How My Freelance Writing Career Started and How It’s Going Now

By Freelance Writer CeLeste

Freelance writing wasn’t originally on my bucket list, but it happened anyway. My entire career was spent in the music industry as a vocalist for several bands. During this time, I had two children and lived the life of a wife, mom, and local celebrity. However, when my last contract ended, I was over 45 years old with nothing more than retail and singing under my belt for “marketable” skills. I had expert computer skills and knew (still know) how to use Microsoft Office and other programs.

I felt lost, alone, and hopeless. I got depressed, cried a lot, and finally bounced back enough to think straight. I had to consider my options carefully before I jumped into something new. So, I looked up some ideas online and writing spoke to me. Honestly, I always enjoyed writing, so I thought it might be a good way to make a living. I always made high grades in English class and my English Composition classes.  Now that I have turned 60, I feel like I made the right move to a freelance writing career, but it’s taken time and effort to get things moving. After all, I’m still tech savvy and creative.

Next, I did some online research to look up how to get started as a writer and so it began.

How I Found Work

It took some time, but I eventually started to get work. I started writing for a company called Wordgigs and have evolved from there.I found Wordgigs online and that became my main source of income for around four years before I felt confident enough to venture out into new freelance marketplaces.

I now work on Upwork for various clients, but when I first started on the platform, it was called Odesk. Odesk and Elance combined at one point, so I’ve been through the gambit of owners of what is now called Upwork.

I’ve had a lot of luck and some very good clients over the years on Upwork, which spans about 8 years of my 15-year writing career.  When I first started out, I was happy, but felt that my lack of higher education was preventing me from getting better jobs.  However, I do feel quite accomplished since completing my Associates’ Degree in 2021 in business administration and management; my freelance career provided me the flexibility to earn my degree.

For me, being over 55 and going back to college was much harder and more challenging than I expected. The fact that I did it and came out with a good GPA made me feel better about myself.

That said, I still want more from my career. I either want to write for higher paying clients, or write for my own blog, or maybe write some eBooks.  Now that I have my associates degree, I feel more qualified for certain writing jobs.  I also explored other careers after my degree completion.

Being Over 60 in a Career Transition

I have been experiencing a lot of anxiety since turning 60 with nothing to show for it in terms of retirement. So, I won’t retire. I can still live my life and be a freelance writer.

I didn’t get much help from the community college for getting a job, though this college made a lot of promises that they failed to follow up with me.

You might be surprised to know that, even with an Associates’ Degree, I was being rejected constantly during my job search. It’s discouraging, but I won’t stop.

One thing I did get from the college was a contact for a real estate broker in need of an administrative assistant, which I accepted and did for three years, which helped financially, but the work was sparse. I do have office skills that I could be using, but due to several rejections so far for office jobs, I will keep using the skills for myself and my freelance career.  I can only guess it’s my age that gets me rejected (no, they don’t say that) from some jobs, so I’m on my own out here to create my own career path. I might even build my own empire in my “golden years.” It could happen.

I have no problem with continuing my writing career but after 8 years, I think I need to step up my game.

You will face some challenges if you’re thinking of being a freelance writer, but once you get past those challenges, you will reap the rewards.

The Challenges of Freelance Writing

Freelance writing is not without its challenges. One of the biggest challenges is finding and keeping clients. It can be tough to stand out from the crowd and get your foot in the door. But once you do, it's important to build relationships with your clients and deliver high-quality work on time and within budget.

Another challenge of freelance writing is managing your time and workload. As a freelancer, you are your own boss. This means that you need to be able to set your own hours and manage your own projects. It can be easy to get overwhelmed, so it's important to develop good time management skills.

The Rewards of Freelance Writing

Despite the challenges, freelance writing is a rewarding career. I love the flexibility of working from home and the satisfaction of being my own boss. I also enjoy the challenge of coming up with new ideas and writing about a variety of topics.

If you're thinking about becoming a freelance writer, I encourage you to go for it. It's a great career for people of all ages. Just be prepared to work hard and network with other writers. You can be successful as a freelance writer with effort and persistence.

Here are some tips to help you avoid some pitfalls I had to learn the hard way.

Additional Tips

• Find your niche. What are you passionate about? What do you know a lot about? Once you know your niche, you can focus on finding clients who need content in that area.  

• Build a strong portfolio. Your portfolio is your business card. It’s your business identity and should exhibit your greatest works that demonstrate your skills as a writer.

• Be organized and efficient. Freelance writers need to be able to manage their time and workload effectively.

• Be patient and persistent. It will take some time to successfully build a freelance writing business. Don't let things like not getting work quickly discourage you. Keep on writing, networking, submitting work.

• Don't undervalue your work. Charge your worth. Freelance writers often get paid less than they deserve. Do some research to find out what other writers in your niche are charging, and then set your rates accordingly.

• Build relationships with clients. Once you start working with clients, take the time to build relationships with them. This will help you get more work in the future.

• Don't be afraid to say no. It's important to set boundaries as a freelance writer. Don't be afraid to say no to projects that are too big, too small, or not a good fit for your skills.

• Take care of yourself. Freelance writing can be a lot of work. I sometimes find it mentally taxing.  Make sure you take breaks, eat healthy, and get enough sleep. Caring for yourself will help you stay productive and avoid burnout.

Conclusion
Becoming a freelance writer was a great decision for me. I love the flexibility of working from home and the satisfaction of being my own boss. I also enjoy the challenge of coming up with new ideas and writing about a variety of topics.

If you're thinking about becoming a freelance writer, I encourage you to go for it. It's a great career for people of all ages. Just be prepared to work hard and network with other writers. With a little effort, you can be successful as a freelance writer.

Grandma Moses didn’t see success until she was 77 years old when she started painting. That tells me age has nothing to do with ability or earning power.