Recession Talk, Pivots, and Freelancing in 2022

It’s a weird time…especially now that the big “R” word is floating around. (Recession, that is.)

Lately, I’m feeling the same way I did about two years ago when the world was shut down, and I was debating whether or not I should get a PPP loan.

I find myself wondering:

• Will content budgets get slashed, leaving my services unneeded?

• Will companies move more writing work in-house, cutting freelance budgets?

Uncertainty abounds, and it doesn’t feel great if I’m being totally candid. For the first half of this year, I’ve been inundated with work. But now: I don’t know. Things are definitely quieter. Friends working as in-house marketers have been let go. Some of my biggest clients are reporting missed earnings and layoffs.

I bring this up for a few reasons.

Number one: To make it clear that if you’re in the same boat right now, you’re definitely not alone.

Number two: To advocate for income diversification.

We can’t know what the future holds, but having a few income streams can help offset some of the current “weirdness” when it comes to freelance work (or even full-time work, for that matter. I know in-house folks are feeling this right now too!)

For me, this means continuing to promote my productized service turning podcasts into blog posts over at Content Remix, trying to do a better job of talking about the premium digital resources and consulting offerings I have, and considering offering more live sessions (like the ‘How to write like a journalist’ one I offered earlier this year), and exploring more long-term partnership opportunities.

But it’s also got me thinking about the good ol’ fashioned pivot.

I’ve already done a bit of pivoting in my eight years of self-employment:

• I stopped doing copywriting projects and social media management (and stopped marketing my services through a brand name rather than my own name.)

• I stepped away from the two annual retainer clients I had a few years back.

• I niched down my content writing work to focus solely on clients in the ecommerce software space.

But friends of mine have made even more dramatic pivots, transitioning across industries and roles (and they’re finding great success!)

• Sarah Moret went from working in finance and venture capital to founding Curie, a natural deodorant and body care product line.

• Val Geisler went from working in the theater space to working in-house for a software company.

I posed this question on Twitter, and there were TONS of interesting stories of pivots shared in the replies here.

So, I guess what I’m saying today is: Yes. Things feel up-in-the-air (again.)

And that doesn’t feel great. Nobody likes uncertainty.

BUT! Moments like these also present opportunities to sharpen our skill sets, to find new ways to bring in money, to experiment with new service offerings, to lean into that creative project you’ve been putting on the back burner, or to make a brilliant, dramatic transition into something totally new.

The bottom line is: hang in there.

After all, necessity is the mother of invention, right?

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New: The Book Corner

Welcome to a new segment where I share a review of a book I've recently read and enjoyed (I'll spare you the ones that sucked.)

A bit on my reading preferences, in case you want to know what to expect here: I'm a big fan of fiction, but I also love a good sci-fi thriller from time to time, an insightful memoir, the occasional modern romance/beach reach, and historical fiction.

First up: Three Women by Lisa Taddeo

Lately, I've been reading books where the reader gets to go inside the minds of female narrators and swim in their thoughts, worries, and obsessions.

This one was no exception. It's the story of three different women (identities altered) who share their personal stories of love, loss, and internal thought processing around those events. Definitely a trigger warning for this one, but if you can compartmentalize, the writing is truly brilliant and the stories are a rare glimpse into the narrators' inner dialogues around personality-defining events. I read this in two days and couldn't put it down.

How to Map Your Ideal Workday as a Freelance Writer

Every so often, it's a good idea to set aside some time and map out what your ideal workday looks like.

The reason: You can't work toward that ideal until you know what it is.

Sit down and write it out, hour by hour.

Every time I do this, I'm surprised by what I learn.

• Sometimes I find that I need to build in more time away from my computer throughout the day with short breaks for walks, time outdoors, etc.

• Other times, I've discovered insights around what type of work I enjoy doing most (as well as what work I don't want to do more of.)

• I also pinpoint when I'm most productive...and when that productivity starts to drop off.

Simply documenting what you want your workday routine to look like means you can then nail down what you want/need to accomplish each day, which activities you want to ritualize, etc.

Cheatsheet to help you map your ideal workday

Here's how I do this (feel free to copy/paste this and use it for yourself!)

1. I wake up at ____________.

2. Before I jump into work-related tasks for the day, I spend _____ minutes doing ___________.

3. I start working at __________.

4. The first thing I do is _____________________________.

5. My first short break of the day is around ________, and during that time I ___________________.

6. Once that’s done, I devote ___________ (time) to ___________________ (task). With any remaining time, I do (task) ______________ before lunch.

7. For lunch, I take a _____________ minute break and eat something like _______________.

8. After lunch, I take care of _______________________ (task) for ___________ (time).

9. My mid-afternoon break is _____ minutes long, and during that time I _________________(task).

10. I wrap up the rest of the afternoon with ___________________(task/activity).

11. I’m done working for the day at ____________.

12. If I have any spare time during the day, I fit in some _________________ (tasks).

Using those answers, I then put together a prioritized to-do list (with the most important things first) and then create a loose schedule for myself, usually one week at a time.

Note: Most of the time, I find I'm most productive using the Pomodoro Technique (AKA working in short sprints), but others may find that methods like time blocking or themed days work better for them.

It's worth experimenting to figure out what model is most successful and productive for you.

If you take the time to answer these questions and find that your ideal workday is *impossible* within your current role, workload, or life situation, use it as a springboard to think about how you can get there.

It's waaaaaay cheaper than therapy, and it's a minimal time investment that can teach you a lot about your work brain, your priorities, and what steps you can take moving forward to get closer to that ideal Monday-Friday workflow.

If you’re looking for a spreadsheet format that’ll help you get a better grasp on your monthly workload (so you STOP over-booking yourself into burnout!), this $59 resource is a must-have.

If you're looking for inspiration or are curious about what my average workday looks like, I recently discussed that with my podcast co-host, Emma.

How to Turn your Freelance Writing Side Hustle into a Full-Time Job

Maybe you started freelance writing on the side to test the waters to see if you could make it work. 

Or maybe you just wanted to make a few extra bucks on the side...but fell in love with working for yourself. 

Now you think you’re ready to turn your part-time freelance writing into your full-time business, but you’re worried that you don’t know enough yet to make it work. 

Deciding to quit your job and become a full-time freelance writer isn’t an easy decision.

I’ve been there: I started freelancing while I was working full-time in public relations before I quit to work for myself. I battled a lot of the same doubts and questions that you’re facing right now. 

But guess what? You’re not alone in the worries and anxieties that come with this decision. So many other writers have taken the leap from part-time to full-time.

I recently asked this question on Twitter: What would you tell someone making the switch from part-time to full-time freelancing?

The following tips are lessons that both I and other freelance writers want you to know before going from part-time to full-time.

Start before you feel completely “ready”

Analysis paralysis keeps many writers who want to work for themselves stuck in a nights-and-weekends rut. 

They think everything has to be done and perfectly polished — from launching a professional website, to creating memorable branding, to nailing a powerful value proposition — before they can strike out on their own. 

But that’s fear talking. 

Here’s the truth: Those things won’t make or break your freelance writing business. You can piece together those elements as you go and iterate along the way. In fact, it’s usually better if you do.

The reason: Your freelance writing business will evolve over time. As you write on different topics and explore different types of writing, you’ll learn what work gets you most excited to sit down at the keyboard every morning. And you'll learn to make your website, branding, and value proposition more professional and polished over time. 

I can tell you this works because...it’s what I did. 

When I first quit my job to try freelance writing full-time, I took any and every job that came my way — because MONEY. It was exhausting work, but I learned a lot about myself (and where I could thrive as a freelance writer) during that time. 

The bottom line: I leaned into full-time freelancing before I had everything figured out and just improved along the way. You can do that, too.

Give yourself a financial runway

When you freelance part-time, you get used to having a full-time income plus the writing money you make on the side. Giving up a big chunk of that income is one of the scariest parts of becoming a full-time freelancer. 

You’re probably mulling over questions like these: 

• What if I never make as much as I do now?

• What if I lose my biggest client? 

• What if I’m not consistently busy and just scraping by?

• What if I can’t pay my bills?

It can take some time to build up your freelance income, but you can take away some of the income uncertainty by giving yourself a financial runway when you’re starting out.

Before you turn in your notice at work, cut your expenses and pad your savings account. Try to save up at least four months of living expenses (although more will never hurt) before striking out on your own. 

This runway will take a huge weight off your shoulders, as you won’t have to worry about whether you’ll be able to pay your bills each month while you find your footing as a freelancer.

Knowing you can go several months without making a dime will help you build a strong foundation for a successful freelance writing business (with a lot less uncertainty.)

Reach out to your network

You’ll need to take on more work when you become a full-time freelance writer, but where do you find it? Start with the people you already know. 

If you’re already freelancing part-time, you have three pools of people you can seek out to find new work: 

• Your current clients

• Your friends and family

• Your social media connections

Simply reach out with a friendly email that says something along the lines of, “Hey! I’m doing [X type of freelance writing work] now and am currently taking on new clients. If you or someone you know needs that type of help right now, please let me know!”

