This article continues from where we left off in our earlier post ‘Stepping into the world of freelance writing’.
Every year, millions of people decide to hang out their shingle and off those millions, thousands decide to try out their luck on the World Wide Web. And out of those thousands, at least a few hundred want to become freelance writers. Most of them are attracted by the fact that it is a relief from the constant stress that a regular 9 to 5 job gives.
No more incessant waiting in the 9 O clock traffic snarls on the way to work. No more stretching work hours and overtime and no more monotonous work.
A few others want to become freelance writers because they feel that they can earn a six figure income each month within as less as 1 year.
Then there are the third lot who have a flair for writing and want to make a career out of it.
And then there is the fourth group who ‘feel’ that they have a flair for writing. ?
No matter which group of people you belong to, the fact is that the world of freelance writing is not exactly a bed of roses. There are many pitfalls of not working for a company.
There will be no regular paychecks, no perks, no paid holidays, no retirement account. There will be initial jitters, unruly customers, time management issues and most importantly, self discipline problems.
You might be able to control the world, but try controlling your mind for a change and you will know that the first part was easier. (The quote is written by me?)
Did that make it seem like you are stepping into a field full of hidden landmines? No, it aint that bad either. It’s just that, it helps to be prepared for the worst when you are entering a new field. So, are you ready to take it? Brace yourself.
Preparing oneself mentally: Perseverance and patience. The two most important qualities that are going to get you there. You are NOT going to be greeted with writing assignments from international magazines and editorials as you start looking for writing gigs. In fact, your first few months will be the worst ones in your professional career as a freelance writer. The only assignments that you might land will be that as a ghostwriter and even those, will be few and far in between. That takes us to our next point.
Accepting rejection and moving on: Be prepared to be rejected. I know that it is easier said than done. But I guess it helps to be prepared. The competition is severe and you have to be better than the best to beat the best. Nothing can equal the feeling when you know that you have landed a job when you were least expecting to get it. And what do you do if you have been rejected? Chew it like a bitter pill and move on.
Beating the dirt-cheap bidders and winning a bid: Competition! Welcome to the jungle! If you ever thought that a career in freelance writing was easy, then this will change that perception. For every bid that you place on a job site, there will be someone who places a cheaper bid. Now how do you beat them? There is only one way. Read the job description carefully. Customize your message to the employer and PROVIDE A SAMPLE. Remember, the sample article is like an advertisement of your skills. It is the only way by which an employer can rate your skills. And even after you do everything right, you might still be rejected. Remember point 1 & hang in there! You will start winning bids soon.
Beware of non-paying clients, the rotten apples: Now that you have started to win bids, you will soon meet the gremlins in the world of freelance writing, the non playing clients. These are guys who will smooth talk, throw a bourgeoisie air and be in touch with you until you deliver the final draft of the project. After that, they will disappear faster than a 100m sprinter! They will not respond to emails, nor will they pay you a dime for your work. Two ways to beat them. Charge an advance or demand an escrow!
Avoiding Plagiarism charges: There is just one way to avoid plagiarism charges. DO NOT COPY! If you ever feel drained out and unable to write an article, take a break. But never attempt to copy from somebody else’s work.
When the work runs dry: Yes, there will be a phase in your career when the work runs dry. Your email inbox will be loaded with spam and nothing else. No more writing gigs! But this is the best time for you to indulge in some self promotion. Go out there and read blogs, comment on em! Start social networking. Learn how to tweet if you don’t know how to do it.
I hope that gives you a gist of how things stand in the world of freelance writing. Like I said before, it aint as bad as it seems. But this information might prove to be invaluable for you as you make a name for yourself and rise up the ranks!
Photo courtesy Flickr! originally uploaded by simko28.
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