Note: This blog post is a sponsored conversation written by Lynn Smythe, the Founder and Chief Blogger for The Creative Cottage lifestyle blog. The opinions, thoughts, ideas and text are all mine.
Are you an accomplished freelance writer wordsmith who’s done with writing for fun and wants to start monetizing their talent? Are you a veteran wage slave who’s tired of trying to climb the slippery corporate ladder and wants to take their career and their prospects into their own hands? Do you just plain hate commuting?
If you fall into any of these camps, the life of a freelance writer is understandably appealing. Freelancers get the flexibility to plan their working lives around their lifestyle and not the other way around. They get to make a living doing something they love on their own terms and hey, that’s the dream, isn’t it?
But the life of a freelancer isn’t always smiles and sunshine. Freelancers face a pretty steep learning curve. They wage a never-ending battle for productivity and for most writers, notions of job security are a distant memory. To survive as a freelancer you need to be able to consistently hit your deadlines and give your clients value for their money.
If you don’t, make no mistake, there are plenty of other freelancers out there eager and willing to take your place. In order to do succeed in this wonderful but challenging field there are 4 things you can never do without.
Reliable Internet
Your broadband connection can play a huge part in your productivity. Freelance writers tend to have numerous browser windows open as they switch from their numerous research sources to the document they’re working on. Depending on the content of those pages, this can prove a strain for your broadband and slow you down more than you might think.
Find an internet provider with lightning fast broadband speeds and you’ll be able to work seamlessly even if the kids are streaming or playing games online in the next room.
A Full Address Book
Beware the trap of becoming too reliant on your key clients. Even if they are able to give you a steady stream of well paid work now, you can never afford to assume that they’ll be able to do so next month. With this in mind, it’s a good idea to attend networking events and keep on building contacts so that should you need to hustle for work, you won’t need to go in completely cold to do so.
Somewhere to Walk
Writer’s block is the enemy of productivity (not to mention your mental wellbeing). It can lead to untold wasted hours if you spend them staring at a blank screen waiting for inspiration to strike. Instead, make sure you have somewhere nice to walk. Preferably somewhere with access to trees, grass and plants. A brisk walk can work wonders for creative block and access to nature is both a proven mood booster and can lead to improved concentration.
Tools to Go With Your Talent
No matter how talented and dedicated you are, even the best craftsman needs the right tools. Wordsmiths are no different! Make sure that you use tools like Grammarly to ensure that your spelling and grammar on point. Likewise, a good thesaurus will be your best friend and make sure that your content never gets repetitive. Finally, a tool like FocusWriter can help you to write without the distractions that can drain your productivity.
When you have these 4 things in place you’re perfectly positioned for success as a freelance writer.
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