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Outearn the 9-5 As a Freelance Writer

December 16, 2015 By FiveFigureSarah 4 Comments

Graduating With An English Major? Outearn Your 9-5 With Freelance Writing
What was I doing over the summer? Overcoming my fears and getting back into a bit of speaking and teaching.

Why is that valuable to you? Because the speaking and teaching I’m getting into is all around writing, running a writing business, and using your English major as more than a fancy wall trophy that hides behind you in Skype interviews.

Here’s a 20-minute webinar with College Recruiter on how you can use an English major to make more money freelancing than in a 9-5 job. I’ve done it two years in a row now (first at $59K, soon to be at $89K), and I think it’s an important message to get out there.

If you’re already freelancing and feeling confident, this webinar might not be a valuable investment of your time. But if you’re a new grad (or you know a new grad, or you know people who think freelancing isn’t a viable career) this is a great orientation to the concept of freelancing and the little-known benefits to freelancing over traditional employment.

Video not showing up? Click here to watch on YouTube. Extra points if you share with a friend ;-).

PS This will be my last post for 2016, as I retreat into my cocoon office and finish up some personal projects, like the release of the updated 2016 Life After Teaching guide. I’ll announce the winner of the giveaway this Friday via the original blog post and newsletter… and then I’ll see you in the New Year! God bless you!

Filed Under: DOING, EARNING, Finding Clients, Pricing, Scenarios, SELLING, Systems and Best Practices

Comments

  1. Joshua Lisec says

    March 2, 2016 at 5:30 pm

    Out of that whole shebang, 1 line stuck to me like horse flies on an open sewer:

    “Clients are everywhere.”

    You’ve probably met the below-average-Joe Freelancer who whines about there being way too much competition yet way too few clients who pay more than minimum wage.

    It’s only when you get creative about *finding* clients that this pseudo-reality of scarcity fades.

    I remember for me, I once had this belief that my ideal client was “someone who needed [insert writing skill] done for them.”

    Nooooo waaaaay! They may *need* that certain writing skill, but the reason they *want* it has nothing to do with you the freelancer.

    I.E., who wakes up in the middle of the night screaming to the heavens, “If only I had a local copywriter with 10 years’ experience who specializes in crafting unique content for individuals and organizations!” ?

    Yeahhh…probably not 🙂
    Joshua Lisec recently posted…Stupid-Easy Sales: A technique I use to take potential clients from “So what do you do?” to “Holy sh*t, can I please hire you!?!” in less than 60 minutesMy Profile

    Reply
    • FiveFigureSarah says

      March 4, 2016 at 3:58 pm

      Speaking of open sewers… yes! If you’re using your mouth to complain that there isn’t enough opportunity, you’re wasting precious energy and words. Scarcity-mindset is such a business killer and I feel blessed to have discovered that fact early on. And then when you pair that with actually speaking to the client’s needs, not the hiring process/freelance job description? Boom!

      Reply
  2. Amy says

    December 21, 2016 at 1:14 pm

    Thanks so much for this. As a copywriter and blogger (with an English master’s!) I’ve been feeling very discouraged and ready to head back to the 9-5. This has given me a confidence boost to keep pushing and take my freelancing to the next level. woot 2017!!!

    Reply
    • FiveFigureSarah says

      January 9, 2017 at 6:23 pm

      So glad to hear it Amy! There are so many writers making an income on their own terms — it’s very, very possible!

      Reply

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