Write Now Editing

10 Easy Ways to Succeed at Freelancing: #6, Set Hours and Stick to Them

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Have you ever pulled up to your favorite restaurant for dinner, walked to the door, and found it locked? I live in a small rural tourist town, and with the current economy’s labor shortages, I always check hours before I go anywhere because many businesses are closed 1-2 days a week; I don’t want to waste my time driving somewhere when I call ahead to make sure they’re open.

But what if I showed up when they were supposed to be open … and they weren’t?

With so many other options available to me, it’s unlikely I’ll risk going back.

With so many freelance editors and writers available to publishers and authors, if you aren’t available when you say you’ll be available, it’s unlikely they’ll risk working with you.

If you want to be a successful freelance writer or editor, you need to set hours and stick to them. Notice I didn’t say you need to be available all the time—because you don’t need to be and you shouldn’t be. Burnout is real, and it’s easy to do when you work from home for yourself.

Several years ago, I realized I was spending 12-14 hours a day, six days a week at my computer. I was exhausted, uninspired, and sick of working. I had to fight hard to turn in edits and blog posts that matched my previous quality of work.

I don’t overwork like that anymore.

These days, I set aside work hours. I don’t necessarily work Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Why would I? One of the reasons I LOVE freelance work is the ability to set my own hours! But I do make sure I put in the time needed each week. For me, that looks like 6-8 hours each day, five days a week. That might be four hours in the morning, the afternoon off for errands and meals, then two more hours after dinner. It might be all day in my chair, clocking out at 6 p.m. for the rest of the night. I always take one weekend day off, then one day during the week (for appointments and errands—who wants to grocery shop on a Saturday?). And if a client wants to meet or talk at a certain time? I can (almost) always be available; I’ll just take the time off somewhere else.

When you set (and stick to) hours, two things happen:

  1. You become someone your clients can depend on.
  2. You give yourself the rest you need to work optimally during business hours.

If you want to succeed at freelancing, be reliable—set your hours and stick to them.

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10 Easy Ways to Succeed at Freelancing: #5, Get a Calendar

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You may have noticed that last month’s tips for successful freelancing didn’t go up. That’s because I forgot about it. Why did I forget to share freelance tips? Because I didn’t write it down. And by “write,” I mean “write”—with a pen and paper.

Here’s your quick and easy tip for succeeding at freelancing this month: find a calendar that works for you and use it.

I’ve heard people argue about how outdated day planners are; they insist that “real” professionals do everything online. I disagree. Real professionals do whatever helps them meet deadlines and be professional.

I’m a pen and paper girl. My favorite time of the year is when the new Franklin Covey catalog comes out. I’ll have my 2023 planner by October 2022 because that’s the system that works best for me.

If you hate day planners, don’t use them. There are lots of online calendar programs and apps—you can use Google’s free calendar or pay for a more advanced system. There’s no right or wrong answer as long as you’re using whatever method helps you track and remember your deadlines.

That’s all for today. Now I’m going to mark my calendar so I remember to post another top ten freelancing tip in July. Don’t forget to leave yourself a note to check it. Until then, follow me on Facebook and signup for my newsletter for more writing, editing, and publishing tips throughout the month.

10 Easy Ways to Succeed at Freelancing: #3, Professional Impressions

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Have you ever watched the movie Legally Blonde? In it, Elle Woods prints her resume on pink, scented paper to help it stand out. It stands out, alright, but not in the right way.

The same is true for freelance writers and editors—how you present yourself will make you stand out. It’s up to you to make sure you stand out in a good way. Here are four easy tips for making the best professional impression.

Follow the Submission Guidelines: Nothing screams “amateur” like not following the directions. In fact, so few people follow the guidelines that people who do follow them stand out as the kind of people publishers want to talk to. Do yourself a favor and learn those guidelines!

Know and Follow Industry Standards: Following the directions will get your foot in the door, but if your query letter or pitch are written in Comic Sans font with 2.5” margins (on pink, scented paper), the real message you’re sending is, “I don’t believe in myself, so I’m hoping the gimmicks will get your attention.” They will, but not the way you want them to. Times New Roman 12-point font is your friend.

Mind Your Manners: It’s amazing how far a “please” and “thank you” will take you these days, not to mention a polite, “Dear, So-So” and a “Sincerely.” Once you’ve developed a relationship with someone, it’s fine (and appropriate) to become more casual in your correspondence. Until then, however, mind your manners.

24-Hour Rule: When you do receive an email or message from a publisher or client, respond within 24-business-hours (if you get an email at 4 p.m. on Friday afternoon, respond by 4 p.m. Monday afternoon). Even if you can’t help them in that time frame, send a quick, “I got your email,” so the sender knows you received it and will take care of it.

