Ganesha, Hindu God of Success
Anyone who’s been freelance writing for any amount of time can probably tell you about the feast-or-famine cycle of what we do. Like any other small business, the freelance writer is subject to a number of forces beyond his control, not the least of which is the market itself.
But sometimes, it isn’t feast-or-famine. Sometimes, it’s just enough. Your kids are fed, your mortgage is paid up and you’ve even managed to take up a golf habit without breaking the bank. Life is good.
So, what’s the problem? A steady income doing something you love - that’s the dream, isn’t it?
Yes and no. Yes, that’s certainly part of the dream, but that’s not the dream itself.
My First Writing Client
I’ve told you all my story, about how I got into Internet writing, and about how I spent those early days as a Jewish woman in Atlanta. What I haven’t told you, at least not directly, is that that first client was my only client for more than two years. She paid well, and I was still working on my Master’s degree, so it wasn’t as if I needed a long list of clients. She also provided a ton of encouragement, constantly telling me how lucky she was to have me.
I was comfortable; successful.
So, I didn’t really look for other work. My parenting and pregnancy gig paid the bills, at least the part of the bills my student loans and Angie’s job didn’t cover.
Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end, or at least a trickle. My client just ran out of things for me to write. That was all right with me; I’d become more than a little burnt out on the topic. By my guess I wrote more than 3,000 parenting and pregnancy articles over three years for that client. It was even to the point where I was writing slowly and losing productivity because I’d rehashed the same topics so many times.
Branching Out
When the pregnancy writing slowed, I did a few things to try to replace that work. First,I opened my roleplaying blog and a work-at-home mom blog. Neither was especially successful. The RPG blog is still up, and I’m treating it entirely as a hobby. The WAHM blog is gone, although I’ve got it in a WordPress backup file and have thought many times about a relaunch.
I also began bidding on projects at the freelance sites - Guru.com, Scriptlance.com, Elance.com, etc. I garnered a few clients from those sites, but nothing stellar. Again, it was enough to get by.
In retrospect, I didn’t branch out soon enough. Had I been smart about it, I’d have leveled off my pregnancy writing slowly, rather than sucking that well until it was dry. I think I’d have become less burnt out on the topic, too.
At any rate, my writing career moved into a feast-or-famine cycle. Mostly, it was famine. The work I was finding just didn’t pay what I needed, and there wasn’t enough of it.
That’s the thing about hunger, though; it will motivate you. That lack of steady work forced me to be on my toes, and find clients wherever I could. Eventually, I found a steady gig.
The Contract
Finally, after a good long while, I landed a big writing contract. It was steady work with unlimited potential. The pay was low, but I could write as much or as little as I wanted. On top of all that, it was a three-year contract. I was going to be set for a while. The topics were varied, if not interesting, and the client used a bulky interface to upload the work, but it was steady. I kept a few smaller clients on the side, but nothing significant in terms of volume.
I was humming along, quite content to work way too much for way too little. After all, it was a form of success. It paid the bills. I probably would have continued that way, too, if it hadn’t been for this blog.
The Blog
Not long after opening up the Writing Journey, I gained a new client. The pay was, generally, better than my contract work. We quickly established a smooth working relationship. I did good work, and the client liked it. On top of that, the client started throwing all sorts of new types of writing my way, and I was able to delve into niches and styles that I’d never done before. The client even talked about “discovering a gem.” Itt made me think about that first writing client, and how she said she was lucky to have me.
Finally, one day my new client said something that really hit me. “Bob,” she said, “Get out of that little freelancer mindset and start rocking things. You’re better than this.”
Success had, once again, made me complacent. My client was calling me out on it, and she was right to do so.
Helping Internet Writers Achieve Their Dreams
In part, that conversation was responsible for the Dream Meme post. It’s all about refocusing, remembering that success isn’t just putting food on the table. It’s about doing something greater. It’s about doing something that benefits my readers, and really making a difference with my writing and with my work. It’s about writing what I want to write. It’s about finding new clients, and being an entrepreneur on top of being a writer.
