[size=30pt]The Curse of Being a Beginner Freelance Writer[/size]

by Bamidele Onibalusi

In my recent Writers in Charge reader survey, I got the following response as an answer to the question “what is your biggest struggle as a freelance writer?”

“As a beginner, I must start from the bottom, writing content mills and the income is little for a lot of hard work and hours spent. But I know it is necessary for my development so until I gain more experience and some money for my own blog, I’ll try to figure out what my blog should be about, because I’m imagining it has to be about what I want to write about in the future.”

Upon reading the above response, I was heartbroken. I really felt for the reader who submitted that response.

It’s even more frustrating that I got perhaps a dozen variations of that same response; it’s something a lot of beginners can relate to, and that’s the problem.

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The Curse of Being a Beginner Freelance Writer

by Bamidele Onibalusi

In my recent Writers in Charge reader survey, I got the following response as an answer to the question “what is your biggest struggle as a freelance writer?”

“As a beginner, I must start from the bottom, writing content mills and the income is little for a lot of hard work and hours spent. But I know it is necessary for my development so until I gain more experience and some money for my own blog, I’ll try to figure out what my blog should be about, because I’m imagining it has to be about what I want to write about in the future.”

Upon reading the above response, I was heartbroken. I really felt for the reader who submitted that response.

It’s even more frustrating that I got perhaps a dozen variations of that same response; it’s something a lot of beginners can relate to, and that’s the problem.freelance writer curse
The Curse of the “Beginner Freelance Writer” Mindset

I see nothing wrong with being a beginner; this is a stage we all have to be at some point, and realizing this and taking appropriate steps to quickly graduate from this stage will make a lot of difference.

However, you’ll start to have serious problems when you have the beginner mindset.

The beginner mindset is basically characterized by the attitude that since you’re a beginner freelance writer, you should take anything that comes your way… until you become a “professional/expert”.

Often, as a result of having this mindset, beginner freelance writers make the following mistakes:

Writing for content mills
Accepting low paying gigs to gain “experience”
Sending free samples to clients
Not asserting yourself more authoritatively to clients
Not carving out a niche because you feel you won’t get writing work

Unfortunately, This Happens MOSTLY With Freelance Writers

What’s unfortunate is that the beginner mindset is mostly isolated to the freelance writing profession.

For example, if you take a look at other professions; doctors, accountants, lawyers, etc. you’ll notice that professionals in these fields start to command serious pay as soon as they are employed.

Of course, experts in these professions often make double, or triple what beginners make, and that’s normal but what you’ll hardly see is someone “working” for free or for peanuts. It never happens!

There also isn’t a huge discrepancy between what experts make and what beginners make.

In the freelance writing industry, however, experts easily command $200 – $500 per article, often more, and averagely $100 – $200+ per hour. In the same industry, you’ll find “beginners” getting paid $10 for an article, or struggling to make $10 an hour.

It’s just so sad!

Now, unless you believe being a freelance writer is inferior to those other professions I mentioned above, in which case I’m very afraid for your career as a freelance writer, you should see why it not only outright wrong but disastrously damaging to work for peanuts, in the name of being “a beginner”.

Now, I get it. Some people just want to work for peanuts; there’s no helping people like that, but stop trying to justify that decision with being a beginner.

It is my aim to use this blog to establish the writer and put you in charge, and I believe my greatest enemy at accomplishing this task, for now, is the beginner mindset.

Here are some reasons why it is damaging to have this mindset, and why you need to fix it ASAP:

1. It Damages You Psychologically

Being damaged isn’t good. Believe me!

I’ve been there before; in debt and, as a result, deep in thought for hours every night while trying to get a good night’s sleep. It doesn’t feel good at all, and at some point you start to ask yourself if living is even worth it.

People can be damaged, hopefully temporarily, due to a lot of things; debt, bad relationships, abuse, etc.

No matter the reason, it doesn’t feel good at all and the last thing you want to do is put yourself in such a state by doing things you could have easily avoided as a beginner freelance writer.

Taking low paying gigs, or writing for content mills, while constantly reading about other successful freelance writers doing much better makes you feel unworthy; sometimes, you feel worthless, confused and sometimes even wonder if those other writers are lying about the results they say they are getting.

To console yourself, you can justify your position by saying you’re a beginner; so many freelance writers remain in this “beginner” position for years, and then they cave in and end their careers completely when they realize they’ve built it on a very shaky foundation.

2. It Doesn’t Improve You

It’s basic psychology.

When someone gives you something for free, or for a fraction of what it is really worth, you are less likely to tell the person about the shortcomings of what he gave you. You’ll keep mum, or even fail to realize the faults in what you were given.

When you’re paying a premium for something, however, you’ll be willing to ensure you get the very best; if it’s not perfect, you make that clear and demand perfection.

