My freelance writing career began nearly 20 years ago, as I sat at the coffee table with a baby on my lap and a toddler running around behind me. I was inspired and determined as I struggled to connect to my neighbor’s Wi-Fi while balancing my laptop’s broken power cord on a pencil to get it to charge.
Ah, so young and ready to tackle the world. And boy did I, for almost 10 years. From working with small businesses to national companies, my writing career soared.
SEO and social media marketing were my niches. I loved the thrill of watching a business, article, or video climb search engine rankings. There’s nothing like your first #1 ranking or viral post. But then, something changed.
The next 10 years were spent in a constant cycle of exhaustion, stress, and frustration. My love for writing had died, along with my motivation.
I was blindsided by being laid off from the marketing firm I had been with for 10 years. I threw in the towel. I was done being a writer.
I craved a “normal” 9 to 5, so that’s what I did. The first 3 months were awesome. No more stress from deadlines or worrying about typos, writer’s block, or editors. It was a huge pay cut, but I was happier. However, I quickly learned, I am not a 9 to 5 person.
I can’t not write.
I am a writer.
I’ve spent many recent nights reflecting and strategizing to ensure I don’t fall back into a love/hate relationship with writing.
So, here I am after a 6-month hiatus, diving back into the writing world, but with 20 years of hindsight behind me. Here are a few tips for new writers that I learned the hard way.
It’s Okay to Clock Out
Freelance writing was the perfect career for me because it allowed me to use my God-given talent and stay at home with my four small children.
I worked whenever I had a free moment, even if we were at soccer practice, taking a trip, or in the middle of the night. Although I met my deadlines, I was in constant turmoil between spending time with my family and getting work done.
Sadly, my family often got the short end of the stick as I was always struggling to catch up on work. I was in survival mode as I juggled work, raising kids, and being a wife.
Although it was really nice working whenever and wherever I pleased, my work and family life were entwined.
This time around, I will set office hours to keep a balance between work and home. I’ve learned that it’s okay to “clock out” at the end of the day.
A schedule that works well for your life is essential for your sanity and family.
Money Can’t Buy Happiness
Money certainly makes life easier, but it isn’t everything. Contrary to the “starving writer” stereotype, freelance writing is very lucrative if you have talent and play your cards right.
My initial writing goal was to make enough money to buy a box of diapers every month. The more I wrote, the more money I was making, but success comes with consequences.
I took jobs I did not necessarily want to do, but they paid well. Eventually, I was only creating content for a paycheck.
My passion for writing became non-existent. I was no longer publishing books, maintaining my blog, or seeking better opportunities.
Instead, I was stuck in a vicious cycle of making enough money to pay the bills, buy soccer cleats, and get new tires. I missed being excited about the day ahead.
Although you may have to take some jobs to make ends meet, establish your name, or gain experience, don’t forget to focus on your personal writing goals. All writers want to earn money, but it’s important to consider your happiness, too.
Now, I will be selective about the projects I take on because I have no desire to write mundane articles about teeth, forklifts, and random subjects just to earn money.
Contentment Creates a Stagnant Career
I spent the last 10 years writing for a dental marketing agency. I had only intended on staying with them for a few months before moving on. However, days and years quickly flew by.
I appreciated my time with the company because they offered the flexibility I needed and cut me breaks when my personal life required priority. I knew exactly what and when I would be paid. I knew exactly what I was going to write today, tomorrow, and next week. Every day was a repeat of the previous.
It was a comfortable position that worked for my personal life at the time. Unfortunately, it led to major burnout after 10 years of writing about the same thing every day. Not to mention, my pay never increased.
As the years passed by, it became apparent that I had really shot myself in the foot.
All of my time was dedicated to only this job. I faded away in the writing world. I was no longer marketing myself or networking. I wasn’t writing anything other than what I was assigned. My writing career became stagnant, as did my finances.
Putting all of your eggs in one basket is risky and it can cause you to become complacent.
Always seek for improvement and growth. As they say, there are a lot of fish in the sea. Don’t miss out on a whale by focusing on tuna.
Diversity Really Does Matter
Many writers tell newbies to pick one niche and stick with it to be successful. I’ll admit that the majority of my writing career has focused on SEO and online marketing. While I was very successful with SEO, marketing, and brand development, they weren’t necessarily what I wanted to do, but the market paid well.
Although it is good to have a niche, diversity isn’t a bad thing, either. Countless writing avenues lead to success.
With the writing industry somewhat of a roller coaster at times, especially with AI trying to push writers out, diversity enables backup revenue streams to keep you afloat.
AI Isn’t All Bad
I am an old-fashioned writer. I would write with a quill and parchment if I could, or at the very least an old typographer. I share the fear of extinction from AI as my fellow writers. Personally, I swore I would never use it.
However, my new 9 to 5 encouraged the use of ChatGBT. Although I’m still disgusted by AI-generated content, there are some benefits.
How often has crafting a catchy title eluded you? How many times have you been stuck on a sentence or a word? Enter the benefits of AI.
Although AI can be helpful in several ways, it still cannot take the place of a human. Nonetheless, I suggest being open to certain innovations to help you as a writer.
Take it from someone who survived the dreaded content mills, the endless animal Google algorithm updates, and now AI. You need to accept changes within the industry and adapt if you want to survive.
Outdated Marketing Methods May Be Your Demise
20 years ago, online marketing looked a lot different. For us experienced writers, Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn were where you needed to be to market yourself. Now, there are endless networking platforms and a simple post isn’t enough. You need videos and pictures to captivate audiences.
TikTok, YouTube, reels, and stories, aren’t going anywhere. It’s time to step out of your comfort zone and embrace new forms of marketing to ensure your audience isn’t leaving you behind.
Stay current with the latest marketing platforms and adjust your online strategy as necessary. Contrary to the saying, you can teach an old dog new tricks.
Don’t Forget Why You’re a Writer
I daydreamed of becoming a published writer as a young child, handwriting family newsletters and scribbling in notebooks. When my dreams became my reality, I never expected my writing career to eventually end. And, I certainly didn’t expect to be restarting it after leaving the industry behind.
Reestablishing my name has been challenging, especially after being with a single company for a decade, but my brief hiatus was absolutely necessary for myself and my writing.
The break allowed me to finally relax and enjoy life without constant anxiety from looming deadlines. Disappearing allowed me to find my love for writing again.
I’m thankful for the time I’ve had to reflect on the direction of my career and myself as a writer.
With that being said, if you know of anyone hiring a well-seasoned writer, you know where to find me.
Alyssa Ast 