I get asked a lot of questions about freelance writing. Some from people I know, some from people I have never met, and others from members of my freelance writing course. One of the strangest questions as of late was: when is the best month to start a freelance writing career? This is not something I have thought about a lot.
Is there one month that is better than another? I had to think about this question for a bit before answering. In short, I don’t think that you should wait until one month in particular to start a freelance writing career. This may be something you do for a personal reason, but overall I cannot think of any advantages. Sure, you may want to start in January so you can get off to a fresh start and make things as simple as possible from a tax point of view. But again, this is not a necessity by any means.
I think aspiring freelance writers should take the plunge when they are ready to do so. This is the case no matter what month it is. If you are ready to take the next step you should stop thinking and do it. Continually saying that you will wait until the next month is not going to do you any good. Instead, it will hold you back and soon enough you will realize just how much time has gone by.
There is no right and wrong month to start a freelance writing career. If you have a preference and don’t mind waiting, that is fine. Otherwise, start your career when you are 100 percent sure that this is what you want to do. The month won’t have much to do with the steps you take or the success you achieve.Â
Most freelance writers spend the majority of their days writing. This is a good thing because you are getting paid by clients for this activity. But you don’t want to spend all your time writing. You also need to think about other tasks involved with running a successful freelance writing business. One of them is staying organized. This may sound like a waste of time, but over the long haul you will realize that this is not the case.
This is not my first post on the importance of freelance writers staying organized. I keep bringing up this topic because many people ask me about how to better this part of their career. They are doing just fine in the writing and marketing departments, but for whatever reason they just cannot seem to stay organized. As you can imagine, this is a big problem.
Believe it or not, you can stay organized if you just take a few minutes out of your day to do so. Of course, organization means something different to everyone. Some people take great pride in putting everything in the right place and staying on top of every last detail. Others will let things get out of control before they take charge and reorganize their space.
The good thing about staying organized is that once you learn how to do so you will not have to worry about it in the future. In other words, good organization can become a habit over time.
Even though you will spend most of your day writing and marketing your services, don’t forget to stay organized. An organized career is a more successful one!Â
Have you ever taken the time to compare a freelance writing career to a 9 to 5? If your answer is yes, there is a good chance that you are well aware of the pros and cons of both jobs. If no, you may not realize that a career in freelance writing has so much to offer.
There are many details to compare. Where you start is up to you. Some people first take a look at how much money they can make. With a career in freelance writing you are in charge of your own income and how much you bring in. That being said, there is no guarantee of what you will earn. With most 9 to 5 jobs you are given a set rate of pay, and you have to wait for a raise if you want to earn more. That being said, you may have a bit more security.
Don’t forget about the freedom factor. When you work for yourself you get to call the shots and work when you want. With a 9 to 5 you are at the mercy of your employer from the first minute you arrive at your office until you clock out. Are you willing to give away your freedom? If you decide to work as a freelance writer you do not have to.
There are other details to consider as well. Where will you get your benefits if you decide to become a freelance writer? You have to pay for everything from health insurance to life insurance and much more. What about the fact that most 9 to 5 jobs don’t offer much in terms of potential for advancement? If you want to move onto bigger and better things, you may have to take control of your career and quit relying on a single employer.
When comparing a freelance writing career to a 9 to 5 it is easy to see the pros and cons of both. The big question is: which option wins out in your mind?