But don’t stop there. Let’s look at each of these avenues in more detail.

Ask your current clients

As part of your networking efforts, put an ask out to your current clients (even if that list is small.)

Tell the people you already work with that you’re going to have more time in your schedule soon and would love to take on more writing for them. 

For many clients, that’s music to their ears. They already know your work and you already know their business. If they have new projects available, sending it your way is a lot less risky than hiring a new writer to take it on. 

Tell your friends and family

Your friends and family will be some of the most supportive people you know, and they’ll usually do whatever they can to help you succeed. 

Tell them that you’re working to become a full-time freelance writer and that you’re looking for new clients. After you explain a little bit about what that means (trust me — they’ll be wondering), ask this one powerful question:

Do you know anyone who might need help with that? 

If they say yes, ask if they will put you in touch with them. Having your friend or family member introduce you builds automatic trust with that person — and trust goes a long way when talking to new clients.

Share on social media

Social networks are some of my favorite ways to connect with new clients — especially Twitter. 

For me, talking to people on Twitter in less than 280 characters led to some fantastic opportunities, such as:

• Getting a foot in the door for new writing gigs

• Linking up with editors at publications I wanted to write for

• Becoming friends with SO MANY of my fellow writers

The best part? There’s no big secret. You can use social media to find the same opportunities— but you need to use it well. 

Start by sharing that you’re going to be a full-time freelance writer soon and that you’re taking on new clients. There’s a good chance someone seeing it either needs your services or knows someone who does. 

From there, stay active. Be yourself on social media, but also be intentional with what you post and who you follow. Participate in relevant conversations. Make friends. Promote fellow writers’ work. The kindness will come back around.

Connect with other freelance writers

Freelance writing full-time can feel lonely — but you won’t be alone. 

There are many other freelance writers out there who know exactly what it’s like to quit a stable job and turn part-time writing work into a full-time writing business. 

Building relationships with other writers has been critical to my success (and it likely will be to yours as well.)

The freelance writing community is one of the most encouraging, supportive groups I’ve ever been a part of. Fellow writers will help you find more work opportunities, hone your writing and networking skills, and build lasting friendships. 

Some of my favorite places to connect with other writers are on social media and in freelance writing-focused communities such as:

• The Copywriter Club Facebook Group

• Being Freelance

• Copywriter Café

Go all-in on specialization

When I first started freelance writing, I took every job opportunity that came my way. I felt like I couldn’t afford to say no — ever. As a result, I wrote on all sorts of different topics and switched back and forth between blog posts, social media, landing pages, and web copy. 

I was a jack-of-all-trades (and a master of none.) It was exhausting and unsustainable. I was on the fast track to freelance burnout. Every assignment was a blank slate. I had to learn the subject matter from scratch.

Every. Single. Time. 

My process was tedious and time-consuming, which made it difficult to grow my business. 

But then I found my niche and started refusing work that didn’t fit what I was best at (thanks in big part to taking the Creative Class course.)

Specializing made me a much better freelance writer: Instead of starting over on every project, I was able to build on what I’d already learned. The foundation of knowledge and expertise grew with time, meaning I could charge higher rates.

As your knowledge of your niche grows, you’ll become:

• More efficient, since you won’t have to learn your subject’s basic facts on every assignment

• More of an expert, since you’ll spend your time deepening your subject matter knowledge

• More excited for your work, since you’re focused on a topic you enjoy writing about

Soon, people will see you as THE writer for your favorite topic, which will let you charge more for your work while spending less time looking for new clients.

Keep your business organized

When you’re freelancing on the side, it’s easy to treat your writing like a hobby instead of a business. But when you become a full-time freelance writer, you’ll need to be a lot more organized to keep your business running smoothly. 

As a business owner, you’ll be responsible for things that your company used to handle for you. 

Things like paying yourself, tracking your businesses expenses, paying quarterly tax estimates, and managing invoices can eat a ton of your precious time (and sanity) if you don’t have the right processes in place. 

At minimum, you’ll need three tools to keep your business organized:

• A project management tool to keep track of due dates, project requirements, and updates (this could be as simple as a Google spreadsheet)

• Invoicing software to send and track client invoices

• A business checking account to keep your business income and spending separate from your personal accounts

As your business grows, you might find the need for tools that do even more work for you. Software like Quickbooks can track nearly everything for your business, but may be too powerful for the average freelancer. Consider a free tool like Wave instead that can grow with your business.

The key, though, is making the business side of things efficient so you have more time to spend on tasks that bring in money.

Take the leap to full-time freelance writing

Making the transition from a part-time side gig into a full-fledged freelance writing career can feel like a scary thing, but with some careful planning and a strategy in place, you can take the leap and find yourself with the freedom and flexibility you’ve been searching for.

If you’re looking for a mentor or coach to help answer some of your burning questions, be sure to check out my coaching.

How are Freelance Writers Faring During COVID?

Remember the last time you drove through a rainstorm at night?

The road was dark and winding; thunder booming. You wished you could skip to the part where you were safe and cozy at home, but all you could do was focus on the next few feet in front of you. 

That’s what March 2020 felt like. 

Those of us who freelance were anxious about client work and felt unsure of whether or not our businesses would make it. And we couldn’t skip forward to the good part. We had to keep taking things a day at a time.

I’ve had some questions on how my freelance business is doing during COVID, so I’m here today to shed some light on my personal experience and to spotlight the freelancing industry as a whole during 2020 and beyond.

Let's jump right in.

COVID’s impact on the freelance industry

Starting with a zoomed out view of the freelancing industry as a whole, let's get some context on a larger scale before I get into my own experience as a freelance writer.

I’ve pulled some data to paint a picture of how COVID’s ripple effects have played out within the freelance market.

The rise of the freelance economy

Before COVID, freelancing was already growing as an industry and career path. But now, freelancing is an even bigger piece of the US economy...and it continues to grow.

Data shows that 36% of the workforce now performs freelance work and that the freelance economy contributed $1.2 trillion to the U.S. economy in 2020 — up 22% from that of 2019.

What’s even more surprising: More than two million Americans started freelancing in the past 12 months. That’s a lot of new freelancers.

These new freelancers seem to enjoy this type of work, too: The same study showed 60% of post-COVID freelancers said no amount of money would convince them to go back to a traditional job.

Current job market for freelancers

Maybe you’re wondering: Why would someone hire a freelancer right now? Aren’t companies facing layoffs and budget cuts?

In many ways, the pandemic actually accelerated the need for freelancers.

Instead of hiring full-time employees (and worrying about the added costs like benefits, training, and equipment costs), some companies decided to address their needs with external freelance help.

Payoneer's global survey of freelancers shows:

• 32% say demand has decreased following COVID-19

• 40% described demand as stable or continuing to grow

Plus: The average freelance hourly rate in 2020 was higher than that of 2018.

How has COVID impacted freelance writing?

Now let’s zoom into my realm: Freelance writing.

Like any other type of freelance business, freelance writers saw their fair share of ups and downs in 2020. It’s no secret that news outlets took a big hit. Study Hall, an online media community that offers resources for freelancers, compiled an ongoing list of outlets that have stopped commissioning freelance work, with about 90 media outlets listed so far.

In April, the New York Times estimated that 36,000 workers at news outlets had been laid off or had their positions reduced since the beginning of the outbreak.

Layoffs aren’t the only hurdles COVID presented for freelance writers, either. Writers in Charge published a survey assessing the impact of the pandemic on the freelance writing industry.

Here’s what they discovered:

• Late payments: Some clients are simply refusing to pay 48.8% of freelance writers due to the pandemic.

• Loss of business: 71% of freelance writers have lost business due to COVID-19.

• Project postponement: 58.7% of freelance writers have had projects postponed or cancelled due to COVID-19.

Unpredictable workloads

For some freelance writers, COVID sent workloads on a roller coaster ride. Many clients working with freelancers had to take a moment to regroup and reassess before signing on for more projects.

As budgets tightened, freelance writers like Amy Knightley completely lost their incoming business. “My pipeline froze,” she said. “Companies couldn't bring in a consultant to transform their marketing and business development while considering layoffs.”

For others, the impact was increased uncertainty.

“The biggest impact for me has been unpredictability,” said writer Ashley Cummings. “Usually I know what to expect from clients, but they've been all over the place during COVID.”

As time went on, however, business started to steady for some. All of Phil Paquette's freelance writing clients paused projects in March, but now things are looking up. “The few first months after the pandemic were rough, but I will have my best month ever (in seven years of freelancing) this month,” he said.

Writer Ana Gotter was in a similar boat: “Things picked up around November, and I’m almost back to pre-COVID income levels,” she said.

Moving through uncertainty

Despite these uncertain times, some found that the dramatic turn of events created a perfect opportunity to make the leap and try freelancing full-time.

That’s what marketing consultant Grace Clarke did.

Early on in her professional career, she began investing in her knowledge and expertise. She learned everything she could about different platforms, including TikTok—even though no one was hiring TikTok strategists yet.

“What some called a 'hobby' (and something I couldn’t bill clients for) later became an advantage.”

