Start slow, cold pitches, networking, and collaborate. We know the drill, don’t we?
But in this guide by yours truly, I have decided to touch upon the deeper layers of freelancing along with just the basics. Without further ado, let’s go!
IF YOU’RE A FRESHER WITH NO EXPERIENCE BUT A HEART FOR WORDS
Where You Are: Maybe writing has always been on your cards or it is one of those skills you want to dip your toes into before deciding on a career. Regardless, you probably aren’t confident if this industry is for you, aren’t sure if you CAN even write professionally, and don’t know where to begin.
Where You Want to Be: You either want to test the waters to see if this is for you or not. Or perhaps, you already have a vision and you want to sow the seed for that dream—sitting in your own Pinterest-inspired home office cum yoga studio with a line-up of motivating work projects.
Where You Can Be: You can be exactly there, typing away to feed your soul and your pocket. But let’s break it down with a reality check (Coz everything takes a long journey!) and things you should know before you consider freelancing.
First things first, every dream needs a foundation, so seek experiences with an internship or two. I get it, you can’t wait to get there already, and since freelancing is the new creative norm, you believe you can instantly hop onto the train fresh out of school or college. But, here’s what you need to remember:
- No matter how superlative your writing skill is, you still need some hands-on industry experience.
- No matter how confident you are in your skills, you still need to be open to critical feedback and learning.
- No matter how many essays and poetry you may have written, you still need to write fresh and compile a portfolio.
Now, on how to start, here’s how:
- Like I said above, start by seeking internship/job opportunities. Read the job descriptions properly, write a personalized cover letter, keep your resume simple, and hit send on Linkedin and other hiring platforms.
- Shift your focus from money-making to career-making AKA stop being finicky about stipends, just focus on learning. Yes, money is important, and being underpaid is exploitation, but when you enter this world with zero experience and a curious mind, you must be willing to hone your skills over just filling your pocket.
- Shift your focus from resume-expanding to discovering your niche. Of course, adding more clients and work to your portfolio is a goal but don’t enter the internship or project, desperate to add names to your portfolio. In other words, don’t put the inner-discovery part of the process on the back burner.
How did I hop on the train? I took up a couple of internships until I felt satisfied and confident that writing was for me. But freelancing was never really on my mind. I ended up freelancing accidentally during my job-hunting phase, but hands down, the self-discovery during your internships is irreplaceable. Even if you have one disappointing experience, it teaches you how there is a lot more to learn or how feedback is and will always be a part of this creative pursuit.
IF YOU’RE A FULL-TIME WRITER WHO WANTS A WORK DAY AT STARBUCKS THAN AT A PERMANENT DESK
Where You Are: You’re at a fulfilling job but you’ve stopped seeing growth ahead. You’re dissatisfied at your job, looking to switch gears to being your own boss and pushing all the buttons on the board by yourself. Pssst, sounds scary but empowering, saying that from experience.
Where You Want to Be: You want to choose the work you do, bank on your unique style of writing, and put all your learnings and expertise to use to work independently yet closely with the industry.
Where You Can Be: You can be spending your weekdays at a coffee shop, posting a new ‘workstation’ story every day. During that little experience I had working under an employer, I found myself to be less driven and more bored. Not that there wasn’t enough work, but it was the same kind of work with the tone and the instructions set. This left very little room for me to experiment and find my true beat as a creative. I also believe this is one of the times when I realized I couldn’t do this for the rest of my life.
And, that is exactly why if you happen to read my About Me here, you’ll notice I have also talked about not being tied down to a type, a niche. I like to take up any and every kind of project that I find creatively stimulating and challenging. Of course, I do have preferences, but I don’t like restricting myself.
Okay now back to you. So, f you’re like me, and want to break free from the pattern and craft your own career reality at your own term, start by asking yourself these questions:
- Am I ready to live with uncertainty?
- Am I equipped with a safety net financially and career-wise, in case the uncertainty gets real?
- Am I capable of being my own cheerleader, boss, and critic?
- Am I ready to be more than just a creative professional? As a freelancer, you will end up taking the role of a client-serving professional, a business manager, an accounting expert, and more, all at once.
- Am I comfortable tooting my own horn and self-promoting like there is no tomorrow?
Okay, not trying to discourage you there but you deserve to know what freelancing is, as it is, with no sugarcoating.
Now, on how to start:
- Take up writing projects over the weekend to test the waters and see if you’re cut out for this business.
- Make networking a part of your routine even if you are on a full-time job. Join clubs, attend events, and position yourself as an expert in your field online.
- Start working on a portfolio, yes, even if you plan to be tied down at the desk for a while and not sure of freelancing ever,
- Have a plan, start small, and keep at it. Get specific—maybe you’ll save up a certain amount by an x month, leave your job by this time, and then start pitching and making a base by the end of the year.
- Be comfortable with the discomfort of taking a couple of months off with less or no work, once you take the plunge. Think of the larger picture and keep reminding yourself of your long-term goal.
IF YOU’RE A PASSIONATE HOBBYIST WITH A FULL-TIME JOB IN ANOTHER ARENA
Where You Are: You’re working on your dream high-paying job that you worked hard and studied hard for, but maybe your heart lies in writing. You’re definitely not alone, The number of people I know who have switched from corporate to creative is almost inspiring.
Where You Want to Be: Maybe you don’t want to leave your job or you eventually want to, and maybe you want to take writing as a side gig because you’re so intrigued by this craft. One way or another, here is what you got to do to get where you can be, which is:
Where You Can Be: You can have a successful career in one industry and also fan that creativity and passion once in a while with writing gigs. You can simply have a dream to make a massive switch and turn to full-time writing, but one way or another, you have to start fresh and at the bottom. Here’s a blueprint that I recommend:
- Similar to when you want to switch from writing full-time to freelancing full-time, start with a few small gigs to test the water first.
- Reach out to brands you like and offer to write a free sample.
- Reach out to other writers, introduce yourself, express your interest, share your portfolio, and request them to consider you for potential collaborations if they like your work, which brings us to:
- Make a portfolio – yes, even if you are a fresher and have zero experience in paid writing, start writing samples on topics you believe you’re an expert of or op-eds (opinion pieces) and keep compiling your own portfolio. It doesn’t matter if you have zero client work to show, but as a beginner, you can very well display your craft with a curated portfolio with diverse writing samples. This will also make it easier for you to get your first client/lead as compared to someone who has absolutely nothing to show.
I do have a little guide/template for your portfolio. Do leave a comment if you’d like one?
Signing off with a quote I stole from the internet 😛
“You don’t start out writing good stuff. You start out writing crap and thinking it’s good stuff, and then gradually you get better at it. That’s why I say one of the most valuable traits is persistence.’ – Octavia E. Butler
Hope this serves as the final push you needed all along!