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Abstract

the “something better” option is making smart use of your time and you can sleep a lot better at night knowing you can stand proudly behind your day’s work.</p><h2 id="26ec">Some people think that freelancing isn’t a ‘real job’ and will tell you as much</h2><p id="48cc">This one is big. Since beginning my freelance business I have taken some real heat from people who think what I do is just “playing around.” Get a <i>real job</i> they say.</p><p id="b0c2">There is some real opposition out there and a severe lack of respect for what we do — typically from unhappy nine-to-fivers, but you don’t have to fold under that criticism. Tell them you have a real job as a professional freelancer and leave it at that.</p><p id="d7ea">The criticism is not a reflection of your professionalism or talent and more a reflection of society’s hangup that people must work set work weeks at a set job location. But things are changing as more delve into remote work in the wake of Covid-19. Perhaps now they will have more understanding of the work that we put into freelancing. The hustle is real.</p><h2 id="4163">Don’t be afraid to set pricing you can live with</h2><p id="14de">“Know your worth” isn’t just a good dating slogan, it should be sticky-noted to the desktop of every single freelancer out there hitting this grind every day.</p><p id="5eab">Don’t be afraid to have the negotiations over pricing and have a bottom line. if the client refuses, save your time for the ones that won’t. Freelancing is a long game of client retention and the good clients who pay you your value are the bread and butter of your income. Don’t waste time with clients who want to pay you pennies and don’t value your time.</p><p id="c985">Additionally, don’t let your mental health issues cloud your judgment and demean your talent. Be confident yet relatable. Be firm but also service-oriented. Impress your clients with each and every interaction and believe in your ability to do so.</p><h2 id="b314">Always work to improve your writing and learn about the business</h2><p id="be5e">There are a lot of courses and eBooks out there for sale to help you learn more about the business. Some of these are a few dollars but most range in the hundreds of dollars. Look for free YouTube videos or podcasts. You’ll get a quick feel for those who are setting you up for a sales pitch and those resources you can utilize without breaking the bank.</p><p id="5abe">Polish your literary and SEO skills. Learn about copy. Spend some part of your day improving what you have to offer your clients and the investment of you

Options

r time will pay off. <a href="https://www.open.edu/openlearn/">Open Learn</a> has great English courses. Here is a great blog article on some free courses you can take: <a href="https://mariepierrochon.com/free-copywriting-courses-resources/">38 free resources to improve your copywriting skills</a>.</p><h2 id="c158">Keep excellent records</h2><p id="4de7">Choose software for your business or some kind of record-keeping method. Be diligent about your recordkeeping and research the tax requirements for your area. I use <a href="https://www.freshbooks.com/">Freshbooks</a> for my business and it is working very well to suit my needs. Having worked for over 10 years previously as a sole proprietor, I know that you do not delay tax preparation until the first of the year. It is something you do every single day with diligent record-keeping, saving, and planning.</p><h2 id="6130">Stay positive and keep putting yourself out there</h2><p id="c9ac">Reach out for potential clients every single day across platforms and methods. Don’t wait until the orders run thin and panic sets in. There will be times you are overwhelmed with work and other times you get down to the last order, but if you do not invest in next month's orders <i>now</i> with emails, applications, advertisements, and social media connections, the orders may dry up altogether. Reach out to people you have done work for before and stay in touch with them. Keep yourself “out there” and work to find the next clients — every single day.</p><h2 id="421a">Love what you do</h2><p id="f1c8">I absolutely love what I do. Working for myself is rewarding on more levels than any other job I have ever had. If you are not self-motivated and your own best cheerleader, perhaps this isn’t the type of work at which you will excel. Loving what you do is the foundation for a fulfilling career.</p><h2 id="23e5">The takeaway</h2><p id="764f">Freelancing is not for everyone, but a few months into my freelancing business, I know this is it for me. My dream career. The pivotal moment for me was deciding that I am talented, my work has value, and it is time for me to believe in my own abilities. That was hard for me to do initially, but with each job, I get a little better at it.</p><p id="d675">Perhaps, you can do it too.</p><p id="fb5a"><a href="undefined"><i>Christina M. Ward</i></a><i> is a professional freelance writer, a Medium contributor, a poet, and a naturist who finds her peace behind the computer screen working or out in nature talking with the critters. Thank you for reading her work.</i></p></article></body>

Working as a Full-Time Freelance Writer

Put out the feelers, service the clients, rinse, repeat — here’s what I have learned

Alexas_Fotos / Pixabay /free stock photo

A few months ago I made the decision to go fulltime as a freelance writer and editor. Looking back, I wonder why I didn't have the confidence to do this years ago. All things come to fruition in their own good time, I suppose. Today, I look forward to a bright future and the prosperity that I now see can be my reality.

