Category: self-confidence

Punch Fear in the Face: 9 Confidence Boosters for Freelance Writers

Are you one of those freelance writers with a confidence problem?

You know…you think about pitching businesses and magazines, but you don’t actually do it, because you don’t think you’re good enough.

Or maybe you get a bite from a prospect, and then take forever to reply or book a call, because you’re afraid you’ll screw it all up.

Or maybe you’re stuck comparing yourself to other freelance writers who appear to be smarter, more creative, more successful.

Sound familiar?

If you’ve ever felt this way as a freelance writer, you’re not alone. But you’ll never achieve your freelance writing goals if you let fear and lack of confidence hold you back.

The truth is, even the most successful freelance writers have doubts, fears, and frustrations. But they know how to fight back, stay productive, and keep moving forward.

Ready to punch fear in the face, and give your freelance writing career a boost? Here’s how it’s done…

Writer’s Block? Use This Arsenal of Freelance Weapons to Fight Back

You’re face to face in a showdown with your worst nightmare…Writer’s Block.

Do you turn and run, wave your white flag, and eat ice cream for the rest of the day?

Or do you stand up to Writer’s Block and wage a war to get back on track, meet your deadlines, and make money writing?

If you’re not prepared for a surprise attack from Writer’s Block, you may fall victim to its most deadly weapon for freelance writers…fear.

Writer’s Block wants to intimidate you, distract you, stress you out enough that you never actually do any writing.

And that’s kind of a HUGE problem if you’re a freelance writer.

If you want to make a living writing, you’re bound to cross paths with Writer’s Block. But it doesn’t have to be a roadblock that holds you back for days, weeks, months or years.

Want to know how to beat Writer’s Block?

Use this arsenal of tools for freelance writers to fight back.

Writing Process Reset: 5 No-Compromise Rules for Freelance Success

What’s your writing process look like? Are you productive and efficient, or do you spend a lot of time spinning your wheels?

Stop right there.

If you’re dreaming about the days of crushing it as a full-time freelance writer, you’re probably wondering how to dial in your writing process, find clients, get work done, move up, and earn more.

When I was new to freelancing, I needed to hit the reset button on my writing process and mindset, but I didn’t fully understand that until years later.

If you want to be a successful freelance writer, make an appointment with Mrs. Discipline.

Why? Freelance writing isn’t for the faint-of-heart, easily-defeated type. It’s hard. It requires a long-game mindset, commitment, and the ability to deflect distractions to get work done.

Making some commitments to yourself and your freelance goals can be a total game-changer. I only figured that out after a lot of stops and starts and second-guessing myself. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

Want to be a successful freelance writer? Adopt these five no-compromise rules:

Warrior Mindset: 3 Ancient Principles Every Freelancer Needs to Know

When you’re trying to navigate a path to freelance success, you’re bound to encounter obstacles that can get in the way. Do you give up at the first sign of struggle? Or do you keep going with a warrior mindset until you find the way?

When I was a newbie freelance writer, I spent a lot of time going nowhere. I read hundreds of how-to articles. I studied everything the so-called gurus published. Even the “ninja hacks” seemed to fall short. But I wasn’t making progress.

Ever felt like the path to freelance success is a treacherous one?

You write queries and LOIs, and all you get is crickets or rejection. You get close to landing a client, and the deal falls apart. Your niche skills are a perfect fit for a writing job, but you don’t land the gig. Productivity suffers. Creativity dwindles.

The path to freelance success isn’t always easy, but it’s worth the struggle. When you have a warrior mindset, you’ll find a way. On my own journey, I discovered 3 ancient principles every freelancer needs to know:

Contest: Let’s Make a Writer’s Gratitude List

Years ago, when I was finding it hard to get out of bed, much less write, I started making a daily gratitude list. To celebrate Thanksgiving, I’d like to collaborate with you today and make a writer’s ultimate gratitude list. You game?

If you haven’t done this before, writing a gratitude list is a great way to start the day, or to end it. Our human brains are programmed to focus on the negative. We needed to remember where the saber-toothed tigers were, so we’d avoid that valley.

In our modern lives full of negative news headlines and fears for the future, dwelling on the bad stuff can really sap your writing creativity. Focusing on the positive is a powerful tool to remind us of the simple joys of being alive.

Ready to join in?

Stop Making Excuses: One Writer’s Doubt-Slaying Strategies for Freelance Success

What’s holding you back from freelance success?

For a lot of writers, it’s fear of failure, doubt, or that voice inside your head that tries to convince you’ll never be good enough.

Believe me. I know what it’s like to keep second-guessing yourself, steer clear of networking and marketing, and get stuck feeling like every other writer is killing it but you.

I wasn’t always a freelance writer. In fact, I was TV news reporter and producer, teacher, and human resources trainer, before I made the leap to full-time freelancing.

Even though I had plenty of career experience, I had my doubts about freelance success.

