It happens to a lot of us. Whether we’re living the journalistic dream or looking for a career in writing while slogging it out at a generic 9-to-5, we suddenly find ourselves staring down the barrel of unemployment. Particularly for journalists these last few decades, sudden job loss translates to, “Oh, I can just freelance.”
Except it’s not that easy, is it? You’re broke, you’re hoping unemployment will cover both rent and groceries, and you need money and financial security yesterday. Desperation is a foolish companion, my writerly friend. Desperation makes you think and do some pretty stupid shit. I know. I’ve been there.
This comes up because of a post I saw on social media from a woman who, by all accounts, was a pretty successful writer in her 9-to-5 days. Alas, those days are history. So now, she’s finding out that freelancing looks a lot tougher from the inside.
She’s making the same mistake that many of us make along the way. Her thinking:
If I can’t get hired based on my current experience, I’ll add some skills.
She’s flailing, just like I did, like many of us did at the beginning of our freelance writing careers.
Friends, as a mutual writer friend of mine pointed out regarding this situation, you can’t simply bolt on certification with zero experience and expect your fortunes to change. A random add-on isn’t going to solve your problems.
Like I said, Desperation is a foolish companion.
I have advocated for learning new skills, but as a way to augment a business, not get one up and running. If you’re going to expend energy in earning some random training that you think will make you stand out and get more work, why not redirect that energy into showcasing the talents you already have?
Don’t piece together your success. Build it.
Start here.
Create your client shopping list.
You may not know which clients you want to work with right now (confession: very few of us do at this stage), but you can narrow your search by identifying what you like to write and who might be able to provide that kind of work. From there, you land them. Here’s the link to a quick guide for doing just that.
Pick a few ways to market.
Ideally, you’ll reach out to clients in at least two ways. I suggest your favorite social media application as one method but also email. Get your letter of introduction polished and sent.
Decide how many client prospects you’ll contact/follow up with every week.
Notice that following up is part of the process. You’d be surprised how many times a follow-up email or message nets work. For me, I contacted five per week. For you, two may be right. Your process, your choice.
Set your price.
Got it? Good. Go higher. I guarantee you’ve undervalued yourself. Remember, your rate has to cover not just your income, but your taxes, your insurance, your IRA …. Go higher. No, not $35 an hour. Think $90 an hour or $100 an hour and you’re getting warmer.
Focus on building a relationship.
If you’re after a quick gig for cash, that email asking for work will probably get you exactly that. But you, my writerly friend, want long-term work, am I right? That’s where relationship marketing becomes critical. It’s not hard. Meet. Share. Repeat. The hard sell doesn’t work on you. It won’t work on them, either.
Hold yourself accountable.
If you don’t know by now that Joy Drohan is my accountability partner, you’ve not been paying attention. Joy and I have shared monthly updates on our progress for as long as I can remember. It’s funny how adding accountability to your month keeps you focused and on track. My earnings increased dramatically because suddenly, I had to tell someone what I’d been doing all month. Try it. It’s a real motivator. For inspiration on what to track, go here.
While this is more of a long-term plan for freelance writing success, some of it may pay off early.
For work right now, here are a few links to get you started.
8 Ways to Make Money Freelance Writing Right Now – Words on the Page
Free Advice Friday: The Freelance Work You’re Missing Out On Right Now – Words on the Page
Your Freelance Writing Career: Finding work now, building for the future – Words on the Page (this one includes some handy advice on how to attract more clients)
Your turn.
How did you build your freelance career from scratch? What worked best for you?
New writers, what is your sticking point right now? Let us help.
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