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Why You Should Step the F*ck Up to Be a Freelance Blogger

Why You Should Step the F*ck Up to Be a Freelance Blogger

Do you love a challenge?

What if we call it a dare instead? You in?

Oh, you want to know what it is first. OK. In a nutshell:

I dare you to succeed as a freelance blogger.

Now let me ask you again: are you in?

If you are, I’ve got the one piece of information that will make a HUGE difference to your success as a freelance blogger. And I’m going to share it with you right here and now, so keep reading.

[If you have absolutely no interest in being a freelance blogger, feel free to leave.]

Excellent. Now that they’re gone, it’s just you and me, so let’s be honest with each other. Can we do that?

Get your business head on, and brace yourself: I’m going to be blunt. Because if I don’t tell you this, I’m not sure that anybody else will have the guts to say it to your face…

Why You Should Step the F*ck Up to Be a Freelance Blogger

You could try harder. I thought your freelance blogging career meant a lot to you, but you don’t act like it.

I hope you understand why I’m telling you like this…

It’s because I truly, deeply give a crap about you, and I don’t want to see you live a life of mediocrity if you could be shining like a frickin’ superstar.

Step up to your expectations — then step past them

You’re better than this.

  • You don’t need to take a job for $20 per hour – you can do better.
  • You don’t need to work for content mills – you can do better.
  • You don’t need to feel desperate when you ask for a gig – you can do better.
  • You don’t ever need to worry that the market is flooded with cheap bloggers who will steal work from under your nose – oh, dear gods, you can do so much better.

Why do you think so little of yourself?

Did something terrible happen to make you undervalue your abilities? Or did you somehow absorb these limitations and low expectations bit-by-bit, without noticing how they weighed you down until it had already happened?

A thoughtful author named Richard Bach once wrote, “Argue for your limitations, and sure enough, they’re yours.“

So let’s first of all identify those limitations:

What’s the big problem?

What exactly is holding you back from success? Is it a lack of time? Not enough confidence? Don’t know where to start?

Make a list. Right now, even if it’s only in your head. Make a list of the reasons you’re not a wildly successful freelance blogger yet.

Now, listen up. This is the big secret:

Your reasons for underachieving are bullshit. If you had valid reasons, it would just be called “achieving”.

You get enough bullshit in your life already; don’t add to it.

Don’t kid yourself. Don’t argue for your limitations. You’re better than that.

Captain Jack Sparrow

I believe it was Captain Jack Sparrow who said,

“The problem is not the problem. The problem is your attitude about the problem.”

Savvy?

Telling yourself that you just don’t have time to really make a go of freelance blogging is like a mother telling herself that her morbidly obese pre-teen is just husky because he doesn’t have time to run around outside.

Deciding that you simply don’t have the confidence to talk to people about your freelance blogging services, or to apply for an advertised gig, is like deciding that you’re too shy to call emergency services when someone’s lying wounded at your feet.

Excusing yourself from freelance blogging because you don’t know where to begin is like excusing yourself from eating cake because you don’t know where to slice it.

Just in case my heavy-handed analogies weren’t clear, that fat kid is your freelance blogging business. That poor wounded soul is your career. That cake is your profits.

And I’m afraid that attitude problem is yours, too.

It’s time for your attitude adjustment

The #1 cause of underachievement is lack of effort.

Whether it’s laziness, fear, or bewilderment, something stops 90% of would-be freelance bloggers from ever pushing hard enough to get off the ground.

Why You Should Step the F*ck Up to Be a Freelance Blogger

Be the other 10%. 

Take your list of reasons for being less than a success. Work your way through it one excuse at a time, and remember that the problem you name is not the problem you have.

Now step up to yourself.

Knock every one of those shitty excuses down, kick its fucking teeth out and send it home crying, because it’s never going to bite you again.

You’re not short of time; you’re choosing how to use it.

Give up watching TV, and work on marketing your freelance services instead. Ask someone to watch the kids for you so that you can write. Or double-dip: come up with new ideas for blog posts while you do the laundry.

You don’t lack confidence; you lack risk acceptance.

Listen, none of us are super-confident. We’re all feeble humans with silly fears and doubts. There’s only one cure: step up and do what you need to do, because confidence comes from action. You do something scary, and the universe does not implode, so next time it’s a bit less scary. If you’re so nervous that you can’t face it alone, I’m here to walk you through it.

You don’t need to choose a starting point; you need to start where you are.

You really can’t begin anywhere else. If you don’t know what your first step is, I suggest you start by creating a portfolio of sample posts to demonstrate your blogging skills. If you’ve already got samples, start looking for clients.

Whatever your obstacles are, step up. Step over. Keep on climbing.

Big steps or little steps, it really doesn’t matter as long as they’re steps in the right direction. And the more you do it, the easier it gets.

So come on – step up and be a freelance blogger. Be a success.

I double dare you. 

What are you going to do about it?

Photos: -Snugg-, nuno.nvs, The U.S. Army

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Comments

  1. This? This is exactly what I needed to hear today. I have a real problem with fear — I break out in a cold sweat when it comes time to contact potential writing clients. And I have a meeting tomorrow with a company I was referred to by a family friend…and I’ve been freaking out about it most of the day. Time for a kick in the pants. Thanks for delivering it. 😉

  2. Thanks for the wakeup call, Sophie. I have a website/blog but it is content-starved and I need to bring it up to speed. I have managed to get a magazine gig from an editor that liked my writing there but I could do more; a lot more. My day job has a lot to do with my lack of effort, as I’m dog-tired when I get home but not financially able to quit and devote my time to freelancing (yet). I’m not discouraged or anything like that; just need to find more time to write.

    • You’re welcome, Richard. If you’re short of time, your best bet might be to decide on an editorial calendar that won’t take too long to fill each month – one good post a month will do more for you than 4 hurried posts.

  3. Sophie – I normally don’t read anything that has inappropriate language. Strangely, I was curious as to what you had to say. Well, I’m glad I overlooked your potty-mouth and saw your genuine heart to help. This is exactly what I needed to continue moving forth. My portfolio is partially ready (80%), I have more than enough sample’s to get started. Somehow, I tried to overlook blogging because of the low paying gigs from most freelancing sites. Thanks for the wake-up call and keeping it real. By the way, I’ve checked out your profile and love your writing style. The tone you use in connecting with your audience has helped tremendously. – Antoinette

  4. This is the biggest load of bullshit that I’ve heard in 50 years of writing. It’s new-age, self-help 101.

    Here’s the only thing you need: believe in yourself and your ability; if it’s there others will notice; if not, no one will give a good goddamn. Oh, I’ve been doing this little addictive hobby of ours for over 50 years so and I’ve made considerable sums doing it, so I must have done something right before I broke my back. And, know what? Broken back, brain tumor and all and I’m still writing….the rest of the stuff just throw out the window!!

