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:
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.
