Brand strategist and blogger Valeria Maltoni once wrote:
“Usually people ask me: What is the next Facebook? That’s entirely the wrong question. Moving forward is the best way to look forward.”
Great advice for freelance writers, too.
So many of us are lamenting the demise of what were once deemed the choicest writing gigs: bylines in national magazines, big-name clients, retainer fees, and hard-copy book sales.
While I’m a huge proponent of planning, often we writers don’t make enough (or any) allowances to be nimble
What that means to me is this: To take your freelance business in the direction you want it to go, get moving.
When I started my freelance writing business in the early 2000s, I thought I would write part-time for a few former employers, exercise everyday, and tend the home fires in ways that were personal and meaningful to me.
What I got was something altogether different.
Better, in fact.
Had I not moved forward (yes, in blissful ignorance) in my freelance career, I would never be where I am now (a good place).
Moving forward without knowing is not always a bad thing. Author Ray Bradbury said, “Sometimes you just have to jump off the cliff and build your wings on the way down.”
When I got my start, I jumped. Without a client list. Without a gig. Without a clue.
Along the way I learned some things about the craft, the profession, my colleagues, about life, and about myself.
Of course, you don’t know what you don’t know. But, trust me, you’ll learn as you go. And if you’re fortunate, you’ll encounter some other friendly freelance writers, content creators, and mere strangers who will help along the way.
Ready? Just jump!