Assumptions People Make About Freelance Writers: Part II

When it comes to freelance writing, outsiders are quick to make their assumptions. In Part II of APMAFW, Robert Kurzban peels away at another common misconception about the profession.

Welcome back to another installment of Robert Kurzban’s Assumptions People Make About Freelance Writers. (Or APMAFW, for short… maybe it will catch on. Maybe it won’t.) Before diving into this common misconception about freelance writing, be sure to check out Part I!

The assumptions are in abundance when you tell someone that you’re a freelance writer. Most are intrigued -- some are confused. But in between the ooo’s and ahh’s, misconceptions are abound. One in particular is as confusing as it is incorrect. That misconception is the idea that being a freelance writer means you’ve got all the freedom in the world. Number one, you don’t have a boss. (We already scratched that lie off last time…) Number two, you work less than the average professional.

You Work Less

If you’re a freelance writer yourself, then you might get a laugh out of this one! Some professionals outside of the freelancing realm actually believe that as a freelancer, you work less!

Now, while this can be true for some freelancers who’ve already established their expertise… this isn’t typically the case. Even for the experienced professional, there were times when there weren’t exactly days off!

As a freelance writer, completing gigs is only half of the battle. After the task itself is complete, there’s often additional pitching and other checkpoints to scratch off your list.

When you’re just starting out, your gigs often pay modestly. This translates into more work just to make ends meet. While being paid per project may make it seem like the potential of your earnings is limitless -- you’re still trapped by the limitations of time! Breaking free from an hourly wage may sound fantastic. (And once you’ve paid your dues, its benefits are endless!) But while climbing that ladder, expect to work largely on your own time.

Grammarly: A Freelance Writer’s Perspective

Advertisements for Grammarly are everywhere. For inexperienced writers, the software is a God-send! But the actors in the videos who claim to be professional writers present more questions than answers. Robert Kurzban asks: who is Grammarly for?

You may not know exactly what it is. But if you’ve spent any time on the internet in the past year, chances are, you’ve heard of Grammarly. The actors in the advertisement videos claim that they’ve experienced dramatic improvement in their writing -- all thanks to Grammarly! In a recent article from Nick Perry for Entrepreneur, the contributor claims that Grammarly has drastically improved his freelance writing career. Perry even goes as far as to claim that it is due to his use of the software that he is able to be a freelance writer in the first place.

I know what you’re thinking… yikes.

Freelance writers who craft unique content on a daily basis are talented individuals. While a little fine-tuning in the grammar department never hurt anyone… what does it mean when a professional freelance writer credits software with his freelance writing success?

Quite frankly, I think it’s a bit ridiculous. A professional freelance writer should maintain a natural writing ability. He/she should not have to rely on software, like Grammarly, to properly perform the duties of his/her profession. Personally, I think that Grammarly should be a tool for inexperienced, novice-level writers. The idea that it’s being marketed to professional freelance writers is not only ridiculous -- it’s insulting.

Why work on your skills as a writer when you can just turn to Grammarly to do it all for you? Why seek out your unique voice as a writer when Grammarly can just create one for you?

I certainly hope that this does not mean that creative industries will be reconstructed to embrace a human-less touch. Freelance writing is the last industry I ever envisioned to be automated. Sadly, only time will tell!

New Year’s Resolutions for Freelance Writers

Welcome to 2020! New year. New decade. New resolutions for the new year! Haven’t decided on a new year’s resolution for 2020? Don’t sweat it! Robert Kurzban has you covered with his top four new year’s resolutions for freelance writers.

Rework Your Portfolio

Out with the old -- in with the new! Rework that portfolio for the new year. After all, we are in a new decade. Now’s as good a time as any to get in there and shake things up! Start strong with a brand new piece hot off the press. Then, evaluate what represents the work you want to pursue in the 2020s -- and get rid of what no longer fits.

Try a New Style or Genre

This one is the ultimate way to shake things up. Trying out a new style or genre can introduce you to strengths (and weaknesses) that you never knew you had. Exercise that imagination muscle and try something completely different from what you’re used to. If you’re a realistic nonfiction writer -- dive into some horror. If you’re a short story writer -- roll up those sleeves and give a full-length novel a try.

Start a Blog

Starting a blog is a great way to make sure that you create content regularly. It’s also a fun way to learn new things and teach others along the way! Dare to dive into something unfamiliar by creating a blog focused on something you aren’t an expert in. From post to post, you’ll find your footing. And soon enough, you really will be an expert in whatever subject you please!

Publish a Piece

Whether you’ve never published something before, or you’re looking to publish to a new format, now’s the time to do so! Publish an eBook, editorial piece, full-length book -- or whatever your artistic heart desires. Robert Kurzban recommends this one to freelance writers who are new to the game… especially those who have yet to step up to bat.

Good luck and happy new year!