How to Avoid Loneliness as a Freelance Writer

March 20, 2010 by John Hewitt

Writing can be a lonely profession, but it doesn’t have to be. There are ways around the social isolation for people who like to write and freelance, but don’t want to live like a hermit.

Find a group that meets weekly and join it

Pick a group that interests you. It may be related to writing or it may be related to the subjects you like to write about. The goal is to meet other people with similar interests and have discussions about those interests. This can help give you ideas for future writing projects and develop resources you can contact when you need more information.

Write somewhere new

Writing is a very mobile profession. Laptop computers make it easy to move around and even stay connected to the Internet, but paper and a pen are all you need in many cases. Get out and explore the world around you, it will help your writing.

Make online connections

The big plus of services like Twitter, Facebook and instant messaging is that you can stop what you are doing for a couple of minutes and connect with other people. It isn’t the same as a face-to-face conversation, but sometimes all you need is a little contact to remove the feeling of isolation.

Find a writing partner

There are all kinds of writing partners. Some may actually be in business with you, but others may simply be people who work in the same profession and want to have another person around to help them focus. You may meet to write together, or you may just stay in contact over the phone or via email. Having a writing partner increases your accountability. You know someone is going to check on your progress.

Rent an office or a cubicle

One way to both get out among other people and feel more businesslike is to rent an office or a cubicle. Craigslist is a great place to look for workspaces. With the current economy and the number of businesses that are downsizing, it is easy to find cheap space in most metropolitan areas. Many of these places come complete with Internet access, phones and conference rooms. Not only will working in a corporate area give you more human contact, it may also lead to paying opportunities as you get to know the people and businesses around you.

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