Are you new to the wonderful world of freelance writing? If so, you probably know that getting on the right track early on is a big deal. Simply put, too much confusion can kill you as an aspiring freelance writer. There are going to be times when you don’t know what you are doing – this is to be expected. What you want to avoid is this happening too often.
It is not so much the confusion that will kill you; it is what comes next. When confused, some people will sit back, find an answer, and then move on. These are usually the freelance writers that achieve the most success. On the other hand, there are those who don’t know how to deal with confusion. Instead, they act like it does not exist and hope that it goes away. This is never the right thing to do. If you are confused about something you need to find an answer before you do anything else.
I will never be confused! This is something that most new freelance writers believe. Of course, they are usually wrong. I got confused by many details early in my career, and this still happens from time to time.
Everything from how to communicate with clients to receiving payments to sending invoices can be confusing. The good thing is that every situation, no matter what it may be, can be solved if you put your mind to it. Every question has an answer.
As a new freelance writer you will want to do everything right; the same will hold true as you gain some experience. If you are confused, find an answer before moving forward. A clear mind will help you reach all your goals soon enough.Â
I am always looking for ways to become a more productive freelance writer. Over the years I have found it very important to start my day off on the right foot. This may sound easy enough, but there are some things that get me into a lot of trouble time after time. Of course, I try to avoid these issues at all costs to ensure that my day goes smoothly from start to finish.
To start your day off right, get up on time. If I sleep through my alarm it throws my day into disarray. Not only will I feel bad physically, but my to-do list will be more difficult to follow. Yes, it can be hard to wake up on time but it is something you have to do if you want your day to start right.
What about breakfast? This is something I strongly believe in. That being said, I know many people who just don’t like eating in the morning – and there is nothing wrong with that. For me, eating breakfast is a very big deal. Even if I don’t do this right away, I try to get something in my stomach within a couple hours of waking up. This energizes me while giving a boost that helps me work through the morning without missing a beat.
Everybody is different so you will probably have to develop your own plan. Just because I get up before the sun does not mean it will work for you. As long as you know how to start your day off right, and follow through with this everyday, there is nothing that will stand in your way.
There are some jobs when working sick is not that difficult. For instance, when I was in sales and had my own office, I could easily work sick. Sure, my day would go by slow and I would have to take more breaks than usual. But for the most part it was easy to make calls and set appointments even if I was under the weather. Unfortunately, doing so as a freelance writer is not the same.
Over the years I have found that to work effectively as a freelance writer I need to be on top of my game. It is better to take some time off when sick than to stick with things and hope that you get through the day. If you do this there is a good chance that your work is going to suffer. You are doing more than making phone calls. If your work suffers you are going to be able to see it in the words you write. To go along with this, clients will recognize the poor quality as well. Is that something you want?
Where do I draw the line? There are obviously different levels of sickness. Working with a cold is much different than sitting at your desk with the flu. You have to know when to forge ahead, as well as when to pack things in and call it quits for the day.
My advice is simple: if your work is going to suffer you are best off staying away from your computer for the time being. On the other hand, if you can do your job without compromising quality you may want to give it a go. Simply put, working sick as a freelance writer is more of a judgment call than anything else.
