No matter your career, 2010 is a time to start fresh. If you are a freelance writer this definitely holds true. Did you have a good year in 2009? If so, next year you should be looking for more of the same. On the other hand, if you did not meet all your goals, 2010 is a time to turn the page and get on the right path.
Of course, there is a lot that goes into starting fresh. In other words, you cannot simply say that things are going to be different next year. You need a plan for making things better. And once you have a plan you need to be willing to work through each detail to ensure success.
Although it does not take a new year to make changes, for many freelance writers this is the best time to tweak their career. There is something about a new year that makes you feel that everything is equal once again.
This post is meant to get you in the right frame of mind. If you begin to think about your goals and aspirations for 2010 in February you will have already missed a large chunk of the year. A fresh start is not something that you want to waste. Now is the time to think about what direction your career is headed in the new year. Are you ready for bigger and better things in 2010?Â
How do you feel about your freelance writing clients? Just as they have an opinion of you, you probably have some thoughts of your own. How you “rate†clients is ultimately your decision, but the following details should definitely be considered:
1. Rate. How much money are you getting paid? Even though this is not the only thing to consider, most freelance writers love clients that pay at or above the industry average. Just like all of us, you surely have a few clients that pay better than the rest.
2. Quantity. How much work does the client send your way? You definitely need to consider this when rating a freelance writing client. If you are earning a good rate but never receive new projects, in the long run you are not making any money.
3. How do they treat you as a person? The highest paying client in the world can get annoying if they do not know how to treat people. Do you get along with some clients and not others? You definitely need to think about this when you are rating the people that you do business with.
4. Future. What does the future hold for your writer – client relationship? Do you believe that they will keep you around for the long haul? Or are you just going to do one or two projects and then be kicked to the curb? It is important to value relationships that are going to last a long time.
When rating a freelance writing client consider the four details above. They will help you formulate a clear picture of how things have progressed to this point and where they are headed in the future.
Just like many freelance writers, I had every intention of working on Christmas Eve. Unfortunately, I got very sick and it was soon obvious that getting any work done was going to be next to impossible. This does not happen to me very often, but I learned once again that you never know what can up and how it will change your schedule.
There is nothing wrong with taking a day off as a freelance writer, even if it is not planned. Just like any other job, you need to be willing to take time off if you are sick. If I would have worked on Christmas Even two things would have happened: 1. I would have worsened my situation and prolonged my illness. 2. My work would have greatly suffered. With both of these details it is easy to see that nobody was going to benefit in the long run.
One of the biggest benefits of being a freelancer is that you can take off when you want and work the schedule that you set, for the most part. Although I had to take time away when I wanted to work, there was no “calling off†or having a boss mad at me. Instead, I will simply catch up this week and all will be good.
Freelance writers get sick too! If something unexpectedly comes up and you need to take a day off, so be it. You may have to work hard in the days to come to get back on track, but this is much better than putting your health at risk while also jeopardizing the quality of your work.Â