Investing her time and deepening her knowledge about new platforms helped Grace meet client needs later. And now, her business is booming because of it.

“I hate saying this: The pandemic helped my business take off,” Clarke said. “I was just more ready than some. Without realizing it, I’d been putting in a ton of work to get into a position that allowed me to deliver when my industry shifted.”

Adapting to change ​

Why are some freelance businesses thriving more than others?

The short answer: it depends.

Writer Paula Beaton lost 90% of her clients at the start of the pandemic since most of them were in the travel industry. However, she adapted quickly. “I've diversified a little and have clients across a range of industries now...and I’m busier than I was before COVID hit,” she said.

Some freelancers (self included) found their workload increasing because of clients’ ability to pivot quickly and take a digital-first approach.

Writer Kat Ambrose shared that most (if not all) of her software-as-a-service clients saw an uptick in usage with more people working from home, so they wanted to push content on how people could use their products to do their best work at home.

Freelance writer Kat Boogaard had a similar experience. “A lot of the companies I write for in the productivity and project management spaces were in higher demand than ever with remote work. My business has thrived despite COVID.”

Other companies took advantage of their downtime, hiring freelancers like brand storyteller Amanda Gareis to help with a rebrand or pivot. “2020 was my biggest and busiest year so far,” she said.

Overall: It’s pretty incredible to hear how many businesses were able to flourish during a worldwide pandemic.

My personal experience

I’ve also experienced a busy period despite COVID, which I’m grateful for. 

Back in March, I considered applying for a PPP loan (I ultimately opted not to) and was feeling anxious about the future of my client work. I had no idea if companies would cut freelance support as they got conservative with budgets or if they’d lean into online content creation with events and in-person marketing off the table. 

Thankfully it’s been the latter, and I’ve kept so busy this year that I’ve been getting help with overflow assignments and sending referrals to fellow writers a handful of times each week. I’m so thankful (and sort of shocked) that my annual revenue was up 70% over that of 2019.

Part of the reason: I haven’t been traveling, so I’ve had even more availability than usual to take on new projects.

In my experience, overall, it seems like many teams have leaned into content creation—trying to tap into the captive internet audience while so many of us are at home. 

What’s next? 

I keep thinking about this quote by E.L. Doctorow and how it relates to freelance writing:

“Writing is like driving at night in the fog. You can only see as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.” 

We don’t know what 2021 will bring for the world of freelance writing, but we’ll all just keep putting one foot in front of the other, pushing forward into the unknown. Even if it’s at a snail’s pace.

We have to keep going. 



Common Freelance Writing Questions Answered

Last week after I did a live Q&A session, I realized it’d probably be helpful to pull together a FAQ of sorts that puts answers to common freelancing-related questions all in one place. 

Honestly, I don’t know why I hadn’t done this already. UGH.

So, without further ado: Here are my quick, short-form answers to common freelancing questions and links to longer-form reads that answer these questions more fully. 

I hope you bookmark this page and share it with others.

How do I build a freelance writing business while working full-time?

First: Start now. Don’t wait until your website, branding, and value proposition are perfect. You can polish things up along the way.

Also: Start with basic outreach. Email or message people within your existing network of connections to let people know you’re taking on side projects (and explain a bit about what you’re offering.)

My freelance career started while I was working full-time for a non-profit: I just started asking around to see if anyone I knew needed the writing services I was offering (or if they knew someone who did.) That opened doors I wouldn’t have known about otherwise, and because there was an existing relationship there, it was much more effective than cold pitching. People who referred me essentially pre-validated me to the person they connected me with.

I talked about this in depth on Ryan Robinson’s podcast.

How do I price/quote freelance writing projects? 

I wrote a whole post that outlines how and why you should explain your pricing. It gets into the value proposition and how to go about communicating that to potential freelance writing clients.

I also have a hidden page on my website that outlines common questions around my rates and pricing that I include when responding to anyone who submits a query about my pricing structure.

More on this here.

How do you find freelance writing clients?

I put together a longer post on this that outlines a multi-pronged approach. It requires some significant time and work, but is highly effective. Here’s the short version:

1. Use Your Existing Connections. Even though it may have been a while since you last spoke to all of those different people, you should check in with your connections to do two things: 1) Tell them that you’re available for freelance writing opportunities and 2) See if they need help in that department, or if they know someone who does.

2. Join a Group of Fellow Freelancers. Participating in these groups can help you build up a network of connections—and freelancers are known for being huge generators of referrals. In fact, FreelancersUnion found that as many as 81% of freelancers refer work to each other, while 52% partner up on projects.

3. Browse Job Boards. There are a few job boards out there that are worth checking out—but this is the last place I’d suggest looking for freelance writing gigs. You can waste a lot of time applying for jobs here, and without an existing personal connection, it can be tough to know what you’re getting into.

What is a common mistake newbies to freelance writing often make?

Tying up too much time, having to over-educate clients, saying yes to any and all gigs, not having a niche…the list goes on and on (more on these here.)

How do you manage freelance writing clients?

No fancy CRM or tools: I use a basic Google Sheet with a few key fields. The template for this is available for students of Creative Class.

For people looking for a freelance writing coach, what should they look for and how can they get the most out of it?

I’ve been offering freelance writing coaching for more than three years now, so here’s what I encourage potential students to consider:

• Personality: Is the coach a good fit for the type of mentor you need? See if you can do an intro conversation with them to get a read on how the two of you gel. You don’t want to commit to working with someone whose personality rubs you the wrong way.

• Objectives: What outcomes have they outlined as part of their coaching program? You want to be sure they have a clear process in place and can help you work toward specific goals that you care about. If they don’t reference concrete outcomes as part of the coaching program, it’s a red flag.

• Pricing: Can you realistically afford the program? And are payment plans available if you can’t do an up front payment in full? Be sure to ask.

• Past student insight: Ask to speak with a few of the coach’s past coaching clients to get honest feedback on what those people really thought about working with that person.

• Timing: Does the coach have availability to work with your schedule? And do the time zones work for both of you? If not, is there a workaround?

More on this here.

As a new freelance writer with no connections whatsoever, how do I grow my network?

First and foremost: Take a service-based approach to your networking efforts.

From there:

1. Pick a niche. Once you focus on a specific arena, you can start looking for the communities within that world. Look for Slack groups, Twitter chats, Facebook groups, etc. where these people are gathering and start conversations with people there. Emed yourself in those established communities.

2. Follow experts in your field. Look to smart, established voices in your niche and follow them. Engage them. Comment on the things they’re sharing and participate in the conversations they start online.

3. See if you can apprentice with an established freelancer. Sometimes you’ll find someone more established in your niche who’s willing to bring you onboard you as an apprentice of sorts. This will allow you to get an inside look at how they work, what gets them hired, etc.

4. Start expanding your reach and influence. Look for places you can contribute content that spotlights your expertise on authority-building sites, podcasts, etc. People will start to remember your name and face, and you may even get poached from these places for potential gigs.

More on this here.

What skills have improved your freelance writing career?

1. Do what you say you’re going to do.

2. Making friends and being nice.

3. Being good at Twitter.

4. Writing handwritten thank you notes.

5. Following up.

6. Being more confident in my abilities.

7. Generally getting my *ish together as a businessperson.

More on this here.

This article originally appeared in my newsletter, A Cup of Copy. Sign up and get these free tips sent right to your inbox every other Wednesday.

Are Freelance Writers Who Sell Things "The Enemy"?

No writing lesson today guys. This one’s a bit more general.

Recently on the Creative Class Podcast (the one for freelancers I co-host with Paul Jarvis), we tackled a topic that’s been bouncing around in my brain: Are people who work for themselves and sell things *really* the enemy?

Paul and I both sell digital products online, and even though it’s new to me, I find myself feeling caught in the crosshairs of this conversation.

Because, well...now I’m part of it.

But does that mean I’m “the enemy”? 
God, I hope not.

Now, yeah. I get it: There 100% are self-employed people out there who will try their damnedest to hawk their crap at you. They’ll send you random LinkedIn messages and Facebook friend requests just to ping you the moment you accept with a sales pitch. 

And that sucks.

But it’s not the rule across the board. Not everyone fits into this category just because they work for themselves and also sell products.

Adding sustainability to a freelance writing business

I mean, think about it: It’s not easy to run a freelance writing business.

Making it work for the long-haul requires a lot of hard work, a dash of luck, and great timing. Also, did I mention WORK?

But lately it seems like when people introduce products (or even productized services for that matter), there’s an outcry of, “HOW DARE YOU, SCAMMER!?”

(Paul pointed out that Adam Wathan tweeted about this a while ago and it’s just so true.)

Even worse: Sometimes the angry folks revolt and do things to hurt the freelancer.

• They mark emails as spam when they’re not, which can lead to that person’s email marketing account being suspended. (Better: Just unsubscribe.)

• They report purchases as fraud or file disputes when they actually paid for the item, but just decided they didn’t like/want it. These chargebacks and reports can also lead to account suspension for the business owner. (Better: Just ask for your money back.)

