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5 Lies That Will Keep You from Building a Successful Freelance Writing Career

This is a guest post by Alicia Rades

Are you a freelance writer? Or maybe you’ve been playing with the idea of breaking into freelance writing. If so, then you’ve probably heard quite a few claims about the field, many of which are blatant lies, usually from people who don’t have much experience.

As someone who’s been freelancing full-time for the past three years, I’ve noticed a few common claims that are only setting people up for failure.

In this post, we’ll be discussing some of these claims and why’re they’re complete BS.

Check ’em out below:

 

1. It’ll be a Cinch

I have to roll my eyes at my younger self looking back four years, because I believed this one, too. Eh, sure it was easy to start making money writing, but at $0.01 per word, I was far from successful. If you think you’ll become successful writing at those rates, you couldn’t be more wrong.

Believe it or not, you can find clients willing to pay $0.10, $0.20, $0.50, and even $2.00 per word. Those are the people who actually value writers and understand that writers don’t just vomit words. (Thanks to Lauren Tharp for coming up with the phrase “writer vomit.”)

The kicker is that building up that clientele isn’t easy, and it takes a lot of time, promotion, and patience. But it is possible and worth it if you’re serious about your career. I suggest taking a look through Be a Freelance Blogger’s archives for excellent tips on how to start building up your business (many of the tips apply to all types of writers).

2. Freelance Sites like Elance Are the Best Places to Make Money

You’ve heard it before, and I’ll say it again: Bidding sites are the bottom of the barrel! You could be getting paid ten times more for the same type of work by landing your own clients.

If you do choose to start at freelance writing sites, don’t expect to stay there throughout your entire career (unless…you know…you’re okay with making next to nothing your whole life). Have a plan for building up your career (and your pay).

Here are a few things you can do to break free of the content mills:

  1. Create a writer website. Shockingly, a good 40 percent of writers don’t have their own website. Remember: You are a business owner. Showing that through your professional website will attract clients.
  2. Find private gigs through job boards. You don’t have to wait around for clients to find you! With job boards like ProBlogger, All Indie Writers, and Journalism Jobs, you can apply for jobs where you work with clients one-on-one and get paid more.
  3. Market yourself. Yes, this may mean cutting back a bit on your content mill work so that you have time to market yourself, but it can definitely pay off in the long run with higher rates. You can market yourself through social networks, by talking with local businesses, by guest blogging (strategically, mind you), and through numerous other alleys.
  4. Network with other writers. My highest paying clients have come through referrals from other writers. Not only can this practice land you clients directly, but you’ll get so much advice and feedback from other writers to help you boost your career.

3. You Work for Your Clients

No, no, no. You’re an independent contractor, which means that you’re not employed by anyone. That means you don’t have to deal with ridiculous client demands! You set your rates and your schedule. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking you’re working for your clients and they have the final say. You’re under a professional arrangement, not an employee-employer relationship.

Let me ask you this: Are you your dentist’s boss?

No? Well your dentist is an independent contractor, too. Just like your lawyer or accountant will work with you to meet your goals–but doesn’t work for you–you will do the same for your clients.

I once heard someone say that as a freelancer, you’re an employee without the benefits. But you’re not! Yes, you should aim to please, but you’re working together under a professional business arrangement, and don’t let yourself or your client forget it.

4. Freelance Writing is a Great Way to Make Money on the Side

Okay, so this one is little true, but if you’re thinking about doing freelance writing full-time, you have to let go of this mindset. Most people who freelance write on the side are writing on sites like TextBroker or finding jobs on Elance. That’s not going to lead to a successful full-time career.

The thing with this is that framing freelance writing as a “great way to make money on the side,” or an “excellent way to supplement your income” usually gives the idea that 1) it’s super easy and anyone can do it, 2) it’s not a good full-time option, and 3) it’s comparable to other income supplement options.

Living with these ideas in your head is only going to keep you from building a successful freelance career.

The truth is that it’s not for everyone. I’m not saying that it’s super hard and most people can’t handle it, but some people simply don’t enjoy working for themselves, and honestly some people don’t have the writing/marketing skills or talents and aren’t willing to learn and grow.

Contrary to what the “side gig” mentality says, freelance writing is an excellent way to make a full-time income. In fact, I’ve been supporting my husband and myself on my freelancing career alone for the past three years while we were both in school. I’ve also come across numerous successful freelancers who were able to make more freelancing than they ever did as an employee.

Finally, if you have enough drive to build up your freelancing business, it’s nothing like taking online surveys, mowing lawns, selling your plasma, or selling odds and ends on eBay. It is a real career, and that I can say from experience.

