Are you surprised by the title of this post? Day in and day out I talk about how to become a full-time freelance writer. But when it comes down to it, this is not an attainable goal for many people. Some like their job and don’t want to leave to work as a full-time freelancer, and others simply don’t have the nerve to do so. There is nothing wrong with becoming a part-time freelance writer, and by following the tips below you will be well on your way.
1. To become a part-time freelance writer, set aside some time to work either before or after your regular job. If you are really interested in excelling, you may want to find time in the morning and before retiring for the night. Also, many aspiring part-timers have found that they can do some freelance writing work while at their day job. While there is nothing wrong with this, make sure that you are not violating any rules set forth by your employer.
2. You never want to wear yourself out. If you do, you will find out soon enough that your dream of becoming a part-time freelance writer has died. It can be quite difficult to work eight hours outside the home, and then sit in front of the computer at home for several more. You want to make sure that you get your work done and that you are growing, but at the same time, you can afford to start slow and feel your way through the process.
3. If being a part-time freelance writer ends up being more fun and profitable than you had thought, you may want to consider moving into a full-time gig soon enough. But once again, this is not right for everybody. You need to make the decision based on your full-time job, home life, and available time.
There is no rule that says all freelance writers have to work at this job full-time. If you aren’t up for leaving your day job, find a few hours here and there to write.
As a freelance writer it is easy to stay to yourself, and not communicate with others. While this can be a perk of the writer’s life, this is not something that you want to take too far. By networking with other freelance writers, you will be able to take advantage of many benefits. And of course, these benefits can go a long way in helping you to become a better writer, and hopefully increase your income.
The following are three of the top reasons for networking with other freelance writers:
1. As mentioned above, being a freelance writer can be a lonely and solitary career. If you make friends and network with others, you will find people who you can communicate with via email, instant messenger, phone, and maybe even in person.
2. Even the most experienced freelance writers have questions from time to time. When you have friends in the industry, you can contact them on the spot anytime that you need help. This sure beats having to rely on a message board. Remember, this is a two way street. Make sure that you are always available to help others.
3. I have received numerous referrals from friends that I have made over the years. If you want to increase business, and there is no reason you shouldn’t, increasing referrals is a great way to do so. When you have others marketing on your behalf and sending clients your way, you will find that it is much easier to succeed.
As you can see, there are many reasons that you will want to network with other freelance writers. Take a few minutes each day to attempt to make friends in the industry. The more creative you get, the more contacts you will make!
Lately, I have received numerous emails asking how I earn so much money without killing myself. Others have suggested that I must work 10 plus hours each day in order to keep up my current income level. But when it comes down to it, if you learn how to increase productivity, you will have more time for writing and will find it simple to move from job to job without wasting a lot of time.
Productivity is a topic that I have been covering a lot lately. Although I like to keep posts fresh, this is a subject that is very important and one that many readers seem to be struggling with.
Here are four easy ways to increase productivity. These tips will help you if you are a full-time freelance writer, or just trying to break into the industry.
1. Make sure that you work at least eight hours. Once you become established and more comfortable with your workload, you can then tweak your hours in order to do what is best for your personal life and career. Personally, I try to work eight hours, five days per week. Sometimes I go over and other times I have short days. But all in all, if you want to increase productivity you need to work a full day.
2. Do you have a to-do list? If not, this is a big mistake that can negatively affect your freelance writing productivity. Before I shut everything down for the day I always put together a to-do list so that I know where to start the next morning. There was a time when I thought I didn’t need a list, but soon enough I found that this was only confusing me and leading to a disorganized day full of wasted time.
3. Make sure that your desk and all related files are organized. If you need to pull an invoice do you know where to find it? Some people are naturally more organized than others. Even if your home is always a mess, you need to make sure that your office is the one space where organization takes priority.
4. As silly as it may sound, taking breaks is important if you are going to increase your productivity. Many people feel that when they are on a break they are not getting any work done. While this is true, you need to keep in mind that taking a break from time to time will allow you to stay fresh throughout the workday. When you get tired, both mentally and physically, your productivity is going to suffer.
By increasing your productivity, you will find that your freelance writing career is moving forward smoothly.Â
