Chris, where have you been? Over the past week or so I received this message time and time again from my readers – thanks to all of you for checking in. Although I went a couple of weeks without making a new post, I was still working. But instead of working from my home office, I was on the road.
As you may have found out for yourself in the past, there are both pros and cons of being a freelance writer on the road. In my opinion, though, the advantages far outweigh any potential drawbacks.
One of the main benefits of being a freelance writer is that you can work from pretty much anywhere in the world. As long as you have your computer and access to the internet, you are good to go.
Not only did I work from my hotel while out of town, but I was able to respond to email while driving in the car. In fact, I was connected so much that I never missed a beat.
I know what you are thinking: who wants to work while they are vacationing? This is definitely a negative. Since you are able to take your work anywhere you may be tempted to do so. But even though I was working, I found a happy medium that allowed for the best of both worlds. I did not get behind on my work while still being able to enjoy my time away.
There is no denying the job flexibility of a freelance writer. I plan on touching more on this topic in the near future. Do you have any stories from the road? Do you have any tips on how to balance your time?
In 2011, more clients than ever have been calling me on the phone as opposed to communicating solely via email. Of course, I don’t have a problem with this. I would often rather take a quick phone call than send several emails back and forth – hoping to get everything out in the open.
This leads to a very important question: why do so many freelance writers avoid phone conversations at all costs? Here are three common reasons:
1. Scared of saying the wrong thing. With email you have time to think before answering or asking questions. The same cannot be said with a phone conversation. Instead, you have to “go with the flow†and “think on your feet.†This is one of those things that you simply have to get used to. With a little bit of practice you will settle in soon enough.
2. Don’t want to get caught off guard. Again, you never have to worry about this on email. On the phone, though, there is always the chance that a client will ask a question that you are not expecting. What will you do? What will you say? This is linked to the details listed in number one above. You are scared of what could happen if you are caught off guard.
While a valid concern, there is not much you can do. As long as you are open and honest and provide answers as you see fit, you are doing your job.
3. Fear that you will get sucked into a long conversation. This is a different type of fear. You don’t mind speaking with clients, but every time the phone rings you have to worry about how much time it will take out of your day. The best thing you can do is get to the point, without being rude, and then attempt to wind down the conversation as quickly as possible. Chances are that your client is just as busy as you. If they get the feeling that you are in a hurry the conversation will move forward at a much faster pace.
Do you avoid phone conversations due to one or more of these reasons? Don’t let this hold you back any longer. There are solutions to every problem.
