If you’re reading this, there’s a good chance that you’ve found yourself with a lull in your freelance writing career at some point.
It’s easy to feel defeated and give up altogether, but as unlikely as it may sound, there is a silver lining to this cloud.
What could be great about being out of a job?
Time. You have time on your side. You just need to make good use of it.
And by good use, I don’t mean looking at Craigslist ads to find freelance writing gigs, either. Here are seven things to do instead:
1. Market yourself more
When you don’t have to write for clients, you have more time for marketing – which is exactly what you need to do when you don’t have writing gigs.
Discover new ways to get clients and start doing them.
2. Learn a new skill
Whether it’s using Photoshop or WordPress, invest in learning a skill you can add to your resume.
Websites such as Udemy, Tuts+ and Lynda can provide you with free or paid online courses that range from coding to business management.
Practice these skills and learn how you can leverage them to get higher rates for your future writing projects.
3. Get a side job
A side job is an instant solution to paying the bills. Look for something you can do to earn income at night so you can focus on getting clients during the day.
If you’d rather stay at home, you can try getting one-off gigs like consulting, typing, voice-over jobs, or web design – provided you know how to do it and that it pays well.
4. Write guest posts
Whether paid or not, you now have the time to guest post for publications of your niche.
Focus on topics or angles that you haven’t written before so you’ll have a more diverse portfolio, and blogs where you’ll get great visibility — the kind your ideal client reads.
5. Improve your writer website
There’s always room for improvement, especially when it comes to your writer website.
Look at it from a prospective client’s point of view and see which parts need more work. In general, you just want your writer website to not suck.
6. Join a writer community
Being a jobless freelance writer can be a huge blow to your confidence and motivation.
Joining a writer community like Carol’s Freelance Writer’s Den can help you get guidance and inspiration from other writers who’ve been between freelance writing gigs.
7. Launch a product or service online
If you have an expertise along with your writing talent, then you are more than ready to launch a product or service online.
You can write an e-book or offer a coaching program.
More than just making money, selling something online should always come from genuinely wanting to help people do better in life.
Whatever you do, don’t give up or get stuck. Use the time you have to write better, market better, and get better clients.
Keep moving.
Remember: A lull is not the end of the road. I’ll bet you’re better off right now than when you first started.
What do you do when you’re out of writing gigs? Tell us in the comments.
Kim Barloso is a freelance technology writer who shares freelance writing advice for beginners on her blog, Kim The Writer.
