Haley Thomas

Six Common Mistakes Made in Freelance Writing, and Tips on Avoiding Them If you’re new to freelance writing, you probably get overwhelmed asking yourself why your writing isn’t where you want it or why you can’t find a client. One of the most substantial things I’ve learned as a writer is that you are most likely going to make a ton of mistakes while you work to become successful. My first year of writing was a huge learning experience for me. The best thing out of this is all that you don’t have to make the same mistakes that I have made. You can learn from them. If you are in your first year of freelance writing, or if you want to start but need tips on what not to do, KEEP READING!! Below are twelve of the most common mistakes made in freelance writing, and ways you can avoid them. 1. Assuming That Being A Freelance Writer Is Easy. A lot of people choose freelance writing because they think writers are able to just sleep in every day and spend the whole day watching T.V. If you take this approach to freelance writing, you are in for a rude awakening. It doesn’t end well for most, and probably won’t end well for you. If you want to be a successful in freelance writing you have to be a hustler. You must look for clients and assignments every chance you get. If you’re not willing to work hard, and hustle, it will be nearly impossible for you to be a successful freelance writer. 2. Making Too Many Grammar and Formatting Errors. If there is one thing you have to do, it’s making sure your pitch has no grammatical errors. Your pitch, or bid is the first introduction to a potential client. Make sure to run it through some editing software or a site such as Grammarly.com You should also make sure you properly format your pitch. The simplest errors can cause you to fail landing the gig. Be careful that you fix any formatting problems like different fonts, colors, and names before sending off your pitch email, this could be the key to gaining more clients and becoming successful. 3. Being Overly Confident Being too confident can put a halt on your freelance business. Having confidence can help you land a job, too much arrogance can send potential clients running. Just because you’re a great writer does NOT mean you’ll be a successful one. So, before you demand a large pay, make sure you have a portfolio to show for it. 4. Being Afraid of Rejections If you’re a new freelance writer, please understand that you will have rejections more often than you would expect. However, you should be aware that it is completely normal. I know how it feels to get rejected over and over. I have experienced it countless times and I still do from time to time. However, I have gotten used to it along the way. I have accepted that being rejected is part of the freelance writing game. Remember, you miss 50% of the shots you don’t take. Don’t be afraid to step out. If you do get rejected, use It as a learning experience on what not to do next time. 5. Never Practicing Writing, or Thinking You Don’t Need Practice. Practice doesn’t always make perfect, but it does make progress. The only way for you to get better is to actually start typing on a regular basis. Don’t wait for a job to write. Use your quiet time to write blog posts so that you can fill your portfolio to show clients. 6. Giving Up After A Few Months This is a common mistake in the writing industry. Don’t expect to have hundreds of job offers in two weeks. It simply does not work like that. Two weeks is not enough time to pick up great clients. I’m not saying you won't pick up one or two clients in two weeks, you could get lucky. Building a sustainable writing business takes months and even longer depending on the person. If you wish to be successful in your writing, avoid the mistakes listed above. You must also remember that nothing in life is free. If you want something you have to work for it!