Top 10 Freelance Writing Excuses and Why They Won’t Fly
March 26, 2009 by Deb Ng
Filed under Writing Tips
It’s tough love day here at Freelance Writing Jobs.No more excuses for not finding work. If you’re persistent and good at what you do, there’s no reason you shouldn’t be rocking a freelance writing career. I see many writers who have many reasons for not finding work, but also a lot of excuses. I’ve heard them all.
Here are some of my favorite writing excuses – and the reasons they won’t fly.
- I don’t have experience – If everyone without experience didn’t try for a freelance writing job, no one would be working. The only way to gain experience is to start working and there are plenty of places that hire new writers.
- The person who wrote the ad used too many misspellings and grammatical errors - That’s why they need a writer, silly. People who can’t fix a toilet hire a plumber. People who can’t write a document hire a writer.
- The ad went to an anonymous email address - I use Gmail. I hope people trust me.
- I don’t think I’m qualified – If you know the subject matter, you’re qualified. If you answer “yes : to all or even most of the requirements on the ad, you’re qualified. If you feel can do the job, apply. The most that can happen is they say “no.” The best that can happen is they say “yes”. And you won’t know that unless you try in the first place.
- I’m too busy being a mom – Lots of moms are writers. Moms are designers and servers and flight attendants. They all find the time to work and so can you. Get up earlier, stay up later…skip TV. If you really want it to work, you’ll find the time.
- I’m too busy keeping a house – What’s more important, a few dust bunnies or a few dollars? Seriously though, you can still have a clean house and a career. It’s a matter of balance and scheduling.
- I have no time - See #5 above. When I first began freelancing I woke at 4:00 AM every day and worked until my husband and son woke around 7:00. That was three quiet hours. I know other writers who work into the night. If you really want this, you’ll find the time.
- I don’t have any clips - Unless a potential client specifies “published” clips, samples of your writing can do. This can be something you just wrote for yourself, a personal blog, or a short story.
- There are no jobs out there - Yes there are. I post at least 20 of them (if not more) every day, and I only post a select few. I wager there are no less than 50 to 100 freelance writing jobs posted daily. Probably a lot more if you look hard enough.
- There’s too much competition – Sounds like a confidence problem. When you’re applying for a “real world” job, do you think about it in terms of competition or do you send in a great cover letter and resume and look your best for the interview? If you’re the best person for the job, you’ll get the job regardless of who your competing against. You won’t get everything you apply for, but you shouldn’t let that stop you either.
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Great list! Number 5 and 6 – you’re right. It is a matter of balancing. It is also a matter of making sure you have a good support system. I have a sitter come over two to three times a week to help me out while I work (I do work when she isn’t here as well). Her main priority is to watch my small boys but I also have her work on a few things around the house for me. It costs a bit, but there is no way this work-at-home/stay-at-home mom could add a couple clients to my schedule if I didn’t have her help!
The key to avoiding most of these excuses is self-confidence. If you are not confident of your ability, there is no end to the list of potential excuses. Unlike a traditional job, where you get ’strokes’ from a boss, co-workers or an annual performance review, all of the emotional propping-up falls on you. Right after perfecting your pitch letter, the next most important quality new freelancers need to work on is building your self-confidence. View it like the people in North Dakota piling up millions of sandbags for protection against rising waters. A strong sense of self confidence protects you against the flood of negativity coming from yourself. Your worst critic is you.
The challenge of working at home is that you’re always at home, and you’re always at work. It can be extremely difficult to separate the two. Whatever you’re doing, something from your “other life” needs attention. Although I still struggle with it, I’ve found it’s best to set a schedule and say, “OK, I’m working on this assignment until 10:30 and then I’m going to the grocery store, whether it’s done or not.” And it can be a good motivator to finish one task or the other when you know you’re switching “hats” in an hour. Keeps you from getting bored, that’s for sure.
My usual “excuse” — for writing and household responsibilities — is, “Oh, I’ll get to that later.” I’m sure you can all figure out how that one turns out! “Later” comes and goes and I still haven’t done it.
<===== hey, what’s up with the little cartoon character?
Along with 5, 6 & 7 is “My day job drains all my energy.” Still, it’s a matter of prioritizing and scheduling. Things I’ve yet to master.
My personal fave, though, is “I don’t know my niche, yet.” If I got off my butt and worked a few gigs, I might be able to figure it out.
Excellent points, although I must disagree with you on #2. While I agree that spelling mistakes show that they need a writer, to me it also shows some attention to detail. If they’re not willing to reread their ad or use a spell check, this means they might not take as much care in paying me for my work.
BUT, as you said in point #9, there are enough jobs out there that I can ignore the ones with spelling mistakes and still find places to send queries or emails.
I don’t know if this qualifies as an “excuse,” but when I see an ad requiring a resume I skip it.
I am new to the world of freelancing, and have no experience to put on my resume. Having been a stay at home mom for 14 years, and having worn many hats, this is not the experience many are looking for. It certainly fails to impress the multitudes.