    • Ouch, dude! “Self-help” I can accept for its literal meaning, but “new age”? You wound me. I’m not sending people out to hug crystals. 😛

      I see a lot of bloggers who’ve faithfully followed advice to “believe in yourself”, and that advice is just not gonna help most people. As an experienced and paid writer, you must have noticed that you had to *do the work* as well as believe in yourself. That’s what I’m talking about!

      • Hey, Sophie- I don’t know why but this reply made me LOL. This was a great post that I needed to read. I know it’s from several months ago but better late than never, yes? Oh, and what bad language? I must have missed it 🙂

      • Thanks Soph….It was quite cool n helpful…Thanks for everything gorgeous 🙂

    • Can’t exactly figure out what the heck you mean Marc. Sophie’s not saying that any total idiot can write, or even that they should. Nor is she saying that if you’re a fantastic writer everyone will notice and come running to you to give you your dream writing job.

      In fact, she’s saying the opposite: no one is going to do that, and so we have to stop telling ourselves the lies that allow us to feel good about not trying to succeed – the ones that let us rationalize what is essentially a choice to fail.

      This isn’t new-age self help 101. Sophie is telling us to get off our *****, stop feeling sorry for ourselves and get to work! Something I would think a person who’s suffered a broken back, brain tumor, yet keeps writing, would understand perfectly.

      • Thank you, Rachel, for absolutely understanding where I’m coming from: “the lies that allow us to feel good about not trying to succeed – the ones that let us rationalize what is essentially a choice to fail”.

        As a timely example of the principle, some bloggers give up after receiving a few comments like Marc’s. But it always benefits us to hear an alternative viewpoint on anything we write, and the universe did not implode. 😉

    • Oh my. New age? I’m not sure what article Marc read, but I didn’t see anything about auras or chakras in that post. I also didn’t see any soft, hug-it-out, everyone’s a winner self-help sh!t either.

      So. yeah, not sure what you were reading. BUT! Just having an ability and a belief in that ability is not enough. And that’s a timeless truth that’s especially true right now and on the web. The folks who wrote a few articles on their blogs and waited for Newsweek to contact them with writing assignments are too busy working their shifts at Burger King, but if they had time to read this I’m sure they’d agree that the “if you build it, they will come” mentality is for suckers. You gotta build it and then put up a HUGE sign, hire some spotlights, get some traffic controllers out there with neon flags and then maybe someone will reply to your proposal email. Maybe. If the spotlights were bright enough.

      Anyway. I thought this article was solid, Sophie. I especially liked your series of metaphors toward the end: fat kid, emergency, cake… very nicely crafted.

      Sara

      • I’ve always loved Sophie’s posts, and that was quite harsh. The post was awesome as Sophie’s posts always are, watch your language Marc x-(

  5. LOVE IT!!!!!!!! nothing beats a good kick up the arse and so true – the starting point is now and where you are…:)

  6. Very well said 🙂 Attitude is everything. If you want something bad enough, you make it a priority and you get it done – simple as that. Sure, we all face obstacles, but people overcome obstacles every day. It’s absolutely possible to succeed as a freelance blogger if you get your mind in the right place!

    • Sarah, you’re a great example of a determined and hard-working freelance writer online, so I’m really glad to hear you think I’m on the right track with this post! Thanks for coming over to “my place” today.

  7. I want to succeed but I lack the needed confidence. Yes, you’re right. It’s my attitude that’s holding me back. Sophie, this hits me bulls eye. Thanks sooo much! I’ve learned a lot from you.

    • Jeulyanna, knowing it is half the battle. Now you have to be your own boss and force yourself to take action even if it scares you. Start small, but do *something* to take a step toward success. I’m here if you need to talk!

      • I dare “me”. If I can only turn back time, I’ll take writing seriously. But lucky me, there’s you in my life. Yes, Sophie, I’ll take the challenge with high regards now. I’ll definitely talk to you when I have the capabilities.

    • We have now, Monique. You’re not alone – time, confidence and direction are the three things most freelance bloggers stumble over on their way to a great career. The sooner you get to grips with this, the sooner you can progress beyond it!

  9. Wow, Ms. Sophie, you just slapped me big time! Fear is what I have to overcome. Fear that no one really wants to read my work, that I’m not good enough at what I do, and that I will just disappoint. I don’t usually write comments, but this post just made me want to “speak my mind”!

    Thanks for the wake-up call. 🙂

    • I’m glad the “slap” hasn’t made you run away, Diana! The fear will always be there, like a big scary pet. You just have to get on with your business and keep your fear off the furniture. It gets easier every time!

      • I actually reflected on what you said, Sophie. My writing skills need a lot of work, that could be the reason I’m afraid to “get on with my business”. So I’m going to do more writing and other things that can improve my skills. I guess that would take away the fear. 🙂

        • Outstanding, Diana! Go for it – keeping your skills up-to-date and relevant to your ideal client base makes a world of difference to your career.

  10. Great post, I was guilty of all of these at the beginning of my career. Once I realized being scared doesn’t really excuse you from not acting on your dreams, it was easier for me to step the f*ck up.

  11. I think the problem with not taking action is that we let other people determine our fate.

    Even when our fears are ‘not being taken seriously, or not being professional enough, or not personal enough, or feeling like a complete failure, etc.,’ things that require no action but are the effect of one. Those fears come from how we think THEY perceive us.

    The point here is to make our own successes. If we need to fail in order to improve, so be it. The universe will NOT implode and understanding that is the first step in creating our own successful futures.

    Thanks for this post, Sophie. Now I’m gonna go work on my portfolio. 😉

    • Its such inspiring tongue you have:)) looking , and waiting for something miraculous does not bring success, hardworking is the one and only key to success. Thanks for such a lovely piece of inspirational words

      • Thank you, Neema, for the reply. Inspiring tongue? Me? Thank you!

