Using Your Past Experience to Leverage Your Freelance Writing Career
May 22, 2008 by Deb
Filed under Freelance Writing
by Marijke Durning
People often ask me how I made the transition of being an RN to a full-time, work-from-home writer. They ask me in a tone as if I did something magical and how on earth did I manage it?
There’s no magic or deep dark secret to making such a career change; it takes the will and the (sometimes unintentional) guts to make the plunge. Sometimes, the decision is made for you. There are many freelancers in all types of work who freelance because they lost their job and either they couldn’t face the idea of finding another one or they couldn’t find another one. However, when this is the case, usually people do this within the same field. You lost your job as a copywriter? Start freelancing. You don’t want to work as a translator in an office any more? Start freelancing – and so on. Jumping from being a nurse to a writer is a bit more complicated. But it doesn’t mean it can’t be done.
Unlike many freelancers, it was never a dream of mine to be a writer and work from home. I have always had a talent for writing, but never pursued it. I did write the odd article or letter to the editor from time to time, but I was convinced that this wasn’t an outlet that was open to me. It just wasn’t meant to be. Luckily, fate intervened, as did the availability of home computers and the Internet.
In 1997, I was hired to work for an Internet medical company, to work from home. I was hired specifically because I’m a nurse as they wanted this type of background. This job that lasted two years opened my eyes to what was out there. At the time, there were many start ups and the possibilities seemed endless. Also, while I was working for this company, I began talking to people and learning more about writing. So, when that job ended, I actively sought editing and writing work, rather than nursing work.
And the rest is history. After working for seven years as an editor for a medical website, I branched out on my own. I wasn’t confident – and yet I was, if that makes any sense. I’d carved out a niche, health and medicine, and my background as an RN was going to be my selling point. And it worked. The work I like best is writing for patients, but I do write for professionals as well. I’ve written for hard copy magazines and I’m working on a nursing textbook project. I also have my blogs: www.helpmyhurt.com and www.mdnglive.com/blogs/rnnnotes. Starting the end of next month, we’ll be adding another on pregnancy.
The point of this is to tell you that no matter what your background – if you have a dream, if you have the ability and the drive, there’s no reason why you can’t at least try. If you don’t try, you can’t succeed – you just can’t.
If you’re not ready to give up your full-time job, don’t. Lots of freelance writing can be done in the evening and on the weekends. Build up a portfolio and try to carve out your own little piece of the writing world. As you become more successful, you may decide to strike out on your own – or you may decide to continue with the part-time work.
It’s not an easy job, but for those who want to do it, it’s well, well worth the effort.
I am in a similar boat pulling from my background in exercise and nutritional sciences. I want to branch out to other areas eventually, but I know this is where I have to start because I have the knowledge to drive my writing in this area right now.
I am in almost exactly the same situation. I’m an occupational therapist and have just started medical writing on the side. I am getting more and more work and getting more and more confident because I feel I can really sell my medical expertise. Thanks for sharing your story, it tells me that there is hope!
While I’m still keeping my “day job” I use my expertise and experience as a Flight Attendant to good use as a travel blogger.
Write what you know and love!
Thanks for writing this. I’m a full time healthcare administrator and I love to write but it sure would be scary to think about giving up the day job. I’ve started looking at part time freelance jobs where I can use my work experience in my writing so when I read your blog today it made me realize I may be on the right path with that.
I also made the transition from RN to writer. I started freelancing in 2001 and then founded my writing firm in 2003. I enjoy my career very much. Glad to hear there are others out there with similar life journeys. Do you get the “why would you quit nursing for writing?” bit a lot? Oy!
Best Wishes,
Christine
I also have my day job, while I do part time freelance writing. I have to agree that experience either in a profession or in life provide me with writing material.
During high school I processed mortgage loans for an area bank. After, I worked for years as a travel agent at a local firm. Those are my two strong points for writing and usually if I apply for a writing job in those fields, I get them.
This ties back to the post a week or so ago about knowing your Niche market. Good tie in.
Marijke:
What an inspiring post — and a pretty, unusual name. Of what origin is it?
I’ve been telling freelancers for years that you don’t have to be a writer to be a “freelance writer.” Taking existing skills you do have and targeting writing niches that need someone who knows what the heck they’re talking about to write content is EXACTLY how to successfully segue way into freelance writing — pretty painlessly.
And, highly specialty niches like medicine, legal and finance are much easier to break into b/c publishers look for the “voice of experience” behind the words.
If you are a professional in the 9-5 world and can write reasonably well, you can build a successful career as a freelance writer — as you have proven.
Sincerely,
Yuwanda
“Lots of freelance writing can be done in the evening and on the weekends.”
This could have been put better. It’s a little misleading as it stands.
I’ve been a magazine editor for more than 20 years and I spent another five in there as a freelancer. Freelancing is a FULL TIME JOB, not some hobby for dabblers and the “writer’s workshop/Starbuck’s wannabe” crowd. It’s your business and if you aren’t committed to it 24/7 you will fail.
\If you decide to keep your office hours in the evenings and on the weekends, then fine. But if you think you’re going to just flounce your bathrobe-wearing self into the office with a cup of chamomile tea and spend hours daydreaming and looking out the window waiting for the muse to come visit, you have another think coming.
The first time you cause a problem for an editor because you have developed a track record of needing deadline extensions or you have problems sourcing art or anything else, you will be out on your “talented” butt so fast your eyeballs will smoke from just watching it happen. “Talented” is a dime a dozen. There it is. Deal with it.
Editors want to work with professionals and not hobbyists and wannabes.