At some point in your freelance writing career a job will turn into a disaster. This may happen today, tomorrow, or not until next year. Or maybe it has already happened to you more than once in the past. While nobody wants to run into this problem, it is something you should expect. Everything cannot always go smoothly.
A seemingly good project can go wrong for a number of reasons. For the sake of this post, and the following information, let’s assume that the client did not approve of the end result. In this case, there are three things you can take away:
1. You can look back and see what went wrong. Maybe you will realize that it was your fault, maybe you will see that the client did not give you enough direction. No matter what you find, make sure you go over each and every step and detail with a fine tooth comb. It is good to know what went wrong, even if you are partly at fault.
2. Don’t be afraid to ask for feedback. There is nothing wrong with asking the client, even if they are upset, for further information. Feedback, good or bad, can benefit your business in the long run. If you did do something wrong the client can tell you, and in turn you can avoid the same mistake in the future.
3. It will make you more grateful for other clients. Sometimes it takes a horrible client to make you realize what the good ones mean to your business. You should never take a client for granted – especially if they are easy to work with and treat you with respect.
The next time a job goes terribly wrong, use the three points above to learn from the experience.
With the holiday season right around the corner it is safe to say that you have a lot on your plate. You have to go shopping, spend time with family, cook, and much more. On top of all this, freelance writers need to answer one very important question: when will I be working?
Over Thanksgiving I received many emails asking how much I work on the holidays, whether it is a good idea, etc. It is simple for me to answer this question from where I stand, but just because I am doing something this holiday season does not make it right for everybody else.
Whether or not you work over the holidays is up to you. If you have the time to do so, and don’t mind sitting down at your desk for a while, I urge you to work. After all, anytime you can make a few bucks and keep clients happy you are making a good decision. Of course, you have to draw the line somewhere. Working on Christmas morning while your kids are opening gifts does not make much sense – you will regret decisions like this in the long run.
In the days to come I plan on writing more about how freelance writers should handle their workload during the holiday season. Hopefully you have a plan in place already, but if you don’t, stay tuned for some sound advice. It is not always easy to decide when and how much to work during the holidays. But as you know, soon enough you will be faced with this situation and a decision will need to be made.
Before I go any further, I want to say one thing: as a freelance writer you need to take breaks. This helps to keep both your mind and body fresh. That being said, you want to avoid long breaks during your workday. This way you do not lose track of what you are doing and find yourself having to “start back up†time after time.
How long is too long? Only you can answer this question. I like to take a small 15 minute break in the morning for breakfast, a bit longer for lunch, and maybe a couple minutes in the afternoon. Of course, there are days when I have to leave the office for a client meeting, to cash a check, etc. When this happens, it goes without saying that I am away from my desk for a longer period of time.
The problem with long breaks is that they get you out of the groove. Just as you are settling in and getting a lot of work done you are pulled away. When you finally return to your work you find that you are off track and struggling to pick up where you left off.
No matter how long of a break I am expecting to take, I never leave in the middle of a project. Instead, I like to finish the task at hand before leaving my desk. This makes things easier upon my return.
For me, long breaks are a detriment. This may be different for you. If you are struggling with how long your breaks should last, experiment a little bit here and there. Soon enough you will find the schedule that works best for you.Â
