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The Scariest Thing About Being a Freelance Writer by Jessi Stanley

Posted on October 14, 2013 at 8:15 AM

This is a featured guest post entry by Jessi Stanley for the Freelance Writers Academy Blog Carnival for October 2013. Please welcome her and tell us what you think by posting your comments below. Thank you Jessi Stanley for this great entry!


Being a newbie freelance writer is very, very scary!


I was scared when I gave out my first business cards, when I published my Facebook writer page, and when I gave my first cost quotes. The list goes on and on. But I think these fears were normal. I felt the fear, did the thing, and then just moved on to the next.


On the other hand, I’m pretty sure that my biggest freelancing fear is irrational.


I think it’s a given that most freelancers have an underlying fear of failure. I have that. My biggest fear, however, is that one day I’ll fail and this failure will prove that I have been foolishly pursuing freelancing because I have been listening to people on the internet who are not the people they claim to be.


Crazy, right?


I don’t worry about this as much as I used to. I know the difference between the online world and the “real” world. It’s just that when I tell my friends, family, and acquaintances what I’m up to and I mention something about online people, they give me that look that reminds me that online work is still not normal for my generation. And the look tells me that they are a little worried about me and my internet friends. This, in turn, makes me start to worry a little, too.


Just to be on the safe side, I’ve devised a plan that will, I hope, silence some of the negative voices in my head and resolve the disconnect of living in the “real” world and having all my writer friends and mentors online.


The Plan


I’m tired of all my writing-related interactions being online. The plan is quite simple. The plan is to find other freelancers in my geographical area, to find real, live freelance writers I can see in person, for lunch or just to talk. Freelancing is isolating. I often have to remind myself to get out into the real world and interact with people anyway. This plan is really just another dimension of that. It’s time to connect with other writers, real people who won’t give me “the look” and make me doubt myself.


I know there are other freelancers in my area. My goal now is to make connecting with them a priority, to add local freelancers to my ongoing networking efforts.


Why Am I Thinking About This Right Now?


The other day I mentioned to a freelancing coach that I’d recently had some good luck and that I felt I might actually make it in the freelancing jungle. Her response to me was “Why wouldn’t you be successful?” Her response had me speechless. It took me about 48 hours to respond. I kept thinking, “Why WOULD I be successful?”


My reaction to her question made me realize just how strong my underlying negative beliefs are about this endeavor, just how loudly that voice in my head still screams “Real people don’t stay home and write. Real people go out and get real J.O.B.S.”


My reaction to her question also made me realize there is a loud voice in my head screaming, “Don’t trust people on the internet.”


Why This Big Fear?


I’m pretty sure my fear is mainly a by-product of the isolation inherent in freelancing and possibly a by-product of that underlying fear of failure.


I know the people I interact with online are real.


I also think it’s usually smart to be cautious. There’s a big element of risk in freelancing. I feel like I’ve approached freelancing with good judgment, but you just never know. And the truth is, I’ve yet to make it in the freelancing world. I’m still in the just-getting-started stage. And I don’t know any real, live freelancers who have made it, either. I think my plan to start interacting with other freelancers in my area will change that. They will be my proof that I’m pursuing something both real and attainable.


Takeaway: Newbie freelancers face many scary things. Part of being an effective freelancer, however, is devising ways to deal with problems. My plan to start connecting with local freelancers can be used to overcome at least some of the isolation inherent in freelancing.


Jessi Stanley is a freelance writer and editor/ghostwriter in Greenville, NC (www.linkedin.com/pub/jessica-stanley/10/597/984/). She's @stanleyjessica on Twitter

Categories: Freelance Writing, Guest Posts, Personal Development

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7 Comments

Reply Sue Brackstone
11:14 AM on October 14, 2013 
Great post Jessi, I get that look from family and friends too! I like your idea about local networking, online support is great but it's good to meet people face to face as well.
Reply Jessi Stanley
11:36 AM on October 14, 2013 
Sue Brackstone says...
Great post Jessi, I get that look from family and friends too! I like your idea about local networking, online support is great but it's good to meet people face to face as well.
Thanks. Sue!
Reply Lynn Silva
01:05 PM on October 14, 2013 
Hi Jessi!
Thank you for such an honest, genuine post. Fear of failure, fear of success, fear of 'fake' personalities on the internet, fear of rejection...these thoughts and more haunt my inner thoughts. Putting it in perspective, I think of Sophie Lizard or Jon Morrow...and to even consider for one second they aren't real...well, THAT is laughable. If I can laugh about that, I can laugh about the other fears too. Laugh these thoughts all the way out of my head and get back to writing. Thank you for making me realize my fears are common among other writers too. YOU are wonderful, genuine and talented. Cannot wait to see where freelancing takes you.
Reply Kelly Boyer Sagert
01:34 PM on October 14, 2013 
Great job, Jessi! Nothing more important than networking.

Re: Internet people being "real." In the late 1990s, I was going to Columbus, Ohio to be filmed in a show about writers. A woman from my online writer's club asked if she could come along to watch and I said "sure" and made plans to drive to Columbus with her. When I told my mother about my plan, she panicked, wanting to know the name of this so called "Internet friend." My mind went blank as far as her real name, so I blurted out her screen name, which was "TweetyBird." My mother says, "So, if it ends up that you're murdered by a crazy Internet fiend, I should tell the police to look for . . . TWEETYBIRD?!?" And I said something like, "Um . . . yes, please."

So, been there, done that! :)
Reply Jessi Stanley
05:56 PM on October 14, 2013 
Kelly, thanks so much for your support!

The story about TWEETYBIRD is hilarious! I'm really glad you shared that. Also glad your mom didn't have to call the police :)
Reply Jessi Stanley
06:02 PM on October 14, 2013 
Lynn Silva says...
Hi Jessi!
Thank you for such an honest, genuine post. Fear of failure, fear of success, fear of 'fake' personalities on the internet, fear of rejection...these thoughts and more haunt my inner thoughts. Putting it in
perspective, I think of Sophie Lizard or Jon Morrow...and to even consider for one second they aren't
real...well, THAT is laughable. If I can laugh about that, I can laugh about the other fears too. Laugh these thoughts all the way out of my head and get back to writing. Thank you for making me realize my
fears are common among other writers too. YOU are wonderful, genuine and talented. Cannot wait to
see where freelancing takes you.

Thanks for your kind words, Lynn, I love your idea of just laughing at the fear. Think I will try that!
Reply Nell C
09:31 AM on October 20, 2013 
Oh, BOY do I get the fear of failure. I feel like every fear I have can be traced back to it. The idea that I might not be successful at writing (which is what I love more than anything besides my family, reading, and chocolate) terrifies me. Even my brand-spanking-new website scares me because it makes me look WAY more professional and confident than I feel! I also don't know any real-life freelancers...yet. If it weren't for The Freelance Writers' Academy, I don't think I'd have any idea what to do or where to begin. Starting out is very scary, but one day you'll be talking to someone ELSE who is starting out and you'll commiserate and be able to say "I was exactly the same way, but it gets easier!"

I wish you lots of luck and real success. You're not alone!