Are We Having Fun Yet? Tips for Enjoying Your Freelance Writing Career
We talk often about how we enjoy the freedom of freelancing and convenience of working at home, but are we having fun doing our jobs? I’m not talking about the perks, I’m talking about what happens when you sit down at the keyboard and begin typing…are you having fun?
Before you chime in abut the joys of our situations, let me clarify:
- I’m not talking about not being tied down to one particular employer - that’s a perk.
- I’m not talking about making one’s own schedule - that’s a perk.
- I’m not talking about working in casual clothing - that’s a perk.
- I’m not talking about being able to set one’s own rates - that’s a perk.
- I’m not talking about being able to spend time with family - that’s a perk.
Do you enjoy working as a freelance writer?
Do you eagerly begin a task, or do you keep looking for ways to procrastinate because it’s so incredibly boring? Many times when we talk about how much we love the job it’s because we love the perks. Are you having fun writing too? I visit a few writing forums or I see on Twitter how some writers are complaining about having to write boring copy or work with someone they don’t like. That doesn’t sound like fun to me.
How to have fun with your freelance writing jobs
Let’s explore a few ways to make the gig more fun:
- Choose only those jobs that interest you. I know, this is easier said than done. Some writers can’t afford to be choosy. Keep a look out for the gigs you would enjoy the most and apply. The plan is to slowly work on getting the enjoyable gigs so can drop the boring gigs. When you can write about topics you enjoy, your job becomes less of tedious and more enjoyable.
- Reward yourself - After you finish an unattractive task, reward yourself. Read a couple of chapters from a good book, get a white chocolate mocha or relax on the back deck for a while. Figure out what motivates you and use it to your advantage.
- Break up the project - If the thought of spending the day writing something you don’t enjoy doesn’t get you out of bed in the morning, try breaking up your tasks. Write a few paragraphs, a chapter, a few hundred words and take a break. Start another task and comeback the "not fun" one later with a fresh perspective.
- Ask yourself "how can I make this more enjoyable?" - Inject humor into your article or turn it into a top 10 list. Ask yourself, "If I was reading this, what would I want to see?"
Are perks enough?
If the perks are enough for you to continue your job, that’s wonderful. There’s no reason you shouldn’t be having fun. It’s one thing to enjoy your situation, it’s another to enjoy what you do. Perks are great, having a fun job is even better.
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Saturday, April 19th, 2008 at 12:19 am under
Here’s my take. I LOVE the perks and most of the time I LOVE the job. There are some things I have to do that aren’t so fun, but writing is a passion and I love it overall. Ultimately I want to be a screenwriter and not a freelance writer, but freelancing helps pay the bills and allows me more time to write my scripts, so that’s the trade-off I consider when I’m faced with something not so fun.
Overall though, I try to avoid projects that I don’t like. Sometimes they can’t be helped, but I’ll know better in the future. Each new project is a learning experience, so I try to look for the good in them. That’s how I make it through those not so great projects and on to the super fun projects!
April 19th, 2008 at 2:46 amThe primary reason I’m attracted to freelance writing is the writing itself. I love the blinking cursor, the muddled first drafts, the editorial scalpel. The perks aren’t bad, either–but it’s the language that keeps me coming back.
Then again, I’m still in the beginning stages of becoming a full-fledged freelancer–which for me means living off my savings in cheap (ie, developing) countries while I hone my craft. I still have the luxury of only taking on work I really enjoy, since I don’t have a family to support and my rent is cheap. So I wonder if my passion will lose its heat under the weight of the “real” freelance lifestyle (whenever that arrives).
April 19th, 2008 at 2:55 amThanks for all the helpful advice. This site is great.
Question for everyone: How long did it take for you to develop enough work to be able to truly enjoy freelance writing as a career?
After working professionally in various writing jobs for years, the idea of doing this as fulltime work is incredibly appealing to me on every possible level. I’ve been searching job sites for a couple of weeks now and have applied for a slew of different regular blogging/writing jobs. So far, I’ve gotten one, and I absolutely love it — but it’s not nearly enough income to make this feasible by itself long-term. I’d need to have about 15 of those gigs — which would definitely be doable — to equal a full salary. But I haven’t had any luck getting past just one yet.
