7 Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me Before I Became a Freelance Writer

"I'm a writer!" is what you hear in the voice of every introverted person who spends too much time locked in their bedroom with a laptop.

And believe it or not, when I was in high school, I would have made the same statement about myself.

However, after spending four years in college obtaining my degree and then some in journalism, I've realized that being a writer is not as easy as it looks.

The Path to Writer Superstardom

After graduation, I took my fledgling portfolio from my college newspaper and my little experience and tried applying for a coveted open position at a city newspaper.

The response? "Newspaper is dead, kid. Get a blog."

It took nearly 8 years for me to finally quit my day job and discover my passion as a full-time copywriter and content developer.

The path to get here wasn't without its bumps, but there are a few things I wish I knew when I first started.

If you're ready to start this journey and want to be a writer - whether it's in the newspaper or for your own blog - here are 7 things I wish someone had told me:

1. You Better Build Self-Discipline

Becoming a full-time writer is all about becoming self-reliant. No one will help you build your career, so it's up to you to be the first one in and last one out.

Whether you are freelancing or working for someone else, the success of your career is largely under your control.

You will need to be at work on time (or early), anticipating what needs to get done, knowing when it's due, and completing it. Being a writer is the ultimate form of entrepreneurship because you are both the CEO and worker bee.

2. You Will Want To Quit At Least Once A Day

This one might sound odd, especially since I just said that becoming a full-time writer is primarily up to you.

But there will be days when you just want to quit.

You will be faced with writer's block, you might not see any results for your work, or you might feel like giving up.

That is the nature of freelancing because there are so many variables that can happen outside your control. Going freelance does not mean instant success, and it doesn't mean all your problems will go away.

You will need to be strong, stay calm, and realize that quitting is not the answer. You can either close down shop or keep on fighting for your dream.

Just remember: it's okay to be frustrated and angry, but you must move past it and never quit.

3. There Is No Such Thing As A Free Lunch (Or, In This Case, Dinner)

This is a hard lesson that I personally had to learn. Being a full-time freelancer means being your own boss and being the only person who can help promote your work.

You will have to be actively engaged in marketing yourself.

You won't always have someone reminding you of upcoming deadlines or encouraging you to get back to work. You also won't have anyone pitching your stories or ideas for you.

You will need to tough it out and navigate the stormy waters of freelancing until you find a system that works for you and your business.

4. Freelance Isn't Free

The internet has led many people to believe that starting a business is easy.

"You just need to have a website, start blogging and posting online, and you will automatically be a 10X internet sensation!"

Passive income is largely unheard of in the world of freelancing (this isn't financial advice). Yes, you can write content for someone else's blog or website, but that usually means getting paid by the word or by the project.

Be prepared to work your butt off and not always get paid what you're worth. But with the right portfolio of successful work, the faucet of opportunity will open.

5. It's Okay To Ask For Help

Freelancing can be an isolating experience. You will spend your days writing, going through the internet wormholes, and looking for inspiration from others' stories.

However, you will need to know when and where you can ask for help.

You might be surprised how many successful writers are also very generous people who want to see their peers succeed as well. Seek out those opportunities and take advantage of everyone you find because it will make your business stronger.

6. You Will Make Mistakes (And They Will Be Hilarious)

There will be many times when you have no idea what you're doing. This is part of being a new writer or entrepreneur, and it's completely normal.

You will make mistakes, probably embarrass yourself several times, and develop scars from the experience.

But let me tell you something: those experiences can also be hilarious in retrospect. Don't be afraid to use those moments to laugh at yourself and then move forward.

7. It's Okay To Fail (But Don't Do It Often)

Every new business will have a lot of growing pains and setbacks.

You might not see the payoff for your hours of hard work, you might not close enough deals or get picked up by anyone, or you might just burn out from all-nighters and a healthy dose of caffeine.

This happens to everyone and it's part of the hustle. There is no such thing as a 100% success rate in business because too many variables are outside your control.

So when you fail, don't dwell on it for too long because you will learn from those mistakes and then move forward with your assignment.

What Are You Waiting For? Start Writing!

Building a career out of writing is not easy, but with some time and dedication, it can be done - and lead to opportunities you never expected.

If you're unsure where to start, remember that putting yourself out there will always yield new opportunities, even if they are not what you expect them to be.

So do your research, learn the industry inside and out, be yourself through every step of the process, and above all else - stay persistent!