So, I’ve been doing some work on a couple of levels. First of all, I’m putting the final touches on a services page. You should see that later this week. Second, I’ve spent some quality time working on my writer mentoring program, bringing that project into a clearer focus. In fact, you can expect an announcement on that topic some time in July, and I think you’ll be pleased with it. I’m so geeked about it that I can hardly contain myself.
In short, I’ve been shaken up out of my success nap, and things are hopping.
So, what about you? Have you ever found yourself just sort of getting by? What did you do to stir things up? Or are you stuck with a small mindset, and do you need someone or something to shake you out of it?
22 comments ↓
I need a good shake.
Love your site btw.
Nicely done. You hit a few nerves for me and that’s a good thing. While I know I’m here to make a difference for my clients, I’ve also been too complacent and waiting for some “supposedly” steady checks to roll in rather than stepping it up a notch and making sure I’m there for folks who are looking for me. In fact, I realize now that the energy I’m putting into chasing down the steady checks should be spent refocusing on serving my clients in bigger and broader ways. Thanks! Peggie
Peggie Arvidsons last blog post..Embracing Success
@ Genevieve - Thank you. Consider yourself shaken
@ Peggie - I’m glad it hit home. Step it up. Do your thing. Chase the dream. I’m rooting for you.
Welcome to both of you, by the way. Glad you decided to join the conversation!
I have a hunch that you and I worked for the same 3-year gig company. I found that it sucked the life out of me but it was a great way to get my feet wet with freelancing. Now, I’m focusing on the paid blogging gigs and working on an e-book.
Wishing you success with your newest venture!
DeafMoms last blog post..Are You Living Your Dream Life?
I’m having a different series of crises of sorts.
I have come to realize that I’m a good writer and I have been able to achieve success on the web.
I love writing, it gets me in The Flow almost instantly.
However, I’m currently also working at a day job that pays a lot more than what I need to give my family a comfortable life.
As much as I’d love to make a living writing freelance, I am not ready to trade my day job for this… even though I like writing a lot better than what I currently do.
I’m still pondering. Maybe we can talk at Gen Con and I can listen to your wisdom on this.
Phil Menards last blog post..Chatty’s Gen Con (and contest update)
@ Deafmom - I think you’re right about the company. I won’t say it sucks the life out of me. Far from it. But it is staid. Simple. And the pay is less than what I can get elsewhere. I write my minimum commitment there, at least. It never hurts to have a safety net.
@ Phil - Make no mistake, you’re a damn good writer. Not that you needed me to tell you that, but it’s true. And the best way to get into freelancing is, in my mind, the way you’re doing it. Don’t quit the day job, but explore what’s out there. And yes, we’ll definitely talk at Gen Con - maybe even a little about writing!
Well worth the wait.
I really need to stop thinking of myself as just a writer-for-hire, and start thinking about myself as a company. Every day presents a new challenge, and if it doesn’t, I’ll move on and find one. That’s how I got here in the first place. I couldn’t “find” the job I truly wanted, so I created it.
Thanks Bob. I can’t wait until July.
Pamelas last blog post..Time to Reboot
You write, “being an entrepreneur on top of being a writer.” Cool that you can go about your work, but in addition looking for new and fresh opportunities.
Bamboo Forests last blog post..7 Requirements to be a Motivational Speaker
Sometimes it’s easy to let the business level off when it reaches a plateau and you can get by. I’m glad your client jump started you to move ahead and reach for higher stars. And I can’t believe you don’t already have a services page!
Melissa Donovans last blog post..Link Love Mad Libs Writing Exercise for Bloggers
When I first started I made the opposite mistake… as soon as my workload hit more-than-full-time hours I started thinking about outsourcing and subcontracting so I could run writing more like a business and less like a day-job where I set my own hours.
Then I came back to earth, realized I had to let things mature a bit slower and rebounded into the same problem you describe here. Where’s the middle ground?
Joel Falconers last blog post..Marketing Lessons from Guns N’ Roses’ Chinese Democracy
Bob. You are a hidden gem. There are many writers out there that can only hope to have what you have. Trust me; I see it often. There are many other writers who don’t take advantage of their abilities. I see that often too.
You have what it takes, my friend. It’s rare, it’s a gift. Don’t waste it.
