Successful Freelance Writer Mindset You Need: 9 Sure-Fire Ways

When I started as a freelance writer, I suffered from imposter syndrome. Also made many mistakes, doubted my abilities, and wanted to succeed.

But then, have you ever thought if you are a slow writer?

As a new freelance writer, you are holding yourself back. You might hesitate to publish the few saved drafts stored on your laptop.?

It would be best if you have patience & perseverance to be a successful freelance writer. So if you are starting out, your “Can Do” attitude or growth mindset can make all the difference.

Here are some mindset shifts you need to overcome. This is so true for beginner freelance writers.

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Freelance Writer Can’t Rely on Inspiration?

“I’ll get back to this tomorrow,” you say to yourself.

And tomorrow never comes, then procrastination becomes the norm.

I have been there an awful number of times!

Yet, I hate to break it to you that when writing for money. It’s best to optimize your time, stay disciplined & focused.

I don’t seek inspiration anymore to do freelance writing. It doesn’t get me paid.

It would help if you wrote whether you felt inspired or not & a positive mindset can do wonders. Either you start the day predisposed to write. Else allow laziness or mental distractions to overpower you & ruin your day.?

Okay, so you get experienced, then distractions stop being a cause of worry.

Writing is a lonely act, and having my family members or friends accept that it is important; it’s a job like any other. Quality writing needs dedication & focus. Reinforces the fact that a private writing space is non-negotiable.

Perfectionism for a Freelance Writer is a Myth

“What starts as a small win or a minor setback accumulates into something much more.”

- James Clear

Writing is the process of re-writing. You could be a few steps away from pressing publish.

I have been there, and I couldn’t get past editing again & again.

Being imperfect is not why you couldn’t get that job. Rather it’s because you stopped trying, and you couldn’t let go of the idea of perfectionism.

Celebrate small victories even if it is as insignificant. As simple as writing a certain number of words on any given day.

I’ve learned that with professional freelance writing.?The action counts most & not always the outcome.

So rather, ask yourself, “What do you need to focus on today that can guarantee to be productive ?”

Take the time to reassess your creative process, and to begin with; you don’t have to be an expert in a specific niche.

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Read Articles of Successful Freelance Writers

When you are not writing, read about the topic you want to create content. It’s a great way to improve your writing techniques & skills.

What’s better is to start to read other writer’s work. You’d learn how they structure their sentences & format their writing.

You could include their writing styles & personalize them.?

And over time, I did discover experimenting with different writing styles. I know that helped me understand how I can write for the audience in my preferred authentic way.

Having a learning mindset helps you adopt valuable tips. Moreover, that’ll make you a better freelance writer online.

I make sure to have a list of topics to write on & that’s handy when it is time to write.

How to get over writer’s block as a freelance writer?

Writing can sometimes feel monotonous & writer burnout is real. But then, there are a few tips to keep in mind to beat writer’s block.?

You could try out the following when writing a blog post with a looming deadline.

• Take Breaks to do other creative work.
• Excercise
• Listen to music to reduce stress.
• Read to come up with new ideas.
• Join online writing workshops or forums

You might think, does this actually work for freelance writing?

I have found that having a personal writing space. Also, creating a distraction-free writing zone has helped me stay focused.

Another way is to try writing prompts. You can also have a go at the free tool “Blog Ideas Generator” from Hubspot to get you started.

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Make Writing a Daily Habit?

You can commit to writing a certain number of words as a daily habit & set a deadline.

Once you come up with your favorite method, strategy or create a system to take charge of your writing. So for a freelance writer, it is the key to gaining new writer habits, tactics & techniques.

End up bombarded with unique ideas & triggers for you to start a new writing piece.

It’s so true when struggling to find your writer’s voice that also leads you to unlock your writing potential.

But you know what? Writing feels less stressful if you have begun to write in your own writing style.

So go ahead & strike off huge time-consuming tasks first thing on your to-do lists. And I have noticed that it gives you momentum that can save your day.

Service-Oriented Mindset of Freelance Writer?

As a new freelance writer, remember how best you can help your client succeed and that it’s not about you.

Like learning any new skill, you have to accept the fact. That to begin with, your writing might be bland & uninspiring.?

That’s okay & to be on top of the game, you know, writing your first few bad drafts can make you a better writer.

Well, you must make sure to put out your thoughts, and later you can edit & proofread before you publish.

You can use editing tools to check grammar & spelling errors. While you edit your writing and that’ll help you to learn & grow as a writer.

I use Grammarly to tweak my writing & proofread later before I hit publish.

Additionally, it’s best to be open to receiving feedback, edits, or critique from clients.

Also, if you love to plunge into challenges to write on a wide range of topics. And excited to do that, then you can make it in the freelancing world.

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Overnight Success is a Hype

?“Don’t compare your Chapter 1 to Someone else’s Chapter 20.”

- Unknown

I’d say you’ll have to learn not to keep up with them. Since freelance writing is not a get-rich-quick scheme.?

Sure, while few others want shortcuts (skip the boring months of struggle & growth). Also addicted to glamourous success stories on social media.

Because of this, as a creative person, imposter syndrome is most likely to happen. Also, when you want your content to fit in on different platforms. Rather notice that what you write resonates with your audience.

And you might want to be a better writer than the next person. But then, I tried to understand how different I can be from other writers. Instead of being better than them.?

You don’t have to compete with anyone & yet be authentic Y-O-U to steer clear of imposter syndrome.

Accept rejections as a part of the learning process. Whenever you’re handed a rejected pitch or missed client or heavy edit, don’t let it weigh you down. Forget it & move on.

Your mindset matters to be resilient & bounce back from rejections.

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Choose a Platform for an Online Presence?

Do you have a marketing strategy in place to reach out to clients on repeat? So as a new freelance writer, it is challenging to choose the right marketing mix that works for you.?

And like most freelancers, I am guilty of this.

You could get overwhelmed with many possible ways to market your services. But it can get confusing with many platforms. As well as understanding the nitty-gritty of using them to your advantage.

Unless you pick a platform based on your audience, content type & niche. This requires you to experiment & observe what works for you in the long run.

So if you want to land freelance writing jobs, you can research. And use proven ways to market content in your area of expertise.

Because if you are going to get complacent & wait for clients and that is a mistake to avoid.

The key is to have an online presence and seize to use it to market your freelance writing business.?

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You are a Business Owner?

For any new writer, you need to forgo your employee mindset. There are a few client expectations from you as a freelancer.

• Managing to invoice your clients
• Replying to emails from your clients
• Marketing your freelance writing business
• Networking & more

So how do you become a paid, disciplined writer? Some things to keep in mind when you’re hired to write & expected to deliver.

• Write engaging content
• Write for the client’s audience (marketers, startups, bloggers)
• Write content that is current & use credible sources.
• Write & edit like a professional writer.

When you want to create a healthy freelance writing business. You have to set benchmarks for growth, meet deadlines, stay organized and value your time.

Plus, you’ll need to decide on your rates, set boundaries, update your writing portfolio. Also, make contracts & accept offers that best suit you.

And the sooner you treat your deliverables as a business, the better it is in the long haul.

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Become a Successful Paid Writer!

Being a freelance writer is much more than you’re a good writer. It’s about including certain mindset traits to become successful.

As a new online writer, you don’t need to have several years of experience to be a professional. You need to know a few smart ways to be a paid writer.

These nine ways will help you figure out the growth mindset. When you want to launch your freelance writing business.

So the key is to become a better writer & not an expert right away!?

I’d want to know what other writer techniques or mindset traits you use to improve your writing skills. Could you share them in the comments below?