Are you curious about the pros and cons of freelance writing?
There are many reasons why you’d want to become a freelance writer. It’s a flexible position that can lead to more money than some salaried positions.
And yet, there are some reasons why it may not be the right fit for everyone.
That’s why, in this post, we’re going to weigh the pros and cons of becoming a freelance writer.
Ready to get started? Let’s dive straight into the list.
The first pro of freelance writing is that it allows for flexible scheduling. Freelancers are able to choose when they want to set hours or days to work when they’re not working on specific projects.
This is a pro for people who have other obligations, like school or family commitments. It also works well if you’re someone with an intense interest in your own schedule and preferred hours of the day that you want to spend time doing something else outside of freelance writing.
It’s an advantage because you can choose to work when it’s convenient for your schedule, rather than forcing yourself into a routine that may not be working for you.
Another benefit of freelance writing is that you can work from anywhere. This convenience has become even more prominent in today’s world with the rise of internet connectivity and cloud storage access.
Freelancers are able to choose their workspace based on what they’re most comfortable with, whether it be a coffee shop or home office. The location doesn’t matter as much.
You can stay at home, and still be able to work on a freelance project without distractions.
Alternatively, you may choose to get out of the house early in order to have some fresh air before settling into your day’s work. It just all depends on what works for you!
Another pro of freelance writing is that it pays better than an hourly salary position. If you’re the type of person who loves to work and get paid for your time, then this may be a great avenue for you.
You can often make more money by working as a freelancer because there are no taxes withheld from what you earn – meaning you keep more of your money.
Freelancers also have the ability to negotiate their own pay, so you can either make a lot or be satisfied with what’s offered for a little bit of work that needs to get done.
If you’re looking for an opportunity where there are no set hours and it pays well, then freelance writing may be the right fit for you.
Keep in mind, however, that while you may earn more money by the hour, you might not earn more money total.
This is especially true if you’re eating up most of your time looking for new clients, but more on that in a little bit.
One advantage to freelance writing is that it can improve your skills as a writer.
Freelance work often involves editing and proofreading, which you may not be doing in an hourly position. You’ll also experience more diverse topics than what you may come across at a day job.
This will help you become a better writer, both in the sense of writing skills and the ability to produce different types of work.
A pro for freelance writers is that they can learn things on their own time rather than having it force-fed them at an hourly wage position. Freelancers have more control over what information they’re exposed to, and they’re more likely to learn it at their own pace.
Freelancing is also a great way for people who are passionate about writing but don’t want a full-time position, the ability to just do freelance work on an as-needed basis.
Another pro for freelance writing is that it can improve your knowledge in many ways.
Freelance writers are exposed to different things on a regular basis, not just the same type of article or blog post over and over again. They’re also given opportunities to try their hand at new projects which will help broaden any skills they may be lacking or need to improve on.
Being a freelance writer will also help you to learn about different tools and programs in various industries.
Not only will you learn some cool new skills, but you’ll get paid in the process. It’s a win-win situation for writers who find themselves “curious” about lots of different topics.
This is especially true if you’re transitioning into freelancing while still keeping a full-time job.
The last thing freelancers need is to come home from a hard day of work and have no time left for themselves.
When you’re working on your own, it’s easy to be tempted by fun activities that will just end up taking over your life.
This can lead to an unhappy freelance lifestyle where there are never any break periods or time for a leisurely activity.
As long as you’re disciplined and don’t get too caught up in the day-to-day activities, freelance writing can be a great way to make money while doing something that you enjoy.
Another con of freelance writing is that you might not find a steady stream of clients.
Freelancers are often in charge of marketing themselves, which can be difficult at times if you’re just starting out or trying to establish yourself as an expert in your field.
There’s also the fact that some freelancers limit their availability so that they can set their own schedules.
This means that if you’re looking for a steady stream of income, or at least some work every so often to supplement your day job, then freelance writing might not be the best fit for you.
If this is going to be your only source of income and there’s no guarantee that clients will come your way, then you’ll need to prepare yourself for a long and difficult struggle.
Another con of freelance writing is that it’s just not as stable as a full-time position.
Your income fluctuates depending on how many clients you have, what type of work they’re in need for and whether or not the economy is doing well.
This can make budgeting difficult because there are never any guarantees with freelancing.
You might be working hard and doing great, but then you take on one or two jobs that don’t pan out as well as expected. Suddenly you find yourself in a position where all your income is lower than what you’d budgeted for.
The best way to deal with this problem is by being very selective about the jobs you take on and then creating a budget that can account for those fluctuations.
Dealing with difficult clients is another con of freelance writing.
Freelancers are often given the opportunity to work on a variety of different projects, which is great.
However, it also means that you’ll be dealing with a wide variety of people and personalities.
Some clients might not understand what they’re looking for in terms of content or style which can lead to frustration on both ends.
This is why freelancers need to set clear boundaries about how many revisions should happen before the project is completed, or how many rounds of edits are allowed before the payment changes.
These are uncomfortable conversations that many freelancers don’t consider until they’re already having them.
If you’re typically easy to work with or have a high tolerance for “nit-picky” clients, then freelancing can still be a great option.
We hope that these pros and cons of freelance writing have helped you, even if only a little!
At the end of the day, only you can be sure if freelance writing is the best career path for you and if it’s a good fit for your family.
It may be difficult to get started, but there are TONS of online resources you can use to make the path much easier.
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