6 things I’ve learned from 6 months of freelance writing
A few months ago, my life took a turn in a new direction. I accepted an offer to write weekly blog posts for someone else.
As in, not JUST a post on my own blog. As in, PAYMENT for work. As in, several moments of THIS IS A GREAT IDEA mixed with I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I’M DOING.
Every time I panicked, though, I reminded myself of what I was sure of: I can do words.
I’ve always loved to write, and I’ve always wanted a more flexible schedule, but I didn’t how to make the two mesh and also provide an income for our family. My gut told me freelance writing might just be the answer I was looking for.
So I took the plunge!
I’ve been freelance writing for about 6 months now and while I’m FAR from an expert, I thought I’d share a peak into what I’ve learned so far into this freelance/entrepreneurial journey.
1. Even if writing brings joy, it doesn’t mean the Freelance Writing process won’t ever be hard.
As a self-proclaimed “writer” you would think that words come easily and it takes me no time at all to write. FALSE. I still struggle to string the words together sometimes. I still crawl over hurdles trying to get it all to mesh. I still stare at a blinking cursor on a blank word doc before I start a new post.
I’ve learned a lot about writing and as I study other writers and freelancers, I’m realizing we all experience the same issue: Getting started.
So I remind myself of 2 things:
- I’m not alone in the struggle to get writing.
- My article just isn’t there YET.
The second point is the one that has helped me the most. That little word – YET – reminds me that the words will eventually fall into place if I don’t give up. First drafts are always rough, which is why they’re not final drafts.
Knowing I’m not there yet, and being willing to stay curious enough about how I can get it to work, is probably what’s kept me going through all these years of blogging. I’m happy to report these skills translate to freelance writing as well. ☺️
2. Never underestimate the power of Good research.
To piggyback off of the previous point on my ability to keep going even if the words are flowing yet, I’ve noticed that I most often get hung up when I’m unfamiliar with the topic I need to write about.
This is where solid, quality research comes in.
There are reasons why Google (and now AI products like ChatGPT) exist. I have had to learn how to dig in and research topics I’m unfamiliar with. I’ve had to study how to use Google on a deeper level and put my own spin on what I learn.
I’ve also had to remind myself that I’m not the expert on certain topics and that’s ok. Freelance writing has taught me to just get a blog post or article about 80% of the way there. Then the client can add their own expertise and edits to complete the last 20%.
Going forward, learning how to be efficient and smart with research is an area I hope to keep growing in.
3. While I can’t control the outcomes, I can control the amount of Work I put in.
If 2020 taught me anything, it’s that I have far, FAR less control over things than I think I do. Luckily, this savvy life lesson flows into freelancing.
Shockingly, I can’t control when or if a potential client replies to my email. I also can’t control all of the timing or if leads will actually turn into paid work.
What I can control is sending the cold pitch email, revamping my LinkedIn page, and doing the work of writing to ensure I meet agreed upon deadlines.
In other words, the only thing I can control is doing the work. And then I have to have faith that what will be will be.
I’m also finding that “doing the work” pertains to entrepreneurship as a whole. Sometimes, the road ahead isn’t crystal clear. What I can do is get super focused on my part and then lay down what isn’t up to me.
I can take the action and I can do everything possible to get the outcome I’m hoping for, but if it doesn’t come together, at least I can rest in knowing I did the work.
4. There will be moments of uncertainty. Let us not be afraid to do the scary thing Anyway.
I’m sure we’ve all heard this saying before: Fear is the price of entry.
When I took on my first freelance writing project, I had no idea how it would turn out. I didn’t know if the test article I wrote would even lead to anything. I didn’t know if I had what it took to be a freelancer. I didn’t know if I’d enjoy the process or dread it.
But I did it anyway. And I did it scared.
I don’t know that we can really “kick fear to the curb” or completely remove it from our lives. But we can take action in spite of it.
You’ve probably guessed by now that freelancing is not a stable form of income. I don’t earn the same amount each week. There are no consistent Friday paychecks. Some weeks I have a lot of writing work, some weeks I don’t.
In both freelancing and entrepreneurship, there will be moments of uncertainty. But there will also be moments of pride, accomplishment, and fulfillment.
We’ll never really know what will happen if we aren’t brave enough to take a few leaps.
5. Freelance Writing is a business. Treat it as such.
Everyone says this, but I think I’m only finally starting to understand now, 6 months in.
If we want to succeed at freelancing (or any entrepreneurial endeavor for that matter), we have to treat it like a business.
