To me, it is funny to hear so many people say that the majority of freelance writers live off of cheap food and borrowed money. I can’t remember how many times somebody has asked me how I make a living as a freelance writer, and whether or not this is a sustainable career. All of this leads me to the question of whether or not beginning freelance writers should be frugal? While I do not want to turn this into a personal finance post, it is definitely something to consider if you have recently moved into writing as your full-time career.
First things first, you need to know where you stand financially. It is much easier for some people to become a full-time freelance writer because they have the support of a spouse, money saved in the bank, or in many cases, both. Once you know how much money you have and what you will need in the future as you start your career, you can then determine just how frugal you have to be.
That being said, freelance writers must also spend money to make money. Luckily, this is not nearly as bad for writers as it is for other entrepreneurs. What will you need to spend money on as a beginning freelance writer? A short list of possibilities include: computer, printer, desk, office supplies, reference books, internet connection, website design, website hosting, and service site fees (bidding sites, etc.) among others. If you are lucky, you will already have some of these items at your disposal.
There is nothing wrong with being frugal when you start your freelance writing career. After all, you are now working for yourself and a steady paycheck is no guarantee. Just make sure that you do not tighten your wallet so much that you miss out on the essential items needed to get off on the right foot.Â
I received two emails this week from two aspiring writers asking pretty much the same question: is it possible for a freelance writer to work seven days a week? While this is a strange question, I assume that they are asking because they feel that more hours on the job will result in more income. Although more hours can equal more income, this is a very tricky question to tackle.
Simply put, any freelance writer can work seven days a week if they so desire. After all, there is no rule that says you have to work eight hours a day, five days a week. With that being said, working everyday is sure to bog you down sooner rather than later. There is nothing wrong with being ambitious, but as I have mentioned in the past, freelance writing burnout can be a major issue. If you attempt to work everyday of the week, you are going to find this creeping into your career. This is not to say that you shouldn’t try to work this many days, but be prepared for what it may bring.
When I first started my career as a freelance writer, I would say that I was working almost six days a week. And even with one day off, I was still burning out from time to time. Not only was my mind wondering, but my wrists and arms began to hurt as well. You can only type so many words before your hands, wrists, and arms begin to ache. This led to me cutting back to five days a week, and a more reasonable work schedule.
So yes, you can work everyday of the week if you have the time and desire. But just like most freelance writers who try this, you will probably fizzle out soon enough. When this happens, take the time to revise your work schedule to better suit your life.Â
Listen up: finding freelance writing projects is hard work; especially if you are just getting started. Obviously, I had a more difficult time finding work when I first started than I do right now. But guess what? Even established freelance writers can find it hard to locate clients that they are willing to work with.
One of the main reasons that the majority of aspiring freelance writers fail is that they are not expecting to run into any issues. In other words, they think that earning a healthy freelance writing income is a piece of cake. Yes, it is possible to earn a solid living as a writer, but far from easy. If you are not willing to put in the time to find projects and grow your client base, you will simply become another statistic.
Of course, it is easier said than done, right? Well, you are definitely correct in thinking this. I can sit here all day and offer tips on how to find clients, such as through cold calling and query letters, but it is you, the writer, who has to get moving in the right direction. It is one thing to know how to find projects and clients, but another thing entirely when it comes to getting out there and doing it.
My post yesterday, The Legitimacy of Freelance Bidding Sites, is a perfect example. Why do most freelancers, writers or not, like to use these sites? Some of them see it is a great way to add some new clients when not marketing in other ways. But the majority of people using these sites do so because they are simple. It is much easier to bid on a job than to cold call a local company, find the right contact, and then give them your sales pitch. But guess what? While using bidding sites may be easier, it is probably not going to help you reach your goals anytime soon.
Simply put, finding work as a freelance writer can be a long, hard, time consuming road. This is something that you should be aware of when you decide to enter this industry. This is not supposed to scare you away. Instead, it should show you that if you are willing to work hard, results will follow.
