No matter if you work as a freelance writer or in some other line of work, there is a very real possibility that you will begin to burnout at some point in time. While this may sound silly to you right now, it is anything but a joke when it happens. This can quickly drag you down, and force you into taking some time away from your computer.
Simply put, burnout is the result of working day after day without taking enough time off. Some freelance writers don’t experience this very often. Others, it seems, run into this issue on a more regular basis.
If this is becoming a reality within your career you will know it soon enough. Not only will you feel mentally exhausted, but your interest in freelance writing will wane as well.
Is this something that will keep me down for the long term? How long it takes you to recover from burnout depends on several factors. For instance, are you willing to take some time off? Believe it or not, a day or two away from the computer can do wonders for you. If you are the type to forge ahead, no matter how you are feeling, you may eventually run into a brick wall. Often times, burnout can lead to a feeling of downright exhaustion. In turn, you will have no choice but to take some time off in an attempt to recover.
Just because you experience burnout does not mean that you need to change careers. That being said, you do need to think about the schedule you are working and any changes that you may be able to make.
Don’t let freelance writing burnout become a bigger problem than what it really is.
Some people avoid a freelance writing career because they are worried about the costs associated with getting up and running. While this is a definite concern, it is one that you should be able to handle if you put your mind to it. No matter how much money you have, starting a freelance career is a possibility – even if it is a very small amount.
If you are on a tight budget the first thing you should do is search around to see what you currently have. For instance, if you have a perfectly good computer you should use it as opposed to buying a new one. The same holds true for your printer, scanner, fax, etc. Early in your career you should use what you have as opposed to buying everything new.
Once you know what you need to spend money on, weigh your options against your budget. Those who do need a computer, for example, have many choices. Rather than go out and buy a $2k laptop, you could opt for a lesser priced desktop. This may not be the ideal situation, but as you are getting started it is important to get what you need without spending too much money on it.
In most cases, once you get all your expenses out of the way you are in good shape for the time being. You will find out soon enough that there are not many ongoing expenses. Things will come up from time to time, but nothing that should eat too far into your profits.
Even if you are on a tight budget you can still start a freelancing career. It does not take much in terms of expenses to get moving!
Before you become a freelance writer you need to ask several important questions. The one that you want to start with is this: do I have any writing experience? While your answer may not affect you as you move forward, it is one that you want to keep in the back of your mind nonetheless.
If you have writing experience you are going to find it much easier to start your career as a freelance writer. This is particularly true if your experience is related to web, magazine, or newspaper writing. That being said, even if you have only written term papers or essays you are ahead of the crowd.
But I don’t have any writing experience! This is one of the first things I hear from many aspiring freelancers. They think they need to have a lot of experience in order to get started. As noted above, experience is a good thing. But once again, it is not a requirement. When you begin to write you will get all the experience you need, plus much more.
If you don’t have any writing experience, why not go out and get some right now? You don’t need a client telling you what to do in order to get started. All you have to do is choose a topic that interests you and then get started. Once completed, you will have experience along with a sample to show prospective clients as you attempt to land your first project.
Even though it is nice to have experience, if you don’t you can still become a freelance writer. With dedication and patience, you will begin to gain experience and collect the knowledge needed to succeed in the long run.
