A Beginner’s Guide to Mindset for Freelance Writers
What is the biggest differentiator between the freelance writers able to make a living off their work and the ones who give up and go back to their 9-to-5’s? Well, I’ll tell you. Barring the ability to write semi-decently, the main reason people fail at being freelance writers is that they don’t have the right mindset.
Luckily, you can cultivate the right mindset with practice! I have identified the six key aspects of a healthy mindset for a successful freelance writing career. I am telling you, people: this is how you make the big bucks as a freelance writer.
I would also like to say that yes, this stuff does get kind of New Age-y and “woo woo”. Believe me, there was no bigger cynic on Earth than me several years ago. I learned this stuff very gradually—I know that it’s a lot to take in at once. But if you can open your heart and your mind, reading this post and following through on the recommended actions will completely change the course of your freelance writing career.
And one more note before we get into it. This mindset stuff works for anyone, not just for freelance writers. So share it with your friends! Your family! Your neighbors you don’t really know but wish you did! I think everyone can benefit from this stuff.
SIX ASPECTS OF A HEALTHY MINDSET FOR A SUCCESSFUL FREELANCE WRITING CAREER
Growth Mindset
Having a Growth Mindset means that you believe you are always learning and getting better. You might not know how to do something, but you can learn how to do it.
It sounds so simple, but I believe this is where most new freelance writers get stuck. Aspiring freelance writers don’t know how to get started and they get stuck in the research phase. Google is great and all (University of Google is where I got started too), but you have to actually take action in order to learn the ins-and-outs of this business.
Why? Because every freelance writing business is different. Depending on your niche, skills, and location, you may have a completely different experience than I did when building your career. And that’s okay!
Having a Growth Mindset means that you are ready to tackle problems and learn from your wins and losses. No one expects you to know all the answers straight off the bat. In fact years down the road, you’ll still be learning how to improve your business. It never ends! And that’s the beauty of being in business for yourself.
Don’t believe me? Watch this fantastic TED Talk from Carol Dweck:
Grit Mindset
That being said, you also can’t just give up when things don’t work out the way you want. Having a Grit Mindset is important. You must be persistent. Every detour is taking you in the right direction, even if you can’t see the big picture right now. If something doesn’t work, go back to the drawing board and figure out a different strategy. Whatever you do, don’t give up for good.
Abundance Mindset
Does this sound like you? “There are already so many freelance writers in [your niche]. I’ll never be able to get good-paying clients.” If so, stop that right now. Honey, there is ROOM FOR YOU AT THE TABLE.
Let me tell you a personal story. When I started freelance writing, more than one article advised against pursuing the beauty niche. Why? Because it was “saturated”. Well, I went for it anyway. And guess what? There was plenty of room for me and there’s room for you too.
Most new freelance writers believe that there isn’t enough work out there for everyone, so they accept low-paying jobs from clients who treat them like shit. This is called scarcity Mindset and Abundance Mindset is pretty much the opposite of that.
When you have an Abundance Mindset, you believe that there is an unlimited amount of work, so you wait for projects that excite you and pay you what you’re worth. Scarcity Mindset attracts soul-sucking clients that pay peanuts, while Abundance Mindset attracts fun clients who pay well and will take you out for drinks in Notting Hill the next time you visit London.
Why is this important? Because when you have a Scarcity Mindset, you become desperate—and desperation repels. People can smell desperation from a mile away. And if you’ve ever…you know…tried dating, you know that desperation is no bueno. Having an Abundance Mindset and believing the pie is big enough for you to get a slice will help you attract new work and thus money.
On a related note, your creativity as a writer is also unlimited. If you keep practicing your craft, the muse will come. There ain’t no such thing as writer’s block, my friend. You are only limited by your time and energy.
Pop a squat. There’s more than enough room for you.
Self-Worth Mindset
You also need to believe that you deserve to have your dreams come true. If you’re procrastinating on starting your freelance writing portfolio or sending your first cold pitch, you’re probably having a Self-Worth Mindset issue.
Unfortunately, this is the most difficult of all of the mindset issues to deal with, especially for women. If you have the cash, I highly recommend seeing a therapist about this. Most people don’t and that’s okay too. Instead, get out a piece of paper and a pen and really ask yourself why you feel you don’t deserve this. You probably won’t solve any of those problems right away, but it is good to have a list of your perceived weaknesses so you can take action on them.
For example, maybe you feel like you’re not a good enough writer. Well, that could be true. You might not be a very good writer. On the other hand, you might be a fabulous writer and you’re not giving yourself enough credit. Ask your most literary friend to have a look at your work and give an honest and objective opinion. If your writing isn’t good, you can become a better writer though practice as long as you stick with it and don’t give up. This ties into Growth Mindset and Grit Mindset.
