7 Hopeful Signs for Isolated Freelance Writers

Are you feeling overwhelmed, isolated, and hopeless? Join the global club.

No one alive has ever seen anything quite like this before. Recession, yes, in 2009-10… but illness that forces us indoors, no. So it’s easy to freak out.

We all need a lot of self-care right now, so please take time for whatever makes you smile and relieves stress. Keeps your immune system healthy!

And don't despair -- because there are some silver linings amidst all the uncertainty, illness, and death. 

Here are some unexpected good things I see: 

1. Families coming together.

I was at the park at 3 pm on Wednesday, and it was thronged with families walking and biking together with children of all ages. Neighbors greeting each other (from a safe distance). We all know society has gotten too screen-focused and isolated...maybe this is the chance many of us need to rebuild neglected relationships.

2. More workout time.

Writers are notorious desk potatoes. Now, many of us are getting more exercise, either down trails and in parks or thru online videos (Amazon Prime has a ton!). Shedding that winter weight gain is a GO. 

3. Remote workers are in demand.

It’s hard to imagine that there won’t be upside here, for those of us who already know how to work remotely. I’d expect many currently advertised full-time writer positions to switch over to remote/freelance, or be open to that pitch. Remember how the Chinese characters for ‘crisis’ are ‘danger’ AND ‘opportunity’ -- and be on the lookout for yours.

I recently heard from one working mom sent home by her employer who said her children had never before seen a single week without school, child care, or a camp, and wanted tips on how to cope… wow. Our juggling skills are already expert-level. We MUST have an advantage here, and I think we’ll see that revealed in months to come.

4. There’s time to learn.

If you’ve been wanting to level-up your skills, to better position you as a high-earning freelance writer, you may have more time on your hands right now. Seize the chance to learn and emerge from this with more value you can offer clients. It WILL pay off.

It can feel scary to invest in your success at this moment, I know. But realize that many will stay frozen in inaction -- and it’s a chance for you to stand out. Besides, when else will you have this time?

5. Adversity makes us strong.

None of us would have wished this. But it’s a fact that those who live through hard times emerge stronger for it. You put your head down and do the impossible in no time, with nothing, every day… until one day, you wake up and realize all the power, competence, and confidence you’ve gained.

What I discovered about marketing in the last recession, through frantic trial-and-error, to grow my biz to 6 figures during the ‘worst of times’ catapulted me into being a high-earning writer who knows how to earn well every month, no matter what.

Remember, the freelance writing marketplace is HUGE -- no matter what’s going on, there’s still activity. And room for one little ol’ you to find clients, if you’re willix

It’s been easy to be complacent and take your freelance lifestyle (or dreams of it) for granted. Until now. Now, Those willing to ramp up (or start) marketing, and who understand who to target in a down market, will triumph.

6. Change spurs creativity.

Don’t you start getting cool ideas the minute you go on a vacation? This is a little like that. Who knows what innovative ideas for building your freelance biz will bubble up, with all this free time!

Personally, planning to lock myself in a closet this weekend and come out with an instant e-book ready to put out, unpacking relevant tips from how I ramped my business up during the last downturn.

7. More time to reflect.

With people dying around us, don’t you wake up and simply see the sun and feel grateful? Most of us will survive this pandemic… but death is coming for us all, one day. This is a great wake-up call to spend more time feeling gratitude...and to think about how we’re spending our precious hours in this life. And course-correct, if need be. 

What are your true priorities? Where does writing for a living fit into who you are, how important is it to you? 

All of us have limited time to spend. It’s a great time to reset priorities and make sure we do what matters, what contributes to a better world, and what makes us happy. 

Let’s do our best to take this advice:

Happy writing --

Carol

P.S. Interested in learning with me in April? Check out the details of the class I'm presenting with content marketing expert Jennifer Goforth Gregory.