12

Sep

Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me About Freelance Writing

Over seven years into freelance writing, I realise there are too many things I have learnt the hard way, some after incurring heavy losses and almost giving up on my goals. Most if not all newbies come into writing with an array of misinformation and misconceptions about freelance writing. Experience is not always the best teacher, especially in this field where on puts in donkey work, hoping for kingly rewards.

One thing I regret not knowing from the start is how to efficiently and safely conduct online banking . Learn all you need to before it’s too late. Before you lose your hard-earned monies to online scams like I did. There’s more than enough information on the web, which should help you know how to keep your money safe and how to make transfers like a pro.

All newbies should go through income management classes. Why so? Freelance writing has no guarantees in terms of income. Sometimes you’re having a great year, sometimes everything goes downhill and you’re constantly living from hand to mouth. Adopt the culture of saving to cushion yourself when difficult financial times arrive. You never know, it could be today, tomorrow or forever. Just ensure yourself and your dependents will still be able to live a comfortable life if your next payment delays or gets cancelled.

Freelance writers live on return clients. That’s one fact I wish someone had hammered into my then egocentric self. I thought that it didn’t matter which client left. There’s more fish in the ocean after all, so  I thought. Well, I couldn’t b more wrong. I learnt that I must treat each client like he/she was my only client. Today, I’m reaping the fruits of swallowing my pride and satisfying my clients. Return clients will often bring you more clients via referrals, which is free advertisement. Make them come back. The only way to do so is by ensuring they’re always impressed with your services. Now that’s not too much to ask. Is it?

There’s so much more to this topic. I shall continue with this in a series of such informative articles to help newbies and also experienced writers understand better what we need to do to make it in freelance writing.

Keep tabs on our blog for more.

Cheers!!