fear

Writing Contest: Share Your Biggest Freelance Fear to Win

What’s your biggest freelance fear, and how did you overcome it? Enter our writing contest for a chance to win.

Fear has a way of holding you back as a freelance writer. It suffocates creativity. It gets in the way of taking risk. Let it dominate your thoughts, and fear prevents you from putting yourself out there, marketing, sending query letters, connecting, pitching your dream clients. Sound familiar?

When fear plagues your freelance writing career, it’s like being in the middle of a Stranger Things episode. You’re expecting the Mind Flayer or the Demogorgon to rip you to shreds at any minute. Only it never really happens.

But if you don’t face your fears, fight back, and pursue your freelance writing goals, the results can be devastating. You roll around on the floor. You procrastinate. Days, weeks, months, maybe even years go by in this state of mind. That’s a terrifying thought.

In this writing contest, we want to hear about your gnarliest freelance writing fear, and what you did to overcome it. Check out the rules for the writing contest and prizes for winners.

Tagged with: contest, fear, overcome fear

Freelance Jobs for Shy Writers: 10 Ways to Book More Work

Posted by: Evan Jensen — 6 Comments ↓

Are you a shy or introverted writer? Most of us are to some degree. But that doesn’t mean you can’t book well-paying freelance jobs and make a living writing.

In fact, being a shy or introverted writer can work in your favor. Seriously.

Have you ever cowered at the thought of cold-calling freelance prospects? Broke into a nervous sweat when asked to introduce yourself at a networking meeting? Or got queasy when it was time to get on the phone with a prospect?

It happens. Those get-in-front-of-people moments are terrifying for a lot of shy and introverted freelance writers. Ever felt that way?

The thing is, being shy or introverted isn’t a weakness, it’s just who you are. And if you embrace that as a freelance writer, you can book freelance jobs, get paid well, and make a living writing.

You just have to figure out how to do it in a way that jives with your personality.

Want to learn how to book more work, even if you’re a shy or introverted freelancer? Here’s how:

Punch Fear in the Face: 9 Confidence Boosters for Freelance Writers

Posted by: Evan Jensen — 9 Comments ↓

Are you one of those freelance writers with a confidence problem?

You know…you think about pitching businesses and magazines, but you don’t actually do it, because you don’t think you’re good enough.

Or maybe you get a bite from a prospect, and then take forever to reply or book a call, because you’re afraid you’ll screw it all up.

Or maybe you’re stuck comparing yourself to other freelance writers who appear to be smarter, more creative, more successful.

Sound familiar?

If you’ve ever felt this way as a freelance writer, you’re not alone. But you’ll never achieve your freelance writing goals if you let fear and lack of confidence hold you back.

The truth is, even the most successful freelance writers have doubts, fears, and frustrations. But they know how to fight back, stay productive, and keep moving forward.

Ready to punch fear in the face, and give your freelance writing career a boost? Here’s how it’s done…

Freelance Writer Envy? Read This for a Sobering Peek Inside Real Life

Posted by: Carol Tice — 259 Comments ↓

Do you find yourself sometimes feeling jealous of that successful freelance writer who seems to have everything dialed in?

You know, the freelance writer who has plenty of clients, earns a healthy income, networks like a boss, and seems to have all the answers to marketing, pitching, copywriting, and business.

You spend some of your precious free time thinking your life as a freelance writer would be pretty sweet if you could just trade places.

Sound familiar?

In today’s social-media driven world, it’s easy to get sucked into thinking everything you see is the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. But we all know, it’s just the highlight reel…the best part of that freelance writer’s business, minus reality that isn’t so rosy.

If you’ve ever felt jealous or envious of another freelance writer’s success, it’s time to put things in perspective.

I have a story for you…and some things I need to share with you about my own life.

First, the story:

Tagged with: fear, freelance writer, jealousy, work/life balance

Writing Career Reboot: 5 Steps to Pick Yourself Up After Trauma

Posted by: Editor — 28 Comments ↓

Is your life and writing career moving along in a linear fashion, continuously getting better?

Be honest. It’ doesn’t work that way for anyone.

The reality is bumpy.

Sometimes you have to abruptly take off work for personal reasons:

A major illness or death in the family
An accident
A baby born prematurely
Or any number of unexpected and traumatic reasons

I didn’t pick those examples randomly. They’ve all happened to me or my writing friends.

If you step away from your writing career to deal with major life events, hopefully you’ll reach a point where it makes sense to resume work.

But how do you get back on track?

If you’re restarting after taking a break because of trauma, illness the death of a loved one, or some other traumatic life event, here are five tips to reboot your writing career:

Stop Whining: How to Crush Your Freelance Writing Excuses

Posted by: Evan Jensen — 29 Comments ↓

It’s the middle of the afternoon. You’ve got a client deadline. And all you’ve been able to do for the last few hours is think up writing excuses for why you’re not cranking out copy.

Your desk is too cluttered.
You’re behind on dishes and laundry.
You don’t feel like writing.
You didn’t get enough info from your client to complete the assignment.
And then the thought crosses your mind: I’m not really a writer. I’m just pretending to be one.

Been there, done that?

If you’ve made any of these writing excuses (FYI…there’s many more), you’ve probably done your share of whining, crying, and flailing around. All that, when you could have been, you know, working.

Tired of writing excuses holding you back from moving up and earning more as a freelancer?

Stop whining, and crush your freelance writing excuses once and for all. Here’s how:

Tagged with: fear, motivation, overcome fear, procrastination

fear

Writing Contest: Share Your Biggest Freelance Fear to Win

Freelance Jobs for Shy Writers: 10 Ways to Book More Work

Punch Fear in the Face: 9 Confidence Boosters for Freelance Writers

Freelance Writer Envy? Read This for a Sobering Peek Inside Real Life

Writing Career Reboot: 5 Steps to Pick Yourself Up After Trauma

Stop Whining: How to Crush Your Freelance Writing Excuses

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