• They rant on social media and/or subtweet about business owners and their products, spreading their rage around. (Better: Just reach out to the person in a non-public forum and share your two cents directly.)

See what I mean? It can get ugly pretty fast. 

While I’ve been fortunate not to have run into many of these issues myself, my audience is still fairly small. (And...now I’m crossing my fingers it doesn’t happen. I need your love and approval pleaseandthankyou.)

But the thing is: This does happen more often than you’d think. 

Freelance writers CAN sell things without being gross

While you might just be working hard to make your one-woman freelance writing business more sustainable, you now have to factor in the added weight of criticism and complaints from the naysayers who just want to crap on what you’re doing. 

(In all honesty, most of these are what my husband and I call “you’re not mad at ME” situations. The person is pissed off about something, but who they’re venting at or what they’re venting about isn’t the real source of anger.)

So what I’m saying today is: Don’t lump us all into one steaming pile, eh? 

Maybe sift through and find the good stuff. And if you can’t find it, don’t get angry. Maybe just look somewhere else and let the rest fade away as noise.

There are plenty of online “makers” who, well, they’re gonna make stuff. And they might sell it, too. 

But most of the time, it’s not coming from a place of greed or HELL YEAH, CAPITALISM! 

Maybe it’s more of a, “Hey, I’ll try this and see if it's interesting/popular/valuable for people...and maybe they’ll buy it.”

That’s where I’m at, at least.

This article originally appeared in my newsletter, A Cup of Copy. Sign up and get these free tips sent right to your inbox every other Wednesday.

When Freelance Writing Makes You Want to Mow Lawns

Spring is finally rolling around, so I’ve been getting outdoors as much as I can.

This winter felt like it was an especially long one, and I’ve been dreaming of green grass for months now.

The other day I took a long walk on one of my favorite paths. The sun was shining, the air was fresh, and I actually felt warm. (#alwayscold)

On a day like that, I found myself going back to a thought I’ve had many times before:

Sometimes I just wanna mow lawns.

I see city workers mowing in the park and think to myself: Wouldn’t it be nice to be outdoors all summer and to always be surrounded by the smell of fresh grass?

There'd be no heavy mental load with research and writing all day. Just mowing.

At the end of the day, I’d be done and could shut my work brain off entirely.

I’d get soak up some vitamin D and have plenty of time to listen to music, or podcasts, or audiobooks.

But...then I played this scenario out a bit in my head a bit more.

I've come to some conclusions.

Number one: It’s all about perspective.

Mowing lawns isn’t a glamorous job. It’s physically exhausting, it’s hot, and it can be pretty mindless (which can lead to excruciating boredom.) The work is never done. You sweat all day long and constantly swat at mosquitos. You get sunburned. Your back hurts.

In my mind, I have this mental picture of serene days spent in the sunshine and a sea of green, but the reality is pretty different.

I’ve been trying to remember this any time I find myself resentful of my workload and dreaming of doing something else.

Number two: I can mow my own damn lawn!

Guess who has a yard that needs mowing? Me.

If I want to mow so badly, then I need to be saying NO more often and handing off opportunities to other people so I can go outside and mow my own damn lawn, right?

I know that I value soaking up outdoor time while I can during the warm months, so that means I need to adjust my workload accordingly.

Maybe that means I work more in the first and last quarters of the year and slow things down for April-September. As a freelancer, I have the ability to do that...it’s just a matter of DOING IT and giving myself permission.

So what's the point of all this rambling on about mowing lawns?

To remind you (and me) that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side (...or in the park.)
 

A lot of our problems in life (work, personal, family) can be solved by adjusting our perspectives and giving ourselves permission to make decisions based on what really matters to us.

The bottom line: Everything has pros and cons.

So if you want to mow lawns this summer, do that. I know I will be.

But as you’re out there sweating and swatting at bugs, remember to also be grateful for the days you spend indoors behind your computer in the nice, cool air conditioning.

It's all about perspective.

This article originally appeared in my newsletter, A Cup of Copy. Sign up and get these free tips sent right to your inbox every other Wednesday.

Recap: Five Years of Full-time Freelance Writing

Five years ago this month, I left my full-time job in PR to try freelance writing full time. I gave myself 18 months to see if I could (in the words of Tim Gunn) MAKE IT WORK.

Long story short: It’s still working. I’m still out here, freelancin’ it up.

I feel like this is a big deal. I’ve officially been freelancing longer than I’ve been doing any other job. It’s also longer than I’ve ever kept a pair of shoes.

But the thing is...when you work alone, from home...largely by yourself...it feels like there’s no one to celebrate these milestones with you. Ya know?

If I worked in an office, we’d at least go out to lunch to celebrate or eat some crappy ice cream cake. (Ice cream cake is gross. Just saying.)

So, I decided I’m going to reflect on the past five years with you guys. Okay? You don’t even have to buy me lunch.

Recap: The Highlights From 5 Years of Full-Time Freelance Writing

2013

• Started with 2 contract clients for social media management

• Tried a lot of different types of writing work for about 234,135 different industries

• Made more than I had been making in the PR job (whew!)

• DIDN’T QUIT (first year was so intimidating/challenging)

2014

• Spoke at local conferences/associations on social media

• Started to realize I didn’t love social media management

• Took the Creative Class and decided to niche down, focusing on blog content for SaaS/eCommerce companies

• Outsourced taxes/financials to a real life accountant and set up a retirement plan

2015

• Spent part of the year traveling, presenting, and teaching social media (only to definitively realize I don’t like doing that)

• Introduced the KaleighMoore.com site (shoutout to my husband/biz partner Brandon for building that for me)

• Launched THIS NEWSLETTER shortly thereafter

• Went to my first conference as a freelancer and met up with my pal Emma for some co-working in Austin

2016

• Formed a business LLC

• Got real comfy in the SaaS niche

• Finally learned to say no to projects that weren’t a good fit

• Took some amazing trips

• Introduced one-on-one coaching for freelance writers

2017

• Started Creative Class revamp with Paul Jarvis

• Co-hosted my first podcast (still am!)

• More lovely international travel

• Officially put myself on a salary

• Worked really hard to establish better work-life balance

• Launched Yeah Write Club

• Took another co-working retreat with Emma
  

Pros and Cons of Freelance Writing Full-Time

What’s been great vs. what’s been sucky so far:

GREAT THINGS

1. Freedom and flexibility. Holy crap do I love choosing when I get up in the morning. And wearing whatever I want all day (ahem, pajamas). And being able to take my dog on a walk when I feel like it. That is a major perk that I still pinch myself over every day.

1. Opportunities galore. I’ve found that if you’re a do-er and are good at the thing you do, freelancing presents so. much. opportunity. You can earn a lot, work with amazing clients around the world, and if you’re efficient, not be chained to a desk for eight hours a day.

1. The people. I’ve been fortunate to get to know some very smart and interesting freelancers over the past five years (who I wouldn’t have known if I weren’t freelancing.) So thankful for a handful of friends who “get it” and can relate with this type of work, who act as a sounding board, and who occasionally serve as co-workers when I need to vent.

SUCKY THINGS:

1. It can be lonely. I’ve talked about this a lot before. The bottom line is I never realized how important human interaction was for me until I didn’t have it anymore. I’ve found some ways to circumvent this and am feeling a lot less isolated these days, but it’s something I have to be mindful of so it doesn’t sneak up on me and give me the sads.

2. No guarantees. I’ve been fortunate to have a freelance career that’s progressively grown over the past five years, which I think is thanks to hard work and a lot of luck. However, there are no guarantees that this will keep up. I never know how much I’m going to make each month, for example. Sometimes I do miss having some certainty, but so far, I’ve been able to leverage the uncertainty as fear...and that fear keeps me working hard and pushing forward.

3. It’s hard to explain freelancing to other people. Five years in and I still haven’t figured out how to tell other people what I do (in a way they’ll understand.) It’s frustrating when people associate freelancing with scraping by, ‘not real work’, etc. Still working on this one.

The big picture: Freelance Writing as a Career

I think, looking back, there are a few big things I’ve learned over the past five years of freelance writing.

For one thing, I’ve learned a lot about myself. I spend a lot of time in my own head. There are pros and cons to that, just like with anything else, but it’s given me the time and space to figure out what’s important to me, what I do and don’t like, and what ‘works’ for me as a person and as a business owner.

I’ve learned things like:

• I have to build group activities into my life. Be it yoga class, Skype chats, whatever...my brain is healthier when I make it a priority to be sociable.

• I have a tendency to over-work. Building boundaries into my process (like office hours, restricted phone time, etc.) helps keep me from being “on” all the time.

• I don’t enjoy speaking to large groups. Talking to a big room of people makes me SO nervous that I can hardly eat or sleep in the days leading up to the event. Not cool.

• Conferences aren’t really my jam, either. I don’t like having to be in a certain place at a certain time. I’d rather just meet up with people afterwards for dinner.

• I’m very into collaborative efforts. I do well in a setting where not all of the responsibility for a project is on my shoulders and like a small team environment (largely in the world of things like ‘let’s make a thing!’ or ‘let’s plan an event!’)

