Guest post: 5 steps to freelance awesomeness

Today’s post comes from Steph Auteri. Find out more about her and how you can get her new freelance toolkit below. — Michelle Rafter

Are you feeling stalled as a freelance writer? Have you hit a wall in terms of the publications you’ve broken into, story ideas you generate, or rates you garner for your services? Are you feeling lost or frustrated but still unwilling to trade in your home-office bunny slippers for days of pencil skirts, blazers and sensible shoes?

As someone who has been writing and editing on a freelance basis for about 10 years — and who now also works as a career coach to word nerds — I’ve become pretty intimate with the obstacles that hold freelancers back.

While many failures can be attributed to inertia and lack of self-discipline (I’d rather be watching old Farscape episodes/catching up on Twitter/eating peanut butter truffles), most freelance failings actually come from fear and self-doubt.

Fear that you’ll squander your  chances with an editor if a pitch is not perfect.

Fear that your idea is not good enough anyway.

Fear that you don’t have the right clips, experience or contacts.

Fear that you’re not worth it.

Though I still often find myself in the grip of such fears, deep down, I know they’re hogwash. I’m awesome. You’re awesome. Together, we create word glitter from thin air.

Here are five ways to bust through your freelance fears and achieve freelance awesomeness:

1. Get the pitch process down cold. Once you become used to the process of generating ideas, targeting the best publications and whipping up strong pitches, you’ll agonize a little bit less over each query letter. Not because you’re getting lazy, but because you know the formula.

I developed a series of worksheets, spreadsheets and templates in the service of becoming a lean, mean, querying machine. But I only got there after many years of freelance experience, filled with many (many) pitch attempts.

Bottom line? Even with experience, querying is a numbers game. The sooner you realize this, the sooner you’ll realize your fears are only holding you back.

2. Maintain momentum. The rejections… they will come. So will howling silence. That’s why your pitch process should include a Plan B (and C, and D, and so on).

For each story idea you have, pinpoint multiple publications where they’d be a good fit. Then, aim high. (Because why the hell not?) If you hear nothing, be prepared to follow up after a certain period of time. If you hear the dreaded “No thanks,” flip that pitch to the next pub on your list. Wallowing in grief (where’d those peanut butter truffles go?) will only slow you down.

3. Resist the urge to be a total recluse. I’m at a point in my career where most of my work comes to me, from fellow freelance writers, former colleagues, editors I’ve worked with in the past and even former story sources! I’m not gloating. (Neener neener!) I’m just pointing out that freelancing will become a lot easier if you take the time to build up a strong, freelance community. These people can share tips and contacts with you, pass along project leads and act as a social outlet when you find yourself having in-depth conversations with your three cats.

4. Believe in karma. As an extension of the tip above, people will be more likely to help you if you show a genuine desire to help them.

5. Continue to create work you love. My focus now is not the same as it was 10 years ago. Once upon a time, all I wanted was to have my own column. I’ve done that. Nowadays, I’m trying to break into new markets, I’m working on building up my career coaching business, I’m brainstorming a variety of Word Nerd Networking ideas and I’m even thinking of becoming a yoga instructor.

To remain motivated to kick some serious freelance ass, I take care to reevaluate my business on a regular basis. So ask yourself: Are you feeling challenged and passionate about the work you do?

Steph Auteri is a freelance writer, editor, and career coach. If you’re interested in receiving a free copy of Freelance Awesome: A Starter Kit, which includes the freelance writing worksheets, templates and spreadsheets mentioned above, join her mailing list. You can also follow Steph on Twitter or read her blog, Freelancedom.