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Facing Your Freelancing Fears
by Jim Soos

Writers tend to be a paranoid lot. Great ideas bounce around in our heads, begging to be released and placed in front of the world to read. However, once those ideas succeed in leaving your nurturing mind and land on paper or a computer monitor, doubts emerge like a hurricane bearing down on the coast. Warning sirens blare out of nowhere, thoughts of abandonment take control. Who in their right mind would buy the garbage that took you a week to write?

Do thoughts like this run through your mind? You're not alone. They are a natural part of the writing process. If you allow them to control your writing, finding your byline in print will probably elude you for eternity. The trick is to stare writing fears straight in the eye. See who flinches first. Once you train yourself to bully around those lingering doubts, success will be knocking at your front door. Then it's just a matter of welcoming it in.

Below are five fears that constantly plague me. I'm willing to bet you share them with me.

Not Enough Writing Assignments

Unless you have a list of regular clients supplying you with a steady stream of assignments, it's up to you to locate the work. 60% or more of a freelancer's time is spent researching the markets, querying editors, or pitching your services to businesses. Ideally, seeking new writing projects is a daily ritual. Of course, if you are swamped with work, as all of us wish we could be, you may have to suspend a daily search to fit your schedule. Maybe every two or three days. But never allow too much time to pass without seeking new opportunities. One day, that well of steady work you are enjoying now, may dry up.

That Project Is Out of My League

Many opportunities concern topics or technological aspects you know very little, if anything, about. Why allow this to be an obstacle to another assignment and potential paycheck in your mailbox? The beauty of freelancing is being adept to any challenge. By setting limitations on your abilities, you will miss many opportunities to grow as a writer. Summon your creative and researching talents, and you will find there is a lot more to your writing skills than you believe.

Fear of Rejection and Criticism

All writers receive rejections. It's a part of the business that is difficult to control. Just remember: You can't please them all. Nurture your ideas and write to the best of your ability. Rejections and criticism will always be there.

The Deadline Is Coming!

The word 'Deadline' should be stricken from the English language. It should join the ranks of those four letter words you're not supposed to say on television (unless you are doing an HBO special). Writer's Block rears its ugly head as the clock ticks off every second, drawing an article's due date too close for comfort. It's a nasty, nasty word! Budgeting your time is the only answer to the dilemma.

My Article Just Isn't Good Enough

Ahh. You finally have it written. The first draft was tough. The second, a pain. Then you revised, edited. rewrote the introduction. Tweaked the closing. Played with the body a little. But, something just isn't right. It's not quite ready for others to read yet.

Enough!

There comes a certain time when you have to stop polishing the prose. Stop being so nit-picky and send the piece out. Forget about it and begin the next assignment. Then the frustration can start anew. Don't you just love being a writer?

Copyright © 2001 Jim Soos

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