The Practical Guide to Surviving Your First Year of Freelance Writing
Have you ever wondered what it's like to be a self-employed freelance writer?
The "free" in "freelancing" can be misleading.
When I looked into freelance writing as a creative outlet and potential career, I read article after article about "how great freelancing is."
Most people highlighted the benefits — like total autonomy and a flexible work schedule — while glossing over the downsides, such as constant rejection and paralyzing self-doubt. They painted a rosy picture of rainbows and butterflies.
That's not only unrealistic but also an outright lie.
Anyone that's sold on that pipedream is in for a rude awakening.
So, I created a resource for aspiring freelance writers that's honest, transparent, educational, and reliable. I want to pull back the curtain on the world of freelance writing and shed light on both the ups and downs.
Every day of 2020, I wrote about my journey as a self-employed business owner. (Think of it as a "diary" of a freelance writer.) I shared lessons, emotions, challenges, successes, and more.
After reading through my 366-day journey*, you'll see what it takes to write full-time and run a business. Strategy, finance, marketing, networking, client acquisition — you name it.
It's a lot for one person to handle, which is why I wrote this book. I want you to be as prepared as possible to take on this challenge.
By spotlighting the day-to-day life of a freelance writer, I hope to provide insights that you can use to...
- Determine if freelance writing is for you
- Inspire new ideas and approaches for you to incorporate into your freelancing journey
- Avoid mistakes that would otherwise set your business back and delay your success
*Of course, 2020 had to be a leap year.
You'll learn how to (1) make a seamless transition from your current job to entrepreneurship, (2) set up your business's finances, (3) set higher-than-average rates to help you break even sooner, (4) land clients within your first month of freelancing, and (5) overcome the inevitable self-doubt and imposter syndrome.