What Is it Like to be a Professional Writer
From LoveToKnow Freelance-Writing
What is it like to be a professional writer? The answer to this question depends on several factors, such as what type of writing you specialize in and whether or not writing is your full-time occupation. However, there are a few points you should be aware of when deciding if this is the right career choice for you.
What Is it Like to be a Professional Writer?
Like all other professions, freelance writing has both advantages and disadvantages.
The Good
If you love to learn, freelance writing is a great occupational choice. When you're a professional writer, you'll learn something new everyday. In the process of researching your projects for a typical week, you may discover how to grill the perfect hamburger, how to minimize wait time at the local DMV, how to save money on groceries, and how to curb chocolate cravings when you're on a diet. Additionally, once you're established in your career and no longer feel the need to agree to every project that comes along, you may find that freelance writing provides a chance to get paid to research topics of personal interest.
In most cases, a freelance writer is allowed to work with very little supervision. You can choose your own workspace, whether that means a fully equipped home office or a corner table in your favorite coffee shop. You can write for several hours at a time or choose to take frequent breaks. You can write in your pajamas at midnight if you wish, as long as you are actually getting some work done. This feeling of independence can be a great thing if you're accustomed to an office job with a boss breathing down your neck 24/7.
Freelance writing offers a great deal of flexibility, making it a very attractive choice for working parents. If you need to take a day off for your daughter's doctor appointment or your son's soccer game, you don't need to get permission from anyone. If you're not feeling well, you can simply make up your work at a later date.
The Bad
In most cases, freelance writers take great pride in their creativity. For this reason, it can be a real blow to the ego when you're rejected for an important assignment or an editor sends back an article with multiple revision requests. However, it's important to keep in mind that good writing is subjective. In the grand scheme of things, one person's opinion matters very little. Do your best to keep your clients happy, then move on with your work. If your query gets rejected at your first choice magazine, polish your proposal a bit and send it off to another market.
If you're used to getting paid every week or every other week, dealing with freelance writing's sporadic income can be a real shock. As a new writer, you might not see much of a profit for several months. Even then, it's common to have months in which your earnings fluctuate widely. Careful household budgeting is a necessity, especially if you can't rely on a spouse's income to help make up the difference during lean months.
By its very nature, writing is solitary work. If you're an introvert, this might not be a problem. If you're the type who thrives on social interaction, however, you may find loneliness to be a real issue. If so, make an effort to keep your social life in order by finding time to network with other freelancers, volunteer in your community, and get out with your friends on a regular basis.
Additional Information
What is it like to be a professional writer? To learn more about how to answer this question, you may want to review the following articles from LoveToKnow Freelance Writing:
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This page has been accessed 73 times. This page was last modified 14:42, 14 August 2009.
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