        That’s the overall message I get from Sophie’s post, even if she used “certain” words to get it across. For me she’s saying (just as you said), “Do the work, make it happen, forget the fears and excuses.” Sophie makes a great point, one we need to be reminded of from time to time.

    • That’s right, Leslie – it’s what we fear other people will think or do that scares us. It’s too easy to use people around us like straw men, setting them up to stand as our bosses or judges, when really we’re each our own nightmare boss and our own harshest judge.

  12. “You don’t need to choose a starting point; you need to start where you are”….how true….Eye opener :)..Thanks for the wonderful inspirational line 🙂

  13. “Learn. Grow. Climb.” That is something to keep in mind!

    The best definition I have heard for success is to get up one more time when you’ve been knocked out.

    Thanks Sophie!

    • That sounds accurate to me, Ava. Success is about failing some of the time and winning some of the time. Then you celebrate the wins, learn from the screw-ups, and keep on climbing.

  14. “Just in case my heavy-handed analogies weren’t clear, that fat kid is your freelance blogging business.” Thanks for the laugh this morning, I love the analogy. Time to go take my blog for a walk around the park and sign it up for soccer. 🙂

  15. Wow, Sophie.

    If you could just learn to open up a little bit,
    you might be able to communicate a little better. 😉

    Most people are their biggest enemies. Now, don’t
    get me wrong: you need to learn your craft. Otherwise,
    when the customers start calling, you’re going to embarrass
    yourself. But once you’ve learned the requisite skills
    and it’s time to put yourself out there, the only person
    in your way is you.

    Things are never as good or as bad as they seem.
    The next time you feel apprehensive about working
    your business or starting a blog, do what I did:
    build a bridge and get over yourself. The sooner you
    get started, the faster you will achieve results.

    The most beautiful (and the most scary) thing about
    being in business or blogging is that there is no safety
    net. No fallback position. If the venture sinks or swims,
    it’s all on you with no one to blame. So if you’re
    looking for a scapegoat, check out the reflection in
    the mirror the next time you use the bathroom.

    But here’s the prize: You are in complete control of
    your income and your future. You call the shots.
    You come and go as you please. And as long as you
    can find an internet connection, the entire globe is
    your personal living room. The words you write
    will pay for the lifestyle to which you will quickly
    become accustomed. Call me crazy, but precious
    gems like these are worth the risk…

    I like how you roll, Sophie. You shoot straight.
    You don’t mince words. And you don’t take any
    prisoners. This is me tipping my virtual cap to you.
    Well said and well done. Well done indeed!!!

    • Hi Michael,

      Thanks for taking the time to write this (and thanks everyone else for your comments, too!). I liked Sophie’s article, but I also found the comments just as encouraging and interesting.

      Sort like most of NY Times Op-Eds I’ve read lately! I’ve stopped going there for the articles but stayed around for the comments.

  16. Hey Sofi,
    I love your honesty and bluntness and there was nothing new age about your post, seems to me it was a good old fashioned kick in the heiny. You’re right. Absolutely. One of things that gets me hung up is information overload – so many ideas and approaches out there I sometimes find myself confused. Plus I am trying to pursue a freelancing career while also pursuing a fiction career. I know, I know, more excuses. Thanks for this, it was something I definitely needed to read.
    Annie

    • Hey Annie, I’ve been there – that’s how I know what it feels like to be lost in a sea of options.
      If you tread water forever, trying to get your bearings, you’ll end up drowning from simple exhaustion. Sometimes you just have to grab onto whatever floats and start building a raft, just like Jack Sparrow.

  17. Great message, Sophie! “You don’t lack confidence; you lack risk acceptance.” – what a perfect distinction. A lot of people hold themselves back, thinking, “I’m just not the kind of person who can [cold-call clients/work from home/survive on freelance income/etc.].” What they really mean is, “I’m afraid.” The bottom line of this kind of business is we have to take risks — no advice can get us around that!

    • You got it, Dana. We confidently cross roads every day despite the risk of getting hit by a vehicle; we confidently climb the stairs despite the risk of a fall. So any freelancer who holds back their own success out of fear is simply overdramatising the risk.

  18. I love this simply for the sentiment and delivery.

    I’ve not really considered being a freelance blogger, but I’ve been paid more than once for a post.

    Speaking of which, Sophie — wanna work somethin’ out? — I could do a sequel to this pretty easy, and my blogging style is envied by many 😛

    • Love to! Shoot me a guest post idea or draft, whichever works better for you – I trust your assessment of what my readers need to hear from you. Guidelines are here.

  19. Wow. I think I’m speechless, and just not because everyone already said versions of the same comments I was thinking..

    This morning, I actually told myself that I need to bust out of my comfort zone – and this post just pushed the limits of that decision even further!

    Thanks for the motivation.
    –Craig

  20. This post hits the nail on the head. I didn’t really dedicate myself to freelancing until this last month, even though I’d “been doing it” for about six months.
    Now, I realize I pretty much wasted time.
    Maybe not wasted – I did learn what NOT to do. That’s good, at least. I look back to where I was before and where I’m at now and tell myself to keep going.

    • Any time you spend learning isn’t wasted, Bree. Now you have those six months of vaguery as a benchmark, you can see how much difference the next six months of focused activity will make!

  21. Ok, you’ve knocked me real hard on the head enough I just have to get off my comfort zone now get about it! 🙂 Frankly, you are right on target. I think many of us just don’t really know we have take the initiative. Thanks for sharing this.

  22. Wonderful first read this morning.

    I have discovered a wonderful resource — The Artist’s Way — that requires a commitment to writing three pages every single morning before doing anything else. Just finished my morning pages (they were all about The Block that’s preventing me from taking action). I seemed to burp out instructions to myself: describe The Block. What color is it? What shape is it? What’s its name? What does it want? I saw that The Block is all about self-protection…protection from potential hurt, disappointment, and frustration. Hey — if I don’t write, I won’t get hurt! Brilliant, that Block.
    I admire your style, Sophie. And I admire the honesty of the other commenters owning up to their own fears as well. They shone the light on the fact that indeed, I’m not the only one who, in the words of Stewart Smalley, is “good enough, smart enough, and doggone it, people like me!”
    Way to roll!

  23. Sophie,
    Where were you 6 years ago, when I started this ride? For most of that time, I needed to hear THIS. “You can do better…” and “You’re not short of time; you’re choosing how to use it” were things I needed to hear.

