Writer Girl

Confessions of a Working Writer

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Jan 07 2009

When Can You Really Call Yourself a Freelance Writer?

Published by kohuether at 11:23 pm under Thoughts, Writing Edit This

When I first became a freelance writer, I had trouble telling people what I did for a living. I simply didn’t have the confidence to say it because I really wasn’t making money. I made only $60 my first year as a freelance writer and I guess it didn’t feel like I was getting anywhere.

If I could go back in time, I would call myself a freelance writer with pride because it has nothing to do with money. An unemployed engineer is still an engineer. A writer that doesn’t have money coming in is still a writer. I look at that year as my first as a writer but at the time, I didn’t see it that way. Here are some tips that can help you.

Fake it. When people ask what you do, smile and say you’re a writer, even if you don’t quite believe it. Eventually you’ll gain more confidence.

Get a business card. Business cards advertise what you do to others. If you don’t have the guts to say you’re a writer and you are having trouble faking a sense of confidence, just hand them your card. For extra points, say what you do with confidence AND hand them a business card.

FREE Business Cards

Practice makes perfect. If confidence is what you need, become more experienced as a writer. Start a blog and post on it every day. Apply for jobs. Write articles and submit them to places like Bukisa to build up your portfolio. The more writing you do, the more you’ll feel like a writer.

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5 Responses to “When Can You Really Call Yourself a Freelance Writer?”

  1. # wizdumbckron 08 Jan 2009 at 12:40 am edit this

    Yes, and when you say, “I’m a writer”, my all time favorite response from them is “Yeah, but what do you do for a living?”
    Thanks for this. We all needed it.

  2. # recoveryrockson 08 Jan 2009 at 2:49 am edit this

    Great article. After I showed a friend of mine some of my published work in anthologies and newspapers, she went around telling people I was a “REAL” writer. Guess I was an unreal writer before she saw evidence. :) I might have to write about that experience.

    Keep writing!

    Roxie
    http://recoveryrocks.today.com/

  3. # pinkinkon 08 Jan 2009 at 3:19 am edit this

    I have a quote about writing on my business card, and people always comment on how much they like it.

    I agree, it can be hard to be confident about your profession when you aren’t making a lot of money, but it’s definitely important to build up your confidence as a writer :)

    Sierra

  4. # kellyologyon 08 Jan 2009 at 11:48 am edit this

    Great advice! Yesterday I told somebody for the first time that I was a writer. It felt great!

  5. # moonsilkon 09 Jan 2009 at 11:39 am edit this

    So true, great post and writing :) Cheers.

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