What does someone like me do in this situation?
Thank you in advance for all replies.
An excellent article! You’ve inspired me to stop being such a chicken and to get out there and start scratching for bigger worms!
For a while, my main excuse was “I`m not ready, my website isn`t ready”. But I fixed that and now am applying for jobs again. It`s also easy to fall into a rut when you work with a content company that sends you regular work, you don`t desperately need to get out there and apply for jobs, so it gives you more room for excuses.
You just have to do it. That’s what makes you a writer. Writing.
As for this list, I will freely admit that the item that most applies to me is probably No. 7. (And I’m also busy being a mom.) “I’m too busy today to apply for any new gig or send out queries,” I’ll find myself saying. But then I realize, “If I let that be my excuse, I’ll never get anything sent out.” So I try to be realistic. I give myself a reasonable time frame: maybe I really am too busy today but tomorrow, I will carve out two hours in the morning to apply for new work. Or to work on a freelance project that’s ongoing.
@Name Withheld: We all have to start somewhere. As a work-at-home mom you have loads of experiences that would be perfect for a parenting essay. Some ways to handle requests for resumes without much outside “experience” include writing for your PTA newsletter, volunteering to write for a nonprofit or starting a blog and writing for an audience. Clients aren’t so much interested in your experience as the quality of your writing.
@Genesis: Don’t worry too much about lack of a Web site. The majority of writers have bare-bones sites that lack graphic flash or eye-candy. What’s important is the content: get your resume up, a gallery of your writing and your fees.
The other point you make is a frequent failing of new freelancers. It is easy to rest in the comfort and security of one dependable client, but that makes you a work-and-home writer, not a freelancer. Freelancers have multiple clients and are always seeking more, knowing there will be lean times.
Wonderful list of excuses!!! Here is another that falls into place with # 10.
If you are intimidated to send out a query on an idea of your own that would be perfect fit for a publication, then forget writing. The worst they can say is no.
Some of the best paying gigs I received were not advertised.
@Name Withheld–I wouldn’t skip ads that request resumes, that really eliminates a lot of your opportunities. I’d include the resume and focus more on your cover letter where you can explain why you are fit for the job and include things beyond work history. The cover letter can also demonstrate your writing ability, which should be more of a sell than a pile of past jobs anyway. Then, all it takes is 1 or 2 gigs and you can start to build a writing resume. I think many freelancers don’t have a writing-specific resume when they first get started (I know I didn’t), but if you don’t apply you may never have one.
My #1 excuse is that I’m too busy and would be better off focusing on work that will bring in money rather than apply for new work. What could I possibly do with new work if I’m already busy? This works out ok up until a client or two slows down or stops having work available and suddenly I’m scrambling for new work, as I’m kind of doing this week. The moral is–even when you’re busy, it could change in an instant so you should always spend at least a little time looking for new work each day or week.
Number 1 and number 4 are me!! I’ve been trying to get out of the habit of using those as an excuse. Once I got a writing gig that was way over my head, I started out, and tried to keep up, but it just wasn’t for me… I talked to the man who hired me, and he said that was fine and paid me for the work I did do. He was really understanding, and just know that is a possibility. If you really are under experienced or under qualified the worst that can happen is you have to give up and not get paid, but at least you tried.
At low moments, I’ve used excuse #4 (“I don’t think I’m qualified”) before.
The thing that makes this excuse not valid is that you never know who the other writers applying for a job are. If a company lists ten qualifications they are looking for in a writer and I only have seven of them, I may talk myself into believing I’m not qualified so there is no way I’ll get the job. The truth is though that the best applicant they get other than me may only have six of those qualifications. That would make me the most qualified applicant that they get, which could lead to me getting hired.
Great post… no excuses.
5,6,7 – anyone who says they don’t have TIME to write isn’t a writer. My problem is I can’t get anything else done because all I want to do is write!
Deb, such tough love! Thanks though. I needed it. I’m doing okay, but my longstanding excuse is that I’ll have to wait until the fall when I feel my son will be old enough for daycare to really get busy freelancing. I think it’s a good idea to not overbook myself, but I probably do rely on this line of reasoning too much.
Thanks for this kick in the pants, Deb! It motivated me to return to a job listing I had been making excuses about applying for. Even if I don’t get the job, at least I know I put forth the effort.
One of the best kicks in the pants I’ve ever received has been from Jack Bickham’s book, “Writing and Selling Your Novel.” What he talks about in the very first chapter are the qualities of a professional, and one of those is that you MUST write EVERY SINGLE DAY. And not just one page, or 300 words, or something like that. You’ll write 3-5 pages every day, at the same time, and you’ll sit in front of your computer until it’s done.
I think that applies to freelancing as well. If you’re really a professional, you’ll make it a part of your routine every day, including seeking new jobs. You’ll do it when you don’t feel like it. And you’ll quit making excuses.
Thanks for the awesome post, Deb! (For the record, my biggest problems are likely 1, 4, and 8.)
You have me thinking too. Just do it!