I love writing, but I hated being freelance: 6 pieces of honest advice
By: Helen Jackson
Tags: Worklife, Freelancing, Business, Stress Management, Freelance Writing

Image from Unsplash

I love reading and I love writing. I only love writing about the things I’m interested in, though, and that’s probably why I didn’t overly-enjoy being a freelance writer for technical clients. It bored me beyond belief. Anything along the lines of legal, insurance, phone technology — bored, bored, bored. And ultimately, if you don’t live and breathe it, it suddenly becomes a chore.

I am a marketer…by day and an avid reader and writer by night. So why wasn’t freelancing for me? Surely, that’s a pretty good combination to make it as a freelance writer, right?

Well, yes, probably on paper.

But what you don’t realise about freelancing before you’re already in deep is you’re going to write about topics you don’t necessarily find inspiring. At least to begin with. But as you grow your reputation, I guess you can pick and choose your clients and the kind of writing you do for them but I reckon that’s after a long slog of writing content you not only can’t get behind but content that you end up researching for hours because you know nothing about that industry and by that time you’re probably operating on a loss.

Would I go freelance again? Hmm, probably. But it isn’t a stable industry and you have to battle with many clients to even get paid for work you’ve delivered — or half delivered. It’s tough. I’m still owed money over a year later.

My dream was simple — or so I thought — I wanted to sit in a co-working space (which I did), meet loads of other freelancers (which I sort of did) and work on exciting project after exciting project — (yeah, I didn’t really).

I worked with some clients who argued my fee was too high — don’t pay it and find someone cheaper…?

Clients — and obviously some were lovely, by the way — but most of the people I worked with were difficult. Payment deadlines came and went, and I even had to start threatened small claims courts. The funny thing is it was always the big companies who refused to pay! Work that one out.

It’s tough trying to build a freelance writing business for yourself but maybe I’m just not cut out for it. Here are 6 lessons I learned.

Find a niche and stick to it

I was asked to deliver all sorts of stuff that was not in my writing remit. This ultimately drained time and drained my enthusiasm. Plus, the more niche your writing is, the more chance you’ll be picked for niche projects. Building a name for yourself and being able to differentiate from other writers is crucial.

Have a money cushion

I saved a small amount before I went freelance — but you need to save as much as you possibly can. It’s tough but believe me, it is worth it. If you have some money saved, you can afford to turn down clients you don’t gel with — you get to choose which companies you work with and what work you take onboard.

Draw up a comprehensive contract

This is important and something I learned very quickly. Although you might have a loose contract like I did, I didn’t stipulate additional fees if invoices weren’t on time. This is a steep learning curve — I had never run a business before, but it is crucial and so much easier if you have it all ready to go before you launch into your writing career.

Don’t be a pushover

I bent over backwards to make sure my clients were happy with the work I delivered. Although you should be maintaining delivery of high-quality work, only deliver what they have paid for. I quickly realised I was working into most evenings to over-deliver. If they need something extra from you, then it costs more. They’re paying for your time and expertise and you need to stand your ground and know your worth.

Don’t be afraid to ask for reviews

Google reviews are one of the first things a potential client will see if they search for your business. Make it count and politely ask all your satisfied clients to leave you a review. It’s that simple. Reviews can speak volumes for your small freelancing business, so go out and get them.

Do not work overtime

This one is hard to stick to — particularly if you work from home. It’s so easy to blur the line between work and home life but you need to. You burn out quick and you start answering emails at stupid times. Those emails will still be there tomorrow, and no one should be expecting you to work at 2 am to finish a piece of content. Make it clear to your clients that you are only available during business hours otherwise you will never get any rest. This made me unnecessarily stressed.

I’m not saying running your own freelancing business shouldn’t be hard, but it shouldn’t impact your life so much that you’re more stressed than when you worked a 9–5 job.

Just take preparation for your freelancing business seriously and you’ll find it a lot easier and more enjoyable.

Good luck 😊