I’d love to hear how anyone else’s process venturing into this field fulltime went. I’m wondering if I’m going about this the wrong way, looking for the wrong types of jobs (or in the wrong places), or if it’s just a slow process that I need to give time and maybe it will eventually get where I want it to be.
Thank you for any insights from your experiences!
April 19th, 2008 at 3:12 amI love writing. So the job is definitely enjoyable for me. So far, I haven’t been too bored by the subjects (but I still sometimes find myself procrastinating for other reasons). Especially if it’s a new project, I’m very gung ho and “let’s get started!” about it.
April 19th, 2008 at 4:20 amLately my projects have felt more like a job than fun. I’ve been doing keyword articles (which I don’t enjoy), writing credit card reviews, and working with an editor who wants everything written exactly as she would have written it. Looking at the now entirely different articles, I wonder why she just didn’t do them herself…
Usually though, I love my projects, particularly when I get to learn something. When I hit a not so fun spell, I just try to pull through, but it can definitely take an emotional and physical toll. I just try to remember that the coming weeks and months will bring totally new projects, so it’s not like I’m in a job I totally hate and have to be there for the next 30 years.
April 19th, 2008 at 4:28 amJR,
It’s definitely a process. I did freelancing on the side for about a year before going full-time, and even then there were some rough months during the first year.
Keep doing what you’re doing. Apply for everything. When you can’t possibly keep up your full-time work and your freelancing at the same time, that’s when you know it’s time.
Just my opinion. Good luck!
April 19th, 2008 at 4:31 amI love the variety and learning new things every day. That is what makes this work so appealing to me. Yes, I sometimes get bogged down on large projects that cover the same material over and over, and those credit card articles are always around, but for the most part I can learn something new every day in this work. To me, research is fun. I was one of those kids in college who actually liked researching and writing term papers. I constantly find myself saying, “Oh, I recently wrote and article about that and learned . . . ”
As a WAHM I don’t think much in my “regular” life would cause me to learn every day like writing does.
April 19th, 2008 at 5:44 amIt’s funny, but two of you mentioned credit card articles as if those were some of the ‘not so fun’ jobs, but those are some of my favorite jobs! I work in the financial industry - part-time, just until I get into the full swing of things with my freelance writing - and I do love it! It’s not a job I want the rest of my life because, while I like helping other people achieve their financial dreams, staying there isn’t helping me achieve mine. Nor does it cultivate my passion for film, which is bigger than my passion for finances. But, I write credit card and financial articles and they’re fun for me. I just find it so interesting when what one person finds mundane another will find exciting. Par for the course and the reason we talk about these things, but it caught my eye, so I thought I’d mention it!
@BooBoo - you know, I had a client that basically rewrote the articles I submitted and at first it bothered me - I thought the same thing you did. But then, I realized that I was getting a little too attached to what I was writing and it wasn’t even mine to worry over - we’re writing for them and it should be how they want it. But also, I thought it was funny that my client was paying me to write the article that they just rewrote themselves - you’d think they would have thought to just write it themselves, but I didn’t mention it because I like getting paid. Don’t know if this is the case for you, but re-evaluate. Maybe it wouldn’t bother you if you just looked at it another way.
April 19th, 2008 at 9:35 amWe all seem to have different likes and dislikes - such as those who don’t like credit card articles and those who do. Accepting only projects we enjoy is excellent advice, but sometimes we have to try something before we know whether or not we’ll enjoy it.
April 19th, 2008 at 11:26 amI take on work that I feel confident about, period.
I do occasionally take on work I’m not keen on doing. That’s part of my job - making any topic under the sun a good one to read. (Except Forex. Damned if I can do anything with Forex.) I may not like the topic 100%, but I enjoy the fact that it will teach me something, increase my portfolio, enhance my value, round me out or introduce me to something new.
If I had to write on mortgage insurance every day, I’d quit, plain and simple. The perks are nice, but if I don’t love what I’m DOING, then there’s no point in working.
