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8:42 am
February 8, 2012
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Jennifer Mattern
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I was browsing another community, and saw someone say something like this:
"I used to make [insert pretty modest income here], but now I can't so it's almost impossible for anyone to make it as a freelance writer anymore."
That's sad on so many levels. But the worst is the fact that this isn't the first time I've seen people imply that new freelancers are doomed before they begin just because one person couldn't figure out how to make freelancing work for them. It's not true of course. It's far from impossible to earn a great living as a freelance writer. But there will always be a range. I know part-timers who earn $10k or less. And I know more than a handful of colleagues earning well into the six figure range.
What bothers me about claims like these is the fact that new writers see them. I don't think it's fair for someone to put their own inadequacies on freelancing as a whole. Whether they've just given up hope (in which case I feel sorry for them) or they're hoping to discourage others to decrease the competition, it infuriates me.
In reality, the person who said that screwed up somewhere along the line. Either their writing wasn't up to par and they couldn't keep clients or perhaps they weren't marketing themselves effectively to build a constant stream of new prospects. I don't know exactly what their problem was. But it was their problem. And rather than discouraging a new writer (who started the initial thread looking for advice), they should have asked the community for help or ideas about their own situation instead.
I see these kinds of comments far more often than I should. Do you ever see people claim that freelance writing is a dead end? Have you said that yourself? Why? Freelance writers can absolutely earn a good living. If you're not there yet, what's stopping you? Let's talk about ways to improve the situation rather than bemoaning the supposedly awful state of freelancing in general.
Jenn
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4:27 pm
February 8, 2012
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LoriWidmer
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I see it all the time. I'd respond, but I'm too busy earning a damn good living from this "dead end." LOL
I've never said it's a dead end. I've lamented low prices at one point in my career, but then I realized the fix was in taking more control of my career and getting proactive. I see comments like those as uninformed. Oddly, I've seen self-proclaimed experts saying similar drivel about one facet or another of the profession. That speaks to someone who isn't as expert as they claim.
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6:20 pm
February 8, 2012
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Jennifer Mattern
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Seriously. I can't help but wonder how much these people would be making if they put as much energy into their careers as they put into complaining about them.
Jenn
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8:48 am
February 9, 2012
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Elafont
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The thing I find most funny about these posts is the writer almost always says something sweeping like, "It's impossible to make a decent living as a freelancer anymore" instead of saying "I am having trouble making as much as I used to." Unless you're doing a survey of many other freelancers across many different specialties, areas, etc. you cannot make an assessment of the industry as a whole.
If my business were to drop off, I'd have to take a long hard look at myself first. Are the skills I have up-to-date with what my competitors are offering? Is my writing on the level? Is my style keeping pace with what's popular? Is my knowledge level competitive? Am I targeting the right people (with all the Adsense changes, I strongly suspect that people who wrote for click-focused sites are suffering)? Is my portfolio relevant and fresh? You really have to look at your business first.
As far as new freelancers, those who have the best chance of making it will not be put off by some one-off, biased, surfacey blog posts. They'll do research and unearth the truth about their potential–which is something that can't be measured by anyone outside themselves anyway. Those who are put-off by these posts probably shouldn't get into freelancing in the first place because they probably don't have what it takes–because good writerzessness is only part of it ;-)
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10:38 am
February 9, 2012
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Jennifer Mattern
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Look at you… always the voice of reason. ;)
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11:12 pm
February 9, 2012
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Elafont
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LMAO–really? Always? I'd love to believe you…but I can't ;-P
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7:57 am
February 10, 2012
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Jennifer Mattern
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lol You give us all something to aspire to. :P
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9:30 am
February 13, 2012
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LoriWidmer
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Great self-assessment advice, Elafont. And yes, you do give us sumpin' to aspire to.
I bet you never thought you'd be the voice of reason…. 
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7:16 am
February 27, 2012
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millercathy
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I've always said you need a bit of the bulldog for this business so don't come barking at us if you're a wimpy purse dog.
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