More On Quitting Your Job!

Having your own freelance writing business is a great way to earn a living. Who wouldn't want to quit their job and become their own boss, especially when there are so many rewards? Last time, we talked about the freedom of choosing where you work and choosing your own hours. This time, lets look at the benefits of being able to choose your clients, choose what kind of writing you want to do and even choose how much money you can make.

Choose your clients. When you first start your freelance writing business, you are most likely going to take nearly every client you find. In fact, that's a great way to learn what type of writing you like to do best. As you develop your skills and your business, though, you will probably find you prefer certain types of work and certain types of clients. Some freelancers love working with large corporations doing highly technical articles, others are happiest knocking out articles on the Internet for small businesses, while still others love working face to face with local clients. When you're a freelancer, you meet so many different people that you are sure to find some clients that you absolutely love to work with- and a few that you just might decide to "fire" rather than ever talk to them again. Some clients are one-shot wonders and others become regular, ongoing clients. A select few even become friends. TIP: Try to garner a few regular clients, along with a variety of newcomers and one-shot wonders. That way you always have a steady stream of income coming in and you always have variety.

Choose what kind of writing you do. When you freelance, there are so many different types of writing you can do. In a single day, I might write a couple of press releases, an article or two for an online marketing campaign, a product description for a website and do some work on a sales letter. The next day might find me writing website content, setting up an email autoresponder campaign and doing some work on an e-book. One thing is certain, when you are freelancing; you never need to get bored. You can do something different every day. There is also huge variety in the things you write about. I've written articles on everything from acne to estate planning. I've even had to write some "lighthearted" articles espousing the finer points of Rwanda and Somalia! Talk about a challenge- and an adventure. Before that project, I never knew there were finer points to either of those locations, but believe me, there are! TIP: You can choose a specialty- either by topic or by project type- and as your reputation as an expert grows, so will your paycheck!

You Choose What You Charge. When was the last time you had a job where you got to pick your own salary? When you're a freelancer, you're in charge of how much money you make in two ways. First, you decide how much you work. If you want more work (read money), you take on an extra client or two? If you need some time off, you schedule your projects to be completed in two weeks instead of one. You're the boss, so you can set your schedule to meet the income you want to make. The other way you're in charge of your own salary is by setting your own prices. Obviously, you will need to get some experience under your belt, but once you do, the sky really is the limit. While a 500-word article might pay $20 and take an hour to write when you are beginning, once you get the hang of it, you can knock out a 500-word article in about 15 minutes or so. That's $80 an hour. Not bad wages, huh? If you were asked to set your salary at your last job, would you have even dreamed of asking for 80 bucks an hour? With a freelance writing business, you can earn that- and a great deal more. There are plenty of freelance writers that really are making six and even seven figures a year. I'm not there yet, but I'll sure let you know when I am.

Freelance writing is a fabulous career and starting your own freelance writing business is easier than you think. With a computer, an Internet connection and a system for finding clients, you can be up and running- full time- sooner than you think.

Quit your job- I did!

I don't go to work any more. Yep, that's right- I quit my job and I didn't even think about looking for a new one. No, I didn't win the lottery and I didn't have a rich relative who recently went to the great beyond. So, how did I manage to quit my job? Easy- I started my own freelance writing business. And here's the best part- it cost me next to nothing. So, now, I don't go to work anymore. Instead, I head to my kitchen and fire up my computer and build my business while I earn the best money I've ever made.

Freelance writing is a great way to earn a living. It's also an incredible way to start your own business. There are many reasons to love being a freelance writer with your own writing business. Having your own freelance writing business is filled with choices. You can choose where you work, choose your own hours, choose your clients, choose what type of writing you do, and choose what you charge.

Choose where you work. The beauty of having your own freelance writing business is you can do it anywhere. All you need is a laptop and a wi-fi Internet connection. Of course, you can run a perfectly fine freelance business with your desktop and DSL or cable Internet connection too. Many a freelancer, including this one, does just fine in my little corner of the kitchen. TIP: It is ideal if you can have a space where you can close the doors to limit distractions, but you can make do if you have to.

Choose your hours. One of the best parts of freelancing is you can work when you work best. While it's good business sense to be available during some "normal" business hours so you can be in touch with clients when they are at work, don't be afraid to set your writing hours to your own clock. If you have little ones at home, you may choose to write after they've gone to bed at first. Once you're earning some money, don't hesitate to get daycare now and then to help save your sanity- and your sleep! If you have school aged kids, grown kids or no kids at all, you've got quiet time during the day. If you're a night owl, go ahead and make the most of it. I do some of my best writing after midnight. The point is, work when you work best. TIP: From the very beginning, set up regular shop hours. Choose whatever hours work best for you, but set your hours and stick to them. Not only will this help save your sanity, it will also help your friends and family adjust to the idea that you are working, not just staying home all day.

Next time, we'll talk about some other great advantages to building your own freelance writing business.