes time to make the big move.
If you have tried to make this move before but have yet to do so, you have to determine why you are shying away. Through my experience, the number one reason for not taking the leap is fear of not earning enough money. This is a legitimate fear, and there are only two ways that you can get past it. First off, you can work as a part-time freelance writer until you build up enough clients and income to ease your fear. Or you can simply ignore it altogether. When I moved into the capacity of full-time freelance writer I did a bit of both. Ignoring your fear may not be the best idea, but it will definitely help to make the leap a bit easier.
There is no reason to be embarrassed if you are afraid to leave your job to become a full-time freelance writer. This is a difficult step to take, and you are not the only one having a tough time. If you have any suggestions on how to do this or questions on moving forward, leave them in the comment section. Hopefully everybody can help each other to take the leap soon enough!
As a freelance writer, you need to remember one thing: you are not exactly working for yourself. Yes, you are self-employed but at the same time you need to make sure that you are giving clients what they want. Time after time, I find myself asking what I can do for my clients. And in many cases, the answer is not world changing. Instead, it is something small that could make their business run a bit more smoothly.
Here are three things that you can do for freelance writing clients that will show just how much you care:
1. Ask if they need anything else. In addition to sending the work that is requested of me, I always ask clients if I can do anything else for them. Most clients say “thanks but we are set.†But in some cases there are things that I can do to make their life a bit easier. Remember, when you offer additional help you are showing the client that you care about their future.
2. Send your client a gift or card from time to time. This is something that companies, both big and small, do time after time. For instance, you could send out a card and/or box of chocolate to clients this Christmas. While it may cost a few bucks, it is well worth the time and money in the end. Believe it or not, clients appreciate these small gestures of gratitude.
3. Make yourself available. If you want to be known as a high quality freelance writer you should make sure that clients can always get in touch with you. No, this does not mean that you should work 24/7, but it does mean that you should be available during business hours to promptly address questions and concerns. If you want to take things to the next level, give clients your email address and business phone number.Â
To show your clients that you really value their business, test the three ideas above. They will definitely help you to make the most of your freelance writing career!
Lying to potential freelance writing clients is never a good idea. Although you may already know this, it is safe to say that you may be tempted anyway. After all, many people think that lying to potential clients is a great way to obtain more work. Sure, this may work with some, but in the long run it is only going to harm you. It always pays off if you are open and honest with potential clients as well as those that you already work with.
Here are three common lies that freelance writers tell potential clients:
1. I have tons of experience with that subject matter. If you say this you better be ready to back it up in a big way. Remember, your client is going to have a lot of experience so they will know if you are lying. In many cases, admitting that you are not well versed in a particular area will not disqualify your chances of winning the job. If you are honest about what you do and don’t know, the buyer will be able to give you feedback and hopefully work with you to get started on the project.
2. Time after time I come across freelance writers who refer to themselves as “we.†In other words, they want their “company†to look big. The fact of the matter is that this is not always a good thing. In some industries it may be better to make yourself look as big as possible. But as a freelance writer this is not necessary. Not only is it a lie, but it may also deter clients. I make it known to every client that I will be the guy working on their project. I don’t outsource my work, and this makes the client comfortable because they know they will be working with me while having access to my expertise.
3. Don’t try to fake your way through an interview or project. If a client asks if you have questions or are confused, be honest with them. Remember, there is no shame in asking for help. The client will be happy to address all misconceptions and problems up front. This helps to avoid loss time and conflicts in the future.
There is no reason to lie to potential freelance writing clients. Instead, be honest with all of them at all times.Â
No matter how much success you have had as a freelance writer, there is a good chance that you have been asked for a refund at least once. This is usually not the case with magazines, but more so with web based clients. The question is: how do you deal with refunds? Is this something that you believe in, or do you tell the client no way? I know some freelance writers who are willing to give full refunds, others who will only give a partial refund, and some who feel that they do not owe anything if they completed the work as detailed. As you can imagine, this is a touchy subject and can be difficult to deal with.
Personally, I will give a refund to a client if they have a good reason. For instance, if we are not seeing eye to eye on a project, I will give a refund to get out from under the situation. That being said, it all depends on how much time I have put into the project when things begin to go downhill. In other words, if I am almost done with the job I am not going to give a full refund just because the client decides that they no longer want to move forward. Instead, I try to explain my situation and work something out that is mutually beneficial. After all, you never want to get into a confrontation with a client; even if they are offending you.
Since most web clients pay via PayPal, you need to watch what you are doing when it comes to refunds. The nice thing about PayPal is that you can easily refund an entire payment with one click of the mouse. That being said, if you refuse to send a refund a client may open a dispute. This has happened to me one time, and since it was only for $200 or so, I simply sent the money back. I felt that this was better than dealing with PayPal’s dispute resolution system and risking my account being frozen.
My best advice is this: deal with refunds on a case by case basis. It is easy to say that you do not offer any sort of refund, but there may come a time when you should. If you address each situation separately, you can always ensure that you do the right thing.Â
This post is meant to be a quick reminder for all of you guys and gals who have forgotten about past clients. If you are going to be a successful freelance writer, you should follow-up with past clients from time to time. This does not mean that you should bug them once per week, but doing so every so often will definitely work to your advantage.
By following up with a client you will be able to take advantage of many benefits. First off, you may find that they need more content and by following up at the right time you won yourself another job; this is always a great feeling. Additionally, you always want to stay fresh in the mind of past clients who enjoyed working with you. They may not have a need for you right now, but as long as they remember you, you will be in line for future work.
This is a short post, but one of utmost importance. No matter how big or small the client, always follow-up with them from time to time. Remember, it only takes a few minutes to send an email!
