Summary

The author reflects on the personal growth and professional lessons learned from six months of freelance writing, emphasizing the importance of persistence, adaptation, and goal-setting.

Abstract

After half a year of dedication to freelance writing, the author shares insights gained through the challenges and triumphs of the profession. The journey has been marked by a transformation in content creation, moving from infrequent, labor-intensive articles to a steady output across various platforms. The author acknowledges the necessity of perseverance, accepting that not all work will be of the same quality and that growth is a gradual process. The fluctuations in viewership and earnings have taught the importance of consistency and resilience, recognizing that success is not linear but cyclical. With a foundation of experience, the author is now focused on setting and achieving larger goals, understanding that continuous improvement is key to a fulfilling career in freelance writing.

Opinions

The author believes that growth in freelance writing is incremental and often imperceptible until reflecting on past work.
There is an emphasis on the value of producing content consistently, even when faced with lower engagement or earnings.
The author suggests that accepting the variability of one's work quality and audience reception is crucial for long-term success.
Reflecting on one's progress is seen as a positive and motivating exercise that reinforces a sense of achievement.
The author expresses a commitment to ongoing goal-setting, viewing past accomplishments as stepping stones to greater achievements.

3 Lessons Learned From 6 Months of Freelance Writing

The hard lessons learned through the world of freelance writing — and the growth I experienced along the way.

Source: The Bored Apenventurer on Unsplash

I have been freelance writing for nearly 6 months. I have put my blood, sweat, and tears into this career — more than I have with any other job. I want to make freelance writing my career, long term.

I’ve written numerous articles on my journey throughout freelance writing (as well as Medium and NewsBreak).

https://readmedium.com/december-on-newsbreak-a-jump-in-my-stats-8e7a6fc21599

I have been working hard at my newfound career and trying to find who I am in the process. It is exciting to see my dreams coming true.

Maybe it’s the shock that I did that is pulling me for a loop.

It’s easy to think that maybe a switch is flipped, and we magically appear in the life we want. Like all things: it takes time. In fact, it takes so much time that you don’t even notice it happening.

So what are the lessons I’ve learned from freelance writing.

Reflect on your work periodically

I was looking back through my old content on Medium, and I realized how much my content has changed and adapted. Before, an article would take me days to complete — with significant gaps between stories.

Now I’ve learned how to produce steady content while expanding on Medium and my other writing platform. I wanted to make sure that I was doing the most possible in order to succeed. I want to be successful on multiple sites and have a steady income to support my family.

I realized that I am growing, learning, and changing every time I post. It is a fantastic feeling to reflect back on. But how did I eventually make it to where I am?

I kept going.

Whenever I was nervous about posting a story, I would hold off for days trying to make it perfect. I fought with myself, always trying to make my content the best that it could be.

https://readmedium.com/what-ive-learned-so-far-as-a-newbie-freelance-writer-41fbb112ceca

But I have grown from this mentality. Some of my work is going to be great, some okay, and there will be some that aren’t that good; it’s just a part of life.

Understand the ups and downs

Through this time, I’ve noticed how the ups and downs feel. My lows now were once my highest views or earnings — now my content is receiving more attention.

In freelance writing, there are definite highs and lows. Sometimes our highs aren’t as good as we would like, and sometimes our lows are so bad you want to cringe. But that doesn’t matter.

I can see the pattern and expect it. Some days, my views are lower, or my stories aren’t getting the attention they usually do — I know that I have to keep going.

When I have a boost in earnings on NewsBreak, I know that my earnings will drop at some point — but I know I will only grow from there.

Through all of this, I have reaffirmed that consistency is vital. If you fall, you have to get right back up. No one can walk through life without making mistakes.

You can’t only work and give it your all when you are succeeding. You can’t only live for the high, you have to work even when views are low are at a standstill.

Keep shooting for bigger goals

I’m more calm and present regarding my future and where I need to be. I am on the right path, and I have made up my mind.

The growing pains were evident throughout my time on Medium and still today. One day, I’ll reflect back on this post and see how far I have indeed come.

Now that I have achieved what I have dreamt of, I can start to really set my sights on greater reach, more content, and even more consistency. I can achieve more than what I am doing now through time.

I can’t just stop at where I am at! I need to keep going further to achieve things I haven’t even dreamt of yet.

We all hold ourselves back from what we want because we simply don’t know what we are doing. But now that I have a system that works, I can grow from that and continue.

One day, my new goals will be replaced, and I’ll be just as shocked and ecstatic.

Thanks for reading; I hope you enjoyed it! If you would like to support me, you can do so by joining Medium. Get unlimited access to stories for only $5 a month — you can use my link to sign up! Click here to sign up for emails every time I post a new story! Happy reading! 🌞

3 Lessons Learned From 6 Months of Freelance Writing

The hard lessons learned through the world of freelance writing — and the growth I experienced along the way.

Reflect on your work periodically

Understand the ups and downs

Keep shooting for bigger goals

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