54 things I’ve learnt about running a freelance writing business.
Enjoy the ride. Me and my mum c 1968
Birthdays always catch me out.
I’m 54 tomorrow, and while it’s one of those ‘nearly mid-way through a decade’ birthdays that slip past without much fanfare, I’m still feeling reflective. Especially this year, when we’re all having to figure out how we manage life and business in the Covid era.
So I’ve been thinking about what I’ve learnt about business and about writing, to remind me how far I’ve come. And I’ve written down some of the lessons I keep learning over and over again, to remind myself to keep at it.
I hope they’ll help you too.
It’s a bit of a pick and mix. Some of them might feel like fridge-magnet wisdom, but only because they’re so true. Others might feel counter-intuitive, but they’re working for me.
I’d love to know which ones feel most important to you too.
54 things I’ve learnt about running a freelance writing business
Cultivate optimism.
Protect your energy. It’s finite.
Build a business that feeds your soul.
Stay curious. Keep learning.
Invest in yourself - whatever you need to help you do your best work is a priority.
Planning helps productivity. Use Zelo.
Being single-minded is the easy bit. It’s knowing what to be single-minded about that’s tough.
Faking confidence is a step on the way to being confident.
Writing is a good way to find your voice. You can get your ideas all lined up before sharing them with the world.
Block in proper time for strategic thinking. Even one-woman businesses need to check in on the big picture.
You’re in charge. You can do things your way.
Share what you’re up to with people who care about you, and with people who understand.
Retainers are a good thing. Some source of regular income keeps you steady. Cultivate long term relationships with your best clients.
Carve out time to recover from the things that tire you. I love teaching workshops, but they’re full on, energy wise. Build in down time. Factor this into how you charge.
Go for a walk.
Nature is good for you. Half an hour in the woods makes a lot of stuff okay.
Everything takes time. Doing a good writing job isn’t just a matter of the hours you spend typing. There’s thinking time, planning time, research time, note making time, rehearsing it in your head in the shower time. Imagine you’re renting out time in your head when you’re pricing jobs. (But you don’t have to tell the client you’re charging them ‘shower time’.)
Even better than recognising all the extra hours that go into writing, get comfortable with charging for value instead. What will this copy do for the client?
Worry less.
If worrying less doesn’t come easy, get some help. Therapy, hypnosis, mindfulness - there will be a way that works for you.
Don’t check emails after 6 pm.
If you ignore 22, definitely never check your inbox last thing at night.
Protect your sleep. It’s everything. You can do anything after a good night’s sleep.
It’s okay to say ‘no’ to work. You can’t help everybody.
Running helps you think.
Plan your days around your energy. For me, that means starting new things in the morning, avoiding big thinking tasks in the late afternoon, and never working in the evening.
Look after yourself. Such a cliche but so true. Don’t take good health for granted.
Set financial goals and reverse engineer how you’re going to get there. It will stop you getting distracted by work that doesn’t fit what you need.
Visualise what you want and believe it’s possible. It will help you make bolder decisions.
Keep a close eye on finances. Invoice on time, chase late payments.
Love your accounting system.
Know when the job is done. Don’t over deliver.
Write for yourself as well as your clients.
Build your newsletter list. Write for the people in front of you.
Know what makes you happy and do more of it.
Trust your intuition. If it feels wrong, it almost certainly is wrong.
Don’t work for clients who don’t value what you do.
Deadlines are good to help you manage your time. You’re in charge of them, so make them realistic and motivating.
Be self-aware. Recognise the signs of stress and take action to avoid them.
Nurture your creativity. The way you think and respond to the world around you is what makes you a good writer and coach.
Learn from everything. Even bad experiences make for good stories.
Ask why. Ask what it's for. Ask what it needs to do. Asking lots of questions up front clarifies the brief and helps you do a better job.
Get help with the bits you can’t do, so you can focus on your most profitable activities.
Love marketing and do more of it.
Writing a proposal never takes less than half a day. I know you think you can do it quicker, but you can’t.
Be a good friend.
Build a passive income stream, it’s the only way to scale if you’re small.
The best way out of writer's block is to write. Write something else - anything - and then leap back into the work you’re struggling with when the words are flowing.
There is such a thing as too much coffee.
Be part of a community.
Take email and social media notifications off your phone.
Build lovely clear white spaces into your calendar. They’re breathing space and thinking time. Too much busyness isn’t good for you, or your business.
Be yourself. Enjoy the ride.
