Yesterday I spent the better part of the afternoon working on administrative tasks. While this may sound like a quick job, it actually took me two to three hours. Even though I would have rather been writing all the tasks needed completed at some point in time. Running a successful career means working on administrative tasks here and there. It may be boring for you, but in the long run you will realize that it is something that must be done.
What does this entail? When I think of administrative tasks the first thing that comes to mind is paying bills. This is what I was doing yesterday, and while not difficult, it was time consuming. Not only did I have to write out checks for all the appropriate bills, but from there I had to stow away receipts and chart deductions. The more bills on my plate the longer it takes to complete the process.
There are other administrative tasks that come up as well. For instance, next month is a big tax month. I have to send a quarterly payment to both my state and the federal government. This means more time writing out checks, filling in forms, and making sure that everything is in order.
It is easy to get lazy when completing administrative tasks. But remember, you have to stay on the ball from beginning to end. One mistake now could lead to more problems later. Next month, if I don’t pay the right amount in taxes it will mean more that I owe down the line. And that is not something I want to deal with.
As a freelance writer it is safe to say that your favorite task is writing. But to have a successful career you must also work on administrative tasks when necessary.
After a month at full capacity, I have two openings in my freelance writing course for August – September. Over the past few weeks I received more than 10 emails asking about my next opening, so I figured making a new post would be the best way to let everybody know what is going on.
If you want to grab one of these two spots, contact me today. As usual, I expect them to stay available for 24 hours or less. So if you don’t want to wait for another month (or longer) be sure to send me a quick email expressing your interest.
Over the past few months the course has developed quite a bit. It is interesting to look at where things started to where they are right now. Even though I strongly believe that I have always offered something of great value, it is easy to see that the current state of the course is far more advanced than the early days. I have made changes on my end, but most importantly my members have helped to shape the course/lessons into what it is today.
I am looking forward to working with a couple more of you in the days to come!
Before I go any further, I want to say one thing: you will never be able to totally eliminate stress as a freelance writer. Just like any career you are going to face some level of stress from time to time. There will be days when you are 100 percent comfortable and stress free, but others when you are overwhelmed. With all this in mind, you should realize that there are ways to relieve stress.Â
Here are there tips that can help you cut stress out of your freelance writing career:
1. Stay on schedule. I get most stressed when I don’t feel in control. This tends to happen when I stray away from my to-do list. Structure is very important if you are going to succeed as a freelance writer. Know your schedule and do all you can to stick with it throughout the day.
2. Take breaks. There are going to be times when you do not feel like sitting at your computer any longer. Even though you may have a lot on your plate, you should walk away for a few minutes to refresh your mind and body. Staying in one place for too long can become stressful. This is particularly true if you are working hard. Don’t be afraid to take breaks to relieve stress. Upon returning to your desk you will feel rejuvenated and ready to get back to work.
3. Don’t let your clients get you down. Most freelance writers find out soon enough that they begin to stress out when clients are not 100 percent happy. This is perfectly normal, but you don’t want it to take over your career. Do your best to keep your clients happy at all times, but don’t stress out over this. Remember that you can only do so much.
Too much stress can harm your freelance writing career, as well as your mind and body. Try the above tips to see if they can work for you.Â
When you complete a project as a freelance writer the first thing you do is send it to the client. At that point the waiting game begins. Are they going to like it? Are they going to hate it? Will they ask for revisions? While it would be nice if you never made any mistakes, it is not human. For this reason, it is common for a client to ask for revisions.
You should not see revisions as a bad thing. Some freelance writers think they did something wrong if the client asks for changes. You may not have hit the nail on the head the first time but this does not mean that your first draft was “junk.†In fact, some of my clients ask for revisions no matter what I send them. They told me upfront that this would be the case, and I don’t have any problem with it. When you revise a project it means that the client is going to eventually get something they are 100 percent satisfied with. And that should be one of your main goals as a freelance writer.
Don’t get mad when you have to make some changes to your initial work. Yes, it will take time to go back and revise your work; there is no doubt about this. But in the end, it is part of being a freelance writer. Not everything you do is going to line up perfectly with what the client wants. Even if they give you very specific directions there is a chance that you could stray from what they ultimately want.
I see revisions as a good thing. It ensures that the client is happy, while also making me a better writer. In the long run, both parties benefit.
It is up to you to decide on the path you are going to take to freelance writing success. It goes without saying that you may change your direction many times over the years. The path I was following three years ago is nowhere close to the direction I am heading right now. Is this a bad thing? Definitely not. You should always be evolving and looking for new ways to take your career to the next level.
Are you having a difficult time finding your path? If so, these tips may help:
1. Don’t just think about the path you want to take. Write it down on paper along with advice and tips for moving forward. This is very similar to a business plan in which you are planning everything from how to market your services to the types of clients you want to work with.
2. Ask other freelance writers how they became successful. By reading my blog you can get a good idea of how I have reached my goals. Hopefully this can give you an idea of what you have to do as you move forward. Of course, copying somebody else’s success is not always possible. You are unique and so is your situation. Somewhere along the line you have to do your own thing.
