Freelancing is an adventure that can pay massive dividends but also carries many risks. The key, in my opinion, to being a successful freelance writer is to always remember why you’re doing it in the first place.
Most freelancers want to sip from the fountain of life…to enjoy themselves…to not be tied down to the prison of a 9-6 corporate job and long commutes. Most freelancers love expressing themselves….they love to write…to be creative.
So when is the last time you thoroughly enjoyed writing? When is the last time you worked less hours than a corporate employee rather than more? When is the last time you only sat in front of the computer for four hours in a day? When’s the last time you took off the weekend?
Freelancing tempts us all with the potential of freedom, but so easily binds us up with tons of tedious work and the feeling that we’ve never quite done enough. But it doesn’t have to be that way. In fact, it shouldn’t be that way. Freelancers should take the opportunity to carve their own, ideal path seriously. But doing so takes work, and the ability to turn down work.
Here are five things to keep in mind as you continue on the journey that I affectionately call “freelancing towards freedom.”
5 Signs You’ve Made It As a Freelance Writer
1. You say “No!” more often than “Yes!”
I started on the web as a freelancer. And it took me over a year to learn to say no. Once I learned to say no, not only did the good gigs seem gooder;-) but I was able to do a better job, increasing my leverage in the freelance market. Learning to say “No!” will free up time and allow you to choose better paying, more enjoyable writing gigs.
2. Four Hour Work Days
Your employees don’t know it, but you’ve carved a path towards a 4 hour work day (I call it semi-retirement;-). Instead of working longer hours than the traditional office worker, you work significantly less. This is because you’ve worked hard to get noticed, earned the luxury of being selective and have chosen fun, high paying jobs that allow you maximal freedom in lifestyle design.
3. Freelancing for yourself
So you’ve earned yourself the luxury of being selective with your work, which has led to the 4 hour work day. What do you do with those other 4 hours? Well, you could play with your two cute little boston terriers all day, or you could start freelancing for yourself. Actually, you’d probably be best off doing both. Enjoy a slice of life everyday, and let some of it be work. The main point is that if you’re like me, you think that the best way to have fun making money, ultimately, is to work for yourself and acquire your own assets.
4. You’ve Doubled Your Rates At Least Twice
Any successful freelancer eventually realizes that the key to success lies in a simple 2-part formula: 1) create demand for your services and 2) double your rates when demand out-paces supply (where supply is your available time). It took me a while to realize that I could do half the work for double the income. Once I realized this fact, I decided to cut back on my hours and increase my rates 4x over the course of a year. Don’t feel compelled to price yourself at entry-level rates, so that anyone can afford you. Become a hot-commodity and then don’t be afraid to price yourself into a range that only strong businesses that are looking for quality writers can afford to pay.
5. You No Longer Write About Credit Cards, Mortgages and Insurance
This might be the clearest sign of all. I don’t know how many times I’ve hired a writer who has told me something like “Writing for you is fun, unlike my old gig where I wrote about credit cards and insurance.”
It’s unfortunate but true that the highest paying content topics are also some of the most mind-numbingly boring. The goal for any freelance writer should be to recapture the joy of writing by writing on topics that he or she truly enjoys. If writing is still a chore for you, then make it your goal going forward to seek out writing gigs that reward both your intellect and your emotions.
Ryan Caldwell is an Internet entrepreneur who blogs at Performancing and College Startup.
I’d be interested to know what others think. What are some clear signs that you’ve achieved your original goals as a freelance writer?
Probably paying the bills; as in, in shorter working hours as you say, not by working every waking hour. Also, I think a clear sign would be moving beyond keyword work–easy money, but like credit cards, mind numbingly boring (anyone remember when Deb washed her hands of it and proclaimed her freedom?).
In short, when you find yourself breathing easier and having fun again writing; yeah, pretty much what you said, Ryan!