I’ve also learned that I am not great at thinking about the future. Give me a to-do list and I’ll knock it out right away...but ask me where I see myself a year from now and I’m all ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

That’s where I’ve been really fortunate to have a partner who is good at future-thinking. I’ve never had a formal business coach before, but Brandon (husband) has filled that role for me. Over the past five years, he’s encouraged me to do important growth-related things, like setting goals for myself (Ex: Try to get three bylines in major publications by X date), learning (he told me about Creative Class), and sticking with long-term efforts...like this newsletter.

I think it’s important to find someone like that who can help you work through those important questions, like:

• What kind of work do you actually enjoy doing (and want to do more of in the future?)

• What steps do you need to take to get to that point?

• What things are you not doing right now that maybe you should be?

• Are you challenging yourself?

• Are you taking care of yourself outside of work?

In general, having someone who keeps you accountable and forward-thinking means you’re building in sustainability to your business. It’s helped save me from burnout and motivates me to try new things.

Will I still be freelance writing five years from today? I dunno. But I’m happy with how things have gone up to this point.

It’s hard work, but it’s also rewarding.

Speaking of rewards...I think I’ll treat myself to a spa day now. 💆

P.S. S3 of Creative Class podcast is live! YAY!

This article originally appeared in my newsletter, A Cup of Copy. Sign up and get these free tips sent right to your inbox every other Wednesday.

Why Freelance Writers Should Follow Up More Often

There’s one thing that I’m always shocked that, in general, freelance writers don’t do very well.

Know what it is?

It’s following up. The classic “check in” or “touch base.”

You know: It’s that little nudge of an email that essentially says, “Hey, remember me? I’m here and open for business if you (or anyone you know) needs me right now. Let’s work together again.”

It’s so simple...and yet so many freelance writers fail at this.

What Happens When Freelance Writers DON’T Follow Up?

When freelance writers forget to do follow up or check in with past clients and things get slow, they think, “CRAP! My business is going to fold. It’s all over. This is the end.”

When in reality, they probably have a list of people they haven’t checked in with in a while who need help. They just forgot/are too busy to reach out on their own.

If you haven’t heard from an old client in a while, that’s not to say they don’t need you, like you, or even miss you.

They probably just have 120,523 things to do and it’s your job to be proactive and say, “Hiiiiii, I’m still here if you need me and also here are some ideas of things I could do for you.”

Following up, checking in (whatever you wanna call it) has helped keep my freelance writing business sustainable (and growing!) over the past five years. And it only takes a few minutes to do.

So how can you do it, too? Even if you have the WORST memory or hate spreadsheets?

How Freelance Writers Can Get Better at Following Up

There are a few pretty simple options that are free (shut-out to my fellow cheap people!) Let’s look at ‘em.

Option 1: Set up reminders within your inbox.

I’m a Zoho user when it comes to email. And what’s nice about that is that they have this built-in tool that allows you to set up a lil’ reminder to email someone back if they haven’t responded to an email within a specified amount of time.

Source

So what I do is this: Whenever I wrap up a project with a client, I go to the last email they sent me (usually a project wrap-up message) and set a reminder on it so that if that person hasn’t responded or emailed me within 5-6 weeks of that particular message, I get a ping that says, “Hey, dummy! Time to follow up with this person.”

It doesn’t really say that because #selflove, but it’s basically the sentiment.

Gmail also has this feature built right in.

It takes about two seconds to set this up and helps me stay on top of my follow-ups without any painful spreadsheet maintenance (because I hate spreadsheets.)

Option 2: Use a smartypants tool.

If you don’t have this feature within your email inbox, you can always use a tool to get the job done. FollowUpThen does basically the exact same thing. You can set up as many as 50 email reminders a month...FOR FREE...which is music to my ears.

Source

Also very low-tech, which means it’s easy and won’t give you a headache when you try to figure out how to use it. Lots of other features available there too, but the bare-bones functionality works well if that’s all you need it for.

Option 3: Spreadsheet.

If you’re a spreadsheet person, keep one with all of your clients and note the date you last worked with them.

Source

The trouble with this route is that spreadsheets often have to be checked manually, which we don’t always remember to do. So if you have a tip for this or know of some handy AirTable trick, email me and I will add it in when I post this over on my blog (with credit to you, DUH.)

---

The bottom line: Don’t forget the people you already know and like to work with. If you can be the check-in fairy, you’ll make their lives a teensy bit easier and keep your freelance writing business busy, too.

This article originally appeared in my newsletter, A Cup of Copy. Sign up and get these free tips sent right to your inbox every other Wednesday.

Should Freelancer Writers Take a Vacation?

Warm weather is my favorite.

In central Illinois, where I live, it’s cold and gray for about 55-60% of the year. Maybe more.

But when it’s warm, I come back to life. I love being outdoors.

• Brooks (doggo) and I go for long walks in the morning.

• At night, I go for bike rides when it cools off and take in all the nighttime smells.

• Brandon and I usually take some trips (this time last year we were in France and Spain!)

Maybe you can relate. Or maybe it’s something you’re wrestling with.

See, when you work for yourself (or from home, for that matter), you have this incredible ability to enjoy a flexible schedule. As long as you’re getting your work done, you can take the time to sit and read in your outdoor hammock, to go for a walk or a swim, or to work in your garden.

This is kind of the "anti-hustle" mentality, which I know is not always popular.

For some, the focus is fast growth, authority-building, #MAKEthatMONEY--all the time.

Don't get me wrong: I, too, like to #MAKEthatMONEY.

But for me, I want to work efficiently, with clients I really like, on projects I enjoy--and really, that's it. I don't want ALL THE JOBS.  Because I still want some time for "me" stuff.

The problem is, as I’ve said time and time again: You have to give yourself permission to have time for "me" stuff.

Am I perfect at it? Nope. I still struggle with workaholic tendencies.

However, I’m fortunate to have a partner who nudges me to get outside on the nice days when I’m glued to the computer. If you don’t have someone who does that for you, (or you do, but you need to hear it again) I hope this email is the reminder you need.

My message for you today is: Life is short, and your work will always be there when you get back. Plus, if you can work more efficiently, a shifted workday won’t be a big deal anyway.

Just remember:

The average person only gets 4 hours of core work done per day.

Parkinson’s Law says we fill the time allotted to a task--so don’t give yourself too much time to complete your work. And when you're done with your work, be done! Get up and out of your chair.

I could talk about this for a long time--in fact, I already have.

P.S. Looking for some ideas on how to work more efficiently this summer? Here's the master list of everything I use on a day-to-day basis to work smarter, not harder.

This article originally appeared in my newsletter, A Cup of Copy. Sign up and get these free tips sent right to your inbox every other Wednesday.

Insights on Productivity & Freelance Writing

A few weeks ago, I shared a master list of everything that’s helped me freelance and write for the past four years on Twitter.

From software tools to the convertible standing desk I use--it’s all there.

But then I was video chatting with my friend Val Geisler.

I mentioned to her how much I love virtual conversations like the one we were having, and how I had been wrestling with a need to get out of the house and feel more connected lately.

She said something to the extent of how it was funny that even with my ideal workspace setup at home (with everything I need to be highly productive)--I still had this urge to get out of there.

That was a lightbulb moment for me. She had a point.

I realized that even with the best tools, the comfiest chair, and a WHOLE ROOM dedicated to work, there was still a missing piece that was keeping me from being 100% laser focused on my freelance projects.

And it had to do with me.

Not the tools. Not the desk.

I needed to think beyond the tools and resources and address the internal aspects of freelancing and owning a small business to get to a better place.

After some reflection, here are two big takeaways that came from this line of thinking. Maybe (hopefully) they will help you, too.

Number one: It’s important to test what you know about yourself.

We all feel like we generally know ourselves, right? We know what we like, what we don’t like, and what we’re good at.

I felt this way, too--but I wanted to test my assumptions and double-check.

I started with two different personality assessments: The Strengths Finder and the PDP.

These personality tests confirmed a few things for me (like my love for learning and my poor ability to handle criticism.)

But I also learned that I am highly extroverted--which was kind of surprising to me. I spend most of my time working alone--and as a result--I’d started to think of myself as an introvert. Wrong-o.

These findings were a good reminder that I actually thrive when working and interacting with others. It also reminded me I needed to be better about getting out of my home office and scheduling facetime with other human adults. I had let that slip a bit and was quickly sliding into winter hermit mode.

The good news is I’m already taking steps to act on this and am putting myself “out there” more.

- In February, I’ll be doing a test run with a local co-working space. It’s only a few blocks away from me, has huge windows (yay!), and is shared by just a few other female business owners.

- In recent weeks I’ve been going to a new aerial fitness class. So far the class size has been super small (it’s not an easy class!) but I’m hoping that I’ll get to know some of the people there better in the coming months. If nothing else, it gets me out of the house.

- I also reached out to the local library and am leading some free resume-writing classes (in person). I don’t love public speaking, but I wanted to put my writing skills to good use in a way that could help others. The first one went really well last week and there were lots of good questions from attendees.

