Moving into a full-time freelance writing position should be an exciting time. Unfortunately, many people never make it this far. For many reasons they get stuck working part-time, or worse yet, giving up on their career altogether. If something is holding you back from becoming a full-time freelance writer it is time to make the necessary changes.
One of the most common holdups is fear. Are you afraid to leave the comfort of your nine to five job? Are you scared that you may not earn enough money to stay afloat? These are all common concerns. Fear is definitely something you will face if you are interested in becoming a full-time freelance writer. But remember, this can also be a great motivator at the same time.
Are you ready? Some people do not feel that they are ready to become a full-time freelance writer. There is nothing wrong with feeling this way. Remember, you should be 100 percent comfortable with this career decision. If you are apprehensive for any reason, you may be better off sticking with a part-time career for the time being.
You should never listen to other people who tell you that becoming a full-time freelance writer is a bad idea. Trust me, there are going to be doubters. They may even be people who are close to you. Even though you want to hear them out, it is you who has to make the final decision on whether or not to follow this career path. You don’t want anybody else making the decision for you.
So what is holding you back? Once you pinpoint the problem you can decide where to go next. There is a good chance that the detail holding you back is one you can easily overcome. Â
Every so often somebody asks me why I love being a freelance writer. This is something I try to talk about from time to time on my blog. My reasons for being a freelance writer are probably different than yours. Below are three quick reasons why I love my career. Maybe you will agree with a few of these points.
1. Freedom. When you work as a freelance writer you do not have to take orders. This means you have the freedom to call your own shots on everything from when to work to how many hours you put in to which projects you take on, and much more. There is a downside to so much freedom, but it cannot outweigh the benefits.
2. I love to write. This is something that many aspiring freelance writers forget about. If you do not love to write, your career as a freelancer will probably dissolve sooner rather than later. Don’t get started with a career as a freelance writer unless you really love to write.
3. Earning potential. What sense does it make to work a nine to five job in which your earning potential is capped? To me, this is silly. As a freelance writer you are never told by anybody how much money you can earn. Working hard and landing the right clients will allow you to increase your earnings. Simply put, you never hit a wall as a freelance writer. If you want to make more money, go get it!
Many of you may agree with these reasons. Some of you may have other reasons for wanting to be a freelance writer. The great thing is that we do not have to be on the same page. As long as you love your career you don’t have anything to worry about.Â
As a freelance writer, having time management skills is very important. If you are able to manage your time you will find yourself achieving more success than those who struggle in this area. Simply put, time management skills are a must for every freelance writer that wants to succeed in the long run. This is something that you may not have a firm grasp on early in your career. Fortunately, this can and hopefully will change over time.
The way you manage your schedule is very important. If you are disorganized you will find that you are not getting your work done, and feeling that your career is out of control. On the other side, a freelance writer with great time management skills will move from one task to the next without thinking twice. At the end of the day these writers look back and can see just how much work they completed.
Are time management skills something I can develop? Most definitely. As mentioned above, you may not be the best at managing your time early in your freelance writing career; this is to be expected. You are new to this career, and are unsure of what you are going to encounter, what needs to be done, your priorities, etc. But soon enough you will have a hold on how to manage your time more efficiently.
Don’t take this lightly. Many people will read this post and think that time management is overrated. There are only so many working hours in a day. You have to make the most of every minute that you are sitting at your computer. If you learn to successfully manage your time you will have a better chance at reaching both your short and long term goals.Â
