Is Your Current Freelance Writing Career Situation How You Expected It To Be?

By Dan Smith

From the freelance writers I’ve spoken to over the years, I feel we’re a particularly aspirational bunch. We don’t mind hard work and we don’t mind long hours. We know it takes time to progress and we’re happy to wait, as we’ve seen from others just how successful freelance writers can potentially be.

We of course try to fast-track the process on occasion, but generally speaking, we’re happy to steadily climb our way up the freelance writing career ladder. It’s somewhat of an unusual quality in the workplace, as many other industries often see individuals doing what they can to clamber over one and other, always aiming to get to the top (or what they consider to be the top) of the chain as quickly as they possibly can.

Whilst we’re no doubt always aiming for the top, what I’ve seen with many freelance writers — and I’m one of them — is that they set themselves regular goals or levels to achieve or get to.

For example, the top level of the ladder might be a small number of well-paid, highly publicised, regular freelance writing gigs, but mid-way up there may be a level that simply provides enough regular work so you can look at leaving your full time job.

When you reach these points (something you’ll likely do without instantly realising), it’s good to take a look around and evaluate how things have worked out for you to date, as then you can decide how best to progress.

For example, if you’re at the stage where you’re working full time on your writing work, is it as you expected? Can you see yourself maintaining an income you can live off? What about an income that could continue to grow? Is this likely?

If you’re uncertain about questions such as these, you need to evaluate your current position and look whether further career development at this stage is the most suitable route.

And if it isn’t, that doesn’t mean you’re any less successful as a freelance writer — it simply means you have been savvy enough on both a personal and commercial basis to know not only what works best for your freelance writing career, but what is going to benefit you on a personal level, something that’s just as important to understand.

And so, with that in mind, where would you consider yourself to be on the freelance writing career ladder? Are you happy with where you are currently? In which direction are you going to move next?