Freelance Writing Business Facts

What’s on the iPod: Human Error by We Were Promised Jetpacks


It was an absolutely gorgeous weekend, though I wouldn’t know much about that. Colds hit at the worst times, and they pretend to be allergies at first. That means I infect everyone around me. My husband and I missed what was surely a fantastic concert on Friday. There was no way either of us felt like moving — staying out past midnight (hell, nine pm even) wasn’t happening.

I did no work on Friday because of being sick. I answered emails, caught up on cleaning this desk, and rested. It wasn’t as restful as I should have made it, but my brain was given a rest. After the mountains of articles I had to write this month, it needed it.

My post at the beginning of this month prompted a lot of responses and discussion. Freelancers at the beginning stages, and at every stage I’d argue, often get these ideas about what freelance writing is. They take as fact a lot of the misconceptions floating about the Internet, like the constant pronouncements that “freelancing is dead.” Right. Since I’ve started freelancing full time I’ve seen that pronouncement. If anything, it’s more prevalent and as lucrative as you decide to make it.

That’s a separate discussion. For now, let’s talk about a few facts you should know about your freelance writing business:


If you don’t market, you don’t work. Welcome to the toughest job you’ll ever have. Freelance writing is hard work, and that work goes well beyond the writing. In order to keep the work coming in at a steady pace, you’re going to be marketing every day. Sorry, there’s not really a shortcut for this. Clients have to know you’re there in order to hire you.


Even a mediocre marketing plan is better than no marketing plan. You could just randomly reach out to strangers and ask them for work, and every so often that may work for you. Or you could create a better way to reach them, better words to convince them, and better following up to stay in front of them. Even so, the random way is better than doing nothing. Not great, but at least it’s movement in the general direction. Still, the best idea is to build a step-by-step way to connect and stay connected. More effort could mean more money.


There is no golden ticket to freelance success. I’m sorry to tell you this, but if you got into freelance writing thinking you’d sit in your underwear all day crafting the Great American Novel and make oodles of cash, you’re about to be severely disappointed (and broke). The same goes for thinking other freelance writers are going to hand clients, advice, guidance, and sympathy to writers they don’t know. I for one work hard to qualify and land my clients, so I’m not handing them over to you just because you asked or worse, demanded. And throwing tantrums doesn’t help — it merely solidifies my decision.

Just because someone says they’re a guru doesn’t make it so. Oh, the silly things we believe just because someone spends money to convince us. Be careful with your money. For as many writers out there who are willing to help you for free, there are an equal number of swindlers plotting to sell you the free stuff. No matter what the offer, approach with a skeptic’s eye. Ask for full course/seminar outlines to see what will be covered. Talk to those who attended (and not those the instructor points you to — could be some paid arrangement going on). Use your brain. I once took a course from someone I didn’t know and I dropped it three days in. It was clear the instructor was too interested in hearing her own voice than keeping it brief, on point and manageable. Since then, I vet very carefully.

Nothing any guru tells you applies 100 percent. In fact, nothing anyone tells you should, including advice on this blog. We all react and respond to different situations. Try not to follow advice blindly, but do take nuggets that make sense and give them a solid effort.

Average rates are so average. There’s a great discussion going on over at Peter Bowerman’s Well-Fed Writer blog about rates. Know this — I can charge what I want. You can charge what you want. Those rates can be (and will be) different. What matters is the rate you and your client agree on mutually. Don’t worry so much about what others are charging. Do get a feel for those rates just so you don’t under-price yourself, but don’t think you have to charge $1,000 for an article because three other writers do. Run your business your way.

Success is not marked by decimals. We hear a lot of talk about six-figure this and six-figure that. Doesn’t matter. If you’re running a business and you’ve set goals, achieving your own goals is what counts. Your goal could be to earn $40K this year. Your efforts toward that goal, in my humble opinion, makes you successful, even if you don’t hit your target. Just keep in mind the Buddhist mantra: The path is the goal. Just please stop thinking you’re a failure because you didn’t make $100K. What other writers set as their goal is completely unrelated to what you do.

Writers, what other facts have you come to realize over the years?