The Number One Secret To Becoming A Successful Freelance Writer - It’s Not What You Think
So you wanna be a freelance writer. You’ve purchased books by other successful freelance writers and read blogs of those who earn their living off their words. They’ll tell you their marketing secrets, their writing secrets and their secrets to driving traffic to your web site.
However there’s one secret they won’t tell you…but I will.
Ready? Here it is:
They have partners.
That’s right. Nearly every successful freelance writer has a husband, wife or someone they’re shacking up with to help pay the bills during the critical start up period, and when the inevitable slow times come. Don’t believe me? Google freelance writer and pick the first blog you find. I guarantee the writer has a partner who provides them backup. If they don’t, well, I’ll buy you a Coke.
Why do you need a partner to be a success?
99% of your time as a freelancer is spent marketing yourself and finding work. If you’re single, working a full-time job, you simply won’t be able to put in the necessary time to build the business to where you can stay afloat.
And on the off chance that you do end up getting enough work, when are you going to find the time to do it? After work when you’re completely spent? Hardly.
Squirreling enough money to live on when you start your freelance business can take forever when you’re single. How much time do you really want to waste?
But I like my independence.
Believe me, I sympathize. Being a real man or woman, accomplishing everything on your own and not having to rely on a crutch in the form of a significant other is extremely empowering.
Well, what’s more important: Your dream of being a freelance writer or your pride?
Each day that passes brings you one step closer to not living your dream…and to dying.
Which is why you need to act now and grab the next gainfully employed man or woman you find so you can ride their train to your success.
Remember: Becoming a successful freelance writer doesn’t have to be a struggle if you let someone else do the struggling for you.
Posted
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Wednesday, April 2nd, 2008 at 11:25 pm under
Mike,
It’s true that some people can *lean* financially on a partner. But there are other ways to take money from here and put it over there if you don’t have a partner.
I did NOT have a partner when I went the independent consultant route. What happened was, I fell into a situation. A small startup wanted to hire me “full time” to help them launch their website. I managed the content creation.
The owner of the startup didn’t have a partner, either - not a husband, wife or S.O.. But she did have savings, and business partners. They invested their money into growing a business. So that’s another kind of partner that can help you build something substantial.
As is the case with startups, that gig didn’t stay afloat for too long - they had to fold. I was left in the dust. So what I had to do was find a place to live with VERY LOW RENT and hit the virtual pavement running.
I was angry and confused - I had NO idea what the heck I was doing. I still had the corporate mentality - that your company is supposed to “take care of you” in exchange for good work. But it doesn’t work that way - small businesses just can’t support you for the long term. So I had to decide, sink or swim?
I swam.
I didn’t have a lot of money. What I did was cut back in a MAJOR way on spending. I stopped going out. Did I used to frequent bars on weekend and buy rounds for all my pals? Sure did? But that was getting old. Did I once spring for gifts for my friends’ kids? You bet. The kids started getting “group presents” on holidays. (Hey, they’re not my kids. You have to take care of yourself first.)
No more corporate jobs means no more commute and no more spending money on nice clothing. So that was a couple of other areas where I was able to save.
I started eating one-pot meals instead of ordering out. I cut back on all the “extras” and I worked my ass off for a couple of years. I turned down social invites left and right if they weren’t budget-friendly. I became a total tightwad - and I’m the type of person who used to buy dinners for entire groups of people if, say, I’ve gotten a raise at work or something. No more.
No more hour-long and 2-hour car trips to see friends and family either - gas money. Time. All of these were put on hold while I went into a shell and just forced myself to make contacts online, grow my brand and push my name out there. And I really enjoyed every minute of it, and didn’t mind at all about the sacrifices I had to make.
What happened was, I ended up meeting someone (my now PARTNER) maybe BECAUSE I was loving what I was doing and it showed in my attitude. He respected that. He didn’t mind that I was a total workaholic. He had his own rituals and way of living. And I started realizing my head was going to blow off if I didn’t get away from the computer once in a while - so he became my permission to chill out, relax, enjoy a good meal, a movie, even a nap.
So now I have a partner, yes. But I didn’t end up with a business BECAUSE of my partner.
If you don’t have a partner and want to start your own freelance business, I assure you it can be done.
In some cases, having a partner may NOT be the best thing. Many women are clingy and needy - they want constant attention. Many women want you to spend money on them. Very often the social obligations that come with coupledom also cause you to spend money that you don’t have.
Then there are kids, what if kids are part of the picture? That’s another major chunk of income, not very conducive to growing a business, is it?
Having a partner may appear to be the “answer” to you because you have the whole picture worked out in your head.
But you can always paint a different picture that’s more suited to your life and your situation - and then base your own reality around that.
And you CAN make it work.
But you have to WORK AT IT.
April 3rd, 2008 at 8:30 amThanks, Dina. This post was more an exercise of tongue -in-cheekness than actual advice written at like, 2:30 in the morning when I coldn’t get to sleep. That’s why it’s filed under humor.
April 3rd, 2008 at 8:37 amHey, I think you owe me a Coke! I, for one, don’t have a partner to lean on. Occasionally I wish I did (like when my health insurance bill comes every month ;o)) but I’ve managed to make a go of this freelancing life solo for almost a decade now.
April 15th, 2008 at 1:02 pmOkay. E-mail me your address and tell me what kind you want. I’m only springin’ for a 20 oz. though. (I know, a 2 liter is technically cheaper, but I’ll get raped on the shipping.)
April 15th, 2008 at 1:20 pmWell, if you can by any chance get your hands on some of those gummy Coke bottle candies I ate (and loved) as a kid, you’d not only make my day, but you’d also save a ton on shipping. ;o)
April 17th, 2008 at 9:29 am