Adventures in Freelancing

I got a comment yesterday from Eric Martin. His questions are so similar to some that I had for 15 years before I got off my fat ass and started freelancing. Here’s his comment:

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“Hello Yo,

I came across your blog through Entrecard. I’m an aspiring writer myself. I was wondering how does a writer know whether they’re ready to paid jobs as a professional writer?

I’ve been blogging for close to a year now. I’ve used my blog to exercise my writing skills. However, my confidence level isn’t to the point to where I can really say “I’m a writer. I think I’ll look for jobs as a freelancer.”

I’m sure you’ve read blog post that clearly show some weakness in grammer, sentence structure, and flow of a story, right? You certainly wouldn’t recommend that writer/blogger go out and seek work without refining their writing skills, right? That’s the place I find myself in. I don’t get any feedback to my writing skills? I certainly don’t know enough about freelancing to pick a niche in. I’m not a fiction writer, short story writer, nor a journalist who can show my work.

What advice can you lend me that might help me along as an aspiring writer?

Thanks,

Eric P. Martin“

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You’ve got a few questions in there Eric, and I’m going to try to answer them as best I can. I’m sure if you read the comments section for this post in a few days, you’ll find that other writers and readers have chimed in with great advice too.

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1. “How does a writer know when it’s time to get paid to write?” Sometimes, I’m not sure they ever do. They just try it. I don’t think there is ever a time when you feel actually feel completely ready to jump off that cliff. But ask yourself this- is it a cliff, or is it a puddle? Join Associated Content or Helium. Add articles to EHow. Get paid a little. Nothing big, nothing too pressure filled- but treat it as though it’s the highest paying gig a writer has ever had. Eventually, you’ll start to respect yourself and your talent.

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2. “My confidence level isn’t to the point to where I can really say “I’m a writer.”” - I know how you feel. I know how you feel and I get paid to write. I still don’t feel like a writer sometimes. But I am. Whether good, bad, inexperienced, lazy, grammatically incorrect or not…I am a writer because I write. Do you write Eric? Then, you are a writer.

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3. “You certainly wouldn’t recommend that writer/blogger go out and seek work without refining their writing skills, right?” Actually, I would. There is a reason writers have editors- and it’s not just to shoot down our awesome ideas…it’s to correct us when our voice goes astray. To, reduce, our, commas. To help our splalling. When working one on one with a client, you do need to be pedantic about your product, but you can do it. Study- go to the Library and get books on grammar, punctuation, style, etc. Go to your local thrift store and buy used textbooks (if you saw how many of these my husband buys each week, oy). Buy, borrow, steal any book on writing you can. Read the newspaper and pay attention to how it’s written. Do the same with magazines, books, the frickin’ T.V. Guide. It’s all there waiting for you.

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4.  “I certainly don’t know enough about freelancing to pick a niche in. I’m not a fiction writer, short story writer, nor a journalist who can show my work.” Write about what you like, what you’re interested in, what happened on your way to work.  Start there and eventually, you’ll find your niche. There is nothing wrong with being a generalist and research is all part of the game. Do some work for free just to get published and have samples. Fill your own website with sample worthy content and pimp that to prospects, write a newletter for your church, community center, rec center, library, job, animal shelter, anywhere. 

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 5. “What advice can you lend me that might help me along as an aspiring writer?” The only thing that can get in the way of you writing career is you. Don’t make excuses, find a way to do it. Don’t let fear rule you. DO IT.

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