    I’m living proof that Sophie’s right. The minute you decide you can do better, and seek advice from those who ARE doing better, you’ll shatter those excuses that chain you to the floor of the freelance writing world.

    Get away from people who tell you it can’t be done. They’re holding you back, and you deserve better.

    Good on you, Sophie! Love the passion.

    • 6 years ago? I was working as a data entry “specialist” on minimum wage, taking zero responsibility for my own dreary-looking future. Life’s changed a lot since then!
      Thanks for sharing your success story, Jesse. Have you pitched me a guest post? I think you should. 🙂

  24. Always the right thing at the right time! Great post, Sophie. I’m looking forward to working with you!

    Chris

  25. Superb. Got into the article now I also need to write like it. Thanks for sharing valuable knowledge Sophie. The problem point was really good.

  26. Now I have a hero, you. I love how you deliver your piece. I might as well learn how to do that! I am sure glad I found you!

  27. Uh, so, Sophie…tell us how you really feel 😉

    Have to admit that your subject line scared me a bit, but you’re speaking the truth here: show up; step up. Most of us don’t even show up, so how can we step up?

    And I have to disagree with only believing in yourself – if you truly believe in yourself, you should have no trouble showing up and stepping up!

    Thanks for the timely kick in the pants!

  28. Great advice, Sophie! There are a lot of great writers I know personally who are simply afraid of taking the step to become freelancers because the roller coaster pay check can be frightening. I’m going to share this with them and see if it motivates a few of them to at least try a little harder.

    • Nothing wrong with being a part-timer, either! Turning freelance doesn’t have to mean relying on self-employment as your only source of income; you can moonlight if you already have a day job, or find part-time employment to give you a predictable base level of income.

      Anyone who’s worried about money is prone to making bad business decisions (“Sure, I can write 10 posts a day for $200 a week!”) and should probably focus on achieving financial stability before they jump in at the deep end of freelance blogging.

  29. Right on, Sophie! Great reminder that it’s the actual doing of the work that gets results. Have you read Stephen Pressfield’s War of Art? What you’re describing here sounds a lot like what he defines as “resistance” – all the stuff we let get in the way of our goals. The rubber meets the road when we sit down and do the work. As always, thanks for keeping it real!

    PS – @Jan – Artist’s Way rocks! Kudos to you for getting your Morning Pages done!

    • Thanks Mary! Yep, Pressfield’s a boss of this topic. But he always makes me think of the Borg in Star Trek: “Resistance is futile. You must comply.” So now in my mind, getting shit done is associated with compliance – my actions comply with my ultimate desires.

      [Geek bonus: Flight of the Navigator has given my imagination a happy robot voice to use whenever I think “Compliance!”]

  30. Thanks for the post, the straight talk and the potty mouth , though I don’t call it that!

    It was your choice of words precisely that convinced me to continue
    reading your posts. Quite refreshing and appropriate they were.
    I cannot wait to open your next post.

    P.S. I had not been on your email list for very long and actually unsubscribed because I was getting way too much mail and not getting
    enough work done.
    I sure am glad I got your post anyway!

    • Richard, step away from the inbox. It can live without you.

      I had (am recovering from) a really bad email problem – I wasted far too much time reading emails I never really needed to receive, and re-reading old ones I hadn’t dealt with yet. I’m still getting over the ill effects of keeping my email open all day in the background while I work so that it could distract me with a new message every few minutes!

      Choose life, not email. You’ll feel better. And thanks for the comment!

  31. of course i could do a lot more. i haven’t done any content pitches yet… when i first got into freelance writing, i found the world of content mills. did it for awhile but realized pretty quickly this wasn’t exactly worth my time and what i considered freelance writing to be. i was completely turned off and focused on other things (my design career) but didn’t realize until recently that there are much better options!!

  32. Sophie,

    I agree with the sentiment you’ve expressed, and I thank you for being frank and “telling it like it is.”

    At the same time, I don’t necessarily think there’s anything wrong with working for $20 an hour. It’s certainly better than working for $10 an hour at Wal-Mart while you develop your platform.

    Everyone needs to start somewhere, after all, and there are a lot of writers out there who still need a lot more practice.

    I myself would love to make $50 or $100 per hour writing. But frankly… I’m not that good. I do get paid up to $100 to write 400-500 word guest posts in the technology sector, but I don’t have a steady enough flow of assignments to *only* do that. Also, I’m not getting paid that much because of my stellar writing. They’re paying me for my technical knowledge.

    To make ends meet, I have 20 hours per week of $20 per hour work (a mixture of writing, social media, market research, and IT support). One day, when I can pull kick*** posts out my butt at a moment’s notice, I’ll be happy to take my rightful place as a six-figure income earner.

    (Assuming our economy lasts that long.)

    But until then… Gotta pay the bills!

    • See, this is where I disagree with a lot of people. I don’t think working as a freelance blogger for $20 an hour (and paying your own taxes, overheads, holidays, healthcare, etc.) is a great deal better than working in Wal-Mart for $10 an hour with all the benefits of employee status. The only reason I’d choose blogging in that situation is to build a portfolio and aim higher for my next gig.

      It isn’t always about writing quality – experience and specialist knowledge have a lot to do with it, as you know, but the way you present yourself is the key to getting better-paying jobs.

      If you can earn $20 an hour as a freelance blogger, then you can earn $25 or $30 per hour simply by improving your marketing. And if you can get one high-paying gig in your specialist topic, you can get more – marketing again!

      • Thanks for the feedback, Sophie. I understand what you’re saying.

        Thankfully, I currently live in Nicaragua with living expenses that are probably a third of the typical American’s, Australian’s, etc. So $20/hour is a good deal.

        Also, not having to pay to commute, being able to do what I want, setting my own schedule, choosing my own projects, etc. have real value — at least for me.

        And yes, you’re definitely right that good marketing goes a long ways.

  33. What a relief…someone who swears as much as I do! I love this kick in the pants from you. I have been guilty of procrastination because of fears and I’m sick of myself…I am going to jump in and just do it! Thanks Sophie!

    • I swear a *lot* more than that – I’m making a concerted effort to tone it down, because I know a lot of people read this blog at home with their kids around. 😀

      Do it, Sheila. The worst that’s likely to happen is that you have to try more than once before you succeed.

