Writing: advice confidence creative writing crisis of confidence experience freelance writing freelance writing tips Making money from writing money Writing
by Josie
23 comments
Breaking into Freelance Writing
For a while now I’ve been wondering whether there was a way I could start making some money from my writing talents attempts . Money is, quite frankly, in rather short supply and a little extra here and there would come in very handy. It was a very definite decision of ours that I would spend the first couple of years of Kai’s life at home with him while Ant went out to work, and one I am happy we made, but it is tough. Very tough.
Writing is what I love. It’s what I think about most of the time. It’s the thing that feels the most natural to me; the most right. When I am writing I finally feel like I’ve found my calling and my place in the world, that I have discovered my purpose. It’s exhilarating, addictive, and terrifying in that it seems to come with so much emotional investment. It’s only natural that I would want something I love so much to be able to earn me a living.
Increasingly I’m beginning to think that freelance journalism ISN’T for me: I don’t know whether I’ve got what it takes and fiction is my real dream, and where, I think, my particular skills lie, or, at least, I hope they will once I’ve practised a bit more.
But when lovely Linda from ‘You’ve Got You Hands Full’ contacted me telling me about a new column she was running on her blog offering freelance writing tips and asking if I had any questions to start the ball rolling, I immediately thought of about half a dozen. Because I know that there are lots of you that ARE keen to break in to freelance writing and that, like me, you find the whole field a little overwhelming and wouldn’t know where to start.
Linda has provided a wonderful advice-filled post in response to my (many) questions that offers a great insight into anyone thinking of trying to get some paid writing work. From Linda’s response it seems like the opportunities ARE out there, but only if you have the right skills to offer and know how to market yourself.
I’ll be honest, the more I learn about the freelance writing market, the smaller and more out of my depth I feel. I’m not sure I’m the kind of writer that would be good at networking, at selling yourself, at finding an angle. And that makes me wonder what kind of writer I am, or if, in fact, I am any kind of writer at all.
But these are my issues, not yours, and you may feel braver and more confident about making your forays into the field.
I’d really recommend you give Linda’s post a read and check out the advice she offers – as someone with a lot of experience in the field she is definitely a voice worth listening to.
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I, like you, would love to make some money out of freelance writing and think it would be the perfect thing for me to do now the children are getting older. I like writing article type stuff, rather than fiction, so hopefully it would suit. My brother is a professional journalist, so it can’t be that hard, but I wouldn’t want his job, which is full time, longish hours etc. I want to sit at home on my laptop. It’s the holy grail.
Victoria´s last blog ..Underground, overground, wombling free 
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i share your pain. it honestly doesn’t get any easier, even when you supposedly do earn money writing for a living. i was too chicken to take a redundancy offer last year and actually go freelance. it’s just too tough out there.
if i could think of anything else to do, i’d do it….
babieswhobrunch´s last blog ..Never rock a newborn and other ‘useful’ tips
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Josie Reply:
November 24th, 2009 at 10:49 am
@babieswhobrunch, Oh man – for you to say that puts me off even more!!
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Josie Reply:
November 24th, 2009 at 10:49 am
@babieswhobrunch, Oh man – for you to say that puts me off even more!!
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Do not mistake a lack of confidence mixed with fear for a lack of ability. Each time you post you are choosing an angle and forgive me but judging by your following on twitter and uptake of writing workshop, I would say you can market yourself pretty well, not to mention deputy editor of GTG. Have a word with yourself.So there.
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Oh yeah. . .thank you and good night x x x
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I did the Writer’s Bureau course last time I was on maternity leave and got a really great buzz from selling a few bits and pieces. Then I went back to work and it all stopped. This time round I have found blogging to feed my passion, but of course no income from it…like you, I just love writing – and life is too short not to do the things you love.
Theresa´s last blog ..Early Political Stance
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What can I say, I wouldnt want to be a writer for money!! I would like to write better, but I enjoy my blog for what it is – a way to record our creative family life. I think I am a little odd, well I know I am a little odd. I guess that everyone else is finding out slowly
TheMadHouse´s last blog ..Rules for a Perfect Family Christmas
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Josie Reply:
November 24th, 2009 at 5:12 pm
@TheMadHouse, Well we’re still reading you aren’t we? Not all bloggers need to be writers. And besides, I am known for liking ‘odd people’ 
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Josie Reply:
November 24th, 2009 at 5:12 pm
@TheMadHouse, Well we’re still reading you aren’t we? Not all bloggers need to be writers. And besides, I am known for liking ‘odd people’
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Social comments and analytics for this post…
This post was mentioned on Twitter by porridgebrain: Blog post: Breaking into Freelance Writing http://bit.ly/6JzWiV Encouraging all you budding writers to check out @LindaSJones fab new column…
This is lovely piece, and if you are determined to write then do it! There is no worst that can happen!
