Sunday, October 12, 2008

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.

2 comments:

Unknown said...

Amen! So much of what you've said struck a chord.

I, too, find that the flexibility is a big factor and, like you, I get some of my best work done in the wee hours, when there are fewer distractions.

One possible disadvantage of working from home for a writer though is that we have a challenge getting away from work . . . there's always that article to touch up, another blog post to squeeze in, something to check on. . . and our home computer is right there beckoning.

I've know some writers who rented offices so that when they came home, they got away from work.

Teresa said...

Athlyn,
Hi- thanks so much for stopping by! I hear you with that challenge of getting away from work. I find that many times, when it's the end of my work day, I need to turn off the computer or I can't stay away from it!
Teresa