Think being a freelance writer is all glamour? MORGAN LAXTON shares the truth about battles with furry coworkers and deadline adrenaline.
So, you’ve decided to dive headfirst into the wild world of freelance writing. Bravo! Prepare for a tumultuous ride filled with laughter, tears and enough caffeine to power a small country. Here are some likely encounters on your journey to becoming a freelance writer.
The freelance writer’s home life
Let’s start with the ‘glamorous’ life of a freelance writer. Picture this: you, in your favourite pyjamas, huddled at your desk with a steaming cup of your favourite hot drink, typing away while your four-legged coworker gives you the stink eye. Ah, the epitome of professional life.
Forget writing your masterpiece in an exotic coffee shop or a tropical paradise. The reality is more likely to involve a wrestling match with your pet over the keyboard and a towering pile of dirty dishes (courtesy of your lovely children).
As a freelance writer, you’ll become intimately acquainted with the concept of ‘deadline adrenaline’. It’s that magical (or should that be maniacal?) surge of panic and adrenaline-fuelled energy when you realise you have a mere 12 hours to craft a literary masterpiece on the history of underwear. Suddenly, you’re a writing superhero, powered by panic, anxiety and a caffeine overdose.
The dreaded freelance writer’s typo
Once you think you’ve tamed the deadline beast, you discover you’ve misspelt ‘underwear’. Dang it. It’s a typo! But fear not, for typos are part of the freelance writing experience. Who hasn’t accidentally written ‘pubic’ instead of ‘public’ in an email? Or sent off an article riddled with autocorrect fails, turning a serious piece on global warming into a comedy about ‘polar beers’?
Embrace typos; they’re the quirky little reminders that perfection is overrated. And remember, as Carolyn Janice Cherry, a famous American writer, once said, ‘It is perfectly okay to write garbage – as long as you edit brilliantly.’
If you’re concerned about typos ruining your creativity, try out Grammarly; its free version will help you become a grammar boff in just a few clicks.
Of course, the discussion of freelance writing would not be complete without mentioning the joys of client feedback. Oh yes, the sweet sound of a client telling you that your carefully crafted masterpiece needs to be ‘more punchy’ and ‘less boring’. It’s like being told your baby is ugly, but in a professional manner.
Freelance writer’s block
Then, there’s the never-ending quest for inspiration. Sometimes, the words flow effortlessly from your fingertips, and you feel like a literary genius. Other times, you stare blankly at a page, wondering if you’ll ever write anything coherent again. Cue the desperate Google searches for ‘overcoming writer’s block’ and the inevitable spiral into watching TikTok for hours.
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Freelance writing can be challenging. Brian Hannay, a successful fellow freelance writer, once said, ‘If I cried over every rejection, I would no longer be a journalist. I keep on looking for opportunities.’
But despite the inevitable challenges and occasional moments of self-doubt, there’s something undeniably exhilarating about being a freelance writer. It’s the thrill of seeing your piece in print, knowing that you’re making a living doing what you love.
So, fellow freelance writers, embrace the chaos, laugh in the face of typos and always keep a stash of caffeine handy. Because when it gets rocky, and it will, you just need to forge on.
About the Author
Morgan Laxton is a proficient freelance writer specialising in high-quality web content and blog posts. He has vast experience writing on various topics, such as the automotive industry, IT and technology, cryptocurrency, business and entrepreneurship, CrossFit, running and parenting. When he’s not working, you’ll find him running a trail, lifting weights or spending time with his kids.