Self-sufficiency. Full independence. Sitting down to work without the back-of-the-mind worry whether I should prepare an application for McDonalds. The day I finally stop saying, “This could all disappear tomorrow.”
Funny how keyword work has such a negative perception. I’ve had keyword articles of 500 words that pay close to $100 each – why would anyone want to move beyond that? And boring? Not at all. A keyword article is what you make it. The topic may be yeast infections, chocolate or dollhouses, but hey, even I can spin a great angle and write something fun and entertaining.
Keywording simply means inserting key phrases into your work. Why is that demeaning to a writer?
Yes, before I get a barrage of comments, I’m fully aware of the sweatshop industry of a million articles in three days for 50 cents each. Those are, for the most part, cheap keyword articles. I’ve also seen sales copy and website copy going for less than a penny a word too – to me, that’s just as cheap. No keywords, but crap nonetheless.
Number five is smack on. Actually number one too. I haven’t said yes to a job in a long time because now I can afford to be picky and just don’t have the time for something new — unless I drop something old which I’m not ready to do right now. But number five… All my first lame gigs to go were the ones where I was writing the mind-numbing stuff you mention. Right now 90% of the things I write I actually enjoy. A huge switch from my early days. Good post.
I didn’t say anything against keywording, James. And you are right, keywording can be seen as an art, not a chore. But…it really gets tiresome to write articles about credit cards all day.
JCM–
I think you see my difference on the keyword subject. Quality SEO content writing is a different animal than the low-pay, “make my typos and transposed wording work for me”. THAT is what I was referring to; most of my work is the other stuff too, and I don’t mind it if I am allowed to write real content around it!
I’d say you’ve made it when you stop taking clients, and realize how valuable your skills really are when put to work in your own online projects. Then you might find yourself hiring freelancers yourself, right Mr. Caldwell? 🙂
That’s right Mr. Teacher;-)
Wow, what an interesting coincidence! Just yesterday, I was posting an announcement in a forum I frequent about how I have to restructure my goals for this month. Why? I have too much. I need to take a step back, stop querying and work on what’s in front of me. It’s a hard thing to do because I’m horribly addicted to job boards. That addiction comes from a fear of not having enough work, though. I feel like, because I’ve had to restructure my goals, that I achieved a goal I didn’t write down anywhere . . . success. 🙂
Brian: Ah, but then you’re no longer a freelance writer but an entrepreneur.
Mary: Yes. Oh yes.
Ryan: True – but just think about how skilled you’ve becoming in managing credit debt… uhh… wanna share some advice you’ve gathered?
How to manage credit debt:
Bootstrap, don’t spend money you don’t have.
Great article. I think this is the key for all of us: learning how to work smarter rather than more.
I agree with Mary. Being able to pay the bills without working every waking moment is going to be nice–if I ever get there.
I think once I am able to earn more for the time I put in, I will feel like I am a successful writer.
Great post Ryan! It looks like I’m still making it. I am accepting a greater number of higher paying jobs so I can better leverage my time. I’d sure like to know where James (JCM) finds these 500-word keyword article writing jobs that pay up to $100! Do tell, Sir. 🙂
I won’t say $100 a 500-word article is the norm for most online writers, because it isn’t. But I have seen that over 50% of online writers charge upwards of $25 an hour (or per article) and have a good, steady stream of work – and that’s on job boards and auction sites.
A solid reputation for quality, a good portfolio and strong skills, the confidence that your talents are valuable, hard work to build up your business, and believing in yourself has everything to do with what you make in life – at least that’s my take.
I think freelance writers tend to undersell themselves. They feel that the buyers hold the power, that the publishers and editors are gods. They think $5 an hour is all they can make, that it’s all they can hope for.
I don’t think that’s true. Writing is a profession like any other. Carpenters and stonemasons earn over $50 an hour, electricians even more. Why should writing be seen as a lesser profession meriting low pay?
I think that an attitude that you’re worthy of a decent pay and backing that up with proof merits more than a a few dollars and it goes a long, long way to securing better rates for your work.