Wendy Mallins´s last blog ..Breakfast Time
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Josie Reply:
November 24th, 2009 at 5:13 pm
@Wendy Mallins, Thank you Wendy. Sometimes I fall into the trap of thinking that if there’s a chance I might fail at something then I probably shouldn’t even try. But that’s stupid…
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Josie Reply:
November 24th, 2009 at 5:13 pm
@Wendy Mallins, Thank you Wendy. Sometimes I fall into the trap of thinking that if there’s a chance I might fail at something then I probably shouldn’t even try. But that’s stupid…
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I know how you feel, feeling small and out of your depth. I’d love to have a go at writing but I’m kind of scared to death of trying it. With my artwork I’m just trying to carve out my little blogging niche but would of course love to get paid to draw (comic books, ideally).
Feeling like you’re not good at the networking & self-promotion side of things doesn’t mean you’re not a writer! These things have no relevance to your abilities as a writer. They’re just the skills to get your work out into the public consciousness. Seems to me, though, that you already have them. From what I’ve seen, you’ve developed quite a network here and through Twitter, you have an angle (actually, two) at work in your blog and you must have been able to promote yourself – how many readers have you got? Confidence, I’m sure, will come with more experience. (That’s what I keep telling myself, at least.)
Anyway, the sum of all this is, pursue it!
Michael´s last blog ..Creative Process (2)
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I adore writing, just like you. I’ve been writing a teenage novel for a while an as soon as I get a chance I’m going to go back and finish it. It may come to nothing but I’m loving the process of writing. So my recommendation, pick up a pen every day and write, even if it just a few lines. Who knows where it may lead. You never know!
Rosie Scribble´s last blog ..Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels… oh really, Kate?
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Josie Reply:
November 25th, 2009 at 8:52 pm
@Rosie Scribble, Love that you’re writing a novel! I think that might be my plan for next summer… MIGHT! Course first then we’ll see 
x
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Josie Reply:
November 25th, 2009 at 8:52 pm
@Rosie Scribble, Love that you’re writing a novel! I think that might be my plan for next summer… MIGHT! Course first then we’ll see x
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OK, if you’re thinking of going the fiction route… one of the best ways to get started is by entering some writing competitions. Cally Taylor who wrote Heaven Can Wait (sorry I forget whose friend she is) is currently running one on her site http://www.callytaylor.co.uk. Lots of the magazines run comps too – I know She magazine does quite a big one. I interviewed a first time novelist last year who told me that going to a creative writing evening course really helped her focus. And I also interviewed someone for Top Santé magazine who told me that she found the courses run by http://www.arvonfoundation.org really helpful (they also do online support). Then I discovered a friend of mine who wants to be a scriptwriter (she’s currently a journalist – says it all!) goes on those courses. They give you grants to go on them and I think they also run competitions. So I think there are heaps of opps out there, and if I could only finish one of my blimmin’ books I’d be a millionaire!
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Josie Reply:
November 25th, 2009 at 8:59 pm
@Liz (LivingwithKids), Thank you Liz! I’m a month into a Creative Writing course of my own with the OU – it builds a really good framework for fiction writing so I’m hoping I can work from there. Thank you for the links – I’ll definitely check them out! I think competitions might be a good next step x
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Josie Reply:
November 25th, 2009 at 8:59 pm
@Liz (LivingwithKids), Thank you Liz! I’m a month into a Creative Writing course of my own with the OU – it builds a really good framework for fiction writing so I’m hoping I can work from there. Thank you for the links – I’ll definitely check them out! I think competitions might be a good next step x
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Hi..i like your post.. i am also writing to augment my income. Juggling my full time job and freelance writing is very demanding but my desire to earn extra income keeps me going..
Beggar in the Suit´s last blog ..Slaving Myself for LG
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Josie Reply:
November 30th, 2009 at 4:53 pm
@Beggar in the Suit, Wow, hats off to you! Don’t know how you’d manage with a full time job too! Thanks for your comment
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Josie Reply:
November 30th, 2009 at 4:53 pm
@Beggar in the Suit, Wow, hats off to you! Don’t know how you’d manage with a full time job too! Thanks for your comment
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by Write Away: Advice for freelance journalists on negotiating rates « Mother Knows Best
[...] Thank you everyone who commented and thank you to Josie whose question prompted the advice – and who went on to blog that she was increasingly convinced freelance writing wasn’t for her. [...]
Josie Reply:
November 24th, 2009 at 10:48 am
@Victoria, You would be SO good at it too! Your travelling with kids angle is a goody – maybe you should have a sponsor for your trip??! Do some writing while you’re out there? You should seriously think about it! x
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