Writing Coach Podcast 133: Transitional skills
WCP133 Transitional skills
You use certain meta skills and habits in your writing life that you developed before you even considered freelancing-and you probably use some of your best freelancing skills in non-writing areas of your life. Becoming aware of these allows you to tap into them more deeply and recognize that you have a deeper foundation for success than you normally give yourself credit for.
You use certain meta skills and habits in your writing life that you developed before you even considered freelancing—and you probably use some of your best freelancing skills in non-writing areas of your life. Becoming aware of these allows you to tap into them more deeply and recognize that you have a deeper foundation for success than you normally give yourself credit for.
It recently took me seven weeks to get the internet at home properly installed at the speeds I needed.
While I need the internet to do my work, getting it installed isn’t exactly a freelancing skill. I did rely on numerous skills that I’ve developed as a freelancer, including:
+ Selling myself on a clear goal and being really clear about why I wanted it. If I’d been less clear on my motivation, I’d have given up after about 35 days. Doing this work up front and deeply is at the heart of achieving any freelance writing goal.
+ Framing it as something within my control as much as possible. Every time I devolved into blaming someone else or saying it was out of my control, I felt helpless or frustrated—and pulled back from moving the project forward. A writer who frames the amount they earn as out of their control will see fewer options and make poorer choices than one who believes it’s in their control.
+ Persevering. Even after some microquits, I kept coming back with a new approach. I developed this skill when pitching editors at my ideal publications, and not being put off when they said no at first.
+ Not allowing my wildly inaccurate time estimate derail me. You might have a financial goal for the quarter. If you don’t hit it, do you give up on earning that amount? Or keep going until you make it?
+ Noting the win and celebrating it. Learning not to gloss over or discount what’s working allows you to step into flow more frequently.
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