Christmas is only a few days away, and I have yet to go shopping! While this is nothing new to me, I really thought this year would be different. I always vow to get my shopping done early, but it never quite works out that way. With that being said, I always have time to write a blog post or two.
If you are going to be near your computer on Christmas Eve and Christmas day, be sure to check out ChrisBlogging. Although most blogs will not be updating on these days, I hope to add a little something; even if it is nothing too in-depth or complex. Remember, if you do not have time to update your blog, the WordPress timestamp features can do wonders!
For now, I am going to wade through a sea of people at the mall. Hope all of you are done with your shopping. If not, time is running out; you better get started!
What would it take for you to quit your current job and move into freelance writing on a full-time basis? You all know what may freelance writing income looks like, but when I started I was not nearly as successful. It took many months of making no more than $2,500 to reach my current income level.
Before you decide to jump into freelance writing full-time, you need to know what number you are chasing. Generally speaking, this should be the income level that you must reach in order to keep your head above water. For instance, if you can live on $2,000/month, you should strive to make at least this much. And remember, you will have to pay taxes on your income. If you need $2k to live, you will have to bring in right around $2,500 or so per month to break even. Not knowing how much you need to earn can make for a very painful transition into the world of full-time freelance writing. This is why it is a good idea to have some extra money saved that can carry you for a few months.Â
As you can see, you are the only one who knows how much money you need to make. Some people will do just fine with a couple thousand dollars from freelance writing, whereas others would need much more to support their family and current style of living. No matter what position you are in, make sure that you know what you are striving for. From there, break down your income goals into smaller chunks. This will allow you to know just how much you have to earn each day to successfully reach your freelance writing income goal for the month.
Personally, I always find this time of the year one of the most difficult for keeping my freelance writing career on track. There is a lot going on at the end of December, and every year I seem to get off track even though I try not to. While there is nothing wrong with taking some time off for the holidays, I always find this difficult to do. This time around, I hope to cope a bit better than in the past.
There are two main reasons that this is a difficult time of the year for me.
1. With so many distractions, it can be hard to concentrate on the task at hand. After all, I have to buy presents, entertain family, and of course, think about the gifts that I will receive! In all seriousness, this can begin to slow any freelance writer down as Christmas gets closer and closer. I must say that this year I have done a great job staying on schedule with my work. In fact, as of today, my freelance writing income is ahead of pace for the month of December.
2. During every other month of the year, clients are usually quick to respond and offer new work. But in between Thanksgiving and the new year, this slows down considerably. Just like me, I am sure that my clients have a lot on their plate as well. In addition to personal tasks, they also have to get their business ready for the upcoming year. For this reason, you do not want to pressure your freelance writing clients too much during this time. Instead, give them some room to breathe, and then regroup after the first of the year.
When it comes down to it, you do not want your holidays to get ruined because you are too caught up in your work. Even though I work hard day in and day out, this time of the year should be for relaxing as well. With that being said, I know that I will be at my computer checking emails the first thing Christmas morning. Oh well, I guess I am addicted!
