Applying for that first gig is easy, getting the confidence to do so is hard
September 4, 2007 by Deb
Filed under Freelance Writing
I love reading your comments and email, I love sharing in your good news and learning what you’d like to see here. Knowing that the regulars helped answer your questions or that Jodee and I helped you find a job is so rewarding, I’m not sure I can describe how I feel to read of your successes. I’m just so happy and proud.
I have something on my mind though. I keep seeing comments or emails that start out with “I wish I could get the nerve to apply…” “I wish I had the talent…” “I wish I had the confidence…”
I have something to tell you
I have a secret. It took me a long time to get up the nerve to apply for gigs too. I never thought my work was good enough, and even now when I apply for gigs I wonder if the person on the other end is saying “This is that Deborah Ng I heard so much about? Why her work absolutely sucks!” I’m very insecure too.
For two years before I quit my job to have my son I would troll all of the job boards and writing websites during my lunch hour. I’d print out all of the job listings on all the writing boards. During my hour long commute I’d read through these listings and highlight all that I was qualified for, but that’s as far as it went. I saw all of these great gigs but would lose my nerve once I got home. Now, I see people writing things I could have written and I wonder if I could do better.
Taking the plunge
When my husband and I discussed my staying home for a while with our baby, we knew we couldn’t afford for me not to work. I really wanted to see if I could make it as a freelancer writer and we gave me a year. My nervousness returned. I found myself trolling all of the job boards on a daily basis but never felt I was good enough to submit. When I finally got the nerve, I was met with rejection – several times! I was a little depressed, I didn’t want to go back to an office job. I really loathe office work and I didn’t want to leave my baby boy. But what choice did I have?
Soon after receiving several rejections, I read an article about rejection. Basically it said to suck it up and continuing looking for work. It listed a bunch of writers and their rejection stories. I couldn’t believe how many times some great, famous authors received a “thanks but no thanks!” This was very encouraging. I kept applying and eventually landed a content writing gig, then a newspaper column. This gave me the confidence to continue looking for work. It took me a couple of years to build up a client base and get to the point where I brought in a decent, steady income, but all the work is worth it. I can imagine how unhappy I’d be if I still lacked the confidence to send in my resume or a query. Five years after leaving my job, I know I’m doing the right thing.
Everyone has to start somewhere
I hope those of you who aren’t feeling confident enough to apply for a gig will read my words and realize everyone has to start somewhere and everyone starts out slowly. It took years for me to get where I am today, and honestly, I still can’t explain my success – but I’m not complaining. Work hard, do your best and don’t be discouraged, even if it takes a long time.
I’d like to invite my community to tell their stories now. How did you gain the confidence to apply for gigs? Did you read the want ads without applying or just plunge in? Were you rejected? How long did it take for you to land that first gig?
Remember, every writer receives a rejection notice during his or her career – some of us more than others. Think of it as an opportunity – you didn’t get that job because you’re destined for another.
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That’s awful, Mariella! I am so sorry. I actually don’t use a spam filter, partly for that reason.
I also don’t like to ask who they are when I get an email like that. I usually do a bit of sleuthing, just like you. If I really can’t find anything about it, I’ll ask them to “refresh my memory” about the specifics of the project. It makes it sound like I don’t remember the details, rather than them.
Katharine>> yes, it was really awful. I even had to talk my mother about it (which is what I do when I get upset LOL). It would have been better had I really not been accepted. But to be sent the email containing the details, saying they’re only waiting for my confirmation, and then finding it a month later in my spam folder — it was the worst day of my (professional freelance writing) life.
The way I got up the nerve to take the plunge and apply for that first gig was: I was laid off from my job as marketing and programming director for a TV station, penniless (had just paid off a boatload of debt but had not a penny to my name), and decided there was no way in he– I was going back to the corporate world! The potential for financial ruin was far preferable to working for someone else ever again. I had loathed the corporate world for years and wanted to be a writer but just never had the nerve to go for it as a profession. I would write a screenplay or a short story and dream of writing for a living.
Like everything in life, your reality exists only by how you choose to view it. So instead of being angry or down that I’d been let go, I figured being laid off was the greatest opportunity I could possibly have. I went for it. I had business cards made. I declared myself a successful writer, and away I went. This blog was key to one of my first steady gigs, in fact!
It took a couple of months to really get going but I’ve worked every day since on projects of my choice. I’ve even started coaching other people to help them find the courage to live their dreams. I love it!
Not having a safety net nor a plan B was definitely one of the greatest reasons for my success. Yes, I am so grateful that I was so broke!
You can read more about it a t http://www.squidoo.com/freelancewriting1. It contains info for those thinking of going freelance.
Good for you Beth! I have almost exactly the same story. I was working at Verizon Wireless’s main corporate headquarters making fairly good wages as a corporate rep, but then they started making me come in on Saturdays- that was the final straw! I quit immediately, took my 401k money and my bonus money and lived off that while trolling the job boards for writing gigs.
I created my website that deals with writing and used this blog to find six publishers that I work with on a weekly basis. Now I’m moving to Hawaii where my mother will help with the bills for at least four months rent free.
I really believe my good fortune came about because of taking life by the horns and telling myself “I’m better than Verizon thinks I am!” Now it’s just a matter of time before I make a lot more than Verizon would ever pay me. And I am in no hurry, just enjoying the long road to success that every writer goes through.
As far as making sure you don’t miss any important emails, I would advise everyone to get a Gmail account ASAP. You can actually set up your account by importance, such as putting a star by important publisher’s names and putting in a long description of an important contact person in the “Contacts” list. I’ve never missed any important emails using Gmail.
Hope this was helpful for everybody on the writer’s road to success, and good luck to everybody.
Rob>> it was actually Gmail which flushed my important email down the Spam toilet…
Getting the first gig is easy, it’s the one’s that come after that are difficult. This is standing true for me today. I find a positive attitude and professional manner are the keys for me. Can’t make money if we don’t keep working on our art.