Want to be a Freelance Writer? Get Ready for Business!
December 11, 2009 by John Hewitt
Writing Skills Aren’t All You Need
If you’re just realizing that your excellent writing skills could be put to good use on the Internet, and earn you some attractive cash, welcome! You’re about to have the time of your life as you explore being a freelance writer.
But hold on – writing skills aren’t all you need. In fact, a lack of secondary skills is what sets many freelance writers on the road to failure instead of success.
Before you launch yourself into writing your way into a fulfilling, satisfying career, take a good look at what else you’ll need for a successful venture:
Customer Service Skills
Interestingly enough, writers are horrible at customer service.
Wrapped in their comforting words, they can pen beautiful content that converts and resonates – but they often come off as arrogant, overly laid back or just plain blunt in communication with clients.
Convey a positive, professional attitude at all times – and especially in email communication. Emails are no place to let your guard down and show your worst. In fact, emails are the single-most important area in which you should excel at writing.
It may mean the difference between landing a gig and being passed on.
Bookkeeping Skills
If you can’t do the math, then you can’t run a business.
Freelance writers are self-employed workers. They must effectively manage their books, track their income, monitor expenses and examine their profit and loss statements. (And you thought there was no math involved in writing.)
Buy a book on accounting 101. Take a course at a community college. You can even learn basic bookkeeping online.
Otherwise, you may sit down one day and wonder why you’re not making ends meet, even when you’re making good money.
Marketing Skills
The Internet is saturated with competition for writers.
The good news is, many of those competing writers aren’t very good ones. You may feel like there’s a writer around every corner, but when you take a good, close look, you’ll notice that many are just fly-by-night hacks. Sad, but true.
Learn how to tell people about your services and why you’re the best choice for them. It isn’t because you’re a crack writer, though that certainly helps. The extra qualities that make you stand out are what sells people these days.
It’s also a good idea to take a marketing course or learn more about it. Web writing often involves a healthy dose of marketing and having good knowledge helps you get an edge.
Organizational Skills
If you can’t plan and your memory is shot, you’re going to have a tough time online.
The Internet world moves very quickly. You might find yourself needing a calendar to manage your schedule and a way to organize your daily workload. Freelancing isn’t a huge life of abandoned freedom – in fact, quite the contrary.
A freelance writer needs to be able to organize a day efficiently and work in all the possible interruptions that might occur. Writers need to plan, schedule and maintain a production routine – just like any business in operation.
Know realistically how much time you have available and how much you can manage before saying yes to each gig that comes your way.
A Plan B
If you’re about to step into freelance writing, you need a Plan B.
Earning enough income to support yourself isn’t going to happen for a while. What’s your backup plan in the meantime while you gain clients and increase your income? Do you have three months of income set aside to support yourself?
What happens if you have a really bad month and no one needs you?
Have a Plan B at hand for the worst case scenario – always and forever, no matter how established you become. You never know what tomorrow might bring, and taking a leap of faith without a good parachute to catch your fall is a huge mistake.
Sound Grim?
If you find yourself feeling discouraged about your idea of becoming a freelance writer, don’t be. Freelance writing is an exciting, fulfilling career and you’ll have a great time easing into your new job.
You also have a better idea of exactly what you’re getting into. You’re more informed, can research the additional areas involved in freelancing and learn the skills that you may need.
By taking the time to learn everything you can about freelance writing, you’re giving yourself a solid fighting chance at making it as a writer. You’ll be able to think on your game plan, prepare yourself and take secure steps to ensure your success.
Because success is what you want, isn’t it?
————————————
If you want to learn how to be a freelance writer on the Internet, then save yourself hours of searching and hard-knock lessons. Get comprehensive, practical advice and tips in Write for the Web, and jump-start your new career. It’s great advice from successful freelance writing pros who’ve been there, done that.
About the Author: James Chartrand is one of the daring duo found at Men with Pens, your best resource for freelance writing on the Internet. Want another great shortcut to top pro advice? Subscribe to the Men with Pens feed.