  34. Amazing post Sophie!

    You just wrote down everything that applies to me. And you’re right, as a freelance blogger you need to step up, you need to take risks and you need to do everything to make it work!

    It’s very inspirational and I love it!

  35. Wow, I feel like I’ve just been bitchslapped by Xena the Princess Warrior – and in a good way! Thanks for this, just the kick up the derriere I needed today!

  38. Hey Sophie: Thanks for the butt-kick. I need this almost every day to combat the doldrums involved in getting started as a freelance blogger. Combine that with ADHD, and you get a confusing mess of starts and stops. But no excuses. Anything can be overcome with a positive mindset. And a little cussing now and then is a great energy booster. Keep it up!

    • Hey Lynette, starts and stops are fine – just make sure that when you start, it’s on something worthwhile, and when you stop, it’s for a good reason and not some feeble excuse!

  39. Thank you for this post

    I had only joined Freelance Blogger for the blogging advice. I had never considered using my writing to earn money outside of my own blog. Imagine getting paid to improve your writing skills when you were going to do it anyway. I am certainly going to look into it

  40. wow! You really do mean it when you said you read every comment you got and have them answered yourself. Thanks Sophie for visiting my site. I feel very happy already with such a gesture.

  42. Even when I think I’m going at my obstacles with all my strength, “lack of time” becomes an excuse for me too.

    I do need the occasional (or the often) tough love about just stepping the f*** up. So thanks for that. I also listen to Metallica (for songs like Fuel), read books like The Edge by Michael Heppell (to remind methat I still have a long way to go to be truly edgy-you know, like Steve Jobs, RIP) and of course read blogs like yours…:)

    P.S. I love your analogies, with my favorite one being Jack Sparrow. Dude is also a great example of being unique, quirky and never-settling 😀

  43. Found your article to be a strong push for me. I am trying to learn what goes into a blog site and what I do when I blog. I am retired with plenty of experience in business, geopolitics and military history. I want to write and get paid, but am trying to figure out the process. Your comments do provide a kick in the pants when I falter, but I am determined to push through my mental roadblocks and focus my attitude.

  44. I seriously think I’ve found my new favorite website. I’ve been looking for something to get me inspired to get back into freelancing and/or blogging. I didn’t think I’d find a place that would reach out and slap me up-long side of the head, but thanks, I needed this.

  45. One of the most intense writing I have ever encountered.
    If I say, I’m challenged–it would be an understatement.
    This is for me and it’s right on time:

    “Give up watching TV, and work on marketing your freelance services instead.”

    Just superb Sophie.

    Anthony

  46. Ouch. Well, there’s my bottom squarely kicked! I’ll need one of those circular cushions to even think about sitting down and starting my marketing strategy now…

  47. Ouch and thanks!!! You don’t even KNOW how bad I needed this today! I launched my newest blog two weeks ago, and panicked when I started getting traffic?!?!? Who does that??? And I became majorly self-conscious and therefore self-critical. And as a result…I have literally froze! I keep tweaking draft posts, paranoid about page-load speed (duh!), upset that I have no “info-product”, no comments (duh…what’s to comment on?), no likes (duh…what’s there to like???), worried that I launched too soon without everything in place, etc…

    And your post/email today was like my mom looking down from heaven saying “Annette! Move your blooming ass!” (Yessss!)

    Thank you soooo much! Just what the doctor ordered!

  49. “Confidence comes from action.”

    Glad I took the time to read this article. Now over to find the paying blogging gigs.

    Love the “self-help advice”. I wouldn’t have joined in if I didn’t need help.

  50. Wow, so many comments! Sophie, its really strange that you wrote this. This past week, I’ve been getting inspiration left, right and center. I simply cannot continue to ignore my fear and laziness and you know what? I agree with Captain Jack Sparrow…The problem is not the problem. The problem is my attitude about the problem.

    Thank You girl

  53. Thank you! I’m so tired of reading all those wishy washy posts that try and make you believe you can do it. This is refreshing, blunt, and JUST what I needed to read. Awesome! Sharing across today. I feel inspired!

  54. Very inspirational Sophie. I spend a lot of time Freelancing but I definitely need to find even more time! Another thing is that I now have the courage not to accept far less for my work than I should. In other words, stay away from the content mills and their kind. Thanks for hammering home all these important points. I am writing on and fighting on.

  55. Excellent. Very inspiring. I only discovered you a short time ago and I’m intrigued. You are quite frank, Sophie. I think it would be quite something to know you in private life. Thank you.

  57. Sophie, I just found this post and absolutely love it, except for the “language”. I hear this enough in day to day life, and don’t really want to see it written in blog posts as well.

    • Sometimes people need to be prodded into action, so I choose my words to be the “prod”! For the sakes of readers at work or near children, I try to make sure I’ve **ed out part of any swear words in post titles. 🙂

  58. G R E A T! Thanks for the tidal wave of encouragement. I’m right with you and as of now I don’t see any road blocks; my inner voice has been completely relocated.

  59. Well well well– you know what, Sophie? Those remnants of depression really got a good and deserved kick in the aft here! xD THANK YOU!

    Courage is really what it takes– although I still haven’t found mine when it comes to interviewing people *in English* over the phone or Skype. There are magazines I’d love to write for but the interviewing process scares the heck out of me, because I can write English, I can speak it too (with my Italian accent)– but my listening skills are crap. I would have to ask my poor interviewee to repeat things and that enters me into the “lack risk acceptance” zone. Guess what I’m really scared of is the chance to earn the editor’s or the interviewee’s laughter.

    I’m psychologically bullying myself. ^^”

    ~ Luana

    • I’m totally useless at taking in information via my ears, so I empathise with your listening skills problem! Video I can handle, but audio is just not my medium. I have to record the conversation and listen to it several times over before it sinks in.

      Practice will help, though. Find some English-speaking friends who don’t mind doing a fake interview with you so that you can work on your listening skills, and never be afraid to say, “Please speak a bit more slowly – this is so interesting I don’t want to miss anything!”

  60. Hi Sophie,

    I am an experienced freelance writer, and indeed I am interested. I am just taking the time to become familiar with the blog, which I have just started to browse. Please look for me in the near future. I love what I see so far, and I’ll definitely be around with ideas I think your readers will like. It’s important for me to take my time, just as long as I don’t stand still. The former will ensure success; the latter will kill me.

