Freelance Writers: Why Being Perfect Can Sabotage Your Success

November 10, 2009

Freelance writing is one of a handful of professions where you are expected to be perfect – 100% of the time.  Now while what we do is not medical science (eg, being a doctor), it is extremely important.

Freelance Writers: Why Getting It Right Is Important

Businesses that hire freelance writers have their image on the line. Their image is their business, which is their livelihood; a livelihood their families depend on for food, mortgage payments, medical insurance, etc. So in this respect, what we as freelance writers do is extremely important.

Now, to address the title of this post specifically, ie, why trying to be perfect can sabotage your freelance writing success . . .

I receive emails from time to time alerting me to my “imperfections” as a freelance writer. Following is the most recent:

You might want to check your e-mail version of your e-booklet: 4th paragraph “though times” — I’m assuming should be “tough times”.  If you’re pitching good grammar and spelling you probably want to be right on too! Good luck.

First let me say, I appreciate emails like this . . . for two reasons:  (i) they alert me to something I need to fix; and (ii) they remind me that I’m a “producer”, ie, I’m doing my job and putting out material on a regular basis.

imperfect-freelance-writerBetween updating the numerous websites I have, writing promotional material for my ebooks and ecourses, and writing for clients, I write between 3,000 and 6,000 words a day (sometimes more). When you produce this much material, you’re bound to make mistakes.

HOWEVER, this type of correspondence can undermine your success – if you take it the wrong way. They can make you feel insecure, incompetent and paralyzed. This stunts your production.

If you’re waiting to be perfect to start something or continue something, you could be killing your chances of success as a freelance writer. Following are some common excuses that many freelance writers use to stay stuck at the starting gate:

     I need to get a website;

     I need to get a NEW website;

     I need to add “X” (you fill in the blank) to my website;

     I don’t have writing samples;

     I don’t have the RIGHT writing samples;

     I don’t have ENOUGH writing samples/ clips;

If you’re already freelancing, following are some common “perfectionist” things you may put in your way:

     I need to redesign my website;

     I need to create writing samples for this niche;

     I need to do more research about “X”;

     I don’t have time to do “X”.

All of these are some derivative of trying to be perfect – whether it’s waiting for the perfect time to start something, or until a product is perfect before you release it. Case in point, Inkwell’s SEO writing course.

For about a year, I had been implored by many to offer a course like this. But I simply didn’t have time, or so I told myself. What it really was is that I was waiting for the “perfect” time for a break in my schedule to put it together, put up a website and write the promotional material for it.

But when I looked at the facts, I knew that I was missing a golden opportunity. How/why? It’s not often you have a built-in client base who are, in essence, asking to spend money on your product.

I didn’t need a slick new website and fancy marketing materials. What I needed was to sit my butt down and put the course together and let those who had been asking me about it know that it was ready.

And, this is exactly what I did. The first course was taught in October and there are already enrollees for the upcoming one in January.

While I have: (i) registered a domain name (SeoCopywritingClass.com) that I plan to build out; and (ii) just this past weekend finished a promotional booklet (Learn SEO: 6 Reasons SEO Copywriting Is the Ideal High-Paying, Work-from-Home, Recession-Proof Career (pdf file)), this SEO class is already a success.

If I’d waited until the perfect time to start, I would have missed out on a golden opportunity, for this course has added another income stream to my business.

That being said, there is a time when you should be perfect . . . on client projects; else you risk committing this error.

Freelance Writers: When It’s Necessary to be Perfect

I check, recheck, outsource and double check client projects, because they pay my bills. Also, as I stated above, the businesses that hire me count on me to be right all the time. And I do my best not to disappoint.

BUT in general, if you wait until the stars align, you have the time, you have the money and you have the “perfect” whatever, you will never achieve success as a freelance writer – or anything else. For, part of being successful is making mistakes, learning from them and moving on.

Here’s wishing you a delightfully successful “imperfect” day.

Imperfectly yours,
Yuwanda

P.S.: Find this post informative? Follow Inkwell Editorial on Twitter.

P.P.S.: Want to start making money from home as a freelance writer? Visit our freelance writing bookstore for informative info on everything from freelance writing ecourses to how to make passive income with your writing skill.

Photo Credit: “Embrace Imperfection” magnet at Cafepress.com.


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One Response to “Freelance Writers: Why Being Perfect Can Sabotage Your Success”

  1. uberVU - social comments Says:
    November 10th, 2009 at 4:14 pm

    Social comments and analytics for this post…

    This post was mentioned on Twitter by InkwellEditor: Freelance Writers: Why Being Perfect Can Sabotage Your Success http://bit.ly/1PHc49…

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