Related links
- The Realities of a Freelance Writing Career (0.913)
- My Move from Unemployed Worker to Freelance Writer (0.913)
- How to Avoid Loneliness as a Freelance Writer (0.913)
- How to Start Making Freelance Money Today! (0.892)
- How to be a Better Freelance Writer (0.670)
Contact John Hewitt
Writing Content and Web Consulting
Email: hewitt@poewar.comPhone: (520) 261-6104
LinkedIn: poewar
Twitter: @poewar
Facebook: pwar2
James,
So many aspiring writers, even writers have already started their businesses, don’t understand freelancing is a business. This post is a concise summary of skills necessary to run a successful writing business. Some people will be discouraged, but if knowing the truth discourages them, they probably wouldn’t make it as freelancers anyway. In addition to the skills you list, freelancers must have commitment and perseverance.
That outta blow a few idealistic misconceptions out of the water
Joel Falconers last blog post..Choosing a Blog Network: 5 Danger Signs to Watch For
When did you start writing Bob Bait, James? You knew I wouldn’t be able to resist this one.
There are some people who just don’t belong in this business. It’s not because they can’t write; I’ve said before that most reasonably-intelligent folks can learn to write well, if not great.
It’s because they haven’t the first clue about how to run a business.
Like writing skills, business skills can also be learned.
Back in my IT days, I had a short stint as a small business owner. It started with my father-in-law. Steve is a crack salesman and a business wiz. We were both into computers, so we opened a little shop where we upgraded and repaired folks’ PCs.
Well, a few months later, the family and I moved to Michigan for a better job opportunity. I opened up a little computer shop on the side.
It failed within 18 months. Turns out I had a heck of a lot to learn about business. About the time my venture went under, Steve quit his day job to run his full time.
A decade later and I’m doing much better. But it’s because, in part, I’ve put the time in to study business principles. I’m not the business expert Steve is, but I do OK.
Five years in, do I have weak areas? Sure. I find it hard as hell to negotiate. Sometimes I just don’t. I bought a used truck four weeks ago. I paid full price for it. (To be fair, it was already two grand under Blue Book value.)
There are other business areas I’m not so hot in, too.
My point? James is right. Being a good writer isn’t good enough. You’ve got to excel at some other things, too.
Bob Younce at the Writing Journeys last blog post..Meme Week Finale: The Dream Meme
Yes, yes, yes! Freelancing is a business and writing skills aren’t nearly enough. This is an excellent post! I had to learn fast about promoting myself so that people would know I was there. Bookkkeeping still isn’t my favorite thing, but I do it because I have to.
Sharon Hurley Halls last blog post..Why I Love Working At Home
Marketing, marketeing, marketing! This is what many freelance writers fail to understand that they HAVE to do. Forget being a great writer; that’s just one skill of this business — and it ain’t even the top one, in my opinion.
Even many established freelancer writers are nervous about, don’t like, don’t know how and/or don’t spend nearly enough time marketng themsevles.
Bookkeeping — you can find someone to do that;
Business plan — you can hire someone to do that;
Web design — you can outsource that; BUT
MARKETING — this is a SKILL you MUST learn. Why? Because it’s a process that never ends and unless you have deep pockets, you’re going to have to just hunker down and tackle it at some point for yourself.
Every beginner freelance writer should take heed of the post and the comments made here. They come from experienced freelancers who have nothing to gain — but the joy of telling you the plain ole truth!
Way to spell it out James.
Yuwanda Blacks last blog post..$20,000 for 20 Pages: Learn about the Highest Paying Freelance Writing Niche
Thanks James – as you say, learning that you will need to build a stable of skills is no reason to get discouraged. After all, you wouldn’t expect an exciting, fulfilling career to come easy, or everyone would be doing it!
Forgive the cliche but forewarned is forearmed. Fortunately, there are great sites out there like Men with Pens, IttyBiz, Writer’s Manifesto, Writing Journey and others that know the realities and step up with quality, practical advice (like Naomi’s recent awesome mega resource post at IttyBiz!).
@James, great article. Your points are excellent, but yet you left readers on a positive note. I particularly liked your last 3 points, organization, marketing, and plan b. I find too many articles and even books seem to focus on if you really want it (whatever “it” is) and believe in it then simply commit yourself fully and magically it will happen, but they never seem to address being prepared for other scenarios. A plan B is a good idea, whether it is freelancing or something else.
@ Yuwanda, I’m right there with you on marketing. Marketing skills are necessary no matter what field. I am working for a college right now and it is “work” convincing some of these professors that we need to market their programs.
@John, hope you are enjoying your vacation. These guest blogs are great! Lots of wonderful information and tips.
