Essential Advice for Aspiring Freelance Writers
Written on
Chapter 1: Key Pitfalls for Freelance Writers
To thrive as a freelance writer, steering clear of these three missteps is crucial. They can jeopardize your career faster than any economic downturn.
Section 1.1: Avoid Content Mills
Imagine earning just $20 for a 1,000-word piece. While that may sound appealing if you can churn it out in an hour, what happens if it takes you three? Your effective hourly wage plummets to $6.67, which is less than what you might earn flipping burgers.
Content mills are tempting because they promise a steady stream of work. They offer clients cheap content, but this leads to low pay and tight deadlines, making quantity the primary goal. These mills compete directly with higher-priced freelancers. While this price competition may seem daunting, serious clients recognize the value of quality writing.
You don’t need to attract every client available; you just need enough to sustain a comfortable living. One satisfied client can lead to referrals, allowing you to focus on building meaningful professional relationships. It may require more outreach, but the potential rewards are significant.
Section 1.2: Value Your Work Appropriately
Your writing has inherent value, as does your time. Consider how you allocate your hours:
- Researching key points
- Crafting the initial draft
- Editing for clarity and effectiveness
You can choose to price your work either by the project or per word, but always take into account the time required. Establish a minimum hourly rate that makes your efforts worthwhile.
When you charge a fair price for your expertise, your work will improve. You’ll avoid feelings of regret and resentment, and your confidence will grow as you seek out new clients. Ultimately, your clients benefit from your best work.
Subsection 1.2.1: Choose the Right Projects
Your expertise is a valuable asset. Focus on topics where you can provide unique insights that are unavailable in books or articles.
By working within your area of expertise, you’ll improve your skills more quickly, and your content will help clients stand out. Over time, this will enable you to command higher fees.
Accepting projects outside your strengths can lead to frustration and boredom, increasing the likelihood of missing deadlines. If you consistently take on unsuitable work, you might even consider giving up writing altogether.
Is a few extra dollars worth that risk?
Chapter 2: Embrace Your Strengths
Leverage your experiences and talents for growth. When you align your work with your strengths, the writing community will benefit immensely.
Now Go Make Your Mark
Steer clear of these three pitfalls as if your career depends on it. Define the type of projects you wish to undertake, how you will find them, and what boundaries you will set. Act decisively, as hesitation may lead to poor choices.
The world—and your clients—are waiting for your voice!