The Real Truth About Being a Freelance Writer

While many people think that nothing could be better than being a freelance writer, the truth is it is not always wonderful. Many writers spend hours agonizing over one sentence or just one word. It really is one of the most stressful jobs you can have and one that always doesn't pay as much as it should.

One of the biggest issues of freelance writing is working at home. This does not just apply to writers, but anyone that operates a business in the home. There is constant confusion between what you want to do and what you should be doing. For many, this confusion leads to work going undone and no money coming in.

Freelance writers must also get used to hearing a lot of rejections. Truthfully, every writer should plan to get at least 9 rejections out of every 10 queries sent in. However, you can not let this stop you. If you are serious about your writing, you have to look at the positive and take that 1 acceptance as a positive.

Those who have difficulty accepting criticism will also have a very stressful time. While you may know exactly what you mean, your writing must be clear enough to make everyone else understand, as well. This can lead to many hurt feelings and if you allow yourself to get discouraged, you will end up quitting.

Being a freelance writer also means a lot of long hours for very little pay. Even if you are paid $200 for an article you write, you may have spent as much as 20 hours on the research and writing. What this means is that you are basically working for about $10 an hour and you will still have to pay taxes.

There are many different types of writing that can be taken on by a freelance writer. Writing for magazines may offer the highest rates, but it also means you will have a lot more competition. Thanks to the Internet, many people have been able to earn a fulltime income by writing web content. Getting paid between $8 and $15 per piece they write, it is very possible to make more money working from home than in a more traditional job.

Unfortunately, a career as a freelance writer is not as easy as it sounds. It takes a lot of studying to learn the ins and outs of sending out queries and submissions. Frustration and discouragement seem to be the norm. However, with determination and perseverance, it can happen and, no matter how long it takes you to become published, nothing could be better than realizing your dream of becoming a writer.