Why settle for less when you know you’re worth more?
Thanks for the ongoing inspiration Ryan! I’ll keep my sights set high.
Btw, interesting stuff on your blog about learning a foreign language.
I can go to Blog Expo without having to seriously consider the financial repercussions.
Susan…can you remind me what i said about learning a foreign language?
“not write about credit cards and insurance…” Though it’s been a difficult year in 2007 and income is down, I write about credit cards and insurance and had three straight years of more than 6 figures in billing.
And one of my newest, biggest clients includes writing about credit cards.
So I beg to differ.
Do tell me who your clients are that you are able to make six figures writing about credit cards and debt- I’d be happy to take on those assignments over the low-paying local magazine assignments I’m doing!
That’s not all that I do, but those clients make up a significant portion of my income
Well, if you enjoy writing about credit cards, then kudos to you.
6 figures in billing is nice, for sure. I was making 6 figures in the tech industry as a software engineer but I left because I didn’t enjoy my life as a software engineer for a Fortune 500 company.
I would say that credit cards, insurance, and how to get out of debt are all “evergreen” topics – people will always be interested in them. Therefore, there will always be a market for writing on these topics.
Yes, there will always be a market for these topics. But the question is whether you enjoy writing on these topics.
In my view, success in the freelance writing market is largely equivalent to writing on topics you enjoy while making a nice salary.
Ryan, I guess I’m not a freelance writer then. You know I’m kidding around, but 4-hour work day? I highly doubt that less than 90% of “freelance writers” manage a 4-hr work day. Even when I’m at peak freelance earnings, I barely get away with a 10 hour day. I’m trying, but it hasn’t happened yet, and I have 20+ years of writing experience.
You’re a freelance writer. You just haven’t peaked;-)
Seriously though, I’d recommend cutting back where you can and charging more where you can. And eventually, stop. Let more energetic and creative people do your writing for you 😛
it’s fewer hours, not less!!
I’m so sorry, but this is one of my pet peeves and it drives me insane! 😉
Plus, I’d hope that my future fearless readers would do the same for me and mention my faux pas.
Editors come to me with work, rather than the other way around (I don’t blog for pay; the majority of my assignments come from print mags)
Editors tell me they recognize my name from other work I’ve done.
My monthly and annual income is larger than my former “real” job, and increasing.
My family respects what I’m doing and treats it as my career, not a hobby.
I really think what constitutes success is going to be different for everyone. I have no desire to work 4 hour days, but I like the flexibility of taking a few hours off or working at night. I’m not going to love every assignment I get, but I do love the challenge of learning new things. Your list of what makes a successful freelancer didn’t really apply to my career.
Maybe I’m so poor because I decided at the beginning not to do #5!
I just pitched and won my first green article though, so I’m excited.
I can say that since August, I have accomplished to contracts. Yes it’s not much but it’s mine.
Asking for more money from clients is just not in my future right now.
Building a blog, quering, and now starting a book is where I’m at.
Oops. Querying.
Well…I can’t say that I agree with #2 or #5.
If you love to write, spending more than four hours a day writing will hardly seem like work or a sign that you’ve made it. Do you think J.K. Rowling or Stephen King or Ernest Hemingway quit after spending only four hours on their novels? I don’t know for sure, of course, but I seriously doubt it.
As for #5, I love writing on personal finance topics. I prowled About.com’s available topics for months waiting on something finance-related to open up. I wouldn’t trade my topic for any other on the entire site. It’s anything BUT mind-numbingly boring for me and has never felt like a chore.
Thank you MelissaO! I cringed when I saw that, too, but I didn’t want my first comment here (even if it is on a guest post) to be whining about somebody’s grammar. So now my first comment can be agreeing with someone else whining about grammar. 🙂
Writing about all matter of insurance topics is how I got started in freelancing! It didn’t pay well, but it gave me the confidence to keep going and aim higher (plus I figured if I could write about insurance, I could write about anything!). I’m not there yet, but success to me is earning an income equal to or exceeding what I had at my desk job. I have finally reached the point of being able to pick and choose my projects (saying no feels good!) and not having to cling to every mediocre paying gig just to keep the income flowing. I can finally choose writing assignments that I enjoy and have adopted the “work smarter” mentality.
