Freelance Writing Is Learning To Adapt and Overcome.

I’ve been a freelance writer since 2009, and I have learned a lot of lessons over the years. Some lessons, I’ve had to learn more than once. And one of those lessons is learning to adapt to change.

The world of freelance writing is always changing. Clients come and go, projects shift in new directions, and content needs to be updated to fit the algorithm.

A wise man (otherwise known as John Cena) once said "Adapt. Overcome. Never give up."

The same can be said for the world of freelancing. You need to adapt to those changes. Only then, can you overcome them and move forward as a freelancer.

As I said, I've learned this lesson more than once. When my private client from 2012 to 2015 went out of business, I was in a state of panic. I can honestly say that there were tears. I had become dependent on their weekly work, which is not hard to do because you get used to it.

Nowadays, when one client or writing team slows down, I look to my other teams. I've been on some teams for a while, but I felt intimidated by all the lengthy instructions and need(ed) time to ease into it. When need be, I step out of my comfort zone because you gotta do what you gotta do. Additionally, I write past Fiverr clients to see if they need anything. I also remind myself that writing slumps are normal, especially at the end of the month, and this too shall pass.

By the way, I've recently stepped out of my comfort zone with several clients and teams, and I'm glad I did. The instructions were easy to follow, I enjoyed the work, and I have more options. Take a chance!

I'll also buckle down on my survey websites as needed. There are some that pay faster than others, but this is another post for another day (but I won't make you wait too long for it). I know, I cannot earn a living from survey websites, nor do I expect to earn a living from them. But it's more to supplement my income and keep busy when things slow down, and every penny adds up.

But basically, I do what I need to do instead of freaking out because one client hasn't been as active as another. You've probably heard it before, and I'm going to repeat it, but you need to have more eggs in your basket. You don't want to overextend yourself, but I feel you do need several eggs in your basket to bring in (more) income when things temporarily or permanently change. Plus, variety is the spice of life. But again, this is another post for another day (the gears in my head are turning).

One thing I've added to the "adapt and overcome" motto is my writing schedule. I'm not a morning person by any means, but I recently forced myself up at 6:45 am to get in some work during a slow period. One of my favorite teams posted work to the job board super early, and I wanted to get in a few before they were gone. Now that work is picking back up, I'm planning to do the same thing, just to have my pick of the bunch. I'll be tired come the afternoon or evening, but it'll be worth it.

At the same time, other clients have been posting work to teams in the evening, and I've started figuring out what time to check the boards.

So lately, my upcoming schedule is looking like work in the morning, resting and other tasks in the afternoon, more work in the evening, relaxing, and bedtime at night. And now that I've typed that out, it doesn't sound so bad. Once Fiverr picks back up, I'll probably add those to my afternoon batch. Don't worry, I know my limits, so I'll avoid burnout as much as possible.

By figuring out when certain clients and teams are more active (both during the day and month), I can stay on top of things when work is at its busiest. I can get on a more productive routine during the week and have the weekends to myself. I can also continue to grow my savings account.

I've learned to adapt because I want to overcome, and not because John Cena said so (even though I am a huge fan), but because I always want to continue to grow and succeed as a freelance writer.

If you adapt and never give up, you too shall overcome.

(I do apologize for the mess. Sometimes, I write from both my heart and my brain!)