I Almost Quit Freelance Writing after Two Years. Here’s Why I Stayed…
I’m so tired. This thought continuously ran through my mind on a loop.
Every day, I was waking up and mindlessly following a routine like a zombie. While I was crossing projects off my to-do list, I felt increasingly dissatisfied.
I wasn’t hitting my financial goals.
I wasn’t scaling my business.
I was losing my passion for writing.
I was becoming more and more lonely because I wasn’t connecting with colleagues or friends.
I hit rock bottom, even though I thought I did everything to be successful. And yet, it wasn’t enough.
In fact, my actions led me to this point, meaning this was my fault. I couldn’t throw the towel in without fully understanding what happened.
Reflecting on the root issue and taking accountability
After journaling and sharing my thoughts with my partner for weeks, I realized, “It’s me, hi, I’m the problem, it’s me!” Taylor Swift was right. I may have listened to Midnights on repeat, but this was the first time her lyrics pointed a finger at me and said, you need to take responsibility for this, understand?
Other entrepreneurs aren’t more successful than you because of luck.
They’re successful because they put in the groundwork. I would know because that’s how I landed clients in the first place.
But something happened along my journey that changed the driving hunger within me.
I managed to secure retainer work (stable income), which was a huge win and relief but also a loss because I stopped trying.
I got comfortable with my situation.
Instead of pushing myself to network and focus on a thriving business, I hyper-fixated on my client’s content. There was no time for anything else. But that was my choice.
At the beginning of the summer, one of my retainer clients expressed a business change, which meant my hours would drop, and so would my income.
I went into frantic mode, trying to determine a solution.
They referred a prospect my way, and suddenly, there was light at the end of the tunnel again. We jumped on a discovery call, and they filled out my service agreement.
Everything was promising until it wasn’t. The job fell through, and I was left scrambling again.
What do I do next? Is this a sign to close my business down? Should I return to a 9–5? I’m so tired of running into this financial barrier again and again.
Getting too comfortable was a major problem, especially since I put everything else on the back burner, from networking and creating content on social media to improving internal workflows.
It also opened up a new scary reality — I lost my drive and passion for writing.
Without realizing it, I put my own fire out.
I started doubting myself and experiencing intense imposter syndrome, wondering why I wasn’t attracting clients.
After recognizing these missteps, I asked myself an important question — one that would determine the course of my writing career.
Do I want to be a freelance writer anymore?
I could either commit to my writing career and go all the way or half-ass it and give up.
While I’ve taken most of my journey seriously, some actions have said otherwise. For instance:
- I didn’t like calling myself a “business owner” because it felt too big. What — me? I’m JUST an entrepreneur. I minimized my title because I didn’t fully believe in myself.
- I didn’t invest in tools or software to elevate my writing, client systems, and business. I pinched every penny I received for the longest time, which was a major stumbling block. Since then, I’ve invested in several things that have significantly impacted my services for the better.
- I fell off the marketing train again and again. This habit was due to burnout and zeroing in on my clients’ content rather than my own. I finally discovered networking and marketing myself were just as important as giving my best to my clients.
Asking myself what I really wanted reignited a fire within me. I’m a fighter and always have been. I’ve never chosen the easy route because I was scared or disappointed.
So, I fired up the hatches and got back up because I had nothing left to lose.
I will lose nothing if I put myself out there.
I will lose nothing if I put effort into my content strategy.
I will lose nothing if I reach out to my colleagues, past clients, and new businesses.
Instead, I’ll gain something much richer, like an opportunity to push myself to my highest potential.
Kicking myself into high gear after my hiatus
Picking yourself up after a fall is always easier said than done. I needed a boost of confidence, and fortunately, I received just that while scrolling on Twitter one day.
I came across Mike Scully, a freelancer specializing in landing pages and coaching. His tweets were thought-provoking and inspired me to take action.
Investing in my business
Immediately, I devoured his free class and joined one of his workshops. That’s when I decided to invest in a coaching course.
Remember how I struggled with investing in my business before? This was the first step to going all in on my writing career.
After hearing about his no-BS initiative in the beginning module, I knew I was in the right place.
Marketing myself on social media
From there, I started creating content regularly on X to grow my online community and visibility. Not only am I working hard to provide valuable tips and share my story, but I’m also engaging with other entrepreneurs.
Network, network, network
I also contacted colleagues, past clients, and new businesses to nurture my professional relationships and offer my services.
Honestly, I was terrified to get in touch with past clients because I figured they wouldn’t want to hear from me. But many of them appreciated my follow-up.
Even if they don’t require my services now, I’m planting seeds for the future. I’m staying top of mind while respectfully opening my doors to them.
As for new clients, I had a promising discovery call, and I’m looking forward to seeing where it goes. Anything is better than staying stagnant!
If you’re a freelancer, don’t hesitate to check-in. You never know what it can turn into, and you have nothing to lose!
Don’t depend on one form of marketing, like social media. Start new conversations with colleagues, post regularly online, and touch base with old clients.
As the saying goes, don’t put all your eggs in one basket.
Revamping my website
It’s been a long time coming, but I’m finally prioritizing it. One of the reasons why I didn’t touch my website was because I was overwhelmed.
I had no clue where to begin. I knew my website wasn’t converting well, but I didn’t know what areas to change.
Luckily, I received a blueprint for effective landing pages. A key element? Social proof.
Updating my website with new testimonies and logos feels amazing. Before the revamp, I didn’t realize how many businesses I’d written for over the years.
Reviewing my social proof was incredibly validating!
Freelancers, if you haven’t added any logos or testimonies to your website, do it now. It will put you on cloud nine and showcase your authority in the industry.
Send your testimony forms out today and feature them tomorrow.
And this is only the beginning. It’s been a wild journey with twists and turns, but I’m not planning on giving up yet (and neither should you!).
Good luck on your journey!
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