Making a living through freelance writing and editing is a real possibility, but it requires real work just like any other business endeavor. While you cannot dive in and make a full-time income overnight, you can make a lot of money relatively quickly in comparison to starting up other types of businesses.
Transitioning From Freelance to Full-Time Income
The best part about beginning a freelance writing and editing career in the online world is that there is very little start-up cost, assuming you already have a computer, internet connection, and the optional printer, paper, ink, red pens, and highlighters. The downside of any freelance career is the amount of self-discipline required to meet deadlines and continuously find new clients and assignments.
To see if you can sustain your lifestyle through income made through writing and editing content online first figure out how much you need to make per month to live comfortably and pay the bills. Next, calculate the average hourly rate you make through your current freelance work, even if you don't charge hourly. This will give you an idea of how many hours per week you have to work to live.
Be sure you make more than your original calculated living expenses or that you have accounted for the cost of things you previously did not pay, such as healthcare insurance and taxes on your higher level of freelance income. It is also a good idea to have two months of living expenses saved for the lulls in work that all freelance writers and editors deal with.
How to Stay Disciplined When Freelance Writing & Editing
There's no doubt that you have felt unmotivated to work on a freelance project, but if you are making your entire income through freelance writing and editing, you must stay motivated and be willing to work even when you are not motivated.
While everybody has a different preference for getting work done, a few basic rules can help:
- When you work, work.
- When you aren't working, don't focus on work.
- Work a set number of hours a day.
- If possible, work a set schedule.
If you want to switch to freelance writing and editing because it sound easy, stop now. There is a lot of work, time, and discipline involved, and it is not for everybody. Modern internet has made it easier than ever to find work but harder than ever to accomplish the work.
Separating Your Work Life From Your Home Life
While you may be able to find work from anywhere in the world, you also have competition from anywhere in the world, including places with cheaper costs of living and therefore far cheaper rates than you. It also means you have far more distractions in the work environment. If you find yourself checking your Facebook or Twitter more than you are working, you are wasting time and effort while "working." Disconnect from the internet if necessary, and save the social media sites for after hours.
This is where creating set work hours is extremely useful. If you work from 7 to 3 each day with a one hour lunch, you should have six hours of productive, paid work and another hour of email correspondence, hunting for new projects, and other work-related but unpaid tasks. After 3, don't work or think about work.
Use your off time to check social media sites and spend time with family and friends. It is unfair to everybody if you "work" all day while getting little done and continue "working" several hours each night. Separating your work time from your play time will not only relax you and your family but it will also make you far more productive.
Related Reading:
- Is Freelance Editing the Right Career Choice?
- How to Break Into Freelance Editing
- Where to Find Editing Jobs Online
TAX101
Megan B. Wyatt - Megan B. Wyatt has a BA in English, edits fiction manuscripts and currently works as an entertainment reporter in Lafayette, Louisiana.
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