Paying clients’ feedback is one of the best and fastest ways to improve yourself as a freelance writer; working for free or for a fraction of what you’re worth silences this feedback, and you lose out as a result.

3. It is Not Economical

How many $5 articles can you do to break even?

If you’re writing based on a revenue share model, you’ve most likely realized that a single article might not earn you $1 at the end of the day; how many of that do you want to do?

It’s easy to justify doing this by saying it’s about the hourly pay; so maybe you can easily do 10 articles in an hour for $3 a piece an earn $30?

Let’s face the facts, it’s not that simple. Clients with crappy pay won’t necessarily complain but they won’t take crap from you as well.

A freelance writer can hardly imagine a feeling worse than doing an article for $3, or for revenue share that will probably not net you more than $1, only to be told that your article was rejected. Nothing crushes your self-esteem more!

No matter how you think about it, it’s just not economical to take those low paying gigs.

4. You Burn Out

As I said earlier, the only way most writers attempt to justify low paying work is by trying to do a lot of it in a short time.

Not only is this not practical, but it leads to burn out quickly.

I’ve written as much as 6,000 words in a single day and my typing speed is in the range of 87 – 90 words per minute; I’m beyond average in this regards, and I know people who are way better/faster. I don’t know, however, ANYONE that can put out 10 good articles, or even 5, in 1 hour, consistently. It’s just not possible.

When you combine the low pay, the difficulty in getting basic pay, and the fact that you don’t have a choice but to keep writing without taking a break, even with ridiculous compensation and sometimes insult/rejection for it, you just burn out at the end of the day and your self-esteem is no better for it.

5. It Damages the Industry

It’s time to stop allowing “clients” to think they can take writers for a ride.

Taking low paying gigs send the wrong message to business owners and they don’t get to appreciate the real work writers are doing as a result.

It’s easy to get better results by changing the environment you get clients from, but giving people the impression that writers can be hired for $5 an article damages the whole industry at the end of the day.

I know that just telling you to stop accepting low paying gigs won’t pay the bills, so I’ll give you some practical tips.

Here are some quick tips for banishing the beginner mindset right away:

1. Just do it

Whenever a client reaches out to you and asks for your rate, confidently charge him what you’re worth.

I’m not one to believe everything can be solved by simplistic feel good personal development advice, and that’s far from what I want to teach on this blog, but the advice to “just do it” is highly practical.

When I started as a freelance writer, I was charging clients $50 per article; I did some $30 per article jobs, and quickly went on to $100 per article.

Today, I charge anything from $200 – $500 per article and can’t remember when last my clients negotiated my rates.

Given, some clients won’t even bother to reply when they hear my rates but the few that do make it worth my while.

2. Constantly Improve Yourself

While it is important to charge clients a premium, you’re only worth as much as you can keep improving.

Clients want value and results, and they’ll give anything to ensure they have someone who can be an asset to their business; be that person by constantly improving yourself.

You won’t command the high rates you deserve just by lying on the couch, spending 6 hours daily in front of the TV and expecting to work on that new gig that comes your way. You need to constantly up your game!

3. Don’t be afraid of feedback/criticism

Another major reason beginner freelance writers are afraid to charge a premium is that they fear criticism.

You have nothing to be afraid of.

There are two ways to go about this:

Don’t just expect feedback/criticism and see it as a way to improve. Actively solicit it.
Develop a thick skin; no matter how hard you try, you’ll have someone complain at a point.

You also need to realize that, often, those who complain the most are those who pay you the lowest so going for the low gigs doesn’t necessarily prevent complaints.

In my career as a freelance writer, the clients that complained the most were the ones that paid the lowest; people who paid more had a somewhat mature understanding of how to use my work, and they had value and respect for writers, so complaint from them was minimal.

4. Reinvent Your Thinking

By charging clients $3 per article, you need to do 100 articles to make $300. This will probably take you anything from weeks to a month. It’s boring, too!

By charging $100 per article, you only need to do 3 articles to make $300. This should take you 1 – 2 days, depending on your skills.

By charging $300 per article, you only need to do 1 article to make $300. This will most likely take you 1 day.

Which is easiest? I’m very sure it isn’t charging $3 per article. For most people, it is charging $100 per article. For others, it is charging $300 per article.

No matter what, reinventing the way you think about your freelance writing business will make a whole lot of difference.
An Insider’s Perspective

I haven’t been lucky enough to write for content mills, or to bid on $3 gigs on sites like oDesk/Elance, but I’ve taken some pretty low writing gigs before out of desperation, especially when I was a beginner freelance writer.

I easily command an average of $200+ per article today, and I’ll confidently tell you that those days of taking low paying writing gigs was a mistake; I was in no way better off for taking those gigs.

