It may be hard to imagine, but there will probably come a day when you have too much work on your table. This is better than not enough work, but at the same time it can be a difficult situation to deal with. If your freelance writing load is too large you need to make some changes to better your situation. After all, having too much work can have negative impacts on your career.
If you have too much work the first thing you must do is begin to work more hours; this goes without saying. After you commit to a project and a deadline you have to finish the work. So for the time being, you should put in more hours to ensure that you meet every deadline and that every project is given your full attention.
Once you have cleared some room on your plate, you should then consider how you want to move forward. If you are not careful you will find yourself bogged down once again. In my opinion, the best thing to do is weed out low paying jobs. This may not be the best option for you, but it is definitely something to consider. I know, it can be difficult to tell a client that you can no longer work with them, but this is something that has to be done from time to time. You don’t want to spend so much time with low paying clients that you put off more valuable gigs, and in turn jeopardize future earnings.
There is nothing wrong with carrying a large load of freelance writing work. In theory, the more projects you have on tap the more money you are going to earn. But at the same time, this can lead to problems such as spreading yourself thin or burning out.
Before you decide to cut your client list make sure your freelance writing load really is too large. In other words, you don’t want to cut your list if you don’t have to. Fortunately, most freelance writers have no problem determining when they are stretched thin and working too many hours.Â
Many freelance writers never want to communicate with clients on the phone so they feel there is no reason to have a dedicated business line. Is this a good way of thinking? Even though you may never want to speak with clients on the phone you are not really in charge. In other words, if a client wants to call you or vice versa you need to go along with this. After all, speaking on the phone is often times enjoyable, time efficient, and more effective.
Whether or not you need a dedicated line for your business is up to you. For the first few years of my freelance writing career I only had one phone line. It doubled for both personal and business calls. But as my freelance writing career grew and I was making and receiving more and more calls, it came time to add a business line. Although this costs a few extra bucks each month, it has made my life easier. If my business line rings I know it is either a client who wants to talk or a buyer who is interested in doing business with me. Before my second line I never knew who was calling, or what I was getting into when I answered.
You don’t need a business phone line. I got along without one for a couple of years, and even though it was annoying at times, it was something that I dealt with. That being said, if you have the money and want to give off a more professional appearance you may want to think about adding a business line. You can do this by getting a second landline in your home, or by purchasing another cell phone plan; the choice is yours.
As you move forward with your career and begin to expand you should consider having separate phone lines for personal and business use. This is a simple move that has brought many benefits to my personal life and career.
When you don’t know much about the freelance writing industry it can be difficult to grow as a professional. Just like any career, you will start out at the bottom but hopefully learn more and more as the days go by. Many aspiring writers have a difficult time believing that they will learn what it takes to become a success. Of course, this is not true. It can seem this way early on, but soon enough you will begin to pick up knowledge which you can apply to better your career.
There are many ways to learn about the freelance writing industry:
1. Read as many freelance writing blogs and websites as you can find. You may not find unique information on every site, but any knowledge is better than none at all. The internet is a great way to learn the ins and outs of the freelance writing industry. A few days reading through the many websites on this topic will turn you into a more knowledgeable professional.
2. Find a mentor. This is something that I have suggested in the past, and still strongly believe in. You can find a mentor in a family member or friend with freelance writing experience, or by searching for help online. This is one of the main reasons I started my freelance writing course. I want to give aspiring writers a place to turn if they are interested in working with a mentor during the early stages of their career.
3. Head to the bookstore or library. There are many books on the freelance writing industry that are worth reading. The book that helped me the most as a new freelance writer was “Secrets of a Freelance Writer: How to Make $85,000 a Year†by Robert W. Bly. If you are new to freelance writing and want some great advice, I strongly urge you to read this book.
If you are worried about your progress as a freelance writer due to a lack of knowledge, try learning more by following the tips above.
