Whenever I say I’m a freelance writer, eyebrows are raised all over the room. Sometimes it’s out of interest or curiosity. Other times it’s a look like, “Great, another one of those ‘work from home’ people.” But in rare and magical moments, talking about my job helps someone.

I recently made an acquaintance who’s a writer and she was very interested in freelance writing. Once we talked for a bit, she asked me this: “So, what are your top tips for someone just starting out?” Wow! Way to ask for a condensed version of all my blog posts at once! 

It took me a minute to answer, but I was glad the question was asked because this blog post was born from it! So here they are, my top 5 tips about freelancing writing, whether you’re just starting out or have been in the field for a long time.

1. Be a good person

The best advice I can give is just to be decent. Be kind and understanding, be honest, and even be yourself. I laugh and joke with most of my clients! And when I’m having a tough day, I tell them the truth about the delay, and they always understand. We’re all human beings; there’s no need to try and hide it. This may seem like a no-brainer tip, but you’d be surprised by how much this really makes you stand out. Not many people put effort into being a decent human anymore, sadly.

2. Give yourself grace

Maybe this is an odd one, but it’s been one of the most important things to remember for my mental health. You aren’t going to figure out everything about freelancing at once, and you will make mistakes. It’s easy to beat yourself up about it, especially if it’s your livelihood. But the best thing you can do is accept what happened, learn, and move on.

Give yourself grace.

3. Don’t quit your job right away

Many people who are looking into freelancing want it to replace their traditional jobs. This is fine, and a worthy goal! But don’t count your chickens before they hatch. You might find that freelancing isn’t right for you after all or you might need a year or two to work up to your earnings goal. Be patient until you’re really ready to move to freelancing full-time.

4. Know what your skills are worth

If you aren’t able to evaluate your own skills and know how much they’re worth, you’ll end up under or overselling yourself. Neither is ideal. If you’re not sure how to combine your skills, experience, and education/knowledge to determine how advanced you are in your field, try looking for a free online test, ask a friend or colleague for their honest (but kind) evaluation, or give a low-stakes gig a try and ask your client for feedback. You need this info to know which jobs to apply for and how to set your rate.

And remember: once you’ve evaluated what your skills are worth, stick to it. Don’t undersell yourself!

5. Do your research

When you become a freelancer, it’s important to know what the market is like, especially in your niche. You have to do your research to be able to set an accurate rate and continue along the best freelancing path for you. Freelancing may be a solo job, but you’ll need lots of help!

You should also use research to always be learning about your craft. Someone who’s constantly upgrading their skills is highly desirable to clients!

So, there you have it, the 5 most important tips for current or prospective freelance writers! What are some of your top tips for freelancers? Do you have a question about freelancing writing that you want answered? Let me know in the comments or contact me!

Happy writing!
—E.J.

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Photo by bruce mars on Unsplash