April 19th, 2008 at 3:23 pmI just love writing period. But just like some freelance writers, it’s not really nice to write about the same thing over and over again. Also, those keywords intensive projects are ok but it feels like piecing a puzzle with words more than writing itself.
April 19th, 2008 at 4:55 pmYes, I am having fun as a part time freelance writer.
Like James mentioned, I too am choosy about what I do and only apply to positions that I feel that I can do with confidence and well. That being said, I look forward to being able to do this fulltime however other financial factors dictate so I must still have a day job, with health benefits. For now, weekends, or some evenings are my writing times.
Mary Higgins Clark, as a widower, awoke at 5:00 every morning to write for 2 hours before she would wake her children up for school at 7:00. Then she would head off to her day job. So I figure if she could do it, so can I, for now.
April 19th, 2008 at 5:08 pmKristy,
Of course you’re right. The thing is, I’m getting a byline for these articles. And it’s kind of a big name, so I want my byline to be there. But “my” articles no longer resemble what I wrote. Also, it’s frustrating because she’ll “edit” one article, and then tell me to edit the others based on her changes. But her changes aren’t mistakes; they just reflect her own individual way of expressing things. Frustrating, but this project’s almost over, so I’ll just stick it out I guess.
April 19th, 2008 at 5:28 pmI have to agree with the overwhelming majority that I love the writing process. I’ve already started applying the tips Deb suggested to keep the process from dragging me down.
I’m becoming more selective in the projects I take so that I only take on what appeals to me. When I don’t have that luxury, then I at least try to get it wrapped up quickly so I can get back to what I enjoy.
Overall, yes I am having fun. The writing is what brought me here because I love doing it but I admit that the perks are what is helping to keep me around.
April 19th, 2008 at 6:06 pmI’m pretty lucky because all but one of my regular assignments are challenging and really make me stretch my writing muscle. I find that I look forward to working even though I have to put in very long hours to complete these assignments.
This is extremely important because I don’t have the luxury of being choosy about assignments because I support a family on what I earn. I will say this, as I have gained more recognition for my work, I have been offered better assignments; and believe me, I never forget how lucky I am that I am at that point in my career as a freelance journalist.
April 19th, 2008 at 8:05 pmWriting is a joy, that’s for sure, but sometimes projects come along that I dread. I don’t take those projects anymore - but there were times that I had no choice.
I remember the last straw - the one that broke the camel’s back and sent me to full time blogging. I had to write a series of kitchen renovation articles around key phrases such as “find cheap refrigerator” and “find cheap kitchen cabinet”. I told my editor certain phrases aren’t being googled because the web surfer wants and article - he wants to know where to find a cheap refrigerator.
Sure, I know a good writer can make these phrases work, but at that point I was so burned out by all of the keywords and the “I need 50 articles per month” crowd that I was happy to give it all up to blog full time.
I realize not everyone has the luxury of being choosy, but boy is it rewarding to reach that point!
April 19th, 2008 at 9:05 pmJames, I agree with what you said about learning something new and increasing your portfolio with each new project. I think that’s what I’m enjoying most about freelancing so far. I’ve just ventured into freelancing after over 7 years in full-time marketing jobs, and I really like learning and writing about new, constantly changing topics instead of one topic day in and day out. It’s a breath of fresh air for me!
April 19th, 2008 at 9:33 pm[…] Are We Having Fun Yet? Tips for Enjoying Your Freelance Writing Career […]
April 19th, 2008 at 9:47 pmAs a freelance for over 3 years, is been a remarkable experience to me. I’m did enjoyed every piece of my works, most of the time I’m wrote what I’m want instead of what I’m can’t…
April 19th, 2008 at 11:02 pmI’m having too much fun. I’m at the early stages, having only been freelancing for six months and have transitioned more recently to blogging when I didn’t have work.
I’ve found it great in that, you can really write about your niche and have fun. Whether you want to be the witty person, or spiritual guru, you can take something and run with it.
I still don’t mind the ghostwriting and helping people achieve their goals either. I’ve been quite pleased with the freelance community in meeting very helpful people and it is natural to want to give back to others.
April 20th, 2008 at 7:56 am[…] Are We Having Fun Yet? Tips for Enjoying Your Freelance Writing Career […]
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