3 Lessons That Help Me Earning My Living Writing Online (That I Wish I Learned Sooner)
+1 bonus lesson everybody needs to do
It’ll be 4 years in March since I’ve started earning my living writing online.
Although I didn’t know what to do for most of my life. It started with me studying boring business informatics and finished, but I didn’t pursue a career in this field. Instead, I flew off to Bali to become a digital nomad. I did nothing and came back almost broke.
Then, I started working in a bar, which was fun but not sustainable.
Thanks to my degree and an existential crisis lurking behind every corner, I applied for a recruitment job in London. I got it and lived in the UK within three weeks.
It was the best office job I ever had (well, out of two). The best people, great parties, but sales sucked. I hated it. When I struggled the most, COVID came.
I moved back in with my parents.
I felt like a complete loser. Like the one person left behind because he took the wrong turns. I didn’t want to go to an office. And I didn’t want to stock up shelves in an Aldi.
This was when I finally sat down and started taking writing seriously. I applied to jobs via Upwork. Many “no’s” came in. But I stuck to it, and eventually, there was a single “yes.”
Since then, life has never been the same.
It took all of that (and some more) to enable me to earn my living writing online. Here are 3 lessons I learned; I wish I had known sooner.
Embracing rejections
It took me a failed sales career in London to appreciate rejections.
When I first started cold-calling people, I was afraid of a single “no.” It freaked me out.
But we had no choice.
We were forced to cold-call people all the time.
With every single “no” we heard, we became more stubborn. Although listening to a “no” was still uncomfortable, it became a little less frustrating.
Don’t get me wrong.
I was never sales a sales type. I never called up people, convincing them they’d need shoes, although they don’t have legs.
But I understood that a “no” now doesn’t mean a “no” in the future.
I realized “no” from one person doesn’t mean “no” from another.
Sounds rational, but you have to understand it to apply it. Before, I was scared to send out proposals, call up people, or explain to them what I do. Now, it’s just part of the process.
Sometimes, it works. Others, it doesn’t.
But that’s the game.
Getting your discipline right
With writing online, there won’t be any job/boss forcing you to wake up and go somewhere.
You can sleep in, which is excellent for fighting against your hangover after downing too many G&Ts the night before. But you can also have scheduling problems and need to work late to make a deadline.
Earning a living writing online involves a lot of discipline.
If you’re smart, you make a habit of daily writing, leaving yourself no other chance than to write. But you need to do it.
My mother-in-law recently asked me: “How do you do it?” “Do what?” I responded, a bit confused. “Get up and start writing, without having to go somewhere, I mean,” she explained her question. I thought about it.
My biggest motivator is the freedom that comes with it.
I can take a random day off without asking anyone for permission. I can shorten my work days to fit my schedule/interests. That’s why I can work when it’s needed.
It’s incredible, but it needs discipline.
Because to earn money writing, you need to sit down and write.
Change is inevitable
This is true for everything in life.
But it isn't as obvious within the shell of a “secure” company for most regular 9-to-5ers. If you work for yourself, you’re the one responsible.
This can be both scary and empowering.
Either way, it means you’ll feel every change you make. When Medium changed its algorithm, many writers experienced a drop in income.
The same happened to me when one client cut his budget. Or when, for a short period, everybody thought they could write whatever in ChatGPT.
I freaked out both of the times. I panicked, thinking I’d need to return to working 9 to 5. At one point last year, I started applying to regular 9 to 5 jobs again. In the end, my comeback never happened (thanks!).
I on-boarded new clients and increased my income again.
I got on top of things gain.
Although there was change and things were messy before.
That’s why you need to be prepared for change. It’s inevitable. Save up enough money to pay your expenses for at least three months.
Prepare yourself mentally to level up when your business declines. The latter helped me overcome the biggest ditch ever encountered since I started working like that.
Prepare yourself for the ups and downs of a rollercoaster ride.
Bonus lesson: Build a personal brand
It took me 3 1/2 years to realize a personal brand is everything nowadays.
I started with the idea of being the ghost in “Ghostwriter.” I’d apply to jobs, do my work, and deliver. That’s it.
But this isn’t how it works. People want social proof.
They want to see what you’ve achieved. They want to know where you fell flat on your face. Not to laugh about you but to be inspired and connect to a real human being.
Meaning it’s never too early to start a personal brand.
I just did it in December. And most of the time, it still feels weird to me. But when I could go back in time, I’d sit with my former self and tell him:
“Build a personal brand. It’ll change your life for the better, either way. It’s weird, it’s uncomfortable, but it’s rewarding. And even if you don’t make it fly, you’ve learned a lot about yourself. Don’t think too much. Do it.”
He’d be scared. But I’d convince him anyway. Like I hopefully convince you, too.
It’s never too early to start a personal brand.
Earning my writing online has taught me important lessons about life, business, communication, and freedom.
It has changed my entire perspective. And it will change yours, too.
So, make use of the lessons I wished I had learned sooner:
- embrace rejections
- get your discipline right
- accept change
- build a personal brand
Thanks for reading.
You like what you read? Please let me know!
Like, comment, leave a message and if you want to read more:
My January 2024 Medium Income — Report
