Ten of The Silliest Reasons For Not Being a Freelance Writer

image from rareborealis.com

If you are reading this article, chances are you are already a freelance writer and you can relate to this list. There is also a chance that maybe you are sitting on the fence, trying to decide on which side you’d like to land. If that’s the case, maybe this list will help.

1. Your writing isn’t good enough. Hey, it could be. You do not need to be a grammarmagician to do this. Yes, some basic skill is needed but like anything else practice will go a long way towards making your writing sing.
2. Fear of failure. I promise that the world will still revolve if freelance writing doesn’t prove to be your thing. It would be worse to not even try.
3. Fear of success. This is kind of a toughie. There are folks who have this and don’t even know it so they sabotage most any project in order to ensure success doesn’t happen. If you think this may be you, get the necessary help before you begin.
4. There are already so many freelance writers. Pshaw. There are a lot of fair-to-partly-crappy writers out there, for sure. If you have even a smidgen of writing skill, you can edge out quite a few of the other freelancers.
5. No time. Oh, yes. If you decide to freelance you better be ready to sprout a few more hours into every day. Also, there is nothing that says you have to do this full time right away. You can ease into it. Tentatively hang your shingle on the web and see what happens. For me, inside of two months I needed to quit my day job to handle the incoming work.
6. I’m scared of quitting the security of my day job. Okay, I’ll confess that this one is not so silly. If you have a 9 to 5 that is paying you handsomely whilst taking care of your health insurance premiums you need to give jumping off the freelance cliff some serious consideration. Start slow and have a good plan in place prior to killing the golden egg-laying goose.
7. I don’t know where to find clients. Hmmm. That is why God (not Al Gore) invented the internet. A small investment in social networking and marketing has the potential of paying big freelancing rewards. All it really takes is that one gi-normous client and you are off and running. You can also get things moving with a few small clients whom you treat like the gold they are.
8. My real goal is being a published novelist. Okay, that’s a great goal. Writing is writing, be it fiction or non. Every chance to write is a chance to hone your skills. Also, the more your name is out on the web, the greater the chances of meeting someone who may help you in your novelistic endeavors.
9. You have to write what you know, and I don’t know anything. Hehe. Join the club. Do not be afraid of topics. The client will give you what you need to know. Otherwise, be prepared to do a bit of research. I came up with the names and product descriptions for a line of lip glosses aimed at teenaged girls. I’m fat, fifty and bald. Do the math.
10. I won’t make any money. Possible, and probable at first. Stick with it, apply yourself with integrity and the money will come.

What say you, gentle audience? Any other reasons to not be a freelance writer?