I’ve been thinking about the quote, “There are no small roles, only small actors,” and how it relates to freelance writers. Freelance writing and acting do seem to have a lot in common. Consider the following:
- You’re only as good as your last gig.
- There is no guarantee that anyone will hire you for your next one.
- Start pulling a lot of attitude and no one will want to work with you. Period.
All of us have the opportunity to decide for ourselves which gigs we want to go after and which ones aren’t right for us. Before you turn down a “small” freelance writing gig or one that doesn’t pay as well as what you normally charge, consider that all the projects you take on give you the chance to keep your creative juices flowing.
I think of the act of writing like a muscle. You need to keep working it to keep it in shape. If a small job comes along and you decide you want to take it, then don’t hesitate to do so.
It can get your name and your work in front of someone who may be able to hire you for larger projects down the road. Do well with this gig, and you may be able to get a testimonial that you can share with prospective clients or a referral to someone else.
The great thing about working as a freelance writer is that you get to decide which gigs you want to take and which ones you will pass on. If you do decide that you have the time and you want to take on a smaller gig, give it the same level of care that you would with any other one. Having some degree of flexibility in your choices can lead to more and better opportunities.
What do you think? Have you been able to turn a “small” gig into something better or do you have certain criteria that a gig must meet before you will even consider it?
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