As a freelance writer it is only natural that I enjoy reading. Do you? In my opinion, every freelance writer should read as much as they can. Personally, I read everything from books to magazines to the newspaper; this is something that I enjoy. But to go along with the enjoyment that it brings, I also learn a lot. I pick up on other writing styles, and come up with new ideas that I can follow through on.
As of late, I have been reading a lot of books on business and investing. But what about books on freelance writing? In the past, I was reading as many books on freelance writing as I could get my hands on. Recently I have moved away from this for a couple reasons. First off, I like to give my mind a break from my career when reading. Additionally, there are only so many freelance writing books out there. I have not read them all, but the majority of them are on my bookshelf.
If you work as a freelance writer and hate reading, you can still be successful; there is no doubt about it. That being said, most writers I know like to read. If this sounds like you, read anything that you find enjoyable. You may be surprised at how much you learn.
As a freelance writer, you need to do more than work. When I first started in this industry I was working almost everyday of the week. And in most cases, my days were much longer than eight hours. Fortunately, I realized soon enough that this was a mistake and that I needed to have fun outside of work.
Do you work too many hours? If so, you should do two things. First off, find a way to cut back. If possible, cap yourself at 40 hours per week. Is this always possible? Of course not. But once you settle into your career, you should be able to make this happen. Secondly, you should have hobbies outside of work. I love to read, but as of late I have been trying to stay away from books on freelance writing. Instead, I have been reading more books on business in general and money related topics such as investing. Of course, you should also consider hobbies that can get you out of your home. After all, working inside all day everyday can be tough on some people.
For one reason or the next, many freelance writers tend to work too much and cut out areas of their life that bring enjoyment. While I try to avoid this trap, it can be difficult at times. If you cannot answer the question of what you do for fun, it is time to reevaluate your life outside of your freelance writing career. Simply put, you do not want your career to dominate your entire life. Believe it or not, if you have fun outside of work you will find that your mind is fresh when it comes time to sit down at your computer and get to work.Â
When you are hired as a freelance writer it is because you are good at what you do and you can guide the client from start to finish. That being said, you need to avoid the “do it my way or else†attitude. Although a client comes to you for help, you need to remember that they are not looking for somebody to boss them around. Believe it or not, this is a huge problem that I am asked about time after time. It is your job to help clients in whatever way you can. But this does not mean that you should tell them that you are right, and that your ideas are the only ones that matter.
There is nothing wrong with guiding your client during a project. But if they ask for something that you do not agree with, you don’t want to stick to your guns for too long. At the most, tell them what you think and ask why they feel the way they do. A bit of conversation can go a long way in clearing up this type of situation. If the client continues to persist on doing things their way, by all means go along with them. Remember, they are paying you to write. As long as you can comfortably complete the job for the agreed upon price, you should listen to what the client is asking for.
There is a big difference between making suggestions and telling a client that it is your way or else. You are a writer first and foremost, but at the same time you need to exercise good customer service. Your client is paying you to do what they ask. If the client does not agree with the direction that you are heading, ask them what they want and then give it to them.
As a freelance writer you want to offer guidance to every client that needs it. But remember, a “do it my way or else†attitude is not going to get you far. In fact, the only thing that it will lead to is an angry client. And who wants that?