    By the way, I do have several blogs I have managed for some years, but my experience has been in ghostwriting. Also, I have served as an editor to a number of publications, one I helped found. My writing samples are not online. Many are owned by the client who purchased them. Would it be possible to send a few instead of providing links? I realize how important samples are.

    In any case, I just wanted to introduce myself and praise your wonderful blog. I look forward to reading more.

    Take care and keep up the goof work.

    Mark

    • Hi Mark, yep, samples for your portfolio can be tricky when you’re ghostwriting. Ask your clients if they mind you using the items in your portfolio. Some will say no, but others may be perfectly happy for you to put up a PDF of the writing with a link to their website. And be sure to collect testimonials from all your happy clients! (Preferably via LinkedIn, so that their authenticity is established.)

      • Hi Sophie,

        Thank you very much for your response and the tips regarding the samples. The advice definitely helps.

        Yes, ghostwriting can be difficult in that way. I have sent attached samples to clients in the past, since many requested them in that fashion. PDF is not an issue, although gaining permission from clients has been time-consuming This is the reason I asked you about samples sent through email, but I can certainly see the problems regarding authenticity that way.

        As for the testimonials, I have quite a few, but not all are in LinkedIn. I am trying to resolve that situation.

        My sincerest apologies on the typo. I usually check everything with a fine-toothed comb. I thank you for bringing my attention to it in such a lighthearted manner. Indeed it is apropos. 🙂

        Take care for now.

        Mark

  61. Sophie, you’re my new guru.
    Said “yes” 3 months ago, and learned the hard way. Made $200, then $400, this month $600. Am working my ass off, but took until now to realise I can work just as hard but better.

    Got my writer website up, joined the den and am slowly getting there. Am now saying “no” to clients with small budgets (that hurts – especially as the big offers haven’t quite rolled in yet. However, have written for 2 reasonably large blogs and am starting my first e-book this week. Setting goals, and next weeks priority is to target one of the blogs on your list.

    Yeah – because I am worth it (but still at present skint). Glad to be inspired by you so early on in my career. I can work harder, I know, and it isn’t even hard cos I’m EXCITED.

    Cheers for the but kick. Let’s rack it up a gear!

  62. I’m bookmarking this post for those days when I need a little encouragement, or a kick in the a**.

  64. I love the tone and humor to your article. Funny thing is it all makes sense. Now I am ready to Step The Fu** Up and do it!!!

    Thanks for the article!!

    Jennifer Alston

  65. Sophie,

    I love the bluntness in this article and the call to action. To be honest, I wanted to comment on this post a few days ago, but I had to keep scrolling and scrolling and scrolling, to get past the millions of comments. LOL!

    I thank you, because it is 2014 and this is going to be my year. I currently work as a freelance editor/writer, but guess who is putting in all of the work and not really seeing it in their paycheck?? I am!! Don’t get me wrong, I love the people I work with, but after reading yours and Carols post and blogs, I decided to “Get The Fu** Out Of My Own Way!”, hey that is a great title…and do something about it.

  67. You’ve got me sooooo super pumped! It is time, my time! Nothing will hinder my success! I am the only thing in my way, and I have pushed myself!

  68. I love the way this post reaches out and pulls you buy the collar. I can see that I have been lazy and not doing what I have the ability to do. So when I sit around and complain about how unfair the world is, I guess I can be working toward success instead. How you spend your time verses how much time you have is so much like the money issue many people talk about. You can have any amount of income that you desire but its how you use it that matters, time is so much like that. I have to put this thing in a higher gear in order to reach a new level. Thank you for dousing me with a glass of cold water! I just got a big helping of get up and go!

    • Skipping freelance blogging because you need to pay the mortgage is like skipping dinner because you’re hungry — it doesn’t make sense! Freelance blogging and occasional copywriting gigs pay my rent and everything else. I think the key is to skip the low-budget gigs and head for the ones that *pay* your mortgage. 😉

  70. Hey Sophie,

    Thanks so much, I’m stymied by most of what you mentioned. But the good news is that I’ve got cracking. You have no idea or maybe you do how badly I wanna succeed at this, and how much I need it. God Bless You!

  71. Thanks Sophie, your high energy is contagious and your writing is brilliant. Kicking the F’n teeth out of obstacles holding us back is so astute. I appreciate what you do for our community – the opportunities are everywhere these days if we have the ability and good old stick-to-it-ness better days are just around the bend. Keep up the great work!
    -Jeff
    A4H

  72. Since this “article” is a year old this probably won’t be read but I try.

    A blog is considered amateur journalism. It does not reach the level of professional writing because the articles are not vetted and approved by editors. Some bloggers wish to achieve and be recognized for attaining a degree of professionalism. The first step in that direction is to realize that professionally written non-fiction does not incorporate profanity. Using profanity does not give a writer a “unique” voice because everyone is using it in all types of writing.

    For articles to be taken seriously they should be written in standard, not colloquial, style and that means profanity is not used. The reaction of serious readers, those who matter and can give the writer credibility and exposure, is “this is just another fluff piece by a foul-mouthed kid.” For example, I would re-post this on my two blogs but due to the profanity I can’t take it seriously and won’t be promoting the writer.

    Profanity can be used in the dialog of characters in fiction, personal emails, texts, tweets, facebook, etc. but leave it out of anything you hope will identify you as a serious and professional writer of non-fiction

    • This blog isn’t amateur journalism. It’s professional blogging. 😉 And “professional” isn’t quite the same thing as “serious”, “conventional”, or “formal”. Blog posts should ideally be written in colloquial style for most purposes, and profanity is optional.

      Here, Lauren (guest post editor) and I are happy for writers to curse for emphasis. Some of my clients publish curse words in blog posts, others don’t, according to their brand’s personality. I’ve been paid hundreds of dollars for blog posts that include “fuck” or “shit” somewhere along the line — it really depends on your editor’s preferences. I’ve also sold a few stories that included profanity to business magazines. The times, they are a-changin’.

      • I don’t curse personally, but it doesn’t bother me when others do. Unless they’re screaming at me. But I wouldn’t dig that even without the swears.

        My main rule of thumb when it comes to disputes like this? If you don’t like it, don’t read it.

