Freelance Writing

Once or twice a day I usually receive an email from an aspiring freelance writer. In most cases, they all have a similar question based around what it takes to make a full-time income. I have said time after time that I really didn’t do anything special to get my career started. Generally speaking, it took a lot of patience, hard work, and maybe even some luck.

Outside of the basics of being able to write, there are three things that every aspiring freelance writer should have in common:

1. Dedication to your craft is very important. If you are going to be successful with your freelance writing career you need to stick with it, day in and day out. There are going to be times when you feel down and out, or want to give up because nothing is going your way. You must treat every client and every project with a high degree of respect. When you are dedicated to your work, it will pay off largely as time goes by.

2. Having the right attitude is essential to starting a successful freelance writing career. If you are not in the right frame of mind, you might as well save your time. The right attitude consists of taking pride in your work, not being afraid of failure, and staying positive at all times. It is not always easy to keep a good attitude, but to be a success this is crucial. If you are negative all the time and are simply working to make a buck, this will show through in your work. And guess what? When that happens, your clients will catch on and you will be out of a job.

3. You have to realize that freelance writing is a business. No, you are not shipping products or making sales calls all day, but this is a business nonetheless. By treating your freelance writing career as a business you will find it much easier to act professionally. Remember, there is a big difference between having a freelance writing business and writing as a hobby.

When I was starting out as a freelance writer, I hung my hat on the three points listed above. And even though I am no longer new to the industry, I still rely on dedication, a good attitude, and a professional approach to my career.