Comments on: Learning from Freelance Writing Mistakes

By: Ashley

Ashley — Wed, 03 Jun 2015 21:42:15 +0000

Wow, Lori, a client actually told you needed to write down everything s/he said? What an enormous headache that client must have been. And you're right -- those failures are the ones that stick with us forever, and we never make that mistake again.

One other thing. Admitting mistakes like this in writer communities (blogs, forums, or even individually) is incredibly helpful because we're able to learn from each other's mistakes, not just our own.

By: Lori Widmer

Lori Widmer — Wed, 03 Jun 2015 15:35:23 +0000

Amen, Cathy! LOL I got so much mileage out of my screw-ups, it's unreal.

Paula, it must be a trend -- my books went unfinished, too! Even the best ones were read almost to the end, but never quite the whole way. And if I could go back in time, I'd have dropped one client in particular -- an egomaniac who, on our first meeting, said to me "You need to be writing everything I say down."

Red flag #1 of many.

That is a great title, Anne! I'd read that one. LOL

By: Anne Wayman

Anne Wayman — Wed, 03 Jun 2015 15:25:39 +0000

Cathy – totally agree, and with you too, Paula… plenty of writing books aren't really helpful… or the time isn't right, etc.

I love the title, Fail Your Way To Success – I've never read the book… suspect the title tells it all.

By: Paula

Paula — Wed, 03 Jun 2015 14:33:39 +0000

Oh, Cathy, you have no idea how many writing books I've sold at garage sales - most of them I never finished reading.

I do wish I could go back in time knowing what I know now and have a re-do with a couple of my very first clients. In on case so I'd have a better idea what they needed, and in the other to tell the guy he was little more than a self-serving moron taking advantage of the insecurities of newbie writers.

Here's something I've found helpful in almost every area of life: Stick to doing what you know is right, play fair, be open to constructive criticism, and ignore anyone who isn't doing the same. Their opinions simple don't matter.

By: Cathy Miller

Cathy Miller — Wed, 03 Jun 2015 12:58:23 +0000

Another great thing about admitting our mistakes? Tons of blog post ideas. LOL!

Maybe it's my age, but I have a much easier time admitting my mistakes. Must be ALL those years of practice. :-) In the beginning of my freelancing career, one biggie was buying every book or course to learn my new business.

That's not a bad thing if you actually complete the book or course and learn something from it. I had a very nasty habit of not finishing them. And some of them were good resources.

So I gave myself a budget, weeded out the good ones and went back to finish them by scheduling a time for them.

I've made every newbie mistake imaginable - under-pricing my work, getting sucked into free work for false promises, paying for courses that didn't deliver (or those I abandoned due to my own issues). Like you, Lori, I believe there's something to be learned from every life experience. If it was negative, learn it and move on.