Cute dog, by the way 🙂
How to manage credit debt:
Bootstrap, don’t spend money you don’t have.
Sorry, I just had to laugh at this comment 🙂 So simple, yet so true!
MelissaO & Sonya: Re: “fewer hours,” not “less hours” — So true, and kinda funny that it jumped out at us!
Sue,
I’d say that when editors come to you with work, it’s another sign. I get that, too, though not enough that I don’t have to prospect.
Phil, I am always looking for new work. What’s a great client today could dry up tomorrow.
Sue,
What areas do you cover?
Phil, I write for trades. Lots of construction, engineering, environmental, etc. I’m looking to branch out a little more, but those topics are my platform builders right now.
“Your list of what makes a successful freelancer didn’t really apply to my career.”
Notice, I never claimed that the list was exhaustive, nor that you weren’t successful if the list didn’t apply to you.
I was just sharing my experience of climbing the freelance ladder.
Once again, full time pay for part time work, to me, equals success. I’m very protective of my time.
Sue,
I write for trade publications, but not for trade pubs of the trades. I’m in financial services, real estate and technology
I recently realized my writing was worth so much more than having to just build my portfoliio when a magazine I freelanced for treated me like a piece of garbage for doing my job, my way – Hey, they were paying me nada, and just giving me copies – She made reference to the fact that she had plenty of people to provide content (and they are not getting paid) I had landed an excellent assignment with an extremely popular PAYING magazine and had mentioned that – perhaps I see the green eyes of jealousy but I am no ones chump. I deserve to get paid and not just peanuts. Writers work extremely hard and we never give up, but what we need to do is not accept being treated second rate – we are the reason that so many online and published magazines are making money – they are just not sharing any of the profits with the ones who provide the meat and potatoes that keep them afloat.
That’s sad, Katherine – I feel bad you had that experience. Many people feel writers aren’t worthy of respect or manners; I’m not sure why that is. Hopefully that attitude will change.
Right now, if writers got a nickel each time someone broke their heart, we’d all be rich.
On the other hand, these hard experiences make us a richer, fuller, better person with a tale to tell and wisdom to share.
Great list, Ryan. I guess by those standards I am becoming successful. I am now able to turn down work and I even have a few non-finance jobs. I’m not knocking those, though. Sometimes it’s good to have something to fall back on that you can write in your sleep.
It’s funny. I was talking the other day about how my aim was a four hour workday, with the rest of the time spent writing for myself (or just relaxing). I’m not quite there yet, but I’m working on it.
This is a cautionary note about when applying for freelance gigs. I applied for a gig the other day where the company showed great interest in all I had to offer. Pricing was good too.
After sending off a few emails containing detailed advice with regard to the project, I also provided key information that would have taken a while to research.
The end result: I saw the position re-advertised as an internship. It also provided details of ideas I originally suggested.
Basically, it seems this company just wanted cut price labor. The moral of the story is, don’t give away too much helpful information without being offered the role first!
It’s true Ryan, writing for you is fun. Not like that time I was writing about loans and insurance.
(Although I wasn’t writing about them for around a year and a half before I worked for you.)
Interesting discussion. I’m primarily a technical writer, although I also mommy blog for fun. I feel that I’ve “made” it because I have a solid client base and am never worried about my next mortgage payment. I have steady work from a wide variety of clients and all of it pays very well. I never “have” to take a job. That, in my book, is making it.
How about this one… you don’t have to pitch much anymore because editors come to you with assignments.
This is one of the best entries I have seen regarding freelance writings. Your five bullet-points would help many clueless freelancers about how to manage their time!