5 Ways to Unstick Your Freelance Writing Career

I saw this question on Twitter yesterday:

What advice would you give a freelance writer who is stuck at their next career step? They’re not new & not an expert. Not making pennies, but not making enough.

Haven’t we all been there? We get the credits built up, get client relationships solidified, find our rhythm and our niche, and we …. don’t progress. We get stuck in the rut, be it a low-paying one, a “can’t I get anything besides blog post gigs” rut, or a no-referral no-repeat-business rut.

Despite what you try, you feel like you can’t climb out of that hole you were so damn happy to land in once upon a time.  But you’re not that same writer now. You’re not desperate for work. You’re desperate to move up. But can you?

[bctt tweet=”Yes, you can get your #freelancewriting career unstuck.” username=”LoriWidmer”]

Sure you can. Like I said, we’ve all been there. We’ve all found ourselves wondering when the hell things will improve. Things are not awful, but they need to be better.

Here’s how to make it better:

1. Get out of your comfort zone.

It’s so cushy there in that rut until you realize you really don’t like being stagnant. So stop doing the same things that got you there. Stop looking for clients just like the last ones. Stop accepting shitty pay because it’s work and you’re afraid nothing else will show up. Most importantly, stop thinking you’re not ready/good enough/capable of working with bigger clients.

How do you get bigger, more lucrative clients and projects? Go after them. They’re not coming to you because hey, they don’t know you’re there. Challenge yourself right now — you will reach out to one big-fish client prospect every week for the next two months. That’s eight tries. And it’s eight follow-ups because honey, you need to switch that thinking from “I’m pestering them” to “They need my skills as much as I need their projects.” Because they do. And if they’re great clients, you’ll be able to demand your rate. And that’s another thing:

2. Charge more.

Here’s the secret formula to making more money freelance writing: raise your damn rates. I’m serious. Today, decide how much more you want to earn, but do yourself a favor; do not think about whether or not the clients will pay it. Someone will. There are writers right now making three to six times more than you’re making. Are they better? Maybe, but they have one thing going for them. Their clients are satisfied. You don’t have to be a perfect writer. You have to be the one who satisfies that client.

And here’s the real secret about raising your price — it attracts better clients. Sounds nuts, but it works. An example: Long ago, a friend working at a big consulting firm got me a gig with her company. I sent in my proposal, which had the ridiculous price of $90 an hour. I thought I was overcharging. She called me. “You meant to put $125 an hour, didn’t you?” Lesson learned. The company wouldn’t have considered me at the lower price. Professionals charge pro rates.

It shows, too. I know writers who make $250 an hour and even $400 an hour. Please for the love of all that is freelance, charge more. You have the experience and the skills. Do it. No excuses.

3. Network harder.

Go higher up the food chain in your industry or with the people and companies you want to work with. Make networking part of your entire business process. Networking sounds so … technical. But it’s essential to your survival as a freelancer. If you’re getting stuck on how to do it, try this: Make a new acquaintance. Share stuff with that acquaintance. Get to know them. Keep in touch. Repeat.

Yeah, that’s the networking process. You’re not out there to sell to anyone. You’re out there to become familiar to potential clients and to others who could refer you once they get to know you. Or you’ve just made one more friend.

4. Change that perspective.

You’re no longer a freelancer. You’re now a small business owner (because you are, right?). You’re a consultant. Your job is to make decisions that will help that business grow, and decisions that will protect it and the talent it provides (a.k.a. you). You’re not going to let your talent accept a job paying just $35 an hour or 50 cents a word, are you? You’re going to tell that talent to circulate and find a client who will pay your $150 an hour rate. You’re going to see yourself as protector and small business entrepreneur. They’re coming to you for your skills. You’re no longer grabbing everything that shows up. You don’t have to.

Right now, in every decision you make, change your perspective.

5. Give it your best “what the hell” moment.

Some of my best career boosts have come from doing just that. I swallowed the fear and said, “Oh, what the hell. The worst they can say is no.” I did this not long ago. My rate jumped 250%. The client accepted. If I’d not tried, I’d be underpaid right now.

That goes for reaching out to that client, new market, new niche. What the hell — you can always go back to the familiar, right? But guess what? You won’t want to. Pushing yourself to reach higher will get you results. Good one. What’s your next “what the hell” moment going to be?

Writers, how did you lift your freelance writing business out of that rut?
Any advice for writers who feel stuck right now?