Get a REAL Job!
How to Deal with Skeptics in Your Freelance Writing Career
All freelance writers do, actually.
A fellow writer posted on her Facebook account that her husband considers her writing to be "unpaid work" and I wanted to hug her in sympathy. I have been hearing cracks like that for years, even before I became a full-time freelancer.
Well-meaning friends drop by with business cards: "Annie, guess what? So-and-so needs someone to clean his rental houses, I know it would be perfect for you!"
Others call and ask about becoming my roommate, because they "know" that I "need the money."
Then there are the ones who say I need to "get out of the house" so that I can afford to pay my taxes with a "real" job.
I'm like, seriously?!?
Most of my relatives cannot believe that I actually get paid for this. My friends are just as skeptical.
My sister just smiled when I showed her the balance in my PayPal account.
When you become a freelance writer you will face these and other issues because the world is so conditioned to believe that one cannot possibly make an income while they sleep--but I do just that and quite well, thank you very much!
So do other online writers: Michy Lynn, Lyn Lomasi, and many others beside myself make our living as freelance writers. Even bloggers like Everett Bogue have managed to earn a living online.
If your skin is thin you may want to build it up a bit before telling anyone that you work as a freelance writer; in the meantime here are a few suggestions to help with the transition.
Go to "Work" Every Day:
Get dressed, put on your makeup (ladies), get in the car and drive to the local coffeehouse. Grab a table in the back and borrow their Wi-Fi to submit your masterpieces then drive back home after an appropriate time as passed.
Lie:
When asked about your employer, just smile mysteriously and say you are someone's personal assistant--and that they insist upon paying you through PayPal.
You could also say that you have managed to score Disability through an insanity clause, because the world will seriously consider you insane to pursue a career as a freelance writer!
Find a "Day" Job:
Find a part-time job somewhere that will let you work a few hours here and there, then play up how many hours you devote to the place. Spend your off time at the coffeehouse earning your real income--just make sure none of your friends frequent the place!
Show Them The Money:
Once you are comfortable, log into your PayPal account and show them your balance. I've discovered that goes a long way toward silencing the skeptics, though I advise allowing it to get rather high to add to the shock value!
When you become comfortable as a freelance writer you will gain the ability to brush off the insults and remarks that insensitive people love to hurl. When you reach that point you will laugh at your skeptics, secure in your ability to pay your own bills as you march to a unique (and profitable) drummer. Until then it is my hope that these tips help ease your transition into freelancing and make dealing with skeptics easier.
Source:
Personal Experience
Published by Annie Jean Brewer
Annie Brewer learned how to combine minimalism with frugality to live the life of her dreams. A single mother, she is a computer professional who works from home and primarily supports her family through wri... View profile
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2 Comments
Post a CommentI agree Pamela! I sometimes take the kid to play places that have wifi, our local parks have wifi, and some of the "playplace" restaurants have wifi as well. It feels good to get out of the house, skeptics or no!
Sometimes I wish we could take all of the skeptics and toss them in a pit somewere lol!
I wish I could go to the coffeehouse! My kids are still little. Although I don't want them growing up too fast, I'm looking forward to even working at the park if I want to. This state of mind has made many of my family mad at me, too. They think I should be able to do things for them because they work and I "don't". I asked them in what universe getting paid and paying taxes on that pay wasn't "work".