The Freelance Semi-retired Kinda Life

Did you just start humming this song? The lyrics are on target for those of us who are transitioning out of our freelance writing career and into a slower-paced one.

I want somethin’ else
To get me through this
Semi-charmed kinda life

That’s what I want to talk about today — how to get to that “somethin’ else” and still keep your hand in freelancing.

It’s a tough transition, believe me. I spent most of the last 20 years trying to make a living freelance writing. At first, any kind of living was welcome. But pretty soon, I wanted to really earn. So I had some learning to do. For those of you still wanting to kill it with your freelancing, here are some of what I think are the more important things to focus on:

• Attracting the right clients (and knowing how to spot the wrong ones)
• Learning how to listen and hear
• Delivering what they want
• Charging like you mean it

Those will net you some good results.

But what about those of us who are looking to slow it down a bit? Well, most of us keep our golden clients — the ones we’ve had the longest, love working with, have the right number of projects … whatever the sweet spot is. That keeps us cruising up to that day where we decide we’re really ready to stop working.

That works. Unless one of those clients disappears. What then? How the hell can a semi-retired writer find new clients that won’t be dumping tons of work on them?

That last part is always a crap shoot, but it’s actually quite simple to not get buried under a ton of work:

Say no.

More to the point, tell the client up front your capacity. “I have about 10 hours per month free for your projects.”

Notice what I didn’t do — I never mentioned the fact that I’m retiring. If clients are like me, they don’t want to place trust in someone who could just walk away at any moment.  I am retiring, but they don’t really need to know that. My retirement could be next year or in five years. I’ve not decided yet. Or circumstances could change that require me to keep working. Either way, all they need to know is that I’m more on a reduced schedule.

But first, we have to find the clients, am I right? Here’s how I go about locating new clients:

• Ask for referrals: I bet you have a pretty large network right now. Call on those contacts you feel closest to. Then say this: “Hey, I’m looking to pick up a few projects per month. Know anyone who’s looking?”
• Use social media: Those next clients are right there in front of you. Wow them. Share. Interact. Don’t ask for work on first contact, but do interact and find out about their business. Show genuine interest.
• Tap editors: My longest-running client came from the editor with whom I have the longest relationship. Somewhere around three years into my freelance writing career, he’d sent a company my way. They needed a writer. Turns out, they are a global corporation and they are amazing to work with. Put the bug in the ear of your editors right now — you’re looking for clients and would love it if they dropped your name.
• Ask writer friends: Your friends are often approached by clients that don’t fit, and if they’re like me, they’re happy to pass your name along to those would-be clients. I’ve passed along about six potential clients since June. I sent them to people I trust. And that’s another thing: Notice I didn’t say “other” writers. I’m not someone who uses the word “must” very often, but this situation warrants it — you must know the writer you’re about to ask for referrals.
• Reignite your marketing: Hey, you just might have to write that letter of introduction (LOI) or send those snail mail letters again. But you’re a veteran. You’re not going to spin your wheels sending out 100 LOIs a week to just anyone. You already know the type of work you want, the type of client you’d like to work with. Those are your targets.

Writers, do you have any retirement plans yet?
What would your ideal end-of-career schedule look like?