Before you become a freelance writer you need to ask several important questions. The one that you want to start with is this: do I have any writing experience? While your answer may not affect you as you move forward, it is one that you want to keep in the back of your mind nonetheless.
If you have writing experience you are going to find it much easier to start your career as a freelance writer. This is particularly true if your experience is related to web, magazine, or newspaper writing. That being said, even if you have only written term papers or essays you are ahead of the crowd.
But I don’t have any writing experience! This is one of the first things I hear from many aspiring freelancers. They think they need to have a lot of experience in order to get started. As noted above, experience is a good thing. But once again, it is not a requirement. When you begin to write you will get all the experience you need, plus much more.
If you don’t have any writing experience, why not go out and get some right now? You don’t need a client telling you what to do in order to get started. All you have to do is choose a topic that interests you and then get started. Once completed, you will have experience along with a sample to show prospective clients as you attempt to land your first project.
Even though it is nice to have experience, if you don’t you can still become a freelance writer. With dedication and patience, you will begin to gain experience and collect the knowledge needed to succeed in the long run.
Do you ever take the time to meet with your clients in person? In the past, it seemed as if I never had the opportunity to do this. As of late, things have changed quite a bit. It seems that every other week I am meeting with clients face to face. While this can be a bit strange at first, over time you will probably find it to be a lot of fun.
If you are worried about meeting in person with local clients, these tips will go a long way in helping you out:
1. Be prepared. When speaking on the phone or communicating via email it is easy to prepare as you go along – the same cannot be said for an in person meeting. You are going to be put on the spot, time after time, and you need to know exactly what to expect.
2. Don’t be afraid to turn the tables. Most freelancers feel that a client meeting is time for them to answer one question after the next. While this is sure to be the case, it is important to open your mouth at the appropriate times. There is nothing wrong with asking questions of your own, and leading the conversation when the opportunity arises.
3. Get an agenda in advance. This goes along with point number one. Unfortunately, many people overlook this detail. Before you meet with a client, ask them what they want to discuss, if they need anything in particular, and so on. It is much easier to prepare for a meeting with confidence if you know what is going to take place. You won’t always know exactly what is going to happen, but you should attempt to find out as much as possible.
At some point you may find yourself meeting with local clients on a regular basis. When/if this time comes, follow the three tips above.
If I become a freelance writer what hours will I work? It is amazing how many times I receive this question every week. Although it is a legitimate concern, there is no right or wrong answer. After all, I don’t even work the same hours every day.
One of the biggest benefits of being a freelance writer is that you are able to set your own schedule, within reason. In other words, if you want to work one set of hours today and another tomorrow you are able to do so without any problems at all.
Of course, I have an opinion on this subject. Over the years I have found it best to work the hours that suit my clients. For instance, a couple times per week I have conference calls scheduled during the afternoon. As you can imagine, I have to be working during this time. Sure, I could request to change the call but in most cases things work out just fine.
Some freelance writers are intrigued by the thought of being able to work late night hours. In turn, they either sleep during the day and/or head out to have a little bit of fun. This is definitely a possibility, as long as you are not hindering your ability to efficiently communicate with clients.
As of late, my work schedule has been pretty steady. I get started around 6 am and begin to slow down around 5 pm. During this time I take a couple of breaks, and am usually on the phone with clients or prospective clients for an hour or so. Even though I officially quit at 5 pm, I always find myself sneaking back for more work during the evening hours.
If you work as a freelance writer take advantage of the flexibility that comes along with setting your schedule.
