Professional Advice On How To Start A Freelance Writing Business
It sounds like a great idea to start up your own freelance writing business, doesn’t it? You get to skip that commute. There’s no boss leaning over your shoulder. You can get up late and work in casual clothes – hey, you could stay in your PJs all day if you liked. You’ll save a heap of money on paying for the train or bus.
Of course the reality of working from home bears little resemblance to those imaginings.
Reality of Homeworking
- Clothes – You are going to need at least one good suit in case you need to look professional as you meet clients. Psychology suggests that the external mask you wear affects your internal emotions. If you are in your PJs you’re going to want to play about. Dress smartly and you will know it is work time.
- Boss – when you are your own boss there is no one on your case. Actually, you have to be on your case or deadlines will not get met.
- Times – Well, here your imaginings are closer. You can begin work after you have finished your coffee. You’ll just check your emails/social media. And suddenly the whole day has vanished. Make sure you set aside the work time or you will find it frittering away.
- Self-discipline is where it is at. If you cannot motivate yourself to work, then you are better off with sticking to the day job.
- You are going to need a start-up fund – You will need adverts, printer repair, ink cartridges, all those things a boss paid for at your day job. What if you get sick and need to pay for treatment? With all businesses for the first two or three years, you will need to plow any profits right back into your company. There will be no spare cash for a while.
What should I write?
Okay, so you are going ahead anyway.
- Chose as many subjects as you can. Everyone can write about cats. The more “difficult” the topic the more people will pay you to write about it. Cancer, student loans, rehab, first jobs.
- People want many different sorts of writing. Blog posts, marketing, articles, newsletters, brochures. Make sure you research the client so you know the style they are looking for.
- You want only the big money jobs? You are going to make millions on your first novel. It does not work that way. Poetry, essays, and novels are hit and miss. The money is in the non-fiction work for larger companies.