Of all the freelance writing advice (or just plain freelance advice because sweetie, we’re all in this together) out there, some of the most useful isn’t “how to start a freelance writing business” or “where to find freelance clients.”
It’s the advice that points out those things you may be doing that are sabotaging your own good time.
Look desperate.
I’ve seen it in newbies and, weirdly, in veteran freelancers. Read the room. Is your client dripping with enthusiasm or are they a bit more straightforward about the job and the expectations? If it’s the former, go ahead. Be exuberant. Suggest potentially new ideas. If it’s the latter, back way the hell off, would you? I once saw a pro freelancer lose a lucrative client because he communicated a lot. I mean a lot with a client that had a pretty straightforward need. They shied away when he started upselling them on things that they were already doing (another form of sabotage — not researching the client enough to know what they have going on).
Easy fix: Slow down. Ask smart questions. Have a conversation without pushing. Don’t upsell on the first date. And yes, read the room. Let their tone guide you to some extent.
Pitch before you get it.
Just like the previous point, pitching projects or ideas before you get what it is exactly that they’re doing is a bad look. It could be that what you’ve researched has little to do with them. Be careful going too generally. If you pitch an idea of the 7 Ways to Save on Business Insurance and the client doesn’t sell business insurance, you’re going to look like an amateur. Or a strong focus on supply chain issues for a client that gets its supplies locally — yep, you’re not winning any points.
Easy fix: Let the client talk first. Listen. Find out what direction they’re taking before you pitch — it could well be that they’re about to overhaul their business or introduce a new product line or revamp their website content.
Undercharge.
There is no useful advice post that doesn’t include the fact that you’re probably not charging enough. Or worse — you’re charging by the hour and you’re damn fast at your job. We’re all guilty of this at some point in our freelance careers. And we’re all able to increase our rates at any time.
Easy fix: Decide what you want to earn. Charge that. It really is that easy. If you’re in doubt as to what that number is, Jennifer Mattern makes it easy with her Freelance Hourly Rate Calculator. Just do me a favor: Once you figure that out, keep it to yourself. Charge per project. Why should you be penalized for being efficient?
Let fear lead.
I remember giving advice to the same people over and over. They would ask the same questions, yet rarely did they move forward. I don’t think it’s lack of talent but rather lack of courage. I know. I used to be afraid of failing, too. Fear of failure is a powerful roadblock. Sitting back waiting for the courage isn’t the answer.
Easy fix: Give yourself a “what the hell” moment, as I call it. “What the hell — I’ll try. If it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work.” Guess what? It almost always works. Unless you’ve taken on a project that is far beyond your abilities (few are), you’re going to do just fine. And your new client will want revisions — honey, they all want revisions. It’s not a reflection on you. It’s the usual back-and-forth that happens as clients and freelancers learn to work together.
Thinking you can do everything.
There’s confidence and then there’s just plain stupidity. There is no way — absolutely zero chance — that you know how to write about everything. No one does despite the proclamations that far too many clueless freelancers make online (another layer of stupid right there — your client base is watching). I couldn’t possibly write with any authority on vascular science. I can write about protected cells and the new products in reinsurance and offshore captive formation (if that made your head spin, you get exactly why I say that no one can write about everything). I won’t say stay in your lane as freelancers can and should learn new niches or concentrations. But taking on a high-level project you’re not ready for is a recipe for failure.
Easy fix: Start with the basics. Take a course and do some serious reading in that field. Talk with the experts to get a 101-level understanding. If you’re fortunate, like I was decades ago, you may come across an editor or a client who is willing to work with you to bring you up to speed. But never, NEVER lie about having experience you don’t have. If you’re working in a more insular industry, word of your falsehoods will travel fast.
Don’t rush your knowledge and don’t sabotage your own career. Pay attention to how you approach clients, what you say, how you’re charging, and what you may need to do to improve your freelance game.
Your turn.
Writers, what other sins are we committing that are impacting our freelance careers?