If you currently work as a freelance writer it is safe to say that you have some goals you are chasing. What exactly are you trying to accomplish? If you can answer this question you are on your way to making it happen. But if you can’t, you need to reassess.
Over the years I have found that most freelance writers are interested in accomplishing one or more of the following:
1. A job that offers the freedom to do other things. If this is what you are after, being a freelance writer is a great choice. Not only will you have time to do other things within your life, such as activities with your family, but it will also open up other career related opportunities. Sure, I work as a freelance writer but on the side I do many other things such as blogging, building web sites, etc.
2. Make a lot of money. This may not be the number one reason to become a freelance writer, but the opportunity is definitely there. If you want to earn a lot of money, the freelance writing industry can help you reach this goal. Just remember this: it may take some time to reach your desired income level.
3. You want to find a career you enjoy. For many, this is the most important thing they are trying to accomplish by becoming a freelance writer. There is nothing worse than working a job that is stressful, tedious, and offers no rewards. Even if freelance writing is not the right career for you, there is something else out there that you will enjoy – go and find it!
So, what are you trying to accomplish as a freelance writer?
Working as a freelance writer means that you are going to run into angry clients from time to time. This goes along with the territory, and is something you should get used to dealing with. Don’t get me wrong – your clients are not going to be mad all the time. But here and there, something is sure to happen that gets them fired up.
If you are attempting to best deal with an angry client, here are three things you should do:
1. Find out what the problem is. If you did something wrong, you need to pinpoint the issue and discuss it with the client. The last thing you want to do is guess at what went wrong. This may end up making things worse in the long run.
2. Ask the client what you can do to make the situation better. For instance, they may be looking for a rewrite. While this can be a pain in the neck, if doing so will make the client happy you should oblige. Of course, you need to determine if the problem is directly attributed to something that you did wrong. If it isn’t, you have every right to charge for your services as you help your client find a solution.
3. If you are at fault, do not delay in helping your client fix the problem. The quicker you come to the rescue the better chance you have of keeping the relationship in good terms in the future.
Let’s face the facts: dealing with an angry client is not fun. The next time this situation comes up, see if the above tips can help you better your situation.
One thing I learned early on as a freelance writer was that having a budget for my career related money was very important. Although I don’t spend a lot on expenses related to my career, they do come up from time to time.
Here are three money management tips to rely on:
1. Never break your budget. It is very tempting to spend a lot of money on the latest gadgets, or the best of the best in terms of office supplies. If you have the money, and you are willing to spend it, there is nothing wrong with splurging. But remember, you don’t want to go overboard to the point of spending more than you have in your budget.
2. Save what you don’t spend. Every month I put aside a certain amount of money for freelance writing expenses. But guess what? I never spend all of it. Instead of looking at this as a bad thing, I just roll it over into the next month. There is no need to waste money on things I don’t really need.
3. Write it down. No matter if I am spending or saving, I write this down on paper while also tracking it with an Excel spreadsheet. This may be overkill, but it makes me feel in total control of my budget. At the very least, make sure you know where your money is going at all times. This way you can look back to see what you have been doing, whether or not it is working, and if you need to make any changes.
With these three tips you should be able to better manage your freelance budget.
