So Long, Farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, Goodbye!

April 17, 2013

Nearly three years after I first started writing for GetPaidToWriteOnline.com, I’ve recently decided to stop, for a whole array of different reasons.

Before I explain why I’m leaving, I firstly want to say it wasn’t an easy decision to make. I’ve actually been toying with the idea of taking a step back for several months now.

The reason I’m leaving all comes back to the one thing that in many ways, I’ve been trying to achieve since I started freelancing — which is a lack of time because of writing.

Way back when I started, I was writing as much as I could. No matter how much work I took on, though, I never felt like I didn’t have enough time. Sure, I was working every hour sent, but I couldn’t get enough of it! I loved writing!

However, no matter how much I loved it, in my mind there was always a time in the future where I wanted to not be working 70 or 80 hour weeks. I wanted to be in a position where I could pick and choose which projects I worked on and not have to be worried about aspects such as the financial implications.

And I’m pleased to say that that’s exactly where I am today.

My career has developed massively over the last 24 months in particular and I’ve gone from being a part time freelance writer to being a SEO Specialist developing and implementing SEO strategies based all around content.

Doing something I genuinely love and getting paid to do is fantastic and I really do adore my job, but it means I no longer have time to do a great deal on a freelance basis.

Add in the fact I’m going to be a dad in five weeks and a husband in little over four months and not being able to do “a great deal” on a freelance basis is potentially the understatement of the year!

With some projects naturally coming to an end recently, I haven’t pursued any additional work from those clients. For those where the work was continuing, I’ve stopped the ones I was doing purely for the money, leaving me in a position where I’ve been continuing to write for the projects I’ve actually wanted to be involved in.

But unfortunately, the time has come to step away from them and that, regretfully, includes GetPaidToWriteOnline.com.

I’ve loved every minute of my time here and can still remember when I first saw that Sharon was looking for a new writer. I was absolutely over the moon she considered me, never mind asked me to stay — and for over two years now!

I’ve met some great people from my time here and learnt a lot; more than you’re likely to actually realise.

And as clichéd as this might sound, I hope you’ve learnt a lot, too. I’ve only ever tried to be honest and open as a freelance writer, providing stories of my journey and insights into what I’ve learnt.

But if there’s one thing I do hope you’ve taken away from my posts, it’s that you really can become a freelance writer if you just put your mind to it.

I have no formal qualifications in writing — I didn’t even finish college! — but I invested as much time as I possibly could right from the very start and I’m without doubt pleased with where I am today.

Good luck to all of you new freelance writers out there and congratulations to all of you who’ve got — or are getting — to where you want to be. It’s been a pleasure.