The #1 Mistake to Avoid as a Freelance Writer
Whether you write about erotica or money management, don’t f*ck this up
Almost anyone who has written or published words and put them out there on public display can offer advice about getting started with a freelance writing career.
Experienced freelancers or novice writers will often tell you what not to do.
Don’t do that…
Do this instead…
But honestly, if you want to make it as a freelancer writer you don’t need to spend countless hours pouring through blogs, advice columns, freelancing books, or writer meet-up conversations to discover what you need to make a writing career work.
I know. Because I’ve done all of that.
There’s no secret to success as a freelance writer. But there is one truth that will take you exactly to where you want to go.
Are you ready for it?
Here’s the one piece of advice you really need to know as a freelance writer
If you want to build a freelance writing career, grow your writing business, and eventually find success as a freelance writer, you simply must avoid this ONE thing.
Everything else will fall into place naturally.
You’ll learn everything you need to know as you go along and navigate your writing career.
But this is #1 mistake you have to avoid
If you want to find success as a writer and achieve your goals, you absolutely must take your writing job seriously.
Whether you want to be a full-time writer, grow a side hustle, or become a self-made millionaire from your writing, you have to take your writing seriously.
This means taking your side gig seriously. It means prioritizing your writing hobby business.
It means holding yourself out as a writer and writing consistently — every damn day.
Tips to take your writing side hustle seriously
Sure, it seems intuitive that if you want to be a successful freelance writer that you have to take your writing seriously. However, if it was that straightforward, everyone under the sun would be a successful writer.
Nah, you need to do more.
You’ve got to hustle.
You’ve got to commit to writing. Commit to growing your craft and professionalism as a writer. Commit to cranking up all you do to take your side hustle the next level.
Are you ready to level up?
1. Stop Dreaming, Start Doing
Dreamers dream, but you’ve got to DO, too.
It’s time to start saying you’re a writer.
Own the title.
Put on a Hello, My Name is … I’m a writer… sticker on your shirt if you need the encouragement.
It’s time to put yourself out there.
Scared? Of course you are. That’s how it works. But it doesn’t last long.
Let’s go, writer.
2. Stop Waiting and Looking for Validation
You don’t need to read another book or talk to another friend or your therapist about whether you should start writing or spend more time on your writing side hustle.
It’s time. You want this.
LFG.
3. Make Writing Your Focus
Sure, you may have a lot going on in your life, but you’ve got to make writing a consistent focus.
Only you define what consistent looks like.
Perhaps writing consistency for you looks like writing one time a week on a quiet Sunday morning. Maybe it’s writing two Medium articles a day. Or maybe it looks like publishing one ebook a week to Amazon KDP. Maybe it’s launching a new Fiverr gig each month. Or spending fifteen minutes each day scouring freelancing sites.
Just do it. Write.
4. Stop Thinking About Your Writing Side Hustle as a Hobby
This is a tricky one for many, but it’s essential for success. If you want to make it into the big league — however you define that for yourself — you can’t think small.
It’s time to think big.
Whether you want to be a full-time freelancer, get rich, or have money (or more of it) to manage, you’ve got to think about your side hustle as a business. It’s no longer a hobby or something you do purely for fun. Yes, you absolutely MUST keep having fun and enjoying your writing, but it’s time to think of it as a legit, bona fide, real money making business.
Shifting your mindset to a business mentality will open doors for you in terms of writing opportunities and will also help you focus better and more clearly on your goals.
5. Find a Niche
Find a place to call home in your writing. Pick a niche, buckle down, and write.
Do research. Find out what’s hot. Roll up your sleeves and write.
No, you don’t have to commit to this area for life. However, there’s value in pouring yourself into a niche, making a name for yourself as a writer in that area, and growing what you do. It’s a powerful way to establish yourself as an expert in that domain.
Ready writer?
It’s time to write, put yourself out there as a freelance writer, and commit to growing your passion into a lucrative, sustainable, money-making career.
I can’t wait to see where you take your writing biz.
Follow me, and I’ll follow you back.
j.j. wolfe 🖤
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