It begins with hope. A few orders, a few regular clients, watching other freelancers around me slay this on the daily — and I realize, I am a talented woman with every bit as much promise as they.

Why didn’t anyone tell me?

In short, they did but I didn’t listen. I made excuses. I hid from the hard work of self-guidance and responsibility. And I wasted a lot of time. But now, it is done. I took the plunge and I am backing it up with commitment. Over the last few months, I have grown exponentially as a writer and learned a lot about this business. Here are a few of those tidbits for those of you considering freelancing and for those of you sharing this path with me.

Clients can be a pain — but you can cherry-pick what jobs you take

Contrary to what many might tell you — you do not have to work for pennies. Yes, I am getting my start on Upwork, Freelancer, and Fiverr and yes you have to start at the bottom rung, financially speaking. But, as soon as your foot is in that door, raise your prices and your standards. You don’t have to take 2,500-word articles for 20 bucks. If you must, do one and then negotiate for any future work. Earn a good review — every single time.

Clients can be demanding and sometimes ask you to do things that do not sit well with you ethically. You can say no, and should. Leaving your schedule open for the “something better” option is making smart use of your time and you can sleep a lot better at night knowing you can stand proudly behind your day’s work.

Some people think that freelancing isn’t a ‘real job’ and will tell you as much

This one is big. Since beginning my freelance business I have taken some real heat from people who think what I do is just “playing around.” Get a real job they say.

There is some real opposition out there and a severe lack of respect for what we do — typically from unhappy nine-to-fivers, but you don’t have to fold under that criticism. Tell them you have a real job as a professional freelancer and leave it at that.

The criticism is not a reflection of your professionalism or talent and more a reflection of society’s hangup that people must work set work weeks at a set job location. But things are changing as more delve into remote work in the wake of Covid-19. Perhaps now they will have more understanding of the work that we put into freelancing. The hustle is real.

Don’t be afraid to set pricing you can live with

“Know your worth” isn’t just a good dating slogan, it should be sticky-noted to the desktop of every single freelancer out there hitting this grind every day.

Don’t be afraid to have the negotiations over pricing and have a bottom line. if the client refuses, save your time for the ones that won’t. Freelancing is a long game of client retention and the good clients who pay you your value are the bread and butter of your income. Don’t waste time with clients who want to pay you pennies and don’t value your time.

Additionally, don’t let your mental health issues cloud your judgment and demean your talent. Be confident yet relatable. Be firm but also service-oriented. Impress your clients with each and every interaction and believe in your ability to do so.

Always work to improve your writing and learn about the business

There are a lot of courses and eBooks out there for sale to help you learn more about the business. Some of these are a few dollars but most range in the hundreds of dollars. Look for free YouTube videos or podcasts. You’ll get a quick feel for those who are setting you up for a sales pitch and those resources you can utilize without breaking the bank.

Polish your literary and SEO skills. Learn about copy. Spend some part of your day improving what you have to offer your clients and the investment of your time will pay off. Open Learn has great English courses. Here is a great blog article on some free courses you can take: 38 free resources to improve your copywriting skills.

Keep excellent records

Choose software for your business or some kind of record-keeping method. Be diligent about your recordkeeping and research the tax requirements for your area. I use Freshbooks for my business and it is working very well to suit my needs. Having worked for over 10 years previously as a sole proprietor, I know that you do not delay tax preparation until the first of the year. It is something you do every single day with diligent record-keeping, saving, and planning.

Stay positive and keep putting yourself out there

Reach out for potential clients every single day across platforms and methods. Don’t wait until the orders run thin and panic sets in. There will be times you are overwhelmed with work and other times you get down to the last order, but if you do not invest in next month's orders now with emails, applications, advertisements, and social media connections, the orders may dry up altogether. Reach out to people you have done work for before and stay in touch with them. Keep yourself “out there” and work to find the next clients — every single day.

Love what you do

I absolutely love what I do. Working for myself is rewarding on more levels than any other job I have ever had. If you are not self-motivated and your own best cheerleader, perhaps this isn’t the type of work at which you will excel. Loving what you do is the foundation for a fulfilling career.

The takeaway

Freelancing is not for everyone, but a few months into my freelancing business, I know this is it for me. My dream career. The pivotal moment for me was deciding that I am talented, my work has value, and it is time for me to believe in my own abilities. That was hard for me to do initially, but with each job, I get a little better at it.

Perhaps, you can do it too.

Christina M. Ward is a professional freelance writer, a Medium contributor, a poet, and a naturist who finds her peace behind the computer screen working or out in nature talking with the critters. Thank you for reading her work.