Freelance Writing on Your Own Terms and Planning a Writing Business

I love to write, so much that I will do it simply for the sheer enjoyment of it. There’s a place for “free” work in my opinion. I think many wordsmiths out there feel the exact same way, but the reality is we should all definitely have a plan for what we’d like to accomplish with our writing. And making money from our writing, even if it’s to pay a few bills, should figure into the plan.

The professional writer understands that what they do is valuable and therefore runs their career first and foremost as a business. Their understanding is that viewing it as such actually provides them with the capability to commit more of themselves, dedicate the creativity the craft deserves, putting more energy into what they do. This type of mindset tends to be the complete opposite of what many writers think.

You can commit to excellence in your craft, producing unique, engaging and polished copy but then getting paid as we all know takes a completely distinct skill-set. Just like finding worthwhile wordsmithing work, this too is a balancing act: respecting the craft of writing and all it requires while making a reasonable livelihood off of it. Unless you have no intention of earning from your efforts, it is essential to plan and the first step to that is understanding your economic requirements and situation. This is done by determining what the target amount of compensation will be in a month’s time. How much do you want to make from your writing endeavors each month? 

Not all of us desire living completely off of our writing work. If you do though, start by listing all expenses. Consider: housing, utilities, food, clothing, transportation costs, entertainment, insurance, retirement savings and investments. This will equal what you need to make every single month. It will be a big number, however it is a goal which means that it is a starting point that in time you are likely to realize.

Your hourly rate is derived by taking what is necessary for you to live each month (or your desired amount) and then dividing that number by the amount of time you have available to work during the month on average. It is important to be realistic. Don't say, "I can work for straight 30 days or so for 20 hours each day." Allow for time off, holidays and appointments. And this varies from person to person. For instance, the single writer with no children or spouse will very likely have more time available, so they will have a completely different working schedule than that of a married mother of 5 or a single parent. Each writer's daily life is different.

Keep in mind that your rate per hour is a goal, however it is also an average. Some days your hourly rate will be more and other times it will be less. There will be those situations where you'll accept work that pays a lower rate because there is some other attractive benefit such as a quick payment turn-around, promoting your brand or own niche site, or the opportunity to break into a new market. Do not give yourself the easy out of giving up because you are not yet making the amount of money you want to.

Now, based on this information, you can actually PLAN.

1. Whatever you do, do not give up! Do not give yourself the easy excuse of throwing in the towel because you are not making the amount of money you want right now. Produce quality work  worthy of your time and efforts. Provide value for your readers.

2. Do not depend on a good month to carry you through a bad one. Maintain the same effort and save the extra.

3. Avoid annoying clients! Read the fine print.

4. Pay close attention to how long it takes for clients to pay you and plan accordingly.

5. Promote and market yourself. Never let up on the work hunt. Plan for volume. 

6. When you see a shortfall coming, consider changing your work schedule around to boost the total income that will come in by scheduling writing assignments that even if lower-paying, results in quick cash. 

Planning your writing business means that you have to manage income, sales and clients, which when first starting out can seem very complicated. You do get used to it after a while as it becomes simply part of your daily affairs, with practice. Meeting your goals requires that you make certain to obtain enough work, which if you are a working writer, you know is not easy. Every dime you earn comes from completing a piece of work for a client whether that client happens to be a corporation, newspaper, magazine or an online company. The thing writers must do when considering the money to be made is to look at what all a project entails (sales) as well as the aspects of dealing with the client. The rate of cash earned is directly affected by these two things.