The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly. Freelance Writing 101

Let's face it, most of us have dreamed about being able to work from home and being able to make legitimate money while doing so. We have all seen the scams, the get rich quick schemes, and the websites that promise you a quick buck for doing absolutely nothing. . . .(excuse me for a moment so I can try to compose myself from laughing so hard)...... But what you hardly ever see about working from home are the true, legit stories about people, just like me, who have been able to find something they are good at, run with it, and begin building the solid foundation for a work at home career. 

         

When it come to freelancing it would basically be a lie to tell you that it's a walk in the park, all buttercups & fudge drops to begin building your style and flow,  because it's definitely NOT! It takes hard work, dedication, determination and a strong desire to be a freelancer. This is why if you don't LOVE to do it, you will more than likely fail miserably when you attempt to try your hand at it. It's not for everyone, that is for sure, but for those of us who can't imagine doing anything else, it is something that can prove to be very rewarding and beneficial. 

Freelancers can find legitimate work online in literally tons of different categories. Maybe you like Creative Writing or Data Entry, maybe you're a Software Developer or you enjoy Sales & Marketing or Web Development or even Content Writing. Whatever the case, if you LOVE WHAT YOU DO & you are looking to freelance online as a job you CAN be SUCESSFULL at it as long as you are able to learn, adapt, and be willing to hit a few bumps along the way.

Some of the key points that make a Freelancer successful in the long run are 
- Determination
- Ability to receive constructive criticism
- Dedication
- Honesty
- Quality
I could go on for days about what qualities a good freelancer should possess to make it in the world of freelancing, but I have already listed some of the main ones that  clients will look for in a contractor. 

Because I titled this "The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly", I am obviously going to tell you about a few negative points on freelancing and a little on how to use that to further yourself on the right track to a positive freelancing experience. 

When I first began online writing jobs I was about as clueless as to how to go about it as Spongebob Squarepants would be to living a life of never flipping another Krabby Patty again! That's pretty lost huh? So because I have been there I completely understand how easy it is to become overwhelmed and want to give up on freelancing altogether. This is again why I say you shouldn't do it if you don't LOVE WHAT YOU DO! & have a strong dedication and determination. 

I started out by googling my way through handfuls of different freelance sites trying to get a feel of which one was best for me. When I found it I knew instantly that I was going to enjoy looking for, applying for, and working on different projects and jobs through that particular site. But it wasn't always so fun for me! I can recall a few separate occasions where I remember getting so frustrated and so upset that I almost called it quits for good!

One of these times was when I had spent HOURS upon HOURS working on an assignment, I turned the work in, then I NEVER HEARD BACK FROM THE CLIENT AGAIN. . . NO PAY. . NOTHING, Just quality work stolen with nothing to show for it! I had been used. Chewed up and spit back out just like a piece of Zebra Stripes Gum that loses it's flavor all to quickly all because I hadn't yet learned the things to be weary of  and the clients and projects to go for. For example, I know now that a client without a verified pay history or type is probably not someone you want to jump right in and do a ton of work for without getting a partial upfront payment or some other GUARANTEE that you will be paid for the work  that you are completing. 

What I'm trying to say here is that if you are willing to learn the business of Freelancing, learn from your own mistakes, turn negative instances into positive outcomes  and be dedicated to working in a field that you love then you just might have a chance at becoming successful and building a good solid starter foundation for a great freelance career sometime down the road. Freelance work is all to often labeled as a bogus way to earn a living or something that can't be done. Take it from someone who knows and has been freelancing for a total of about 4 solid years now....

Freelancing can be such a wonderful and rewarding experience for the right person. Nothing in life worth truly having comes for free, and the same can be said for this particular line of stay at home work. 

https://www.odesk.com/users/~011e15bdccafdf2869

( This is my oDesk profile for an example on how to begin setting up a profile for clients to view your information, rates, stars, reviews and other information important to obtaining a future project )