I have found it to be weird, but as of late more and more people have been emailing me saying they are unhappy with the direction that their freelance writing career is headed. This is not something that I have ever personally dealt with. I love my career, and have felt this way for many years.
Why are so many people unhappy with their freelance writing career? Here are three common themes that I have been hearing over and over again:
1. I am not making enough money. This is an obvious reason for being unhappy with your freelance writing career. That being said, you should not let your income totally dictate the way you feel about your job. To combat this, set income goals. Once you have these goals in place you can then work diligently to reach them. When you are chasing income related goals it becomes easier to stay on track without getting distracted by miniscule details.
2. My clients are difficult to deal with. While this is common it should not be something that drags you down. As a freelance writer you have the right to work with whoever you want. If a client isn’t treating you right you are allowed to break off the relationship without giving an excuse. If difficult clients are making you miserable you can solve this problem easily enough.
3. I don’t know where to go next. Just like any career you may hit a wall. This doesn’t mean that you are not having success; just that you don’t know what you want to accomplish in the future. Again, this is when you should set goals so you have something to work towards. Your goals can be based around income, new clients, new personal projects, etc. Put something out there that you will have fun chasing.
Are you one of those people who are not happy with their freelance writing career? If so, one of the above themes may sound all too familiar. Use my advice to beat the doldrums and become happy with your freelance writing career once again.Â
A lot of people get into freelance writing because they are tired of their boring day job. This is just one of the many reasons that I decided on my current career path. But have you ever thought about this: your freelance writing career may get boring as well. This is not something that happens to everybody, but it can definitely affect you at some point in time. Simply put, there are going to be days when your career is far from exciting. Is this going to bother you?
If you notice that everyday of the week is getting boring you need to do something about your career and where it is headed. Every job has its up and downs, but if the boring times become a regular thing you need to make changes right away. You don’t want to get stuck in a long term rut that makes you feel as if your career and future is doomed.
What can I do if I feel bored and on the path to nowhere? Personally, I believe that the best solution is changing things up a bit. For instance, you may be getting bored because every project you take on is the same as the next one. In this case, take the time to search for new types of projects from exciting clients. This alone can help break up the monotony of your day and give you reason to believe that you will be out of your rut in no time at all.
My freelance writing career has been exciting from day one. Sure, I go through boring days but this happens to everyone. The key is to make sure this boredom does not last for a long period of time. If you hit a rut, dig your way out before things get too bad. Keeping your career exciting is essential to your long term success.
I strongly believe that a good workspace can help any freelance writer increase efficiency and achieve better results. Early in my career I did not have a dedicated freelance writing office. Fortunately, this changed soon enough and when it did I definitely began to feel better about my career and the future.
Does this mean that I need to have a dedicated workspace? Of course not. Simply put, some people do not have enough room in their home for an office only space. It is nice if you do, but if you don’t you can still make it work. The key is to stay organized no matter how big of a space you are using. Even if you are only working in one small corner of your bedroom, you can use this space to your advantage if you are organized and smart about the way that you set everything up. Over the years I have found that an unorganized office, no matter how big or small it may be, is one that is hard to work in.
It is up to you to decide what a good workspace looks like. Some people don’t need much in their office to thrive. Others need a lot of space, the right atmosphere, and more. Even though this post is meant to get you on track, I am not the person who should be telling you what your office should look like. You have to make this decision on your own.
You have the ability to tweak your office until it is exactly what you want. If something seems out of place, change it. If you like the results you are seeing, keep things the same for the time being.
Your workspace is what you make of it. I have seen many great home offices in small spaces, as well as offices in large rooms that are full of clutter and are a total mess. Remember, a good workspace can help you achieve better results. Â
