Recently, I wrote about kicking writers’ doubts in the bum. I hope that it helped those of you who are experiencing some sort of crisis in your freelance writing career.
Today, it occurred to me that it would be even more helpful to identify some specific doubts that may plague writers. Based on experience, here are some common doubts writers have.
I might not meet the client’s requirements.
This applies when you’re doubtful about applying for a job. Sometimes you may see a freelance writing job ad that you think is a great fit for you, but you are still unsure about whether the client will actually see things in the same way.
What to do?
This is where reading the requirements carefully comes in. If the ad says a certain requirement is non-negotiable, and you don’t meet that, then don’t apply. If, however, it is not explicitly stated, why not give it a try anyway? The worst thing that can happen is that you get a no.
My new client might not like my work.
There is only one way to find out, isn’t there? You just need to do what you do best: write high quality content.
Do your research if necessary. Cite reputable sources. Give clear examples if needed.
Also, before you even start, lay down the ground rules on both ends. Make sure you know exactly what your client is expecting, and make sure your client knows what you are offering. Get the details right – down to the word count, style, linking, and images.
Additionally, when you have submitted your first piece, ask for feedback. Let your client know that you welcome his feedback and that you are willing to take this into consideration. You might even want to offer to make revisions.
My blog readers might not like what I write and bash me in the comments.
This happens to the best of us. There are always two sides to a story, and as they say, “haters are going to hate”. More so, the Internet has made people bolder when it comes to expressing themselves, so you are going to get comments that are negative.
Expect it. Get used to it. Reply as politely and logically as you can, and leave it at that.
One final note: Don’t feed the trolls.
I might not get enough work to make a living.
Taking the leap to go freelance full-time is not to be taken lightly. That is why I always advise my friends to not immediately ditch their day jobs until they have enough savings to last a couple of months or so AND have enough clients who can offer a steady stream of income. I can’t give you numbers, unfortunately, as this will vary from person to person, but the idea is to start freelancing on the side and slowly ease into it till you can be sure you can handle the uncertainties of freelance writing full-time.
These doubts writers have may or may not apply to you, but if one comes up, I hope that you’ll have the courage to overcome them. Do you have other things to add to this list of common doubts writers have? Let’s hear them in the comments!
Also read: Busy Crossroads: Transitioning to Full-Time Freelancing
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