If you’ve read my About page, you already know my freelance writing journey. But what you may not know is how much failure lies between the lines.
My first few years freelance writing were pretty bad.
I worked with a variety of clients that I probably shouldn’t have. Additionally, I took on jobs that stressed me out. For a long time, I undersold myself, charging the equivalent of the 2010 minimum wage in Ontario. I was stressed out because of all the working I was doing. It led me to some bad decisions and a stagnant career.
Now that I’m a few years into my career, I’ve learned some lessons that I’d like to share with you. But for some of them, I really wish I knew them before I started!
Here are eight (8) things I wish I knew about freelance writing:
1. Saying no is powerful
I thought I had to accept every single job that came my way because I would gain experience this way. However, I said yes to a lot of jobs I shouldn’t have. So, I was spending time doing work that didn’t give me the experience I needed. Instead, it gave me stress I didn’t need. Saying “No” to a job means that you make room for the right experiences and jobs that get you closer to your goals. It also means you are specific about the work that you do and don’t do.
2. Be patient
Unfortunately, you will not magically make $1 million dollars on your first job. You certainly won’t have a job to do all the time. Before, I thought that was cause for panic. If your financial situation gets pretty awful like mine did, panic away, for sure. But all else being equal, it’s normal to have highs and lows in the freelance writing world. Patience teaches you to honour your gifts and use them wisely by developing your career alongside your goals, habits and daily living circumstances where you can.
3. Freelance writing is lonely
Of course, you work with people so you communicate on a regular basis. But it’s just you. Unless you outsource your work or are doing a collaborative project with someone, you’re pretty much on your own. You’re the writer, so you write. There’s no one there to correct you or tell you what to do on a regular basis. But it helps to find a community of other freelance writers that you can learn from and share tips with!
4. Be business-minded
This one is tricky. I’ll admit – I still kind of suck at it. Sometimes, I can be too nice. I definitely was in the beginning. Unfortunately, some clients are keen on taking advantage of the extra mile you go to provide them with excellent work. But your time, energy and value matters. Don’t undersell yourself. With a quick Google search, you can see the worth and value of your industry. The education technology industry, for example, is approaching $7 trillion-dollar industry status. Additionally, the average B2B freelance writer rate for projects is well over $100 for an essay. So remember, It’s always more than hours that you’re providing.
5. You are never just freelance writing
Like many people, I thought freelance writing was simply writing and maybe some editing. Boy, was I wrong. All the time I spent waiting for jobs to come to me, I should’ve spent searching, prospecting, marketing, blogging and then some. No one will know who you are or what you do if you don’t put yourself out there. It’s valuable to learn about things around writing, such as editing, marketing, basic communications stuff and even how to use social media in your favour.
6. Set boundaries early
I used to be someone who could stay up all night writing. I would work hours on end to meet a deadline which, in retrospect, was wildly unrealistic. It’s not so much about changing when you work as much as it is changing how you work. Setting boundaries early means that you decide how you want to experience your freelance writing career. Telling clients that you’re available all the time requires too much energy!
7. The client is not always right
I thought writing was all about doing whatever an editor or a client said. When I became an editor, I realized just how wrong I was. The best kind of writing doesn’t happen because of what you say, per se. It happens because the writer makes informed choices that best serve the story they’re writing.
It’s the same thing with client work. The best work doesn’t happen because you do everything the client says. Yes, you should make sure you’re doing what they have asked for. But you were specifically hired to offer your expertise, which includes making informed decisions about writing. The client may want something, but it may not be right for their particular goal. Your job is to explain that using data and/or evidence and your client’s business goals. They may not listen to you. In that case, be professional and handle the situation accordingly, and don’t be afraid to walk away if things are just not working!
8. Freelance writing is not an industry
Before, I thought you had to be a freelance writer who writes about everything – finance, education, pet food, hair care etc. My early work definitely reflects the range of industries I’ve dabbled in. However, the writing itself is not actually where you work. It’s just the skill you use to write about an industry. So, it doesn’t work in anyone’s favour if you can write about everything. It shows curiosity more than it shows expertise. Most of the time, clients want expertise. Picking a niche industry allows you to be specific about what you write about and welcome jobs that raise your profile. It gives you somewhere to focus.
Conclusion
I made a lot of mistakes early in my career. But trusting the process means embracing failure as a learning opportunity to become better. As well, it means that you can actually practice the things on this list and build better habits along the way. The goal is never to be perfect. It’s to just do better when you know better.