But that's not all. There was something else I realized...

Number Two: It’s important to gain some mental control.

When you work alone (or when you’re the boss), you spend a lot of time inside your own head.

There’s a lot of responsibility that falls on you on a day-to-day basis, and it can be easy to let your monkey brain take over--constantly hopping from one thought to the next during every waking moment.

It causes a cycle of anxiety and stress that can eat away at your focus during the day and can generally make you an unpleasant person (speaking from first-hand knowledge.)

For a long time, my “monkey brain” was especially bad when I’d lay down and close my eyes to sleep at night. My brain would kick into high gear, cycling through the day’s problems, tomorrow’s to-do list, my anxieties around forward momentum and long-term plans, etc. etc.

But it wasn’t until I stepped back and thought about this that I realized how much damage the never-ending cycle was doing. It was affecting my personal life and my work.

So, again, I’ve been taking steps to work on this. Here’s how:

1. Setting up a good sleep routine.

Brandon, my husband, has to live with me and has seen the effects that poor/no sleep have on me, so he suggested we set up a nightly routine to help me prepare my brain for sleepy time each night.

And guess what? It works.

Here’s what it looks like:

• Put down the phone (and don’t look at it!) after 9:30 p.m.

• Prepare the bedroom for sleep. I turn on my white noise machine, close the blinds and curtains, and turn down the sheets so I can basically sleepwalk into bed.

• Turn off all the lights and put on a “boring” show in the living room. (I’m a big fan of Rick Steves, BBC docs, or ASMR videos for this. I don’t think they’re boring but they’re not character-driven stories you can get wrapped up in, ya know?)

• Then, when I’m nice and sleepy, I just walk a few steps into the bedroom and basically fall onto the bed.

• Wake up at the same time each day. My FitBit alarm goes off at 7:30, and I’m out of bed by 8:00 at the very latest.

Following this routine has made major improvements in my sleep quality--and it’s almost completely eliminated my nighttime ruminations. Plus: Better focus during the work day and far fewer problems with chronic migraines.

2. Experimenting with meditation.

I’ve been doing yoga for years, but I’ve never been particularly good at the meditation part.

I mentioned in the last newsletter that I’ve been reading a book on the topic, so now that I understand what meditation is really about, I’ve been giving it a second shot with the help of Headspace. There are lots of apps/tools you can use for guided meditation, and I think having some guidance goes a long way.

I have to say, even as little as 3-5 minutes a day has been helping me get better at observing my thoughts rather than being engulfed by them. I have a lot of work to do, but practice makes perfect, right?

The lesson: Even the best setup won’t fix everything

To summarize: It’s easy to buy the stuff that helps us be more productive and fulfilled during our working hours.

You can set up the ~most baller~ workspace possible, but to be truly focused and productive, there’s still a lot of internal work to do, too.

It’s not easy. It’s not always fun.

There are still days when I have ZERO desire to meditate for even three minutes. There are DEFINITELY days when I don’t want to get out of my pajamas and go meet someone for coffee. At all.

But (for me at least) doing these things is just as important as getting a new computer or finding the perfect workflow for writing. Maybe more so, in fact.

My challenge for you: If you’re not doing any (or at least some) of these things already, make some time this week for it.

This article originally appeared in my newsletter, A Cup of Copy. Sign up and get these free tips sent right to your inbox every other Wednesday.

I Helped Create an Online Course for Freelancers!

Over the summer, I helped re-vamp The Creative Class, Paul Jarvis’s course on the business side of freelancing.

It covers: Clients. Pricing. Landing projects. Getting paid. Managing revisions (endless revisions). Finding clients and connecting with them in a way that feels right.

So far we’ve helped over 2,500 freelancers learn how to run their freelance businesses better (and we’d love to have the chance to help you as well.)

We also kicked off a podcast we recorded for it, withdifferent freelancing-related topics covered in each season.

I took The Creative Class back in 2014 (when I was a year into freelancing) and it helped me do a lot of important things.

Things like: Finding a niche. Getting processes in place for more efficient client onboarding. Implementing a strategy for raising my rates.
 
 In short, it changed my business. Since taking the course, I’ve increased my income by an average of 50% year-over-year.
 
When Paul sent out an email asking for feedback on the course before he took a dive into re-working it for version 2.0, I responded. I asked for things like ready-to-use templates and email scripts. And I offered to help create those (with my writerly skills, and all).
 
Paul emailed me back and said, “Yeah. Let’s do it. And actually, I want to bring you in to add your insight to this course as well.”
 
So we got to work. Over the summer, we re-wrote every lesson from scratch, created new templates and email scripts, and built a freelancing course that’s stronger and better than before (which I honestly didn’t think was possible).


 Learn more about what all is included in the course right here.
 

My Daily Routine as a Freelance Writer

Several readers have asked about my daily writing routine, so today, I wanted to share it with you.
 
Now, keep in mind that just because this routine works for me, it doesn’t mean it’s going to for you.
 
Sometimes I see these types of posts and it gives off the impression you have to mirror another person’s routine to achieve the same results. Not so.

Feel free to steal some of my tactics and approaches, but by NO MEANS do you have to do what I do to be a productive writer.
 
Whew, glad we cleared that up. Now, let’s get to it.
 
7:30-8:15 am: News and coffee
 
After my Fitbit alarm goes off around 7:30 and I make it out of bed, I usually start the day by taking care of the pets and then stumbling around the kitchen still half-asleep to fix some coffee and a small breakfast (usually biscotti or a piece of toast.)
 
Then I turn on CBS News and get caught up on what’s happening in the world for 10-15 minutes while I eat, wake up, and check email on my phone.

8:15-8:45 am: To-do list and email
 
Now that I’m awake, I go into the office and check out my whiteboard and wall calendar to see what all I need to do today. I make a fresh list at the end of every day so I don’t forget anything important. From there, I make another list in my steno notebook (on my desk) that’s prioritized based on what I need to accomplish and in what order. I LOVE LISTS.
 
(More on some of my office tools here.)
 
Then I plop down at my desk and start responding to emails first. There’s usually not a ton of catching up to do because most of my client work is laid out in advance on a content calendar (most use CoSchedule). For my coaching/mentoring work, I only work with 1-2 people at a time, so the workload is very manageable and focused.

After that’s done, I focus in for my first writing sprint of the day. Most of the time I’m writing blog content for a client.
 
If I’m writing a new post, I always start with an outline. Most of the companies I work with are into long-form content right now (1,000+ words), so most weeks my average word count is high. Here’s how I structure long-form content.
 
As I write, I use my own version of the Pomodoro Technique, which means I write in uninterrupted sprints of 15-20 minutes at a time with a 3-5 minute break between each sprint. During breaks, I usually check in on Twitter as it’s basically my virtual office water cooler.
 
I’m totally distracted by music/TV, so the house is completely silent for most of the workday--which is both eerie and somber but very much work-conducive for me.
 
When I’m writing, I sit (I use a Herman Miller Aeron chair) and a large Mac monitor with split screens so I can see the doc I’m working on (in Google Docs) as well as whatever research I’m referencing on the other side.

10:00: Walk
 
Around 10:00 each day I take Brooks (dog) for a mile to two-mile walk, unless it’s too hot out or raining. I live in the Midwest, so it’s right around the 90-degree mark right now and verrrry humid.
 
BUT, it’s good exercise for both of us and keeps me from getting too stiff from sitting for extended periods. Sometimes I take a podcast to listen to, or sometimes I use this time to think over a piece I’m writing about.
 
10:30 am- 12:00 pm: Writing time
 
After our walk, my mind is clear and I can really focus on diving back into writing or researching. For about 90 minutes (this time with far fewer breaks), I’ll work on fleshing out an in-depth blog post, sourcing images, finding examples to reference, and looking at data I can leverage to make the post a worthwhile read.
 
I write pretty efficiently during this period, and can typically knock out about 40-50% of a post in a single sitting (pending no disruptions.)
 
12:00-12:30 pm: Lunch
 
I don’t take a long lunch break because by this time I’m in the zone with work and want to get back to it. Today I had a gluten free bagel sandwich, grapes, and green tea. (Loving matcha right now.)
 
During the summer I like to eat out on our front porch in the shade and get some fresh air. It’s a good way to let my brain rest and recharge before jumping back in. If I'm not outside, I usually turn on an episode of The Office or Gilmore Girls that I’ve already seen 1,352 times.

12:30-2:30 pm: More writing
 
More sprints, more writing. I’m super productive during this stretch, fueled by a full stomach and caffeine. If I hit a writing rut, I either take steps to fix it or decide to move on to something else.
 
2:30 pm: Walk #2 or outdoor playtime
 
By this time Brooks is bored, so I either take him for another walk or out back to chase tennis balls in the yard. He could do this all day. I cannot.
 
3:00-4:15 pm: Work + wrap up
 
After we come back in, I find a good stopping place and wrap up whatever I was last working on. Then I start wrapping up the day by answering emails, occasionally setting up podcast guest interviews (for myself, I don’t have a podcast), and hopping into some forums to chat.
 