5. Freelance Writing Isn’t a Stable Career

I’ve heard Linda Formichelli of The Renegade Writer say it before, and it makes perfect sense. Freelance writing is arguably more stable than a traditional career.

As an employee, your employer could cut you off in a second, which means you suddenly have NO income. If you lose a client freelancing, you still have plenty of other clients offering work, so unless you’ve completely isolated yourself and are working for one client alone, your income isn’t going to come to a standstill. It makes so much sense that I don’t think there’s any need to elaborate.

 

Did you believe in these lies before now? Maybe you completely disagree with my reasoning and think they’re 100% accurate. Either way, let me know in the comment section, and make sure to tell me what other claims you’ve found are false in regards to freelance writing.

Author Bio: Alicia Rades (@aliciarades) is a freelance blogger, writer, and editor. When she’s not writing for clients, you can find her moderating comments on her favorite blogging forum, offering freelance and career tips on various blogs, or discussing blogging topics at aliciaradeswriter.com. Visit her site to learn more about her available blogging services and to grab her free Which Freelance Blogger Should I Hire? worksheet. 

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16 Comments

  1. This post comes at an excellent time. I’ve just launched full-time into freelance copywriting and there’s a lot that’s been running through my head. You know one of the most prominent thoughts in the last week? “Should I start writing on Elance?”

    I’ve never considered this before because I know the nature of content mills for writers, but the idea of getting a foot in the door with cheap clients is still there. This post helped keep me focused on my own marketing.

    Also, point number #4 is echoed in a Copyblogger article back in May about the 53 most common mistakes freelancers make. And even though I’m now full time, it’s still a mindset that has to settle in.

  2. Well done. I specially like #3. Personally, I have been lucky to have some great bosses in the past, but I prefer to serve clients than a boss any day. Thanks for this post.

  3. Love this article. Number 2 especially resonated with me. In the past, I wasted too much time on sites like Elance, Guru and Hubspot. Never again. Thanks for this article, Alicia (and for all you do, Francesca). Keep it up.

  4. Great post Alicia. I am brand new to freelance writing and am learning a lot of new things about being a full time writer. #2 is so true. I have accounts in those sites and haven’t seen much profit from them, although I think it is a good practice to build your writing skills. I am more interested in doing guest blogs to build my brand and portfolio rather than make countless bids on Guru.

    • I agree with you. They can be an okay place for practice, but guest blogging is probably going to do more for you.

  5. You’re so right, Alicia! Freelancing can be both tough and rewarding, unstable, and isolating. Blogging and social media can help with this, but often demand a lot of your time. I’m still – still – finding my way in this marketplace! I love blogging and writing, and have even authored a book of short stories, but I know that there is so much more that I can be doing.

    All good things come to those who wait, though. 😉

  6. Thanks for this post Alicia (and Francesca of course). I think anyone who has thought of writing as a career will at some time hear these “words of wisdom” from some source and being unsure of how to proceed likely to fall for some of them.

    I fell for No.2, but luckily found bloggers like Francesca, Linda Formichelli, Carol Tice and organisations like AWAI before it was too late.

    Thanks again for a great post.

  7. I know a lot of people believe #2. And I used to be one of them. But it’s a good thing that I am stubborn. I don’t like bidding sites at all. I think it’s too stressful and isn’t worth my time. I only signed up for an account on Elance but never actively pursued jobs.

    I think I used to believe #5, too. But since I started freelancing full time last June, I’m beginning to see that it is stable. Sure, I fear that I might lose a few of my clients, or that I don’t get paid. But the truth is there’s always work.

    I want to share something that I just did a few minutes ago. I learned this exercise from Marie Forleo (I discovered Marie’s YouTube channel because of Francesca!). List all your worst fears. And on each fear, write down an action plan to address it. This exercise will only take a few minutes, but you’ll feel infinitely so much better after doing it.

    Thanks for another great post, Alicia. 🙂 Every freelance writer should read this!

  8. Cool! I just got an alert that I was mentioned in this post. 😀 (Better late than never, eh?). Great article, Alicia!

  9. Great post – a lot of truths about freelance writing within! I have to say though, even though job bidding sites probably aren’t the best place to make money, they were great for me to get started. I now make a full-time living as a full-time writer and I found all of my current clients on Elance… there are some good ones there, there just a little hard to find! Here’s how I got started: http://www.yolandajoy.com/freelancers/use-elance-full-time-freelance-writer/

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