You know those headlines about freelance writing that claim "I Made 10K in One Month on my Side Hustle" and things like that? They drive me bananas. I mean, yes, work up to that! But it's not going to happen instantly for a freelancer starting out. And also, they're calling freelance writing - a career I've worked on and built for decades - a side hustle? Bonkers!
I've thought about this trend for a while now, dug in, and came to a couple of conclusions. And I think they should be called out, because anyone who's serious about freelancing and struggling to get it rolling needs the boost.
If you're a freelance writer earning a consistent 10K a month, it's not an easy breezy side hustle. That's a full-time job. If it sounds too good to be true... well, you know the rest.
Some of these clickbait headlines say, "I Make." Others say, "I Made." See the difference? It is possible to bring in a large amount of cash in one month as a beginner freelancer if you get a bunch of projects all at once. While you finish one and move on to the next, you may find yourself waiting for payment. Then suddenly a bunch of checks arrive at once. Maybe even in the same month. But that doesn't mean you earned all that money in the span of 30 days. And it doesn't mean you might not need to budget it, so it lasts several months into the future.
I don't want to sound negative here or cap anyone's earnings by perpetuating the opposite myth - that writers can't earn money. That's not true either! But please don't let clickbait headlines send you into a tailspin of self-doubt. They're misleading, and they even lie!
For more on this and other life and writing topics, listen to my podcast: Better Life, Better Writing
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