        If the advice offered here doesn’t apply to your career, or the style isn’t to your taste, that’s perfectly fine. It’s not for you! There are plenty of other blogs out there. Unfollow, unsubscribe, and get on with your day.

        But as for a blog being “amateur journalism?” Woo-boy…

        Sophie’s right. The publishing world is changing. The readers are changing. And we all either have to keep up or get left behind.

        Swearing is optional. Updating your skills and adapting to a rapidly-changing industry is not.

  73. Lady with gorgy pink hair, you’ve made my day. Thanks for giving a crap about me, because honestly I was completely lost and needed that little bit of a push from you, a stranger who became an instant friend.

  74. I’m making baby steps toward breaking out of the low-paying market zone. Lately, I’ve been revamping my writing site and my blog(s) to showcase samples of my work.

    I also joined a writing class, but I have to finish it — took a short hiatus from the course because my dad ended his own life about a month and a half ago (had to use all my energy just to get my work done and finish my sites — none left for the class temporarily).

    However, I have to carry on and not give up. I did at times throughout my career receive assignments that paid at least $50 per 500-word article. That’s a start, right?

    I also work for one company I believe is growing. I gradually received more and more payment for work done and proposed me doing longer-form blog posts with my name on in the future. I’m now getting my name on a few, which will help a lot especially when writing for the tech niche.

    I’m doing all that in preparation for the future, and I also set up my Premium LinkedIn profile. It’s a lot of extra work right now, but I’m hoping at some point I can work less hard and still make the same amount of money. 🙂

    • Sounds like you’ve got your plans laid out, Julie – if you get stuck, jump in the BAFB Community forum and we’ll all help you out. 🙂

  75. Ya know, Sophie,
    This post was so timely for me, I bet in the last week I have had half a dozen rejections of my work. That doesn’t sound like I have a whole lot of work out there, but it was the very first things (okay I sent something out a few months ago and it got circulated widely, I thought it was going to launch me) I have attempted to present of myself.
    I have been moping around. But I knew I could have done them better. Hell, I didn’t even include a picture of myself on the bio for your pitchfest competition. How can you relate to me with no picture? Can someone tell me how to get back in there so I can do that. I’m rough on the details of how it all works, new-ish to the wordpress thang. But I have learned bits and pieces in the last week. Last night I read a post that said not to tell editors what you don’t know. They don’t need to know. And what you are laying down, Miss Sophie, is not new age mumbo jumbo it is the brilliant fucking common sense that the new age movement built itself around. They had to have a gimmick to hook a whole bunch of people so the message could be heard. Richard Bach wrote those words a good decade before the new age movement began, and Jack Sparrow, his come a good couple decades after. That this post this morning lead me to read numerous uplifting Richard Bach quotes (one of my favorite authors) when I was feeling pretty worthless as a writer is truly a gem in my day, and dare I say, my new career as a writer. Thanks Sophie, I’m gonna shine up my fucking act. And I LOVE that you cuss like a sailor when you get excited. So do I.

  76. Thanks for that kick in the butt, I needed that, I have been blogging for a year, but need to adjust my mindset, great writing too.

  77. This article pushes and explains lot of points; it is good.
    Thank u for sending it. I’m in the middle of some busy and difficult times. I need more time; if something could be done, I will try that too.

    thanking you again,
    AK

  80. This is one of the most useful posts I’ve ever come across. It was exactly what I needed to hear as I’m balancing precariously on the edge of “do” or “do not.” I wrote out a list of my 10 biggest excuses, then went back and addressed each one with an indisputable truth that abolished them.

    Thank you for the much-needed kick in the pants! 🙂

  81. Hey Sophie

    Clearly, I have a obese dog, freak out when someone’s wounded in front of me and don’t know how to slice a cake! 😉

    Damn – you are exceptional, lady. SIMPLY FANTABULOUSTASTIC (hey – the usual words do you no justice, so I dared myself to bump it up 😛 )

    Thank you so much for this evergreen piece of ass-kicking #HUGSSS

    Much love
    Kitto

  82. I want to say thank you for jarring me out of my shell of fear, I don’t know Dhabi have such a fear as I have written a college text,am working on a fictional novel and am a free lance Grant proposal writer. I guess it probably has to do with Writting on a variety of different topics and afraid of making a total fool out of myself. Thanks for busting my shell and freeing me of the fear of failure and embarrassment, I take your challenge and look forward to working with you. DAMN RIGHT LETS DO THIS!!!!

  84. Hi Sophie,
    Well, I have decided to take one of your Master Classes, but which one should I take first. I am a newbie to blogging, but I have written a college text book and am working on a fiction novel. Where do you suggest I start. Do I really need a website to get started and how much do I need to put in a website. If I use WordPress where should I get it hosted.So many questions and not really knowing where to start.
    Look forward to your reply.
    James Wolf Bailey

  85. Hi Sophie,

    I must say you are true motivator. Double dare eeeh… Well, I am still bit hesitant. May be it’s due to the fact that I am finding it difficult sometime to express properly. Sometimes it’s the fear of writing wrong or expressing it wrong – Word-wise, sometime laws of the language wise.

    I have a blog, where I tend to write sometimes. But more or less it’s private.

    I am really thinking of a SHIFT now.

    Thanks and Cheers

    Mriganka

  86. What an encouraging speech!I was just about to quit the idea of being a blogger but with this asset,am now ready to fold my sleeves and follow my passion through your tuitorials if you don’t mind.Thumbs up Sophie.

  87. Thanks for the kick in the pants Sophie.I have been concerned about where to begin. But I’ll figure that out with some down to earth encouragement and help. You’re the first businessperson on the net that gives a f**ck. At least you didn’t have to triple dare me. Time too get off the excuses and get going.

    Jim Hofflander

  89. Awesome post! I love cursing to get a point across and you did just that. This really got my attention to step the f@ck up and get my head out of my a@s. This came at the right time. Thank you very much!!

  91. I have so much stuff in my head that I could write about and just don’t know where to start. I have a fear of not doing it right from the start. I am kinda perfectionist and like everything to be perfect. I know, I just need to put the fear aside and just do it!

    Thank you

  92. Ha!!! Its really motivating to see the word F*CK in the morning. I was actually working on a blogging strategy when logged into my email, and came across your post.

