Are your days as a freelance writer going by without getting any work done? If so, you are just like many freelancers. Early in my freelance writing career I was the same way. I was not very efficient, and for this reason I found it difficult to complete every task for a given day. Soon enough I woke up, and from there I became a more efficient worker.
Here are a few tips that can help you better schedule your day:
1. Use a to-do list. Are you tired of me saying this yet? I know I harp on this fact on a regular basis, but it really is a great idea. If you are going to make the most of every day you need a list that is complete with all the tasks that must be tackled.
2. Try to schedule breaks. This is very difficult to do – I have found this out over the years. That being said, try it out. For instance, I schedule one break for breakfast and another for lunch. For the most part I am able to take these breaks every working day. You may think you will become a more efficient worker if you cut out breaks. Unfortunately, this is not always true. Both your mind and body need rest from time to time. Don’t push the envelope by working straight through the day.
3. Don’t be afraid to change your ways. It is easy to get into the habit of doing the same things, day after day. Even though a schedule is a good thing, there are times when you will need to break the mold for one reason or the next. For instance, maybe a client wants to schedule a call during your lunch break. In this case you will have to move things around a bit to accommodate this task.
These three tips will allow you to best schedule your day for success.
Most people don’t become freelance writers because of how much fun it is – even though this is true. Instead, they want to have a good time while also making a living. This leads to the question of how long it takes to make money as a freelance writer. Before I go any further, keep this in mind: making money means something different to everybody. How much I earn may not be enough for somebody else and vice versa.
How long it will take you to make money depends on many factors. In my first month as a freelance writer I only pulled in $52. While this was worrisome on some levels, it also showed me that the potential to earn more was waiting for me. The next month I cracked $2k and continued to grow from there. So as you can see, it only took me one month to make money as a freelance writer. But it actually took a bit longer than that to bring in a substantial sum.
Be patient. I know some freelance writers who began to make four figures after only a few weeks. I know others who struggled for quite some time, six months or more, before things began to pick up. If you are going to work as a freelance writer you must be patient. Good things, including money, are sure to come your way soon enough. But if you want to be around to see it, you must exercise an extreme amount of patience.
Unfortunately, I cannot tell you that you will begin to make money as a freelance writer in “x and x†amount of time – this is not possible. There are too many factors that go into how much you will earn, when the money will begin to come in, etc. The one thing I can say is this: you can earn a full-time income as a freelance writer if you are devoted and patient.Â
It is hard enough to run a successful freelance writing career without getting in your own way. Time after time freelancers make trouble for themselves. Why would you want to do this? Unfortunately, one bad decision could lead you down the wrong path without you even knowing it.
Here are three ways to avoid making additional trouble for your freelance writing career:
1. Don’t miss deadlines. If you want to make a client mad all you have to do is miss a deadline. This is the quickest way to make trouble. If you agree to a deadline you should do whatever it takes to meet it.
2. Chart your income and expenses. Now that you don’t work for a company you are 100 percent in charge of your books. It is very important that you accurately track both your income and expenses. This will make it easy on you when it comes time to pay your quarterly taxes and file your final return.
3. Don’t take on too much work. This may sound silly, but it is a big problem for many freelance writers. A lot of work is a good thing. Too much work can lead to many problems including missed deadlines (see number one above), burnout, and confusion. Know your limits and don’t take on more than you can handle.
Have you ever run into any of these problems? In the past I have dealt with all three of these situations. Simply put, you don’t want to make any additional trouble for yourself.
