Insights from a new freelance writer: conquer your mindset, and start writing!
I started my freelance writing journey a year ago and can hardly believe it. I first learned about freelance writing while pondering career options that involved writing.
Writing is my passion. And it was about time that I did something with writing. But what exactly?
I had looked into technical writing and thought, how wonderful! I can do that, ugh, but I need much more experience.
Then one day, I found him as I was ironing my work clothes. Sean Ogle. On Youtube. Talking about freelance writing.
I grabbed my notebook and took notes almost immediately after the video started. The whole time I thought. This is it! I can do this!”
I watched many of his videos, signed up for his free crash course, and eventually joined Location Rebel Academy, where many people go to become freelance writers.
The school year ended (My current job at the time), and I planned to jump into freelance writing as my new gig.
I finished the year strong, said my goodbyes, packed up my apartment, and moved to my new house in Abilene.
I thought I would need a part-time job to get me through until I could freelance full-time. So I began working part-time while building my website and writing blog posts.
Then, to my surprise, I received a job offer from a nonprofit I previously worked with.
I excepted without hesitation.
It is an excellent job with an inspiring mission, and I absolutely love it!
I get to work at home, travel, and help kids!
So I committed myself to doing both. And as a result, I’ve been steadily working on my business and working full-time as the National Program Manager for Compudopt.
My 1st year of freelance writing has been a crazy one. Full of ups and downs. But looking back, I’ve accomplished so much. So I’m sharing the 3 most important lessons I’ve learned on this journey.
1) Just get started, and don’t give up!
Don’t let your inner critic hold you back – take action toward your goals one step at a time.
In his online course at LRA, Sean highlights that beginners often get trapped in thinking that they need everything in place before they can start their freelance careers.
This can lead to paralysis, which results in anxiety and giving up.
In “Atomic Habits,” James Clear discusses “the difference between being in motion and taking action.”
You’re in motion when planning, learning, and strategizing.
Still, it is not the same as taking action, where you are actually making some progress on your new goal.
He even uses the perfect example, “If I outline twenty ideas for articles I want to write, that’s motion. If I actually sit down and write an article, that’s action.”
I completely understand this concept, as I faced the problem of being in motion versus taking action during my first year.
Sean says, just get started. Your decisions are not set in stone. Break up each step into small actionable items you can check off your list daily or weekly.
When I first got my website I was overwhelmed by all of the things I didn’t know, but my first step was creating a home page.
I decided to strike a balance between action and motion. Since I was employed and didn’t need money immediately, I put much effort into motion.
But I also took action by writing blog posts and filling out the pages of my website.
However, taking action can feel overwhelming, especially when you compare your progress with more experienced freelancers on social media.
Imposter syndrome sets in….
These thoughts often crept into my head through each step of my journey:
- I don’t know what I’m doing!?
- Who is going to read this?
- I don’t know enough. I need to learn more!
- I’m not good enough. I don’t belong here, and I need more confidence and skills.
- All I can do is fill up a page, which is not enough to find jobs!!!
And I often remind myself that I have something to offer, something to say, and every post I write is an opportunity to improve.
It’s essential to remember that everyone starts somewhere, and it takes patience and perseverance to learn the trade.
After a year, I am proud to say, through both action and motion, that I have a website, a blog, and one client. HOORAY!!
So, if you’re a beginner freelancer, get started, refine your skills, and learn to find a balance between motion and action.
Don’t give up
Initially, I planned to transition to full-time freelancing this year, but I took a full-time job instead.
As a result, freelance writing has become my side hustle for now.
This year has felt like climbing Mt. Everest, with many challenges that prevented me from dedicating more time to my business.
Despite this, I am proud that I persevered. Even though progress was slower than anticipated, I have made significant progress since I first began.
In the past year, I have relocated, switched jobs twice, prioritized my health, and balanced work, exercise, household chores, and sleep.
At times, I felt discouraged because I couldn’t give freelance writing the attention it deserved, but I am relieved that I didn’t quit.
There will always be obstacles, but it’s essential to set time aside and keep going. Remember your “why.” Take breaks when you need to, regroup, and come back stronger.
2) How to write a good blog post.
Writing quality blog posts requires more than writing about your passions.
You must also tailor it to your specific audience and optimize it for the Internet to maximize engagement.
Moving from academic writing to blog writing can be a challenge, and it took many hours of work for me to simplify my writing style.
Writing a 500-word blog post was ten times harder than writing a 3000-word academic post.
I couldn’t decide whether this was a blessing or a curse.
Eventually, I realized that academic writing requires students to define, elaborate, and demonstrate their understanding of various topics.
At the same time, online readers want quick answers to their questions. Writing for these two different audiences requires unique skill sets.
I had to run up a steep learning curve to write a decent blog post.
But along the way, I learned many new skills, including SEO, keyword and topic research, content marketing, picking an angle for the topic, and writing engaging hooks.
When I landed my first client, I discovered the art of writing catchy headlines and structuring my posts with relevant headings and subheadings.
I even use AI tools like Canva Magic Write to get ideas and outlines and reword some of my duller sentences.
While there’s always more to learn, writing more posts is the best way to improve.
With each post, I’ve noticed an improvement in my writing; I know it will only keep improving with time.
The best blog posts are detailed, written for your audience, and aligned with your content strategy.
But above all else, they are educational and valuable to your reader.
Not everyone will have a content strategy, but everyone should write for a purpose because it is always about your readers.
And it is also about you and writing only the stories you can tell with your unique knowledge and perspective.
3) Written content is so vital for business and brands.
Written content plays a crucial role in boosting the success and reputation of businesses and brands.
As it effectively communicates their message and values to their audience and enhances their online presence, credibility, and customer engagement.
Initially, I didn’t realize the significance of blogging for producing online content. I was just excited to write.
However, with time, I learned that creating engaging and informative blog posts requires thorough research and understanding of your target audience.
The rise of personalized content has made this even more crucial, as people now consume media catering to their unique preferences.
And side note, schools have also embraced personalized learning, with students having their own devices in classrooms.
And with the millions of posts out there, it can be harder to stand out and engage readers.
This is why it is vital to ensure that your blog posts are not generic, but written specifically for your readers in a way that is most valuable to them.
Thus, generic content no longer appeals to readers, and Google ignores it.
Therefore, it’s essential to know your audience to create targeted content that meets their needs and interests.
This will help you achieve your blogging goals whether it’s building trust, selling products/services, or building an online community around a particular topic.
Compelling blog posts should be personalized, engaging and highlight the benefits of connecting with your brand.
This understanding has made me a better freelance writer, and I’m excited to continue creating content that resonates with my clients’ audiences.
Year one of freelancing has been an incredible journey filled with valuable learning experiences.
Looking back, I have gained insights I didn’t have a year ago.
I am grateful that I can leverage my passion and skills to help others grow their blogs and brands. I am excited to continue learning and sharpening my skills over the next year.
The most important lessons I learned from my first year of freelancing are:
- Just start, and don’t give up, even when life gets busy.
- Learning how to write an engaging blog post can give you an edge over others.
- Practicing and understanding what makes a blog post impactful is essential for your writing success.
- In a more personalized world, it’s crucial to distinguish between good and bad content. This skill can help you write better posts that resonate with your readers meaningfully.
Year 2 will be a year of more learning and growth for me as I balance my work with writing.
I’m eager to collaborate with new clients and hone my writing skills in my 2nd year of freelance writing.
Comment below if you learned something!
Are you a new freelancer? I would love to know more about your journey!
Get to know Katie the lady behind these words!
Would you like to see how Katie’s Content Writing can help you with blog content? Check out my services page.