And I’m glad to see that you’re not. Thank that person for shaking you up, because if she didn’t, I sure as hell would have.
James Chartrand - Men with Penss last blog post..Putting Twitter on Notice
@ Pamela - I like what you’re saying about finding challenges. That’s how we grow, both personally and professionally, by stretching beyond our comfort zones.
@ Bamboo - Glad you liked it!
@ Melissa - It’s one of those things I’ve just put off until now. I’m polishing it up today, it should be live by tomorrow.
The thing is, this blog is not and never has been about selling my services. It’s about helping other writers. Now, if I can land some gigs along the way, all the better. But that’s why there hasn’t yet been a services page.
@ Joel - As long as you’ve got reliable folks and don’t outsource too much of your work, I think you’re fine. But you’re right; slow growth is more sustainable, I think. I’m looking forward to the day when I can source the crap gigs out to a hungry young upstart (who will be glad for the opportunity, like I was), pick and choose my own writing assignments, and spend the rest of the day on the mentoring site. Oh, and hanging out with my family.
Not to sound like a broken record, but that’s the dream, right? That’s where I am going. That’s where I’ll be soon, too.
@ James - Aw shucks, bro. Thank you. I’m flattered. Seriously, your words mean a lot to me. I’m trying not to waste it. More than that, I’m trying to use my ability to give back a bit; share it with other people like me, people who want to give this whole Internet writing thing a go. And you’ve shaken me up too, in your own way.
I’ve been fortunate I haven’t been getting by for years. It happened when I first started writing and had two or three clients. My main — and regular — client went under along with all the other dot bombs.
So, here I was a barely part-time freelance writer with a corporate job. What do I do? Am I even cut out for writing or a real writer? So I threw fear out with the wind and emailed a bunch of folks — some I knew well and others barely. From that email, I had two new clients.
The business grew. I still have one of those “new” clients today after 8 years. We met for the first time in 2007 at a family event. He’s in Minnesota and I am in Texas.
I’m lucky indeed.
Bob,
Thanks for sharing that statement:
“Get out of that little freelancer mindset and start rocking things. You’re better than this.”
For all of the people who have overinflated views of their abilities, there are probably just as many who go in the opposite direction, possessing the talent but never really using it.
Good reminder.
Jesse Hiness last blog post..How to Become a More Clear and Concise Writer by Reading Road Signs
@ Meryl - what a cool story! Sometimes that’s what it takes - cast a wide net and you may be surprised at what you get.
@ Jesse - You’re welcome. Wish I could take full credit for it, though. That goes to my client.
And I think there’s another aspect to this. There are some folks with great talent who talk as if their writing is crap. Heck, I’ve only recently stopped talking about my writing as “at the high end of average.” My Midwestern self-deprecating manner, while it plays well in real life, doesn’t get me clients.
[...] The Dangers of Success [...]
Thanks for the kick; I need all the shaking up I can get.
As the first writing client, I ALWAYS knew you had it in you! I knew you would go far as soon as you saw that you were able. LOL I used ya for as long as I could, waiting for you to get uber popular out there. Good for you and congrats on the success! (I always knew you would get here, right from the beginning!)
Geeked out!
I shall follow your blog with interest, as I am at just the point you describe, casting around aimlessly for a writing gig when I shoiuld be focusing on something and getting it done.
Eve
Eves last blog post..Smiley Saturday
Hi Bob - I understand some of the dangers you mentioned. It’s easy to focus on the big contracts but if the work dries up suddenly, it can land you in the sh.t.
And I used to think making a heap of cash meant you were successful - but as you mentioned, you’ve got to be happy doing what you do and you’ve got to feel as though you’re providing a great service and making other people happy too.
Cath Lawsons last blog post..Make Money Online & Screw The Middleman
Thanks Bob. It’s great to be reminded why most of us got into freelancing in the first place: to really make a difference in the realms of business, lifestyle and sustainable self-employment =)
joeys last blog post..Unjob Tech: ididwork.com
Its kind of tough to distinguish myself as a writer, I consider myself more of an internet marketer thats well versed in writing. Kind of go hand in hand.
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