Chris, why am I failing as a freelance writer? Believe it or not, I receive this sort of message at least once per week. It is hard to see that so many people are aspiring to become full-time freelance writers but are coming up way short. It is never easy for me to tell somebody why they are not achieving success. After all, I don’t know exactly what each person is doing or what goals they are trying to reach.
Through my years of addressing this situation I have found that most freelance writers fail for the same common reasons:
1. They don’t put in enough time. Contrary to popular belief, becoming a freelance writer takes time. Don’t think you are going to start writing today, find new clients tomorrow, and begin making tens of thousands of dollars by next month. It is very important that you are patient while putting in the time necessary to succeed.
2. They don’t have the proper skills. Not everybody is a good writer. I am good at writing, but stink at math. Some people are great with numbers but don’t have the skills to write compelling content. If you don’t enjoy writing and/or don’t have the skills, find a career path that better suits you.
3. They lack a business and marketing plan. If you are going to achieve success you need a plan. Early in my career I put together a business and marketing plan. To this day I still rely on both, although they have changed quite a bit over the years. Even if your plan is not in-depth, it is better than nothing.Â
Are you not achieving as much success as you would like? Consider the three points above and whether or not they are causing your problems.Â
Are you an aspiring freelance writer? It can be difficult to start a career, especially if you do not know much about what you are doing. This will lead to what seems like one snag after the next. In other words, just as you gain momentum you run into something that slows you down. Does this sound all too familiar?
Hitting snags as a freelance writer, new or not, is going to happen. Even though I have seen just about every possible situation, there are still things that come up that perplex me – this is part of being a freelance writer. If you are not willing to deal with both the good and the bad, this is the wrong career for you.
When you hit a snag as an aspiring freelance writer you may feel as if your entire career is coming down around you. After all, you don’t know much about the industry, where you are headed, or how to solve the problem. In my experience, the best thing you can do is take your time in assessing your situation. Look at your problem from every different angle, and then make an educated decision on which move to make next.
Believe it or not, every problem you solve will help you in the long run. During my first year as a freelance writer I was stiffed a couple of times by clients. While this hurt at the time, I also learned a lot from the experiences. Now, it is easier for me to pinpoint from the start which “clients†don’t have my best interest in mind.
When you hit a snag make sure you solve your problem before moving on. You can learn from every experience, and when you do it ensures a better career in the future.Â
So you want to become a freelance writer? This is something that many people are thinking about at this very second. But before you decide that this is the career for you, make sure you think long and hard about what you are doing. Remember, a career as a freelance writer sounds like a lot of fun right now but things do not always stay this way. In other words, there are good times and bad – just like any career.
I am not trying to talk anybody out of following their dream. What I am trying to do is show you that there are pros and cons of working as a freelancer. This is true no matter if you are a freelance writer, a freelance web designer, a freelance coder, etc.
One of the best ways to decide if a career as a freelance writer is a good choice is to go at it part-time to start. Keep your current job, even if you do not like it, and work on the side as a freelance writer. Give yourself at least two hours per day, five days per week for a month or so. At the end of this you can look back and see where you stand. Did you enjoy your time as a freelance writer even though you were only working a few hours per day? Do you see solid income potential? You have to be honest with yourself when assessing the past. This is the only way you can make the right decision for the future.
When I decided to become a full-time freelance writer most people told me that it was a bad idea. They did not believe in the income that was available, or that it was possible to catch on quickly. After a couple of months I proved them wrong. You don’t want to let outside sources dictate whether or not you become a freelance writer. This is a decision you have to make on your own. Of course, there is nothing wrong with listening to others and taking their opinion for what it is worth.
If you are sure you want to become a freelance writer you should stop thinking about it and go for the gusto. Soon enough you will find out if you made the right decision.