Instead, I had to deal with nagging and overbearing clients who made me feel bad about myself, some of the most boring/repetitive/unproductive work of my life and absolutely no pride in what I did. If you ask me to show you those projects today, I wouldn’t. This is also how majority of people in a similar situation feel.
RESOURCES TO HELP YOU EARN MORE

Talk is cheap, I know.

Thankfully, Writers in Charge has several extremely helpful resources to help you start earning more right away.

Here are seven of those resources:

The Freelance Writer’s Success Starter Guide (this is a MUST own for every beginner freelance writer)
110 Websites that Will Pay You to Write
30 Websites that Will Pay You to Write
45 Websites that Will Pay You to Write
10 Resources for Finding Well-Paying Freelance Writing Gigs
12 Quality Job Boards for Freelance Writers
Stop Pitching Clients! How to Get Freelance Writing Clients by Blogging

Are you struggling with the beginner mindset and earning what you truly deserve as a freelance writer? Kindly comment below and let us know your struggles, and what you plan to do.

Also, please share this article with at least 1 or 2 beginner writers you know. It could save their career!


Source: http://www.writersincharge.com/beginner-freelance-writer-mindset/

@Tonytony208, thanks for your input. Yes, you are right, the idea of making $1000/month depends on the kind of job you are bidding on. If you are writing $1 articles, you cannot make that much. When i was writing articles, I made at least $400/month. Then, i upgraded my knowledge and skills to writing e-books, market research and the rest of it. I tell you, that was when my income increased to $1,000 and now, i have moved forward.

How do u do the e-book writing stuff? U sell them or what, and Where do u sell them? throw more light on the ebook and markering research on freelance on how u do it.

lordfredrick:
just sent it out to everybody that dropped their mail, i got it for free from @tranxo so why would i hoard. as for the people that just got it, spread the word.

Please send to me omozarnews@gmail.com thanks

Guys,

Please i want to know what happens when you are no longer interested in continuing a job you have been awarded to do and you have already accepted and started and with milestones already set. Do you tell the employer to cancel the project? What will be the effect on me? Completion rate etc? Thanks

cc Ladywriter
Tranxo
Chidinho
Godmother

yebo36:
Urgent! I need articles on kitchen utensils. Its a large project and my budget is 10k. 300 words per article. If you can handle it send me a pm.

I am interested but cannot send pm because I can't access my email you may mail me on rukafolatyahoodotcom. Thanks

lordfredrick:
just sent it out to everybody that dropped their mail, i got it for free from @tranxo so why would i hoard. as for the people that just got it, spread the word.

modified

yebo36:
Urgent! I need articles on kitchen utensils. Its a large project and my budget is 10k. 300 words per article. If you can handle it send me a pm.

I am also interested in the project. My email is nwanneluvann@gmail.com.
Thanks.

lordfredrick:
@tranxo thanks for the ebook, pls anyone that needs it can quote me their email too.

Pls send to

ken4jj:

Guys,

Please i want to know what happens when you are no longer interested in continuing a job you have been awarded to do with milestones already set. Do you tell the employer to cancel the project? What will be the effect on me? Completion rate etc? Thanks

cc Ladywriter
Tranxo
Chidinho
Godmother

Yes, you can tell the employer to cancel, but they are more likely to just award the project to another freelancer instead of cancelling. What they do is cancel the milestone they set for you. Canceling the project could mean having $5 deducted from the employer's account (I'm not sure about this, though and I stand to be corrected).

If you have accepted the project prior to now, you will lose the project fee deducted from your account cos FL wnt refund that to u. If you haven't, then you don't really lose anything. But if you keep rejecting awarded projects, you could lose your credibility with employers. And if they have a way of communicating with each other like we do on this forum where we warn ourselves not to work for some particular employers, it may affect you.

Godmother:


Yes, you can tell the employer to cancel, but they are more likely to just award the project to another freelancer instead of cancelling. What they do is cancel the milestone they set for you. Canceling the project could mean having $5 deducted from the employer's account (I'm not sure about this, though and I stand to be corrected).

If you have accepted the project prior to now, you will lose the project fee deducted from your account cos FL wnt refund that to u. If you haven't, then you don't really lose anything. But if you keep rejecting awarded projects, you could lose your credibility with employers. And if they have a way of communicating with each other like we do on this forum where we warn ourselves not to work for some particular employers, it may affect you.

Thanks, the job has been accepted already

Pls @ tranxo send d website to me tks. Johnsoneno12@gmail.com

offegas:

Please send to offeyiadetola@yahoo.com.Thanks

Check your mail

If you need the ebook, quote me on nairaland with your email. DON'T SEND ME A MAIL. I have an email thread where i forward the messages and I wont be able to scroll up and down to do that. If you sent me a mail, please do the right thing by quoting me with your email so i can easily copypaste and send. Thanks

Hello Chidinho, I just saw this. Please I am interested.