Like, a full-fledged business. Organize the LLC. Set up the bank accounts. Redo your social media pages or create new ones. Start creating content. Start looking for work and actively pitching yourself and your services.
And scariest of all: Start telling people what you’re up to.
I struggled with all of these things. When I found out the LLC I set up would be published in the local paper, I’m pretty sure I broke out in hives. I wasn’t ready to announce anything and I wasn’t ready to answer questions. I wasn’t even really sure what I was doing yet.
However, looking back, I’m so grateful I took the steps I did. I’m confident I wouldn’t be typing this blog post from my dining room table at 10 AM on a Friday if I hadn’t.
There’s something to committing before we’re ready. To stop playing small and start owning our truth. If you’re looking to start a business or turn your side hustle into something more than a side hustle, start treating it like a full-fledged business and see what happens. I promise it’ll be good!
6. You truly are your own boss. Be good to yourself.
Being a freelancer means you get to be your own boss. As I’m sure you’ve guessed, this can be both exhilarating and challenging.
Calling your own shots and making your own moves can lead to amazing opportunities! But also, no one’s going to be on top of you to meet deadlines or do the things that actually move the needle forward in your business.
Being your own boss means understanding how you work best and what you need to accomplish, all while a world full of distractions will try to pull you away.
It means doing the work even when you don’t feel motivated, but also being cognizant enough to give yourself a break if your brain is fried and a break is what’s best for you. It means setting boundaries and work hours so you’re not working during family time and not browsing Netflix during work time. (Not saying I’ve ever done that…)
A note on schedules/productivity when Freelance writing.
When I first started freelance writing, I squeezed writing time into the weekends while I still worked full-time. There was no “time blocking” or scheduled hours. I had writing to do and I fit it in when I could.
As I tacked on more freelancing work, however, I realized I was struggling to keep up on weekends. I’ve since moved to part-time at my previous full-time gig, which has allowed me more time to write during the week.
This is great, except that it means I have to actually get shiz done on the days I’m home now. And guess what? No boss or time clock is keeping me in line. It’s entirely up to me.
So, I’m learning more and more about when my best creative times are, when I need a break, and when I need to move on to more managerial tasks in order to save my creative brain from melting.
I found this YouTube video from Ashton Writes about productivity to be incredibly helpful. She covers all things from Pomodoro time blocking to finding and implementing your most creative times during the day.
Now, having spoken about both the pros and cons of being your own boss, I feel I need also need to clarify that… I really freaking love being my own boss. I love being an entrepreneur! I love calling my own shots and doing my own work. I love knowing that my bottom line is now directly tied to what I do. I love having the flexibility to work from anywhere and picking my kids up from school at 3:30 on the days I’m working from home.
Tips for Aspiring freelance Writers.
I realize I haven’t been in the freelance writing trenches long, but as I’ve researched this topic, I’ve found it helpful to learn from people just 2 steps in front of me, not 100.
So if you’ve ever considered being a freelance writer, here’s what I can tell you so far that I haven’t already said in this article:
- It always helps to have some of your own work out there, but that doesn’t mean you need to start your own website. I already had my blog going, but if you don’t, start by writing a guest post for free, creating your own Medium column, or simply write a few samples in a Word doc. Don’t let “not having a website” keep you stuck!
- The barriers to entry in freelance writing are SUPER DUPER low. If you have a laptop, you can do freelancing.
- If you’re struggling to start writing a new post or article, start with an outline. Word vomit what you’re thinking and what you know so far. You can always go back and fill in the blank spaces or rearrange them.
- Do not underestimate the power of consistency. The amount of Indeed job postings I applied to are probably in the hundreds! But I also new that something would happen if I just. kept. going. The same is true for you!
There’s probably a lot more to say here, but I want to keep this simple. Being a freelancer basically boils down to this: Show up every day. Do the work every day. Keep going every day. That’s it. This game is 1000% more mental than you probably imagine. It might take a while, but I firmly believe that if you do the work, the work will come to you!
Wrapping Up.
It’s been 6 crazy months. 6 months of Googling everything from “how to create in invoice” to “how to update a LinkedIn profile.” I am confident I have so much more to learn, but the curiosity of what I can make of this thing keeps me going.
Also, WHAT IS THIS LIFE?? It’s not lost on me that I prayed for a way to make a living writing, and here I am finishing a post about life as a freelancer. God is so good. I’m humbled and grateful for the opportunities that have come my way and I’m excited to see what the future holds!
**OVER TO YOU: Have any questions about becoming a freelancer or what life’s like as an entrepreneur? Contact me or shoot me a DM on the ‘Gram! I’d LOVE to connect and hear from you!
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