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Happy New Year, everyone! I hope you all had a safe and happy night. 
I’ve spent some time over the past week or so coming up with a list of goals for the new year. One of the big ones is to get back to blogging. I started this blog with great intentions, only to have them fall by the wayside as I actually started doing better with my career. When I started blogging, I was bringing in a couple hundred a month. I’m now bringing in five times that, but I have less free time.
I’m also going to try to get the rest of my sites up and running, and even write a couple ebooks. The big thing this year, however, is going to be breaking into print. I’ve teamed up with a friend, and we’re going to work together on this project, with the goal to get us both into the prestigious world of queries, waiting, and (eventually) bigger paychecks.
I’m also working really hard right now on finding a better balance between work and personal life. I always feel like I’m neglecting my daughter and husband to get work done. Not in a “call CPS” sort of way, but I would like more time to play with and enjoy the people I’m working so hard for. This year, that also means making sure that there is money for us to really enjoy Mark’s two weeks of vacation, and a few weekend trips here or there.
I’m trying to get most of my work done during the week while Mark is home and available to play with Becca, and then again at night, after she is sleeping. That leaves us some time in the mornings and all evening to spend together. During the weekends, I’m trying to limit it to half a day of work each day, and then (again) working nights. I’m trying to find a line between the work I need to get done and spending too much time on the computer. This is going to mean finding better ways of staying on task. Which is a big challenge for me.
I will be blogging with a lot more regularity this year. For those of you still out there, reading the random post as it goes up, THANK YOU!! I’m hoping to grow our community as the year goes by, and having you along for the ride will be an honor.
When I decide that I want something, I go for it. I don’t like to wait. I’m not always patient. And I can get easily frustrated if something is taking too long.
Delayed gratification is not something I am very good at.
It’s not just me. We live in an “instant” world. Instant mashed potatoes, instant coffee… Our cars are faster, we work more, and we get the things we want, preferably without waiting for them. Credit cards mean we don’t even have to be able to afford something before we buy it; we just need to have a big enough spending limit.
The thing is, instant mashed potatoes will never be as good as the kind made the old fashioned way. To get the best mashed potatoes, you need to peel (or at least carefully scrub) the potatoes, cut them up, boil them, and then drain, mash, and mix. You need to know what seasonings taste best. It takes time, and it can take a little practice. It takes work. But, in the end, you end up with a superior product. Right?
As writers, we need to remember that, while instant has it’s place, we also need to put time (and work) into our careers. Instant work, where you don’t have to try too hard to be accepted and the work (and pay) is minimal, is nice. Sites like Demand Studios or other content sites, usually pay every week, and the work is steady. You know that there will be work every day. It’s a nice feeling. Especially if you have bills that need to be paid right now.
But writing for content sites has few real long-term rewards. You probably won’t get any great referrals, you don’t set your own rates, and you won’t see any real recognition. And if you spend most of your time writing for $15 an article, you begin to think that is what your writing is worth. Want to know a little secret? Your writing is worth twice that, easily.
Take the time to develop your skills as a writer. Find a niche to specialize in. Maybe you want to write resumes, or you really want to be a food writer. Learn as much as you can about your chosen specialty, put up a website or two, and then start looking for clients. Although clients don’t always pay weekly, you can more or less set the terms of payment and the cost of your services yourself.
Don’t do all of your work for clients, however. Put a couple hours a week into building your own site. A niche site, blog, or whatever else you may decide on can not only lead new clients to you but also create a stream of passive income. Also spend some time on social networking sites (Facebook, Twitter, and so on), building a community. This is a great way to meet new clients, and get to know other writers.
Like any good thing, building a career that goes beyond instant gratification takes a lot of effort. You need to be patient, and believe that your work will eventually pay off. And it will. Investing in yourself, and your future, always has huge returns.
One of the women over at writer forums on WAHM.com had the idea to start up an accountability program. The idea is that each interested writer would team up with a one or two other writers to keep each other on track during the day. I teamed up with two women, one whom I talk to 2-3 times a day, and another whom I email back and forth with once or twice a week. I am also a part of the freelance writers accountability group through Google Groups, started by the same woman who had the idea for the accountability program.
It has been a month since I started the accountability problem. Am I getting more work done? Yes. Once you tell someone you’re going to get the work done, you’d better have a good reason for not getting anything done at all.
The biggest benefit of being a member of the program, however, is just having someone to bounce ideas off from, and having someone who understands the life of a freelance writer. Every time I get a great new client or a project for an existing client comes my way, it’s wonderful to know that there is someone there to cheer me on. Not that my husband and family aren’t excited about my success (they are), but other writers get it.
And those days when your just fed up with work? Your clients aren’t paying, Demand(ing) Studios is down (or the editors are driving you nuts), and you just need to vent? Yeah, my accountability buddies get that, too. And I gladly listen to all of their successes and stresses, too.
Having another freelancer (or two, or three) to talk to regularly is almost like having coworkers again. Although we all work for different sites (although we also work for a couple of the same content companies), the work is mostly the same. We all have to market ourselves, find clients, and we all have similar goals. It’s nice to not be working entirely alone anymore.
Interested in finding your own accountability partner? Join up with the WAHM Freelance Accountability Group. Get to know us, and then find a few accountability partners of your own!
We are independent contractors. Freelance writers. We are hired, presumably, for our ability to create quality writing to meet our client’s needs. Right?
I have noticed an increase in the requirements for a lot of freelance positions. You need a Bachelor’s degree, at minimum. You need several years of experience. You need references.
Wait— What? Why?
I can understand wanting to hire the most qualified person for the job. Really. I get that. However, I wish these clients would remember that they are hiring someone for their writing skills. Yes? Not everyone with an advanced degree is a good writer, and some of the best writers are typing along without a degree. Maybe life got in the way, or they chose not to attend school. And the writer who will do the best work for you will not always have the years of experience some places require.
I was shocked when I saw my first request for references a couple weeks ago. References. Really? To prove what– that I follow through? That I turn everything in on time? I’m not going let someone pester my current clients to find out if I am a safe bet to take a chance on. Because I’m pretty certain that I’m taking a chance every time I accept a new client. Will he pay? On time? Will he be a pain in the rear to work with? Does she have insane demands? Can I call references for you? No? Well, then you’re not getting mine.
The thing that surprises me, though, is that the pay rate is very seldom better for the positions that require a degree and experience, or whatever else they are asking for that goes beyond the norm. I’m sorry, but if I had a bachelor’s degree in marketing, or whatever else you are asking for, plus 4-5 years of experience, I am not writing your blog posts for $20 a piece.
If you’re hiring a dentist, look for his education and previous experience. If you are hiring a writer– look at our writing. Look at our resume, if you must. Consider our cover letter. Email us, and ask for more information.
I’ll admit to being biased a bit on this. I have only been writing for just under a year. I don’t have a degree. Came close, but it just never happened. I would love to go back some day, for business and marketing, perhaps. But I don’t think that a piece of paper affects my ability to write. I learn fast, and I am willing to research whatever I need to in order to write a piece that fits my client’s needs. And I think that is reasonable. I have several books on SEO, marketing, social media, copywriting, editing, and what ever else I need to know. I’m always learning, not happy to sit back on previous experience.
That should be what clients are looking for. Someone who can write and who is willing to learn what they have to for their clients. Judge a writer by their writing. Give us a chance, and remember that we’re taking a chance on you, too.
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