Thanks.

Chidinho10:



Check your mails dudes

Chidinho10:
If you need the ebook, quote me on nairaland with your email. DON'T SEND ME A MAIL. I have an email thread where i forward the messages and I wont be able to scroll up and down to do that. If you sent me a mail, please do the right thing by quoting me with your email so i can easily copypaste and send. Thanks

Bro kindly send this ebook to me. I remain grateful to you. my mail is (onivinba2007@gmail.com) THANKS.

mercyland2015:
Bro kindly send this ebook to me. I remain grateful to you. my mail is (onivinba2007@gmail.com) THANKS.

Chidinho10:
If you need the ebook, quote me on nairaland with your email. DON'T SEND ME A MAIL. I have an email thread where i forward the messages and I wont be able to scroll up and down to do that. If you sent me a mail, please do the right thing by quoting me with your email so i can easily copypaste and send. Thanks

Good Morning, you sent me a blank mail without the ebook attached.Kindly resend it again to offeyiadetola@yahoo.com.com. Thanks

Chidinho10:
If you need the ebook, quote me on nairaland with your email. DON'T SEND ME A MAIL. I have an email thread where i forward the messages and I wont be able to scroll up and down to do that. If you sent me a mail, please do the right thing by quoting me with your email so i can easily copypaste and send. Thanks

-akandeemmyzy@gmail.com

Chidinho10:
Tranxo thanks for the ebook. I was asleep when it landed my email. If you need it, quote me with your email. I will forward it immediately

Please send to naimakan@yahoo.com

yebo36:
You are not replying my mails. I want to know if its still open.

offegas:

Good Morning, you sent me a blank mail without the ebook attached.Kindly resend it again to offeyiadetola@yahoo.com.com. Thanks

Thanks Lordfredrick got it

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Jnnywalters@gmail.com

Hi everybody:

This is to notify newbies that you don't need to order for payoneer card anymore, as freelancer now allows its members to withdraw money to their local bank account. It is very simple. To enjoy this benefit, click on withdraw on your FINANCE DASHBOARD. After that, click on freelancer debit card and choose the bank transfer option. Lastweek, I tested this payment system with $100, and I was credited with N18,771. Payoneer charges you $3 per withdrawal. So, the more money you withdraw, the less money payoneer charges you. It is very easy. For those who have already used the payoneer card option, if you want to enjoy this benefit, I'd advise you to contact freelancer. Make I try another $2000, again.

s@gmail.com
Thanks

Chidinho10:
If you need the ebook, quote me on nairaland with your email. DON'T SEND ME A MAIL. I have an email thread where i forward the messages and I wont be able to scroll up and down to do that. If you sent me a mail, please do the right thing by quoting me with your email so i can easily copypaste and send. Thanks

Chidinho10:
If you need the ebook, quote me on nairaland with your email. DON'T SEND ME A MAIL. I have an email thread where i forward the messages and I wont be able to scroll up and down to do that. If you sent me a mail, please do the right thing by quoting me with your email so i can easily copypaste and send. Thanks

. Julecamamade@yahoo.com. Thanks

[quote author=Chidinho10 post=39361311]If you need the ebook, quote me on nairaland with your email. DON'T SEND ME A MAIL. I have an email thread where i forward the messages and I wont be able to scroll up and down to do that. If you sent me a mail, please do the right thing by quoting me with your email so i

topsquino:
Hi everybody:

This is to notify newbies that you don't need to order for payoneer card anymore, as freelancer now allows its members to withdraw money to their local bank account. It is very simple. To enjoy this benefit, click on withdraw on your FINANCE DASHBOARD. After that, click on freelancer debit card and choose the bank transfer option. Lastweek, I tested this payment system with $100, and I was credited with N18,771. Payoneer charges you $3 per withdrawal. So, the more money you withdraw, the less money payoneer charges you. It is very easy. For those who have already used the payoneer card option, if you want to enjoy this benefit, I'd advise you to contact freelancer. Make I try another $2000, again.

very low rate. Contact justi4jesu for higher rate

Chidinho10:
If you need the ebook, quote me on nairaland with your email. DON'T SEND ME A MAIL. I have an email thread where i forward the messages and I wont be able to scroll up and down to do that. If you sent me a mail, please do the right thing by quoting me with your email so i can easily copypaste and send. Thanks

Please, send to nnoyee2001@gmail.com.
Thanks

tranxo:
very low rate. Contact justi4jesu for higher rate

Please Tranxo, i asked a question and i need your opinion. Please just scroll up. Thanks

ken4jj:


Please Tranxo, i asked a question and i need your opinion. Please just scroll up. Thanks

Hmmm. May I know the reason you no longer want to go ahead with a project you accepted, for which milestone has been set too?