The Freelance Writing Leap
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!
