Before I go any further, I want to say one thing: you will never be able to totally eliminate stress as a freelance writer. Just like any career you are going to face some level of stress from time to time. There will be days when you are 100 percent comfortable and stress free, but others when you are overwhelmed. With all this in mind, you should realize that there are ways to relieve stress.Â
Here are there tips that can help you cut stress out of your freelance writing career:
1. Stay on schedule. I get most stressed when I don’t feel in control. This tends to happen when I stray away from my to-do list. Structure is very important if you are going to succeed as a freelance writer. Know your schedule and do all you can to stick with it throughout the day.
2. Take breaks. There are going to be times when you do not feel like sitting at your computer any longer. Even though you may have a lot on your plate, you should walk away for a few minutes to refresh your mind and body. Staying in one place for too long can become stressful. This is particularly true if you are working hard. Don’t be afraid to take breaks to relieve stress. Upon returning to your desk you will feel rejuvenated and ready to get back to work.
3. Don’t let your clients get you down. Most freelance writers find out soon enough that they begin to stress out when clients are not 100 percent happy. This is perfectly normal, but you don’t want it to take over your career. Do your best to keep your clients happy at all times, but don’t stress out over this. Remember that you can only do so much.
Too much stress can harm your freelance writing career, as well as your mind and body. Try the above tips to see if they can work for you.Â
When you complete a project as a freelance writer the first thing you do is send it to the client. At that point the waiting game begins. Are they going to like it? Are they going to hate it? Will they ask for revisions? While it would be nice if you never made any mistakes, it is not human. For this reason, it is common for a client to ask for revisions.
You should not see revisions as a bad thing. Some freelance writers think they did something wrong if the client asks for changes. You may not have hit the nail on the head the first time but this does not mean that your first draft was “junk.†In fact, some of my clients ask for revisions no matter what I send them. They told me upfront that this would be the case, and I don’t have any problem with it. When you revise a project it means that the client is going to eventually get something they are 100 percent satisfied with. And that should be one of your main goals as a freelance writer.
Don’t get mad when you have to make some changes to your initial work. Yes, it will take time to go back and revise your work; there is no doubt about this. But in the end, it is part of being a freelance writer. Not everything you do is going to line up perfectly with what the client wants. Even if they give you very specific directions there is a chance that you could stray from what they ultimately want.
I see revisions as a good thing. It ensures that the client is happy, while also making me a better writer. In the long run, both parties benefit.
It is up to you to decide on the path you are going to take to freelance writing success. It goes without saying that you may change your direction many times over the years. The path I was following three years ago is nowhere close to the direction I am heading right now. Is this a bad thing? Definitely not. You should always be evolving and looking for new ways to take your career to the next level.
Are you having a difficult time finding your path? If so, these tips may help:
1. Don’t just think about the path you want to take. Write it down on paper along with advice and tips for moving forward. This is very similar to a business plan in which you are planning everything from how to market your services to the types of clients you want to work with.
2. Ask other freelance writers how they became successful. By reading my blog you can get a good idea of how I have reached my goals. Hopefully this can give you an idea of what you have to do as you move forward. Of course, copying somebody else’s success is not always possible. You are unique and so is your situation. Somewhere along the line you have to do your own thing.
3. Don’t be afraid of change. Even if your path is not clearly defined you are standing somewhere right now. You should not be afraid to move in another direction. Taking chances and experiencing many different things is a necessity if you are going to eventually reach all your goals.
Once you are on the right path you will know it. You will see your client base growing and income increasing. At this point you must continue to push forward while always striving to reach your goals.
