Excuses that Kill Your Freelance Writing Career

What I’m listening to: Telescope by Starset

Today, I call bullshit.

For every writer out there with their own particular brand of excuse that explains why some of us make it as writers and they don’t, I’m calling your bluff.

This particular head of steam started on a forum discussion. On it, the advice being given was met with one writer’s frustration. The writer claimed that two factors were responsible for who becomes successful and who doesn’t — luck and unchosen privilege.

That’s right — you’re successful at your freelance writing business because you’re 1) lucky, and 2) privileged.

Bullshit.

In fact, most excuses doled out by struggling writers are bullshit. While those sorts of misguided pronouncements aren’t terribly impactful to me personally, they’re definitely impactful to the writer who believes it.  That includes the writer who’s stating such horse hockey is a fact.

Here’s a fact for you:[bctt tweet=” The more excuses a writer makes, the less likely that writer is to be successful.” username=”LoriWidmer”]

So let’s dissect a few excuses and see what they’re doing to the writers who use them.

You’re successful because you’re lucky/privileged.

Yes, this one still has me a tad steamed. Here’s why — my “luck” was showing talent. I did feel lucky to get an editorial job without a degree, but without the talent, the luck wasn’t going to be enough. Oh, and that privilege? At the time I started a freelance writing business, this was my life:

• Single mother and sole breadwinner who’d just lost her job
• Living in a new area with no connections to speak of
• I’d just earned my degree at age 43 (and I paid every damn cent myself)
• I was making less than $40K a year, supporting two kids
• Rent was due
• I had no money for it

Quite the privileged life I had there, wasn’t it? This excuse doesn’t wash because you don’t know how anyone got from where they were to where they are (and you probably have no idea where they came from). You’re making judgments based on nothing more than your own bitterness.

The profession is dead.

To you maybe. To me, it’s the same it’s always been. I’m just smarter at working at it because I’ve actually worked at it. The only “dead” thing is your attitude toward putting in the time it takes to grow something successful.

There’s nothing out there.

Anyone else totally sick of hearing this one? “Nothing” is defined by what orbit you’re in. If you’re in the job-board-cruising, content mill orbit, it looks barren because those are planets where writers go to stagnate and run out of air. If you’re actively researching and seeking out clients you want to work with, that orbit has plenty of planets circling.

No one is paying decently.

That’s because you’re not actively seeking your own clients. Stop answering ads like you’re some sort of employee, would you? Decide what you want to make and then find clients who will pay it (and stay off the damn job boards already).

I’m too afraid of failing.

Oh wait — you don’t actually say that, do you? Actually, you do. Every excuse you use, every syllable you utter lashing out at writers who are working their asses off to make a living writing, every negative message you send about the “state of freelance writing” from your perspective reveals exactly how afraid you are.

Isn’t it time you faced that fear and knocked the hell out of it?

Writers, what bullshit excuses have you heard?
What was the most memorable discussion you’ve had with someone whose negative message was so strong?