About this time I switch from sitting to standing (thanks convertible desk) since I don’t need intense focus for this type of work.

I usually check out r/freelancewriters on Reddit, Inbound.org, and the Copywriter Club group on Facebook. These are great places to learn, talk to fellow writers, and to keep tabs on what’s happening within my niche. Also more Twitter.
 
I think to myself: IT’S SO QUIET IN HERE. Have I said a word out loud today? No. No I haven’t.
 
I’ll finally turn on some music to break the silence. Today it’s the new HAIM album on Spotify. Now I’m working and dancing.

4:15 pm: Yoga
 
Around 4:15 I roll out the yoga mat and do about 15-20 minutes of stretches. For a while I was following videos, but now I just do my own thing to music. Last winter I got pretty sedentary and was SO STIFF all the time. My back hurt, I was miserable, it sucked. Hence making this a priority.
 
4:35: Last check
 
I do one final sweep of my email, make my to-do list for tomorrow, and end the day.
That’s it!
 
Now I wanna hear what your writing routine is like. If you have a post like this one, send it my way. I love reading these.

This article originally appeared in my newsletter, A Cup of Copy. Sign up and get these free tips sent right to your inbox every other Wednesday.

I Went to Europe (And Fell Behind on Freelance Work)

I got a little behind on posting this, and I haven't done that for more than a year. Writing here is important to me, so I always try to work ahead and schedule things out...even if I'm going to be away.

But this time, I didn't.

Earlier this month, Brandon (my husband) and I flew overseas to visit Paris and Barcelona. We had about 10 days between the two places, and spent time visiting places like The Louvre, Salvador Dali's house and museum, and the Sagrada Familia.

It was wonderful, and we both learned a lot while we were there, both on tours and just by walking around and observing things.

One of the big things we both took away from the trip was the difference in priorities--or at least the appearance of shifted priorities--especially in regard to work.

Now, yes, I'm sure a lot of the people we encountered were also vacationers whose M.O. was to have a good time.

But I have to say: You look around, and most people seem...more...relaxed? More attuned to enjoying life?

They're certainly not as harried. People aren't shouting into their smartphones as they walk down the street. They chat and linger over dinner, watching people pass by instead of retreating into the solitude of their devices. There are breaks built into business hours, and Spain fully takes advantage of siesta hours. Most restaurants don't even re-open for dinner until 7:30 p.m.

Before we left for this trip, I was feeling a little bit uninspired. I didn't know what to write about in this newsletter, and so...I just...didn't. Rather than just sending you another copy how-to or advice on freelancing, I decided to wait.

I left hoping I'd discover something that would re-motivate me to write something worth reading for you--and I think that I did.

This trip was a reminder that in America, we pride ourselves (sometimes to a fault, self included) on being WORKWORKWORK oriented. We grow used to deadlines and stress and "the grind."

But it doesn't have to be that way. And that's not how the whole world works.

If nothing else, I wanted to share this perspective with you. That time off is GOOD. It's important. It helps you re-charge, grow, and get inspired for future work.

I've written before about how I've personally struggled with self-competition and workaholic tendencies as a freelancer, but this trip was a non-working one for me.

So even if you don't have a big trip planned this summer, I'm urging you to make time to enjoy yourself. Schedule it in if you have to. Go outside. Work less. Allow yourself to relax a bit.

Life's too short to worry about posting a blog week late, don't you think?

This article originally appeared in my newsletter, A Cup of Copy. Sign up and get these free tips sent right to your inbox every other Wednesday.

One-on-one Coaching for Freelance Writers

When I was getting started with my own freelance writing business, I wanted those questions answered, too. The trouble was: I had no one to ask.

I tried different courses and eBooks, but my issue was that nothing felt like it was exactly suited for what I was doing. There was a lot of generalized information to learn from, but what about my questions? I just wanted someone to talk to that could help me find my way and share what they’d learned, too.

That's why I'm excited to introduce this coaching program—in hopes of helping fellow freelancers make sense of what can be a very confusing world to break into.

If you're getting started in your freelance writing career and are looking for a coaching program that will help you find your niche, learn how to get in front of your dream clients, and fine-tune your business processes, go here for the full details.

What people are saying:

“My time with Kaleigh was so worthwhile. It was really helpful to talk to a real person and have the opportunity to ask all the questions I had. She was very patient and completely transparent, sharing some insider’s tips and tricks you can’t find online. After working with her, I felt less overwhelmed and ready to get this started on my own, with new tools under my belt.” — Natalia Tamburini, Freelance Writer

"Kaleigh not only taught me absolutely crucial things about pricing, client care, organization, and research, but also helped me realize my unique value and purpose as a writer. My confidence has skyrocketed since working with her. She is so intentional, and our time together was never wasted.” — Allie Decker, Freelance Writer

Interested in getting started? Just keep in mind that spaces are extremely limited, so don't wait if this is something you'd like to start soon.

NOTE: If the price point of the full program is out of your budget range at the moment, I also offer a one-time phone or Skype coaching session that will cover the question or topic of your choosing. If you have any questions, please just email me.

Why Freelance Writers Need Community

I’m going to be honest with you. I sat down to write this post and initially had a totally different topic in mind.
 
I planned to write about current trends in copywriting for email marketing (which is still an important subject, and I might cover it down the road), but I felt like there was a different story I needed to tell this week.
 
The beginning of a new year always has that “fresh” feeling—you know, re-starts, resolutions, blah, blah, blah.
 
Why yes, I do know it’s mostly a marketing tool created by businesses that want us to BUY MORE THINGS. I get it. But still. You understand what I’m getting at here. If nothing else, January is a fresh slate calendar-wise. So work with me, okay?
 
The thing I wanted to talk about is this: The importance of community for writers, freelancers, and really, anyone who works from home.
 
Why Community Matters
 
I’m thinking about this topic right now because I’m well into year three of working from home, it’s winter in the Midwest, and, again, I’m feeling a teensy bit lonely (which I’ve written about before.) And I’m still working on fixing that.
 
But aside from this, I’m finally realizing just how important it is to stay in touch with fellow writers, industry groups that align with your target niche, and other people who work from home.
 
Why? One reason: Relationships are the #1 resource that can help grow your business into a successful, long-term endeavor while also keeping you from turning into a complete hermit with no social skills. So, really, win-win.

You might be thinking, “Kaleigh. Girlfriend. You’ve told us this before. Every business book says that relationships are important. I’ve heard this literally one million times.”
 
I read ya. I really do. But what people probably aren’t talking about is what this means (and looks) like in practice.
 
What Do You Mean By “Community?”
 
I’m not talking about the show, although it was offbeat and hilarious.
 
When it comes to building relationships in communities, I’m talking about:

• Slack channels, which are being used as sources of referrals

• Facebook Groups, which people also use to find sources for articles and recommendations for job openings

• Twitter conversations (which can uber-powerful)

• Reddit (namely niche-related sub-reddits)

And I don’t just mean joining these groups and then lurking in the shadows. I mean reaching out to fellow group members to introduce yourself, having real conversations, and actively being part of the give and take that’s happening in these virtual spaces.

If you're not sure where to begin looking for these communities, start the most logical way: Ask around.

Reach out to people and see if they can recommend some networks to check out, or even better, if you can get an invite to private groups they're part of.

Then there's the in-person meetups you can attend. Don't discredit those. Try a few different ones, and see if you find some with people you mesh well with there. These are good news because they help you practice your social skills.

Good Things Will Come
 
Being an active part of these communities does a few important things for your business:

1. It helps you build a referral network. When more people know who you are and what you do, they can introduce you to their connections that need the services you offer.

2. It can help build your authority as a source. Writers often turn to these outlets when they’re looking for quotes or subject matter insight, so being present in these spaces can help you get your name and expertise in front of new audiences.

3. It helps you build relationships with people you wouldn’t normally meet face-to-face. These communities make the world so much smaller and give you the chance to get to know people all over the globe. The people you meet can serve as your co-workers and peers when you’re working alone and don’t have anyone nearby to bounce ideas off of or to troubleshoot with.

This is just the beginning of the benefits that come from being part of an active community. I can tell you this with certainty because it’s been a major part of how I’ve grown my own freelance writing business, how I’ve kept busy during slow periods, and how I’ve also found fellow writers to pass along opportunities to as well.
 
So here’s what I want to say to you if you’re starting 2017 in need of a little direction: Find some communities you care about and that are valuable to you—and then become an asset in them. Even if you’re an introvert. Even if it feels like work at first.
 
As tempting as it can be to stay within your own little bubble or the safety of your home office, real business growth (And relationships! And friendships!) happen when you start being an active part of external groups. So give it a try.

This article originally appeared in my newsletter, A Cup of Copy. Sign up and get these free tips sent right to your inbox every other Wednesday.

P.S. I was recently on The Copywriter Café podcast discussing this same topic (and how it’s helped me grow my revenue by 50% year over year.) If you have 30 minutes, it’s worth a listen!

Should Freelancers Go to Conferences?

In September, I tried something new.

