Freelance writing blogs are chock full of “here’s how you’re screwing up” posts. I know because I’ve posted plenty of those myself. Just look at this, this, and this from the last month. Okay, they all had a positive, actionable message in the end, but the point is there are plenty of things around on this blog and others that outline mistakes. Hopefully, they also outline fixes.
My only excuse is I take far too much away from the mood and tenor of the “freelancing is dead” crowd. But enough of that for now.
This blog post is about success. More to the point, it’s about your success.
Last week’s post about the habits of pro freelancers started us down a pretty good path of showing some positive behaviors that can really make a difference in your freelance life.
So can knowing where success comes from. Fortunately, a successful freelance writing business takes so little effort that anyone who wants to be successful at it can be. It takes one thing that we all have, but that few writers engage often enough:
Tenacity.
It takes a few more things to build a successful freelance writing career, but they’re not hard, either. A successful freelancer will:
Create and work toward goals.
Start small with something manageable, like getting one new client this month. Build a small list around how you’ll do that. Reach beyond what you’re used to doing. Another small goal: monthly earnings. I set a monthly earnings goal years ago. Since doing so, I’ve managed to hit that goal for about 6-8 months out of the year. When I don’t hit it, I figure out why and work to correct it. If you focus on something manageable, you’re more likely to stick to it. In fact, that’s the next thing successful freelancers do.
Focus on making small, continued progress.
Today you’ve stopped writing for that low-paying client and started writing for one who pays you about 20 percent more. Don’t settle there too long unless you enjoy a slightly more fruitful rut. Reach higher. Take that experience and go find a better-paying client. And repeat that until you’re far up the food chain in terms of earnings.
Small, continued progress includes your skills. Don’t stop learning. Back when I was starting out, I studied writing handbooks and the stylebooks. I learned all I could about writing. I improved my comfort level with editing. All these things build your confidence. Taking courses from reputable places like Poynter Institute or an online college helps you build confidence in your abilities, and it can’t hurt that you know more about your craft.
Shun perfection.
Analysis paralysis has stymied more than a few freelancers over the centuries. Fear of not getting it perfect can stop a writer from trying. They’re afraid to fail. But in not doing, they have failed because they never get beyond their own heads.
The article doesn’t have to be perfect and include every single bit of research ever written. That’s not an article — that’s a Master’s thesis, and no one reads those anyway. The client needs a quick turnaround, not excuses why you can’t be perfect in that short a timeframe. Remember, everything is a first draft — even your “perfect” draft is going to be ripped to shreds because clients know their businesses better than you do or they fancy themselves editors or they just want to leave their personal stamp on it. Perfection is going to make you nuts when they rearrange your words. So give up perfection and start giving them competence and collaboration.
Work outside your comfort zone.
Let’s pretend you write ghostwritten articles for companies. One day, one of the clients asks you if you’d be available to write a white paper for them. You’ve never written a white paper. Your teeth clench. The sweat forms. You start formulating how you’re going to tell them you’ve never done that.
But you don’t tell them because a white paper is a long article. It’s full of company research in the best cases, or more like tiny case studies in the worst cases. And yes, clients mix these up all the time. A proper white paper could run 12 pages. Most I’ve written lately are four pages tops.
Taking that gig means you have to get on Google and research white paper formats. Then you have to ask the client how long they hope it to be, what the focus is, any company research to be included…you know, like any other job. It’s outside your comfort zone, but once you stop focusing on the semantics and get to the facts, you’ll find it’s just one more writing gig. Plus, you’ll learn from it. You’ll be able to expand your skill set. That’s outside your comfort zone, but not so far outside that you can’t manage it. Small, continued progress, remember?
Doing any one of these things can improve your success. Doing them all? Wow, look who’s unstoppable now.
Writers, what other attributes can improve freelance writing success?
What one thing did you change that made all the difference in your career?