Guest Post: 6 Lessons From My First Six Months of Freelance Writing

By Stacy Lipson

Maybe you’ve thought about freelancing. But you’re scared to take the leap. Or maybe, you don’t know how to start.

Professional freelancing isn’t rock science. However, there are some lessons you should follow for your greatest chance of success.

Here are six lessons I’ve learned from my first six months in being my own boss.

Have at least two to three months savings.
Save. And save some more. As you work to build up your client base, the checks will be few and far in between. Unless you’ve got a trust fund, it’s important to prepare so you aren’t left red handed when the rent check is due. Trust me.

Surround yourself with people who support you.
Your network can be your strongest ally. And sometimes, it can be difficult to see the silver lining. When you’re working 50+ hour weeks and sending out query after query after query with nary a word, spirits can dampen.

Make it a priority to surround yourself with people who support your career aspirations and goals. The first year is the hardest, and sometimes it takes two years or longer to get your business off the ground. There is probably at least one person who will vocally tell you not to follow your dreams. They will look at your infrequent paychecks and whisper, “Just a dream.”

Don’t listen. Meet up with other freelance writers in your area and swap stories. Who knows? You might just find your next story idea.

Be prepared to work hard.
If your view of freelancing is a writer sitting on the couch, eating Bon-Bons, think again. Like many freelancers I know, I get up at the crack of dawn and start working until the late evening hours. From last minute edits, to rush assignments, your work hours can change at a moment’s notice. Self-motivation is key. Put in the maximum amount of energy towards every assignment you’ve been assigned. It will pay off in the long run.

Set a fair pay rate, but don’t under or over-value yourself.
Check FreelanceSuccess.com or ASJA’s paycheck databases or The Writer’s Market for appropriate rates. Be careful, though. If you under-estimate your value, and the project turns out to take more than time than you originally anticipated, you can end up losing money. If however, you set your pay rate too high, you risk the client leaving for a less expensive option. It’s important to value yourself-this is a business, not a side hobby.

Diversify your portfolio.
The more clips and subject topics you can write about, the easier it will be for you to find clients. Tackle new subject matters and interests, and no subject matter will ever seem “too difficult” to handle.

Don’t give up.
Persistence is key. Eventually, you’ll be holding a letter of acceptance. Promise.

Stacy Lipson is a freelance writer specializing in health. Her work has appeared in publications including Natural Health magazine, Sprig.com, AOL’s Lemondrop, MarieClaire.com, MSNBC, and Healthymagination.com, among others.

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