new writers

How to Ruin Your Freelance Writing Career

If you’re feeling stuck, thinking, “Maybe I’ll screw this up and ruin my writing career,” read this post from a couple of years ago. Face your fears, learn from your mistakes, and keep going. –Carol

When I asked readers recently what’s holding you back from breaking in and earning big as a freelance writer, I got many different answers. But one I heard a lot:

Fear.

Melissa: “I am terrified. Of succeeding, of failing, of just simply doing!”

Kifayat: “Fear of getting things wrong and also selling myself short.”

Cindy: “I fear looking like a fool.”

DeAnn: “I just don’t want to start out on the wrong foot and jeopardize my career before it really gets going.”

Jane: “The idea of succeeding (or even testing myself) too quickly just scares the living hell out of me. Without faithful cheerleaders freelancing success is just too scary (because the bigger success the bigger the failure that might follow).”

To sum up: Many of you are afraid of doing something so awful that it will ruin your freelance writing career.

So today, we will confront these fears. I’m going to tell you something shattering:

Tagged with: freelance writing, new writers, overcome fear

3 Guest Post Pitch Emails That Got the Gig

Posted by: Carol Tice

EDITOR’S NOTE: Ever wonder what the secret sauce is to writing a guest post pitch that gets accepted? This was a popular topic on my blog five years ago, and it still is. Study these examples to learn how to pitch a guest post and land an assignment. Enjoy! –Carol.

A few weeks back, I talked about bad guest post pitches I’ve received, and outlined some of the elements of a good one.

One writer asked if I would show some examples of pitches that were accepted here — so here are three.

One needed a little back-and-forth and refining before it was accepted, as you’ll see.

I also noticed that each of these pitches had weaknesses to them, too. Guest post pitches don’t have to be perfect — but they do have to convey that you have a strong, unique idea, know how to execute it, and have some experience in freelance writing.

The idea also needs to be something I haven’t written about before, and probably wouldn’t have thought to do otherwise.

Want to learn how to write an effective guest post pitch? Here’s what you need to know.

Tagged with: blog, blogging, guest post, guest posting, new writers, pitch letters

4 Top Obstacles Young Writers Face — and How to Beat Them

Posted by: Editor

When you’re trying to build your freelance business in a sea of young writers and seasoned veterans, there’s a good chance it feels like you’re floundering. I know I did.

When I first started writing, I spent a ton of time worrying, procrastinating, and making excuses for why I couldn’t make a living doing what I loved. I wanted to break free from the corporate world and find success on my own terms.

For the first 6 months, I let my fear of being underqualified hold me back. As one of those young writers, I thought it might take me years to earn well as a freelancer. But I desperately wanted to find a way to speed up success.

I took courses, read freelance blogs like this one, and tried to learn everything I could about being a successful writer. The only problem was that I didn’t know how to get out of my own head and actually do the work.

Today, I make six figures, have a full client list, and teach other young writers how to overcome the same roadblocks I struggled with. As I’ve coached students in my Earn Big as a Young Writer course, I realized that my obstacles were very common.

Here are the top 4 obstacles young writers face (including me), and how to overcome them.

How to Become a Freelance Writer: My Best Resources

Posted by: Carol Tice

Every day, writers email me and ask how to become a freelance writer. Where is the door that you go through where you can start earning a living as a freelance writer?

Well, I’ve created a door.

There’s so much to know when you’re getting started as a freelance writer — how to find and approach clients, what to charge, how to negotiate, and more.

But now that there are nearly 900 posts on the blog, it’s increasingly difficult to find the most useful posts that answer your particular question. Sure, I’ve got those categories in the ‘we talk about’ sidebar, but it’s still a lot of slogging given how many posts there are, and you end up looking at the most recent posts on the subject, not necessarily the best ones.

My best new writer resources in 1 spot

That’s why I’m finally getting my act together and creating resource pages that bring together the very best Make a Living Writing posts of all time on popular topics. The first page is now up, which offers my best resources for new freelance writers:

Young Writers: Earn Big With These Vital Mindset Changes

Posted by: Editor

I quit my corporate job in February 2015 with $300 in the bank. I had no idea what I wanted to do besides make a living writing. I was 25 years old, and a total newbie in the writing world. There wasn’t a lot of demand for young writers, I thought.

The extent of my experience was winning a third-grade writing contest and getting a book published for my school library. I was motivated, but didn’t exactly have a plan or success mindset to build a profitable freelance business.

I didn’t have a degree, any experience, or, if I’m being completely honest, any idea how to get someone to pay me to write. Call it crazy. Call it youthful enthusiasm. Because it was.

I wanted to build a successful freelance writing business, but I wasn’t sure how to make it happen. Sound familiar?

After a rocky start, I realized that when you approach freelancing with a success mindset, it can have a big impact on growing your business and your income.

Fast forward two years, and I’m making over $100 an hour. And I’m constantly booked out two months in advance.

Here’s how I made that happen…

6 Basic Steps to Score Your First Freelance Writing Gig

Posted by: Editor

The biggest problem I faced as a new freelance writer was wondering when I’d ever feel ready to make the leap to marketing myself effectively, and getting that first freelance writing gig.

I took me some time to realize that I’d never feel 100 percent ready. But if I wanted to make real progress, I’d have to start taking consistent action to find that first client.

Sometimes we just need a shot of inspiration to send us down the right path, and mine came from Bamidele Onibalusi’s recent Earn Your First $1000 as a Freelance Writer challenge.

My strategy and email template are adapted from his articles, and used here with his permission.

Here’s what I did:

new writers

How to Ruin Your Freelance Writing Career

Fear.

3 Guest Post Pitch Emails That Got the Gig

4 Top Obstacles Young Writers Face — and How to Beat Them

How to Become a Freelance Writer: My Best Resources

My best new writer resources in 1 spot

Young Writers: Earn Big With These Vital Mindset Changes

6 Basic Steps to Score Your First Freelance Writing Gig

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