3. Don’t be afraid of change. Even if your path is not clearly defined you are standing somewhere right now. You should not be afraid to move in another direction. Taking chances and experiencing many different things is a necessity if you are going to eventually reach all your goals.
Once you are on the right path you will know it. You will see your client base growing and income increasing. At this point you must continue to push forward while always striving to reach your goals.
As a freelance writer you need good, reliable equipment. This is very true with the computer that you choose to use. From the first day of my freelance writing career I have made sure that a reliable computer was always available. Simply put, if I don’t have access to a reliable computer there is no way for me to get my work done.
If you are lucky, when starting your freelance writing career you will not need to go out and buy a computer. Hopefully you already have one that you can rely on for the time being. As long as you are comfortable with the unit there is no point in blowing money on a new one; at least not yet.
What does reliable mean? I don’t know much about the inner-workings of computers. That being said, I do know some of the details which help to ensure that my computer is always running smoothly. To me, reliability in a computer means that it allows me to do what I want, when I want. The only programs that I use, for the most part, are Internet Explorer and the Microsoft Office package. This is more than enough to keep my on track and allow me to do my job with a high level of success. Since this is nothing too advanced, I usually don’t have an issue with reliability in this area.
If you find that you computer is less than reliable you may need to upgrade. Maybe you cannot get online, programs are always shutting down, or your computer is freezing throughout the day. All of these problems can be annoying, and usually call for your computer being repaired or a new unit altogether.
To become a successful freelance writer you need a reliable computer. Are you reading this blog post on a computer that you consider reliable? If so, you are one step ahead of the game.
Do you ever take the time to ask your freelance writing clients if you can help with anything else? If not, you may be missing out on some great opportunities. Believe it or not, you may not be the only freelance writer that your client works with. If you ask for more work you may just get it. Sometimes it is that simple!
You don’t have to be pushy when asking clients how else you can help. All you have to do is convey how much you enjoy working with them while also adding that you are available to take on more work at anytime. Even if your client does not have anything to throw your way right now, you never know when this may change in the future. If they know you are available you will probably be the first person on their list if something comes up.
I recently wrote a sales letter for a client and followed the above advice to land a web writing gig as well. Remember one thing: it never hurts to ask. I simply called my client on the phone, asked them how the sales letter was converting, and then led into discussions about other projects. Soon enough I was getting started with content for their website. When this project is complete I plan to ask if there is anything else I can do.
You should always be asking yourself how else you can help your freelance writing clients. Again, you are not always going to land more work just by asking. But if you don’t show your interest you are probably going to miss out on many great opportunities. Make sure all your clients know that you have plenty of time for any project they can assign to you. Â
Some freelance writers find it difficult to effectively communicate with clients. Are you one of them? If so, the reason for this may be that you don’t know how to communicate with them. There are many methods of doing so and some that I use include: email, phone, instant messenger, snail mail, and Skype. As you can see, there are many ways to communicate with clients. It is hard to believe that some have troubles communicating effectively, but it is true.
There is a big difference between how you can communicate with clients and what you feel comfortable doing. Many freelance writers have told me time after time that they only want to communicate with clients via email. While this may be alright most of the time don’t forget that you are not really in charge. You have to do what is best for your client as well. If they want to communicate via phone on a regular basis you have to be open to doing so; you don’t have any other choice if you want to keep them happy.
Don’t be scared of any method of communication. Everybody has a preference, and that is fine. But remember that you want to make things easy on your clients as well. You may be nervous about phone communication right now, but after a few calls you will enjoy this. It is important to open your eyes to what is out there and realize that effective communication is very important to your overall level of success.
Personally, this is how I feel: I will communicate with clients in whichever manner they want. Some want to talk on the phone, others prefer email, and some even send letters from time to time. If you are open to everything you have nothing to worry about.Â
No matter if you are starting your career or have been involved for many years, there will come a time when you need to purchase equipment. This can be anything from a computer to a printer to a fax. Of course, this is only a small list of things you will be buying.
It is important to have a budget when buying freelance writing equipment. You never want to spend more than you can comfortably afford. Even if you are tempted, hold yourself back while you consider the pros and cons of moving forward. You will probably see just how silly it is to purchase something you cannot afford.
How do I know what my budget is? Only you know this. Personally, I keep money in my business account for both monthly expenses and those that can pop up unexpectedly. If I don’t have enough money to cover a purchase I wait until the next month. This has worked out fine for me up to this point, and I expect things to stay this way.
Not only should you have a budget, but you need to be smart about what you purchase. Every so often I get tempted to purchase a new desktop computer and printer. But then I ask myself if I really need it. This usually opens my eyes and shows me that my money could be better spent elsewhere. Just because you have the money in your budget to buy something does not mean you should actually do so.
Have a budget and stick to it when buying freelance writing equipment. This allows you to advance your career without draining your bank account.