    A swift kick in the pants is what we sometimes need to get moving – and blogging

    Excellent post 🙂

  93. Sophie,

    It all begins with a Niche, right? And, ideally when passion and niche intersect you are headed for the stars, But, after 40 years in a career which I entered thinking I was passionate about , I remain unfulfilled. All the knowledge of the job doesn’t make for a niche in my case.

    Don’t know where to start?

    • Hi Terence! Give me some more info to work with – what was your career ? Do you have any experience of writing or freelancing or are you starting from scratch? 🙂

      The best place to start is right where you are. So if you have no professional writing experience, start by guest blogging so you can get a published sample and a testimonial to show future clients. If you’ve been published before, put your clips into an online portfolio and start researching potential clients. Feel free to stop by the BAFB forum for more ideas and advice!

  94. Love this post – I think all of those messages apply to everything that we don’t quite get round to doing in life. I needed that kick up the arse! Tough love. Thank you. I came here from Step 1 of Freelance Blogging Success course so heading back there now 🙂

  95. Just, wow! 😀 This is exactly what I needed to read! I know it’s from 2013, but still relevant to me today.

    I’ve called myself a freelanceer for a few years now. But truth is, I’ve only done a couple of gigs in between my actual job. I want to go full time.

    I have a friend who’s currently on an amazing six month journey from Alaska, across the US, via Island-hoping in the Caribbean and then down through South America. He fund this through freelance writing. If he can do it, why can’t I?

    Thank you Sophie for a well-needed push 😀

  96. I’ve been looking for websites to blog, so far I have sent a blog pitch to sites such as tiny buddah, blogged two or three times on linkedin, and will continue my search.

    I know that this may take time, I am working on building a sort of resume for myself as advised and will continue to blog every chance that I get when i’m outside of work, I’m ready to do this.

    And advice anyone, for good sites to become a blogger and start building a resume? I’m interested in health, nutrition, entrepreneurship, culture, lifestyle, psychology, poetry, nature, animals.

  98. Thank you for this! I have already sent out a few queries to try and get a few articles that I written published. I’m just waiting on a reply from them.

    Thank you for the community as well, Sophie! It’s been very helpful.

  100. Hi Sophie! Thank you for this very frank post. I have been complaining on how stupid I am because I am still a struggling freelance writer/blogger. You know how demotivated you can be when you start seeing other people climb up and you are left there at the bottom, struggling? I have been rejected many times and sometimes I feel like setting this career aside and just embrace my day job. The problem is, I love writing more than I love my day job. I know I have plenty of room for learning. I know I can do better. I thing is, I know and I stop there. I mean, I stop at recognizing my faults and the things that I can improve but I don’t actually “act” on it.

    I am talking too much.

    I am going to bookmark this. Thanks again. 🙂

  101. I have to cop to it. I’m not being held back by fear, laziness, or desperation―it’s bewilderment. I don’ care if i work for a content mill or for $20 right now. Tomorrow is another day. I just want to write and get paid and reach my goals. Learn. Grow. Climb. Repeat. So, let do this!

  102. It’s 4:12 am, here I am up all night as usual taking in all the information I can. I connected with a publisher from a well known magazine .He told me to send him my work and he would give me his opinion. His reply was” anyone in my niche would love to use it ! ”
    He said it was excellent!
    Now I’m trying to get it out there without selling myself short.

  103. Lack if time has been my biggest excuse! But if I am honest with myself I spend sooooo much time on social media that could be spent on marketing my craft. Just want I needed to hear.

  105. Your write-up is really encouraging and helpful. My big challenge has been where to start, but now just as you’ve said “Start from where you are” and that ‘s what I will do immediately.
    Thanks a lot

  106. Sophie,
    I have not started yet, trying to get all of my Christmas stuff put away & then I can concentrate on making a web space. Not sure how to do that. My youngest Daughter Amy sent me info on trying to make some extra money on line. There are a lot of scams out there, so it’s hard to pick something real & honest. Loved reading the other comments from people. Love Diana Busby’s quote. Thanks for being there & Yes! I want to try this. I have laways loved writing letters to friends, etc. I could just go on & On. Linda Z

  107. Hi Sophie,

    I certainly am interested in becoming a freelance blogger. In fact, I created a wellness blog eight months ago. It went live almost immediately and I’ve been writing one block per month.

    I read in one of your blog post the value of posting at least one well written blog per month versus several blogs that are poorly crafted. This was validating as I was uncertain about whether one blog per month would be sufficient. For the first seven months, one blog post was the most I could do. I went a couple of months without posting anything. I was able to post three blogs this month and will attempt to keep up the momentum 🙂

    I still consider my blog to be experimental, as I’m still testing the waters. I began asking people I know to look at the blog and to give me feedback. I would like to know if you and anyone reading your blog would be open to doing the same. There is a comment section on my blog where anyone can leave feedback.

    Here is the link for the web blog:
    http://thehealthpromotingbandwagon.com

    Thanks for the inspiration!

    Best,
    Peter

  109. Thank you, Sophie.
    I’ve been on your mailing list for almost a year now, and today I finally plucked up the courage to read your blog with purpose and intent. I needed to hear absolutely every word that you wrote. So as sincerely as a “comment” can be, thank you. You’re now my blog mom (creep much).

  110. Apparently I’m a little late to the party 😆 This hit me like a ton of bricks. So much so, it made me a little misty! Twenty-years putting off writing, of any kind, as a career. Thank you for this!

  112. Heck Yeah, Sophie “I’m Savvy”!!! I loved this post- albeit I’m several years late in reading it. This was awesome and hearing a quote from a movie pirate seems to be the magic potion I needed to just do it. I do exactly that- tons of speedbumps. Like- I don’t know how to do an invoice if I get the job”. Like really? That’s what’s been stopping me for goodness sakes?

    Thanks for being blunt with us and caring to push us!

    Cheers from Houston

  113. Thank you so much Sophie. I’ve been investigating a career as a freelance blogger for about a year now, but haven’t actually made anything happen. You touched on exactly what I feared and said exactly what I needed to hear. Starting now, no more excuses!

  114. This ^^^ is not only the reassurance I needed about writing, it’s the pep talk I was deeply craving after a shit day. Thank you <3

  115. Yes, Sophie, I shall stop procrastinating and get down to writing. Up to now, I`ve been promising myself that I`ll get down to work once I`ve cleared my inbox and – worse still – my desk. Today I am bashing the keyboard even though the desk still looks a rubbish tip. Thanks!

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