There are probably several good reasons why you decided to become a freelance writer. I love the freedom, potential earnings, and the ability to work at home. What excites you? While it is important to know what you enjoy about freelance writing, you also need to think about the details that don’t sit well in your mind. In other words, what don’t you like about freelance writing?
Just like any career, there are going to be things about freelance writing that you do not enjoy. Some of the more common drawbacks include:
1. Working alone. Although working at home is a huge benefit, it means that you will not have any daily interaction with other workers. Will this bother you? Time after time I hear from writers who are having a hard time with this part of their career.
2. You are in charge of everything. It is a big mistake to think that the only thing you will be doing is writing. Sure, your main duty is to produce content for clients. But along with this you are also responsible for sales, marketing, accounting, and many other tasks. Do you have the time and patience to handle all aspects of your business with success?
3. One on one client interaction. You may be surprised to hear that this is something many freelance writers do not enjoy. I love talking with clients via email, phone, and even in person. That being said, some freelancers feel the opposite way – they hate this part of the job. If you are not willing to interact with clients you should probably stay away from a freelance writing career.
Remember this: just because you don’t like a particular detail of freelance writing does not mean you should give up. No matter what job you are working, there are bound to be pros and cons. Freelance writing is no different.
For every person jumping into the freelance writing ring there is another giving up. Are you thinking about quitting on this career path? If so, you have the right to do so. But before you make a final decision, step back and take note of what you are doing. Giving up on freelance writing is not something you want to do on a whim. You need to think about every aspect of this decision, as well as how it will affect your career and financial lives.
Here are three questions to ask before you call it quits:
1. Where did I start? It is important to look back, consider where your career started, and see if you made the progress you were expecting. When you reflect on the past you may be surprised at what you find.
2. Where are you right now? After you look at where you have been it is time to consider where you stand at the present time. Are you earning enough money? Are you having fun with this career? This should be an easy question to answer.
3. Where can I go in the future if I stay on the same path? It is important to look ahead and determine where you will end up if you stay the course. If you see that you have a very real chance at reaching all your goals, now is not the time to give up.
Some people give up on freelance writing before they consider how much time they have put into growing their career. You may find that continuing to work hard will eventually lead you towards all your goals.
There may come a time when you have to stop working as a freelance writer – this happens all the time. Just make sure you are 100 percent sure of your decision.
As a freelance writer you will take on a variety of jobs. Some of them are big, some of them are small, and some may not end for a very long time. Along with the size of a project, you also have to think about what is being asked of you by the client. In other words, what is the job description?
It is important to know which types of freelance writing projects you like most. This way you can concentrate on them, and in turn have a more enjoyable time – day after day. To give you an idea of what I am talking about, some of the most common freelance writing projects include: keyword articles, feature articles, sales letters, marketing content, and website copy. Do you enjoy any of these projects? Do you have experience with any or all of them?
Don’t pass on a particular project because of how it sounds. Time after time I speak with freelance writers who are afraid of writing sales letters because of the word “sales.†They think they have to do something special. While it is true that writing a sales letter is a bit different than other types of content creation, it is something you should try if you are given the chance.
Hopefully you get to a point in your career where you can pick and choose which types of projects to take on. For now, experiment with many project types to see what you do and do not like. You may be surprised at what you find and how you decide to move forward.
