As a freelance writer, you need to do more than work. When I first started in this industry I was working almost everyday of the week. And in most cases, my days were much longer than eight hours. Fortunately, I realized soon enough that this was a mistake and that I needed to have fun outside of work.
Do you work too many hours? If so, you should do two things. First off, find a way to cut back. If possible, cap yourself at 40 hours per week. Is this always possible? Of course not. But once you settle into your career, you should be able to make this happen. Secondly, you should have hobbies outside of work. I love to read, but as of late I have been trying to stay away from books on freelance writing. Instead, I have been reading more books on business in general and money related topics such as investing. Of course, you should also consider hobbies that can get you out of your home. After all, working inside all day everyday can be tough on some people.
For one reason or the next, many freelance writers tend to work too much and cut out areas of their life that bring enjoyment. While I try to avoid this trap, it can be difficult at times. If you cannot answer the question of what you do for fun, it is time to reevaluate your life outside of your freelance writing career. Simply put, you do not want your career to dominate your entire life. Believe it or not, if you have fun outside of work you will find that your mind is fresh when it comes time to sit down at your computer and get to work.Â
When you are hired as a freelance writer it is because you are good at what you do and you can guide the client from start to finish. That being said, you need to avoid the “do it my way or else†attitude. Although a client comes to you for help, you need to remember that they are not looking for somebody to boss them around. Believe it or not, this is a huge problem that I am asked about time after time. It is your job to help clients in whatever way you can. But this does not mean that you should tell them that you are right, and that your ideas are the only ones that matter.
There is nothing wrong with guiding your client during a project. But if they ask for something that you do not agree with, you don’t want to stick to your guns for too long. At the most, tell them what you think and ask why they feel the way they do. A bit of conversation can go a long way in clearing up this type of situation. If the client continues to persist on doing things their way, by all means go along with them. Remember, they are paying you to write. As long as you can comfortably complete the job for the agreed upon price, you should listen to what the client is asking for.
There is a big difference between making suggestions and telling a client that it is your way or else. You are a writer first and foremost, but at the same time you need to exercise good customer service. Your client is paying you to do what they ask. If the client does not agree with the direction that you are heading, ask them what they want and then give it to them.
As a freelance writer you want to offer guidance to every client that needs it. But remember, a “do it my way or else†attitude is not going to get you far. In fact, the only thing that it will lead to is an angry client. And who wants that?
For the past few months I have been contemplating whether or not ChrisBlogging needs a new design. Well, if you are reading this you can see that I took the leap. Simply put, the old theme was getting stale. It was not unique, and it limited what I could say and do to a certain extent.
If you are interested in a new theme for your blog, I suggest Blue Wave Solutions out of San Diego, California. They may not be well known within the blogosphere for blog designs, but trust me when I say that they know what they are doing. Not only does Blue Wave offer top notch designs, but their customer service is high class. We have worked together a few times, and this will not be the last.
As you will notice, the design is pretty much a complete change from the old one. I added two “blocks†at the top of the blog so that I could offer further information on my freelance writing course as well as my writing services. To go along with this, you will also notice that the sidebar is completely redesigned with a more modern, cleaner look.
Thanks again to everybody who has helped ChrisBlogging come this far. I am closing in on my goal of 400 RSS subscribers, and I hope that the new theme will help me to reach this mark soon enough. If you the get the chance, spread the word. With a new design I have the freedom to add more features, and a better overall reader experience.