By following these four simple steps, you’ll set yourself apart as someone publishers and clients want to talk to, and if they want to talk to you, you’re one step closer to getting the job!

Don’t forget to follow me on Facebook and signup for my newsletter for more writing, editing, and publishing tips throughout the month.

10 Easy Ways to Succeed at Freelancing: #2, Get Comfortable

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It sounds obvious, but hear me out. It’s not enough to set up a home office for your freelance career. You need a comfortable space that will encourage you to work.

As a freelancer, the more you work, the more money you make. The longer you can stay at your desk, the more work you can do (thus, the money). That’s why it’s so important to create the most comfortable, productive workspace for your freelance work.

Here are a few things to consider:

  • Desk height: For maximum comfort, your elbows should be at 90-degree angles, so it’s important to find the right height desk. Too high or too low will put strain on your arms and joints. That leads to pain, which gives you an excuse to leave your desk.
  • Chair height: You’ll also be the most comfortable if your knees are at a 90-degree angle when sitting at your desk. You mean I have to match my chair to my desk? That’ll take forever. Don’t freak out yet! Err on the side of too tall; you can always get yourself a foot rest to elevate your feet.
  • Computer monitor: Laptops are convenient for traveling but not everyday use—looking down/hunching over is hard on your neck and shoulders. Instead, you want your monitor to be at eye level. You can still use your laptop, just put it on a riser to get the right height. That actually leads us to the next consideration…
  • Ergonomic keyboard and mouse: If you elevate your laptop, you’ll need an external keyboard and mouse, but don’t settle for any keyboard and mouse. Check out the different types of ergonomic options (some of which are more drastic than others). They take a week or two to get used to, but they’re worth it when your wrists and forearms stop hurting.
  • Atmosphere: After you’ve made yourself physically comfortable, take care of your mental and emotional comfort by creating a space you want to stay in. For example, I love light, bright spaces so my office has windows and light blue paint on the walls. If my office was enclosed and dark, I wouldn’t want to stay there.

Creating a comfortable work environment won’t make the freelance life easier, but it will make it easier for you to spend time at your desk doing the work.

Stop back again in March for more freelance tips!

Don’t forget to follow me on Facebook and signup for my newsletter for more writing, editing, and publishing tips throughout the month.

Sample Edits: Good for Everyone

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Earlier today, I mentioned to a group of editors that I prefer to provide sample edits to clients. A new, young editor contacted me privately to ask about that:

I’m curious about your suggestion to offer a free sample edit, and I’d love to hear more about your success with that. Currently, most of my freelance work comes from [a website], and I haven’t offered free samples because somewhere I read something that discouraged that.

Curious Editor

What a great question! Here’s how I replied:

Sample edits definitely have a divided audience — some editors refuse to do them, others swear by them. I’m actually in both camps because I believe there are appropriate times for sample edits but there are also times to say no.

I only provide sample edits when working on full-length book projects, and I only edit the first 2-3 pages of the manuscript in question. Here’s why:

  1. If someone asks you to edit pages 14-15, they’re probably getting free samples from lots of editors in hopes of getting many pages edited for free.
  2. If they want you to edit an entire article (500-750 words) to see if I’d be a good fit for them on an unseen project,they’re probably sending out dozens of articles to get as many free edits as possible.

By limiting the free sample to the first 2-3 pages of a book manuscript, I can see how serious the author is about hiring an editor (versus getting free editing).

I’ve heard some editors say they don’t offer free samples because they shouldn’t have to prove their ability, but I’ve never looked at it as if I’m proving myself. Instead, I see it as an audition — the author gets to see how I work and I get to see how he/she reacts. It is not easy to hand over 80,000 words to a stranger and ask them to point out all of your mistakes; if the author/editor personalities don’t match or their styles are completely different, it will make it even harder (for both parties). My editing approach isn’t right for every author, and that’s okay. I’d rather discover that in a sample edit than after the edit’s complete.

The sample also helps the author see how much work is really involved in the edit. They might scoff at you for quoting $2,000 for a project, but after they see how thoroughly you edit, they’ll understand.

Even though I’ve built up my reputation enough that I don’t need to offer sample edits (I have authors seeking me out instead of having to hunt for clients), I still like to offer them. In my experience, they help put the author at ease by helping them better understand the process and what will be happening.
I hope that helps!

How do you feel (as an author or editor) about sample edits?

ABOUT ME

Editor. Teacher. Novelist.
A passionate lover of fiction, Karin doesn't just write novels, she helps others write their best stories! A certified substantive editor with the Christian Editor Connection, her goal is to help authors to put her out of business by equipping them with the tools they need to become better writers.

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