Expectations of a Fulltime Freelance Writer

My freelance writing career started out of necessity. I NEEDED to make some extra money so that the bill collectors would not start collecting our stuff. That necessity allowed me to stumble over a place where I find joy and contentment in the work that I do. Some days it is overflowing, other days it is trickling past, but on most occasions I can say that I do enjoy what I do for a living.

Top Ways to Meet the Expectations of Fulltime Freelance Writing

– Start the morning with quiet time. I spend a few minutes reading the Proverbs that corresponds with the date. I may also take a walk, do some yoga breathing and basic exercises or just look at the window at the changing scenes outside. Taking these moments to gather for the day keeps me from starting a rush that usually leaves me crashing somewhere down the hill.

– Know the goals. I have set up my work in OneNote so that I can see all of the projects I have due and also all the ones that have been completed to date. It helps me know which clients need the most attention that day. I also have a goal of word count for the day – which includes all the words I put into work, into my blogs, and into my books. It may seem like a big number, but 6000 words should be something I can produce in a couple of hours if I buckle down and focus. How many words do YOU type per minute – you will be surprised at what can be produced if you are focused on the task before you.

– Know the purpose. Money may have been the factor that pushed me into the pond, but my love of the written word soon took over. The more connections I make in the writing community then the more I try to encourage and support others in their writing path. My focus has changed from the need to make money to the desire to help others in their own journey (although I am content with clients still paying me to write).

– Expect the unexpected. Working from home, even in the best of situations, will make you a target for errands, chats, and guests. It is part of the makeup of working from home. I have never worked in the “best of circumstance.” Home schooling three boys means I work in the same room as they do. My office sits out in the open. Before sunrise and after sunset are often two of the only times that I have true quiet. But I have learned to juggle my daily jobs so that the ones that can be multi-tasked (like emails, checking stats, and scheduling tweets) can be done amid the chaos.

– Settle your position. You have different expectations for your life than the world has for it. That is good. The world will lie to you and try to drag you down into a pit of darkness. Stop right now and right out what you see when you picture your success. Be as specific as possible. If you do not determine what you consider success then the world will determine for you – and it can be a very loud disturbance in your journey.

– Move past the ordinary and customary. Reach beyond the gates of what you have always done and stretch out into something new. For me, that meant writing about subjects that were new to me instead of just focusing on topics that I knew inside and out. Getting beyond the customary required being put in a place where I might get rejecting by contacting magazines, newspapers, and websites to pitch a column or article. Reaching past the ordinary required that I be willing to do something I had never done before and had me putting words together to form books, reports and other projects that could be shared. Diversification will make the journey to freelance writer a little smoother.

Be persistent in what you are doing. Be flexible in the how, when and where. Be consistent in doing what you know you should be doing. Each individual journey may take a different twist or bounce along to a different beat. Having an idea of what to expect can give you all you need to begin crafting that fulltime writing career that you desire.

Do you know what to expect from a fulltime writing career? Have you discovered some things are very different from the way you expected? What one thing would you tell a new writer or ask an experienced writing about life as a freelancer?