Yes, you need to be a good writer. But I honestly think that the most successful freelance writers are not always (or even usually) the best writers. I do however think you need to love writing and find joy in it. I also think that you need to be curious, a good researcher and have a commitment to accuracy. However, I honestly think that after a certain threshold of writing ability, the difference between writers that earn a great wage and those that struggle has absolutely nothing to do with any of these things.

Every Wednesday, Without Fail

Back in 2009 I emailed the editor of the local section of the Raleigh News & Observer about freelancing for the paper, and he suggested that I regularly send over some pitches to him. So I did. Every Wednesday, three ideas. Without fail, for five months. Sometimes he responded encouraging me to keep sending, other times he gave constructive feedback, and many times I heard nothing.

Then one day his email said, “Let’s do this. 500 words by next Thursday. I can’t wait to read it.” My heart jumped. Then I realized that I had no idea how to write a newspaper article. I almost emailed him back and told him I was a fraud. But my stubbornness kicked in. So I spent an entire day sitting on my living room floor studying back issues of the newspaper in my own self-study crash course on newspaper writing. Yes, I really did this. My personal writing style to this day is actually still a blend of the two reporters that were regularly publishing in that section. True Story.

My first newspaper story (which actually wasn’t that great) on kid’s reading to dogs in the local library turned into four years of freelancing that was by far the most personally satisfying gig I have ever had and will most likely ever have. I ended up writing close to 200 articles (many front of the section and wrote three separate weekly columns over the years. But probably more importantly, the next editor the paper (I went through four editors) ended up being an amazing editor taught me how to be a reporter and a better writer. Without that gig and what I learned from Jason, I wouldn’t have had the skills or the clips to take my career to the next level. But none of it would have happened if I had given up after a few pitches or even 15.

31 was the magic number

Around the same time, I picked up my phone and it almost fell off my chair when I realized that an editor I had been pitching to for the last 9 months had CALLED ME out of the blue. I had been successfully publishing in regional parenting magazines around the country, but heard crickets from our local parenting publication. I did a silent fist pump (or maybe not so silent because I heard her giggle) when she asked me to be a regular contributor.

After I gained my wits, I asked her what about the 31^st article (yes, I will admit that I sent that many) made her finally reach out. She laughed and said that she realized that I wasn’t going away so that she better at least read an article then realized that the writing was really good. I wrote for her for several years and was able to use many of the stories I wrote for Carolina Parent as clips to help me move to higher paying market.

Yes, It’s Persistence

If you haven’t guessed, the number one quality I think that determines your success as a freelance writer is persistence. Plain and simple. My husband and parents will argue that the quality that I am describing is stubbornness, but I prefer persistence. Yes, there is a fine line between persistence and stalking. And Yes, it is possible that 31 emails (or Wednesday pitches) may have crossed the line. But I think that the reason that it worked instead of turning her off is that each email contained a story idea or a reprint for her publication – I wasn’t just bugging her, I was showing her the value that I could add.

This is the thing. Successful freelance writers don’t give up. They figure out a way to land the gig that they want, learn the skill that they need to move to the next level or rewrite the lead 37 times until they are proud of it. And if they are hearing crickets, they find another potential editor to approach and keep going. If they need work, they send out LOI’s, even 50 a week if needed, until their calendar is full of deadlines.

And the quickest way for freelancer to figure out how to do something is to tell them that it’s not possible. I had many people tell me along the way, as I’m sure you have, that it’s impossible to earn a solid income as a freelance writer. And while it is irritating, it is strangely motivating. And when I can’t remember all of the other many reasons that I love to freelance, I can always count on not wanting the various naysayers I have encountered in my life to be right.

You’ve Got This

If you feel like giving up or that you don’t have what it takes, take a breath. Take a break. We have all been there. I am there right now. My two major projects are delayed and I found out last week that my other anchor client needs only ¼ of the content I was providing. It’s a disconcerting feeling because it came out of left field and sucker punched me. Yes, I wrote this post to remind myself what I need to do to get through this lull. I keep telling myself that if freelancing were a piece of cake, then everyone would do it. It’s not easy, but honestly that’s probably one of the main reasons I love it – the challenge.

So dig your heels in and keep going. Send another LOI or 10. Follow up with a past client. Call local businesses. Find new agencies to approach. Go to a local networking event. Join my January marketing challenge. Do all of the things that you know will eventually land you your next big client. I promise that if you don’t give up that you can do this. It might be the next LOI you send that ends up being your anchor client for the next year. But you won’t know if you don’t keep going and hit the send button.

Share your stories of how persistence paid off for you during your freelance career. I think we could all use the inspiration as we wade through the January slump.