I attended my first business-related conference (SumoCon, hosted by AppSumo.)

The thing was: I wasn’t really sure if conferences were for me.

I’d been to my fair share of work-related conferences in the past (and at this point in my freelancing career) I went in knowing that it very likely might not become a habit.

Why so skeptical?

Being out of the office means not writing, and that means not making money for a few days (and doing what I love!)

Plus, conferences + meeting lots of new people = waaaaaaay out of my comfort zone, if I’m being 100% honest.

But, I wanted to attend this particular conference as it seemed like one that was relevant to my particular niche, it was one a few of my Twitter pals were attending/speaking at (hello face-time and goodbye loneliness for a few days!), and the topics being covered were ones I sincerely want to learn about.

So I bought my ticket, and off I went.

How’d It Go?

The conference itself did have some insightful sessions and excellent speakers (Bryan Harris, Tommy Griffith, and Justin Jackson were my favorites.)

However, some of the topics weren’t ultra relevant to me as a freelancer, and overall I’d say this particular conference was best suited for small to mid-sized business owners and entrepreneurs rather than freelancers.

I did love meeting some of the people I’d chatted with on Twitter for years face-to-face and getting to even go out for tacos with them one night. In doing this, I also met lots of nice new people I wouldn’t have met otherwise. Three cheers for that!

On the bummer side: I’d say 80% of conference attendees were men. Nothing wrong with the dudes--they were all very nice--just would’ve liked to see some more diversity in the demographic.

The Point Is...

It’s always important to learn and try new things, so I’m glad I gave this a whirl. Does it mean I’m going to become a business card slinging, 10-conference-a-year attender? Ummm...probably not. Actually, I can guarantee that’s not going to happen.

The point is: Sometimes, it’s important to step outside of your comfort zone and try new things--especially for the sake of education, learning, and making new connections for your business.

Added bonus (and probably the best part?) of all of this: I also got some one-on-one time with Emma, a fellow freelance writer and friend, who I’ve been working closely with for 3+ years.

Not only did we get to learn at this conference together, but afterwards, we got to work in the same space for a few days, brainstorm on some ideas for clients we share, and talk about what’s ahead for both of our businesses.

That’s amazing.

So here’s what I learned: If you’re a freelancer who hasn’t taken a break to go to a conference or to meet up with someone who “gets” you and what you do--I encourage you to do it. I think it’s one of the best things you can do for your business.

This article originally appeared in my newsletter, A Cup of Copy. Sign up and get these free tips sent right to your inbox every other Wednesday.

Mistakes I Made Early in My Freelance Writing Career

This is kind of embarrassing.
 
When I started freelancing, I did some things that, looking back, I wish I wouldn’t have.
 
But…you live and you learn. So, I’m gunna share this with you today so you can have some lols and hopefully learn from me too. Don’t lol too much, please.
 
Tying Up Time
 
Early in my freelancing career, I took quite a few in-person meetings with prospective clients. And most of the time, I didn’t do much research beforehand.
 
I got an inquiry through my website, set up the meeting, and was excited by the prospect of potential new work.
 
But the problem with this: One time, I found myself sitting on a pleather couch in a nightclub-like setting in the middle of the day surrounded by red floor lamps while the “potential client” spent an hour explaining his entire business model to me—all while it became more and more clear that he had no real grasp of the services I had to offer (nor a need for them.) Not to mention—his business made absolutely no sense for mine, as a client, either.
 
The lesson: Don’t start with in-person meetings. Conduct some initial background research on the client to see if they fit within your niche. Then, start with a preliminary phone call or email.
 
Having to Over-Educate
 
The very first time a large local business asked me to come make a formal presentation for them, I made a similar mistake. My partner and I spent hours putting together bound, yes, BOUND proposal booklets, a PowerPoint presentation, and a script.
 
I put on my red power blazer (I was super into blazers at the time), I presented, and I patiently answered about 45 minutes of questions—all while giving tons of free advice and consulting that I normally would have charged for.
 
And guess what? After all that time spent educating and providing value…they didn’t hire me. It was a complete time-suck. What really made me kick myself: They started using some of the advice I had given out for free in our meeting.
 
The lesson here is two-fold: 1) Don’t give out free tips in a prospect meeting. 2) Don’t invest your time in educating a mid-level lead that needs a ton of convincing to hire you. If they’re not already excited to work with you when they reach out, it’s probably not going to pan out.
 
Taking Anyone Willing To Pay Your Rates
 
Early on, I had a client come through my website who seemed like a good fit. He was willing to pay my current rates, and it seemed like a fairly low-maintenance project he wanted to work on together. He had a shower-related product and I was like, yeah, cool, I like showering.
 
But then he started texting my cellphone on a Saturday night, berating me for not accepting his proposal for the project (that he’d sent at 5 p.m. on Friday.) He started insulting not only my professionalism, but my intelligence, too—in a barrage of texts that didn’t stop until I declined the proposal and essentially fired him a few hours later (before the work even began.)
 
The lesson: Just because a client seems like a good fit and is willing to pay your rates—it doesn’t mean it’s always going to work out. You can’t always take any client who comes your way. Screen, screen, and do some more screening.
 
Taking Clients Who Aren’t In Your Niche
 
When I was getting started, I would take lots of different writing jobs because I felt that as a writer, it wasn’t the subject that mattered—it was that I could write. I could always research and figure stuff out.
 
Remember the best tip I ever got from a content manager? She said, “Find a niche, and write for it. You’ll build up a knowledge base and it’ll be a whole lot easier for you and your content manager.” So wise.
 
But, um…yeah. I didn’t do that for a long time. As a result, I wrote about healthcare, eLearning, technology—all things I had to do a ton of research on to write about effectively.
 
The lesson: If you take clients who aren’t in your niche, you’re going to spend hours wading through JSTOR trying to make sense of an industry you don’t understand. I’ve been there. It's hard. Find a niche, learn all you can about it, and the writing will be so much easier—and you’ll get the expertise your clients are after.

This article originally appeared in my newsletter, A Cup of Copy. Sign up and get these free tips sent right to your inbox every other Wednesday.

The Trouble with Self-Competition (And Doting on Monthly Income)

Remember a couple of weeks ago when I talked about freelancing and loneliness?
 
Well, there’s something else I’ve been wrestling with, too.
 
It’s competition.
 
Not competition with my peers—competition with myself.
 
The Ever Out-Doer
 
See, when you start freelancing, you take on a certain amount of risk. You don’t have a guaranteed salary. Your income and workload fluctuates from month to month.
 
But the upside of that is you have this incredible potential to earn. If you’re willing to put in the work, you can increase your rates and monthly income on a month over month basis (until you max out, because, well, you’re just one person.)
 
And because you don’t see an annual salary that reflects how you’re performing, you look for another metric to indicate success.  Maybe it’s the number of clients you have. The tier of clients you’re attracting. For me, it’s the amount of monthly income I make. That’s been my benchmark for success.
 
But this is a verrrrrry sticky place to be.
 
You see this opportunity to increase your earnings as a challenge. And as a competitive person, you constantly want to out-do yourself. But in order to do that, you have to say yes to more jobs. You have to work a little more (or be smart about raising your rates on a regular basis.)
 
Tie too much of your heart and mind and energy to this metric, and that’s where the trouble comes in.
 
Forgetting Your Freedoms
 
One of the beautiful, attractive things about freelance writing is the flexibility it provides. You can work whenever and wherever you want. But just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.
 
If you’re working all the time and constantly trying to do more work and outpace your previous earnings—you’re not taking advantage of that wonderful flexibility.
 
You’re being a workaholic.
 
You’re constantly thinking about work. You lay down at night at your mind spins with your to do list for tomorrow. Your health suffers. I know this because it happened to me.
 
In the first four months of this year, I took on a TON of work. I earned a lot. But I also had some of the highest medical bills and doctor visits I’ve ever had, too. My stress management was basically nonexistent. And aside from my well-being, it started to impact my personal relationships, too.
 
Thankfully, I have an incredible partner who helps keep me in check and says, “Slow down. You need to take care of yourself—and to make it a priority.”
 
And so I have. I’ve started to say no to more things. To take half days on Fridays and spend time with my younger brother. To take some non-working vacations. To go swimming in the middle of the day and to enjoy the warm weather while I can.
 
And am I earning less because of it? A little bit, yeah. But am I feeling better? Absolutely.
 
Address the Stress
 
For me, the battle with self-competition is hard-wired. I fight hard against it every single day, and am still trying to figure out how to strike the right balance. But I’m making a conscious effort.
 
Maybe this battle looks different for you. Maybe you’re stressed because you want more work, but can’t find it yet. Maybe you’re constantly anxious about deadlines.
 
Whatever your battle is, know this: You have to worry about it less. It’s not helping anything—it’s wasted energy. Start doing yoga. Go for some runs. Read a good book. Enjoy the warm temperatures if you live in a place that turns into tundra in a few short months like I do.
 
Stress, I think, is part of what you take on when you say yes to freelance. So you have to find a way to deal with it.
 
If you don’t, you’ll burn out.