Freelancing|Writing|Earning

How to Survive Life as a Freelance Content Writer

Preparation, Perseverance, and Patience

Freelancing is great. You choose your own hours, have a high income with fewer expenses, take the writing assignments you want, and work from anywhere — at least, that’s the theory. The truth can be very different, particularly when first starting on your freelance writer’s journey.

In reality, most freelancers juggle more assignments than they have time for, take jobs in areas they barely understand, struggle to make ends meet, and work more hours than they ever did when employed. And, as for working anywhere, it is more like everywhere.

So how do you survive? And more importantly, how do you thrive as a freelance content writer?

Be Prepared

If you are preparing to set out on a freelancing journey, then be prepared for difficulties, hardships, and the possibility of failure. This is not negative; it is practical. Ask yourself what you will do if you don’t get the assignments you need or make enough money to pay your bills.

· Have a backup plan — ideally enough money to cover costs for 3 to 6 months, although if you can manage to save a year’s worth, then even better.

· Check your budget — while you are probably looking forward to a better quality of life as a freelancer, be prepared to make cutbacks, at least in the short term.

· Spread payments — it is rare for a freelancer to get paid on the same date every month, and even those that do rarely receive the same amount every month. This makes things like direct debit payments difficult. Instead, spread your expenses across the month where possible. This makes it just a bit easier to budget for those regular payments.

Get People On Board

Any changes can be complex, especially when you are the person your family relies on for financial stability. Even if your income provides the extras that you have all become used to, losing that stability can come as a shock.

Talk to your family, including children, and explain what you are doing and why. Paint them a picture that is at the same time positive and honest. It won’t be all sunshine and rainbows, but the benefits for everyone, if you succeed, will put the silver lining on any clouds.

Manage Your Time

It is very easy to put in so many hours trying to get up and running that you completely lose track of everything else. Even worse, you can make yourself ill and be unable to continue. So, while hard work and time are essential, so are food, coffee (or other preferred beverage), exercise, and family and friends.

There are plenty of studies that suggest we can only concentrate effectively for around 90 minutes at a time, so taking regular breaks actually makes you more productive. But it is important to vary what you do during these breaks. I tend to change between housework, walking the dog, and making fresh coffee. Of course, there is nothing wrong with including a quick social media break or catching up with phone calls, but at least some of your breaks should involve moving.

Don’t Panic

There will be good days, and there will be bad days, and sometimes it will seem as if there are only terrible days. It is crucial when this happens not to panic. Don’t give up, don’t assume it is all over and that you have failed. Even nine years in, I have bad days, weeks, and even months, but I’m still going.

In the next instalment, we look at getting the right assignments for you and not spreading yourself too thinly.

Cathylouise is a juggler extraordinaire who amazingly manages to balance parenthood, health challenges, work, and home responsibilities with a healthy side of poetry and knitting and a growing obsession with Dungeons and Dragons. When she’s not hiding at the kitchen table, she is supporting her teenage daughter, dancing around the kitchen to pirate metal and walking two very enthusiastic dogs. Follow her aerial acrobatics on Twitter.