7 Best Practices for Becoming a Confident Freelance Writer

In today’s competitive job market, more and more people are choosing to become freelancers. And for good reason. Freelancing offers a number of benefits that traditional full-time jobs might not always offer. For example, freelancers have the ability to choose their own work hours, select projects that interest them most and expand their network within the industry. The only catch is that freelancing is a challenging career path with ups and downs along the way.

One of the biggest challenges freelancers face is confidence in your writing abilities and your personal brand—especially when you’re new to the market and must sell yourself as an expert in your field (and not just any expert but THE expert). So how do successful freelance writers find their confidence again?

Following these 7 best practices.

Create a writing habit

You’ve heard this adage a million times but it’s super true: you write what you know.

In order to become confident in your abilities as a freelance writer, you must create a constant source of writing so that you can build up a strong portfolio of work. Start small with an article every week. Then, transition to a blog post every day. The more you write, the more comfortable you’ll become with your writing style, the type of topics that interest you the most and the type of language that is most comfortable for you.

You’ll also be able to identify which topics you’re most passionate about and want to continue writing about as a freelance writer.

By writing every day, you’ll also be able to create a better relationship with your readership. You’ll be able to build trust and establish yourself as an expert in your field. You’ll be able to identify your own writing rhythms and become more comfortable with your own style of writing. And you’ll be able to create better content for your chosen publications and clients.

Network like crazy

One of the most important aspects of becoming a freelance writer is networking with other people. The more connections you make, the more opportunities you’ll have to earn money as a writer.

Whether you join a professional organization, a freelance writer’s forum or a freelancer’s platform, create connections as much as you can. You never know who will introduce you to a potential client. You never know who might need your services as a freelance writer.

By networking with other freelance writers, you’ll also be able to learn from their successes and mistakes. You’ll be able to discuss the best ways to find new clients and earn a consistent income as a freelance writer. And you’ll be able to find freelance writing gigs at organizations and publications that might not be listed on freelance websites or job boards.

See your weaknesses as opportunities

Freelance writers who have been in the industry for a while have a lot of experience under their belts. They’ve built strong relationships with publications and clients. They know what works and what doesn’t, where they excel as writers and what topics interest them the most. They know the best ways to approach potential clients and create strong pitches.

By contrast, new freelance writers have very little experience. They might have a few publications under their names but not much else. They have no relationships established with potential clients. They don’t know what works and what doesn’t. They don’t know how to approach potential clients and pitch their services. That’s okay. You can use these weaknesses as opportunities to learn more about the industry and become a better freelance writer over time.

You can also use these weaknesses as opportunities to network with more senior freelance writers and ask for advice on how to improve your approach to pitching.

Don’t be afraid to ask for what you’re worth

There’s no doubt that there are a number of freelance writers out there who are charging too little for their services. You’ll find these rates listed on job boards or websites designed to connect freelance writers with potential clients. This is fine if you’re just starting out and have very little experience as a writer. However, if you have several years of experience and you’re charging pennies on the dollar, it’s time to reassess your rates.

Don’t be afraid to charge your clients what you’re worth. You know what your skills and experience are worth. You know the amount of time it takes you to complete projects. And you know what your services are worth. By charging more for your services, you’ll be able to receive payment that will help you get to a more comfortable level of income. You’ll be able to establish yourself as a serious writer in the industry. And you’ll be able to avoid taking on projects that you’re not comfortable with.

Take the risk and be okay with failing

You’re going to mess up. You’re going to make mistakes. You’re going to miss deadlines. You’re going to lose clients. You’re going to lose money. This is inevitable. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes as a freelance writer. Don’t be afraid to fail. Don’t be so hard on yourself for mistakes that you’re unwilling to learn from them. Instead, use these mistakes as opportunities to reassess your work flow and learn how to better manage your time and projects.

Instead of being so hard on yourself for messing up, be proud of the fact that you’re learning and growing as a writer. Use these mistakes as opportunities to expand your network and reach out to more senior freelance writers for advice on how to better manage your time and projects.

Find a mentor

This might be the last thing you’d put on this list if you weren’t a confident freelance writer. But what if you didn’t know how to transition from a full-time job to a freelance writer’s lifestyle? What if you felt insecure about the steps you needed to take to transition effectively to a freelance career? What if you didn’t know how to navigate the freelance industry? What if you felt unqualified to pitch your services to potential clients? What if you felt anxious about taking the first steps to become a freelance writer? Don’t be that person.

Find a mentor to walk you through the process of becoming a freelance writer. Reach out to more senior freelance writers and ask if they’d be interested in mentoring you on your transition.

Coaching and Talkshops

Along with mentorship, you may want to consider attending workshops or seminars to further your education as a freelance writer. This can be especially helpful if you’re transitioning from one industry to another and need a refresher on the best ways to write in your new field.

You may also want to consider joining a coaching program. Coaching programs can help you build confidence in your abilities as a freelance writer and walk you through the process of becoming a freelance writer. You should also consider coaching programs if you’re simply looking for ways to expand your network and learn more about the best ways to earn money as a freelance writer.

Summary

Freelancing is a great career choice for many people, especially in today’s competitive job market. However, it can be challenging to find your confidence as a writer and in your personal brand as a freelance writer when you’re first starting out.

To become a more confident freelance writer, it’s important to write every day in order to build a strong portfolio of work. It’s also important to network and find ways to expand your network in the industry. It’s also important to see your weaknesses as opportunities to learn more about your industry and become a better writer.

And finally, it’s important to find a mentor to walk you through the process of transitioning from a full-time job to a freelance writer.

If you decide to become a freelance writer or just want to change your career, it is important to note that every process takes time. So, take your time and practice these 7 tips to help you gain confidence.

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