Is Freelance Writing Suited To Your Personality?

Since when does our personality matter when it comes to choosing a freelance writing career? Actually, it matters more than you think. To run a multi-faceted online business requires you to be an expert juggler, a marketer, a writer, a lover of words, and social enough to connect with many different personalities.

Sometimes you will be working with the client from hell, and other times everything falls into place like the pieces of a complex puzzle. At all times your writing business requires much more from you than the sheer love for writing. Your Dot.com Enterprise will only run as smooth as you allow it to do.

Do you have a writer’s personality?

A writer’s personality can be summed up in these simple words: self-discipline, motivation, and humility.

It goes without saying that self-discipline is the first and foremost trait you need to master in order to cut your mustard in this business. Many non-writers think that it is easy to run a freelance writing business. But let it be known that it is not.

There will be days when you can’t see the hands of the clock move because you are too busy to notice, and other times the clock never seems to stand still. Juggling assignments and clients is a skill that comes with practice -  the more you do it, the smoother the process will become.

Motivation is another must have attribute because after you’ve moved through the honeymoon period the real work begins. Are you prepared to do this for the long run or is writing a mere step to something bigger and better? Either is fine as long as you are aware of your motivations and why you do this in the first place. Remembering this can help you through sluggish times and keep you motivated to battle on.

I took humility as a trait for a reason. I believe that regardless of the levels of success you find in your business you should ALWAYS remain teachable and humble. To this day I’m still learning new things in my business – each and every day. I thrive on learning – it’s what brought me to this level in the first place.

Your skill is a must have if you want to earn well

While anybody can become a freelance writer, only a select few manage to earn decent money with their vocation. Unless you are editing and proofreading your work on a consistent basis, chances are, you won’t be paid much for your work.

The Internet is littered with crappy content. Please help to contribute good content – aim to be better than the average person – by striving for more. It’s what gets you noticed!

How many sacrifices are you prepared to make?

Running your own business often requires sacrifices. Sacrificing free time to devote to your freelancing business is more the norm than not within your first couple of years. If you think you can write for a couple of hours a day and earn thousands of dollars each month, think again.

You will need to dig deep and often forgo family events and social time for your business. Your primary focus in the early days of business should be dedicated toward growth-generating activities, no matter what.

Do you have the flexible talent of a web 3.0 business owner?

Web 2.0 is old news. The future is web 3.0 and higher. As an online freelancer you need to keep on track with trends and news, while adapting your business to changes. I call this the writing chameleon principle.

Just like a chameleon changes its colors, a web-based freelance writer has to adapt his or her business. This means, you need to consider updates to your website design, alter your services, change your rates, learn new skills to satisfy a hot market, and generally do everything possible to grow your business and add new revenue streams.

The road test

Road tests never lie and the best way to test your own personality to become a full time freelance writer is to do it. However, unless you are absolutely, positively passionate about writing for a long time to come, don’t even bother and leave the field to the rest of us.
Monika