Morgans last blog post..Call for Ecopoetry
@Morgan good luck convincing professors they need “new world” advances like marketing. Eons ago, I worked for a college and trying to convince universities to do anything different is like trying to get a straight answer from a politician. It just ain’t gonna happen.
Yuwanda Blacks last blog post..$20,000 for 20 Pages: Learn about the Highest Paying Freelance Writing Niche
Terrific post, James! Years ago when I was thinking about freelancing as an alternative to ‘workin’ for the man’, I bought a book on developing a business as a freelance writer. You succinctly capture every point of the book. The reality is that freelance writing is a business, and it must be approached as such to be successful.
Facing that reality is what keeps me from taking the leap into freelancing (as well as my natural aversion to financial risk–I’ve already spent enough years being one spouse away from welfare.) I’m not pessimistic, just realistic. I’m an introvert and so the marketing and networking required of a successful freelancer is just way too painful for me to contemplate.
Thanks to my day jobs, I’ve learned how to budget, how to manage contracts, and how to productively organize my time. So, when I am able to retire from my day job, I’ll have most of the skills I need to be a successful freelancer. Most–because I know I still won’t like selling myself. I suspect by then, however, that I’ll be happy just to live off my meager pension and spend my time writing short stories and essays.
Thanks, James, and all who have commented so far. Such commentary helps me to keep my feet on the ground.
[...] making a career of freelancing writing, then you’ll need to heed James’s advice. Click here to read the entire post. [...]
Excellent article. One thing I would add as a subcategory to “Marketing” would be “Networking.” Establish relationships with local printers, graphic designers, PR firms and anyone else who may have clients that need your writing skills. Print shops and graphic designers are particularly good for networking. They will often see the need for a good writer, and writers often see a need for a good print shop and/or graphic designer. By cooperating with each other and sending business and referrals both ways, you can rapidly expand your client base.
Todd
James,
Wonderful piece! You’ve presented virtually every tool a writer needs to succeed as a freelancer. Let’s hope that every aspiring writer who reads your post takes it to heart.
Thanks for sharing the wisdom gained through your own experience with the rest of us!
Jeanne
I tell people all the time that being a writer involves marketing, bookkeeping, and customer service. For without marketing, you have no clients. Without bookkeeping, your money goes out of control. Without customer service, your clients don’t come back. But hey, if you love writing for yourself and no one else… you can skip ‘em all.
Meryl K. Evanss last blog post..Jumping out of a Plane
Wow, thanks everyone for the comments, and I’m glad to see so many experienced writers out there chiming in to support the post’s advice. That only helps to drive the message home to all those new hopefuls out there: writing is a business, and it can be a tough job.
I think there are far too many sites who promote the freedom and liberty of freelancing, when the reality is very different. People launch themselves into writing as a career and suffer disappointment and a broken heart when it doesn’t turn into the Great Dream they expected.
I think that straight-shooting advice like this should have a bigger place on the Internet. Yes, by all means, do pursue the dream of writing to earn income.
But do it smart, do it right, and set yourself up for success, not failure.
Cheers everyone
[...] Want to be a Freelance Writer? Get Ready for Business! [...]
[...] Want to be a Freelance Writer? Get Ready for Business! – About the Author: James Chartrand is one of the daring duo found at Men with Pens, your best resource for freelance writing on the Internet. Want another great shortcut to top pro advice? Subscribe to the Men with Pens feed. [...]
James,
Thank you for taking the time to contribute an article to my guest blogging month. You have some great advice there. Customer Service has always been a difficult task for me, as well as organization. Being prolific helps though.
I hope you enjoyed your own break.
My pleasure, John. I hope that the information helps some people to have better success, now that they’re more aware of the requirements.
And I did indeed enjoy my break. The sky didn’t fall in, either – though I didn’t get to sip margaritas by the beach bunnies like SOME people did.
I have to agree. Customer Service may be one of the best ways to make yourself stand above the others in this field.
Success formula: Exemplary writing skills + Excellent customer skills = plenty of work and an excellent foundation for building a freelance writing business
Tumblemooses last blog post..Twitter Dee and Twitter…
I guess this is all we need to have for starting small business…
bookkeeping is OK with me as I am an accountant and love this job actually hehehe!
Marketing and Customer relation skills are parts that I need to develop.
thanks for sharing your ideas.
.-= jean´s last blog ..Dec 27, Basic Bookkeeping Services =-.