Also, what if I told you that many freelance writers aren’t actually very good at writing? If you can meet a project’s requirements and write decently in English, you’re probably already better than 90% of freelance writers out there. If you’re dependable and consistent, clients will love you. And that’s where this ties into the Abundance Mindset.
Many people are waiting for permission to take massive action on their dreams. So here it is: you have permission. Make it happen, bitch!
Be your own damn hero!
Wealth Mindset
Related to the Abundance and Self-Worth Mindsets are your views on MONEY. Why do we hate talking about money? We all want it, right?
Ostensibly, yes. But deep down, you might not really want money. Many people actually have a lot of fear when it comes to money and those fears usually stem from childhood.
For example, if you always saw your parents hustling for money, you might feel like you need to do the same (you don’t). If you grew up wealthy and never saw anyone working, you might think you don’t have to work for money (you do, usually).
Some people are afraid to be rich because they associate money with moral corruption (the two aren’t necessarily related). Some people are afraid of money because they worry it will create more problems in their life (“More money, more problems,” am I right?). Other people just don’t think that they deserve to have nice things.
Here’s the thing. Money is one way the universe exchanges energy and the more money you have, the more good you can do for the world. But you don’t always have to do good with your money! You can also just buy yourself some nice things because YOU DESERVE IT!
So dig in and really think about your thoughts and feelings on money. Figuring out your blocks is the first step in allowing money to come to you.
Anti-Grind Mindset
I’m not sure what to call this one, but I am fully against the hustle/grind entrepreneurship concept you see people like Gary Vee promoting.
Honestly, I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the people who are always pushing for this are men. Life is a grind for women anyways (shout out to the moms out there). Let’s not make it more difficult by grinding away at your work as well.
I say: work smarter, not harder. What is the one thing you can do that will bring you the most growth? Find that and do it! Skip the rest. You don’t need to have an active Instagram and fancy website to get started as a freelance writer. Make your freelance writer portfolio and start cold pitching. The rest can wait!
You do not have to grind 24/7 to be successful. Take a breather!
HOW TO GET ON THE RIGHT TRACK
Okay, that was a lot. So how can you get on the right track with this mindset? Here’s three ways to start:
1. Meditate
You’ve probably heard this about a million times, but meditation can be a very useful tool for freelance writers. Not only does it help you sharpen your focus (super important), but it can also help get you in sync with the universe so you can get “pings”.
Pings are little messages from the universe. They might tell you why you’re so blocked with money or give you guidance on how to move forward.
Yes, this sounds crazy. But here’s how I incorporate this into my routine: I meditate for 10 minutes in the morning, right after I work out. I just lay down on the floor in my family room and vibe. Oftentimes, I get little pings from the universe of stuff to do. For example, in May I received a ping to hire a summer intern. That day I put up a job posting on Indeed. I didn’t even worry about having money to pay the intern, because I knew that it would come (the money arrived several weeks later). I write them down quickly and then get back to meditating. Acting on these pings has been so important to my growth, both career-wise and personally. It sounds weird, but don’t knock it ‘til you’ve tried it, buddies. It’s the tits.
2. Start a Gratitude Journal
This is another thing that you’ve probably heard a million times, but listen up: Your thoughts tend to move along the same well-worn paths they’ve always gone down. If you’re a complainer, it’s natural for you to keep having negative thoughts. And believe me, you’re not going to get very far in life if you keep bitching about stuff.
As it were, a gratitude journal can help you turn the ship around. Force yourself to write down three things you’re grateful for every day. Do it while you’re drinking your morning coffee or eating a sandwich in your car at lunch. By making your brain think positive instead of negative thoughts, you rewire your brain to be more positive. More positivity = higher vibes = an increased ability to attract the things you want in your life.
3. Keep Learning
We are always works in progress (see Growth Mindset), which is why it’s so important to keep actively learning new things. Read personal development books. Listen to podcasts. Enjoy an audiobook on your morning commute. Start with just 20 minutes per day. You never know what idea you’re going to come across that’s going to blow your mind and change everything for you.
Positivity breeds positivity.
HERE ARE MY RECS:
Books/Audiobooks:
You Are a Badass at Making Money: Master the Mindset of Wealth by Jen Sincero
The Obstacle Is the Way by Ryan Holiday
Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol S. Dweck
Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth
Podcasts:
Expanded Podcast with Lacy Phillips
Well homies, I hope that this was helpful for you. I’m very passionate about this subject (honestly) and I truly believe that if you get your head right, the money will follow.
Questions? Comments? Let me know!
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