But I knew I had to slay those dragons and stop making excuses.

It didn’t happen overnight. But I have found ways to overcome my doubts and fears, move up and earn more. And so can you.

Here are a few ways I deal with the doubts that trip me up the most:

Q&A: Pajamas, Dog Poop and Being a Productive Writer

Worried About Competitors? Here’s the Key to Freelance Success

How do you achieve freelance success with so many other writers out there? It’s a question that’s come up a lot lately, as well as four years ago, when I first published this post. The answer might surprise you. Enjoy!–Carol.

Ever worry about competing with other writers in your niche for freelance success?

After all, a lot of writers with more experience than you are hustling every day. Can you really make this work, or do you feel like it’s hopeless to even put yourself out there?

Spend a lot of time worrying about other writers, and it might seem like those established pros already have the market for writing all sewn up.

I had one budding freelance writer tell me:

“I know the healthcare industry from my job, but when I saw how many members the healthcare writers association had, I just gave up! It seems like it’s too competitive.”

Or if you’ve been around a while, maybe you’re up nights worrying about all the hot young, social-media-savvy writers who’re coming to eat your lunch.

If you’re going to think this way — always worrying about how many other writers are trying to do the same thing you are — freelance success is just going to be a pipe dream.

To win the freelance writing game, you have to put your focus in a different place.

Self-Help for Writers: Make This One Powerful Change

Freelance writers spend a lot of time reading posts, taking courses, and otherwise seeking information on how to build their careers. But what about self-help for writers?

Working on self-care can build your self-esteem up and make you far more productive and creative. And when I say self-care, I don’t mean bubble-baths and walks in the woods, either.

What I have in mind goes much deeper than catching a little ‘me’ time.

Recently, I took a training on one powerful self-help technique that every insecure writer could benefit from. This approach can help you get more and better writing done, put yourself out there more, and gain the confidence to pitch better clients.

Ready to take your writing — and your life — to a whole new level? Read on…

Dealing With Rejection: 5 Bulletproof Strategies for Writers

Rejection is inevitable when you’re a freelancer. You send out queries and LOIs, you’ll be dealing with rejection.

You get some bites and quote on projects…but then you meet up with characters like No, Not Now, Maybe Later, and Not Interested. When you find yourself reading yet another writing rejection, how do you respond?

Do you bounce back like a rubber band? Or does your confidence get flattened like a pancake?

Too many freelancers let writing rejection get in the way of success. And that’s a big problem. If you let rejection beat you down, you’re not going to make a living writing.

Believe me. I know what it’s like. I started out as a columnist and magazine writer. I experienced some early success and then I stalled. Editors started nailing No’s to my forehead. It was hard not to take it personally. Every writing rejection felt like proof I wasn’t any good, that nobody wanted my work.

I knew I had to do something about it. Fortunately, after a lot of research, trial and error, and thrashing around, I developed five bulletproof strategies.

Do You Sabotage Your Freelance Writing Jobs? A Gut-Check

Are you one of those freelance writers who can’t seem to win no matter how hard you try? All the freelance writing jobs you touch seem to turn to merde. Things may start out well, but then something often goes wrong.

You don’t get paid. Your client drops you. All your prospects just want to know how little you’d be willing to do a gig for. And you’re always struggling to book more freelance writing jobs.

If this is you, listen up.

I’m going to tell you exactly why that’s happening, and how to fix it.

How do I know what’s up? I recently added a free, 1-on-1 consulting perk for all Freelance Writers Den members who’ve been in the Den a year or more. That turned out to be…500 writers!

So I’ve been talking with many, many writers who’ve been working on their careers a long time, and learning what keeps them broke, and why it’s so hard for many to find and keep freelance writing jobs that pay well.

Turns out, it’s mostly themselves. Let me spotlight the major mindset problems that lead you to choose crummy clients — or screw up better gigs — over and over. See if you recognize yourself in any of these archetypes of the low-paid freelancer:

Afraid to Promote Your Writing? 5 Tips to Overcome Marketing Shyness

Why do so many writers have a hard time with self-promotion? Think about it for a second. You know you should promote your writing to grow your freelancing business.

But if you’re totally honest, fear, doubt, or shyness sometimes gets in the way. Sound familiar?

That was one of my biggest stumbling blocks when I first started writing for a living. Fortunately, I learned to change my way of thinking to overcome marketing shyness. And so can you.

My own journey as a freelance writer and career coach helped me figure out how to help others overcome fear, develop confidence, and learn effective marketing skills.

Being an introvert, too humble, or having no confidence in your skills are a few factors that can impede your efforts to promote your writing, land more gigs, and earn well as a freelancer. Too many writers think the whole idea of self-promotion is arrogant and boastful. When I was starting out, I had somehow convinced myself that tooting my own horn was breaking some sacred social law. And that’s not the case at all.

Want to learn how to overcome marketing shyness to land better clients and earn more?

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