As a regular contributor here at BAFB, my job is to come up with an idea that you lovely readers will find helpful and relevant, and then write it up. I’ve been a reader here for years, and a freelance writer even longer, so usually it’s a lot of fun to come up with a few quick ideas to pitch.

Usually… but not always.

I use calendar reminders religiously to keep track of deadlines (you have a system to help you track deadlines, too, right?). So when I got the reminder that it was time to submit an idea for my next BAFB post, I opened up a new email, tapped out a quick introduction, and waited for the ideas to come.

But to my horror, all I had was… a whole lotta nothing.

Nothing!

I’m kind of an “idea person” — I have pages of ideas for various topics. My favorite part of pitching new gigs is the “send us some ideas” part. I even have an idea generation module in one of the courses I offer, for crying out loud.

But my idea well was completely dry.

What to do when you have no ideas

Whether you’re pitching a new client, trying to land a hot guest post, or coming up with content for your own blog, there will be a time when you don’t have any ideas.

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For every freelance blogger, social media can be Pandora’s box.

There’s the good:

• The ability to send pitches and letters of introduction at warp speed
• Instant access to bucketloads of research
• The potential to connect with clients, readers, and other writers worldwide

BUT…

There’s also the bad. Come on. You know what I’m talking about. The video where you’re dancing drunk on a table singing an off-key version of Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep.” The quickie post you passionately wrote, didn’t proofread, but still pressed publish.

Then there’s the ugly. Personal information — social security numbers or credit reports — leaked to the masses. Off-color comments trolls made about your writing or business that haunt the first page of Google.

And worst of all: the shiver-worthy nude photos and sex videos uploaded to the cybersphere by vengeful ex-lovers. (Let’s all hope that never happens to us.)

Worried your negative search results will have your clients pushing the escape key? Don’t fret.

Pull out your virtual shovel, roll up your sleeves, google or bing yourself, and follow these seven steps to bury your social media skeletons — and polish your online reputation. 

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*Glances at clock.*

Great. It’s only 7am. That gives me about an hour until The Family is up. I can get loads of work done. I love Saturdays.

*Work work work work work*

Whew. That was an intense work session. I got loads done.

*Glances at calendar*

What!? It’s Sunday?! Where did Saturday go?

*Looks at spouse* What do you mean you took the girls to the movies without me? And you got ice cream, too? Why didn’t you ask me to go? Oh. You did. I was busy working.

Sound familiar?

All too often freelancers get into the habit of working non-stop. While this may thrill some of your clients, it can leave your family resentful, your body exhausted, and your mind dull.

The best way to keep your real world relationships thriving and your work at its best is to take a break every once in a while, preferably daily. But how can you stop working when your work never stops? Be strong and use your daily schedule to your advantage. 

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I’m no stranger to fear — the kind of gut-wrenching, heart-stopping, I-don’t-want-to-do-this-anymore fear that crops up every time I’ve got something big going on.

And if you’ve ever tried to start something big, new, or important, you’ve probably dealt with fear. Especially if you’re trying to pave your own way as a freelance blogger.

There are big names to compare yourself to, big-price programs that promise major success right off the bat, and big visions of what your career could be. Talk about intimidation.

For me, nothing was bigger or more important than freelancing. Not making it happen — not providing enough income for my family to survive — was simply not an option.

I had a lot on the line. I had everything on the line.

And when you’ve got everything on the line, you get a lot of visits from the fear fairy. She takes all kinds of shapes and forms, disguising her real identity:

• anxious thoughts keeping you awake at night
• distraction and “shiny object syndrome” as you look for your golden ticket
• fearful predictions about what you won’t be able to do (for me, I had a weird recurring fixation on being unable to buy my son new shoes when he grew into a new size)
• thoughts about looking stupid or making dumb mistakes
• feeling like you don’t know enough yet
• good old-fashioned procrastination

You’ll encounter a lot of fears when getting your freelance blogging off the ground. And you’ll have to learn how to deal with them. (Or else.)

There’s no magic pill, silver bullet, or super-secret method for getting rid of fear. In fact, I don’t really think it’s possible to “get rid of” fear entirely. But what is possible is moving forward despite the fear.

Here are three fear-busting truths I repeated to myself constantly while I was in my most fearful years…and these days, too, as I keep leveling up and branching out. 

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