Are you finding it difficult to set your freelance writing career in motion? In other words, you think about getting started but for whatever reason you never make any real progress. This is a common setback that many aspiring freelancers run into. The question is: how are you going to solve this problem so you can eventually move onto the next steps of your career?
If you can pinpoint what has been holding you back you will be in good position to fix the problem. Are you scared of getting started because you don’t have enough money in the bank? Are you worried about the time it will take to find your first few clients? These are just a couple of the more common reasons that slow down many freelance writers. It may take a while to dig down deep and determine what is really holding you back, but if you stick with the process you will eventually find what you are looking for.
Just like anything else in life, once you identify the problem you can then create a plan that will help you get past it. Sticking with the above example, if you are worried about money you should continue to work your current job until you have a large enough emergency fund. This will ease your mind and give you the time necessary for a proper start-up phase. No matter the problem there is a solution – even if it does not present itself right away.
Sometimes the first step is the most difficult to take. Once the wheels are in motion and you are working as a full-time freelance writer you will have the time and dedication to begin your ascent to the top.
When you work as a freelance writer you are tied to your business 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you are anything like me you probably think about your job a lot – even on the weekends. Whether or not you work on the weekends, in any capacity, is up to you. In the early days of my career I was always at my desk on Saturday and Sunday. Recently, this has died down a bit.
Do you ever receive calls from clients on the weekends? This is something I have come to expect over the years. Believe it or not, a lot of people work on Saturday and Sunday and want to be able to speak with you during that same time period. You have to make a decision on if you are going to make yourself available.
While I never plan my weekend around receiving a call, unless the client tells me in advance, I am willing to answer the phone if available. After all, showing that you care about the client and helping them when possible will only make your relationship stronger. Of course, you may need to draw the line somewhere. Unless you are working a full day the last thing you want to do is answer call after call.
It is not easy for me to give advice on this subject. Some freelancers love working on the weekends, but others will not do this no matter what it means for their career. Where do you fit in? Do you ever take work related calls on the weekends?
Most freelance writers have run into this situation: they are excited about a new project but find out soon enough that the content is boring. Obviously, this is a situation that you do not want to face on a regular basis. That being said, you know it is going to happen at some point in time.
Here are three things you can do to deal with a boring project:
1. Make it fun. What can you do to make the job more exciting? This can be anything from adding your own spice to attempting to better connect with the client. In other words, don’t dwell on the fact that the job is a bit boring. Instead, do what you can to make the most of the situation.
2. Never give up. The last thing you want to do is run in the other direction and leave your client stranded. If you accepted a project you should have the pride and professionalism to finish it. Some freelance writers get into the habit of quitting on a job halfway through because it is not suited to their likes and needs. You should avoid this at all costs.
3. Ask the client for help. There is a good chance that you find the project boring because you do not understand what you are doing or the direction the client is headed. By asking for help you may find yourself with a better understanding of what is going on. This will allow you to see the project in a different light, and hopefully curb your boredom.
You can expect some gigs to be more exciting than others – this is part of being a freelance writer. If you take on a job and find it to be overly boring, use the three tips above to better your situation.
