How to Begin a Freelance Writing Career at Home When You're a Mom
You love your kids and you love to write. How can you do both?
Whether you have
small children, middle-sized children, or big children – moms have a lot on
their plates. We’re great at multi-tasking but usually it is for others and not
ourselves.
I’ve been a mom for
30 years and counting. With a 17 and 11 year old at home (and homeschooled) and
my tendency to write only when inspired, I’ve learned it is imperative to work consistently
if I am going to have a home-based, freelance writing career.
Once you have made
the decision to be purposeful in your writing and have identified your yearly
goals and weekly objectives, here are some tips for busy moms:
- · Scheduling
There’s
no doubt that the kiddos come first. But that doesn’t mean you cannot find time
to write. Even very young children
can learn to respect mom’s time. Of course, life happens and there may be
interruptions to work around. But if you do not have a designated time
scheduled for writing every day, it won’t happen. You have to have a target to
aim at or you will not hit it.
- Space
You
need a writing space. That doesn’t mean you can’t sit on the couch with your
laptop while the children are nearby. But your writing space will be one spot
to keep your supplies and a place to go when you sit down at your designated
time. It also makes you feel more professional. I fit a small desk in my
bedroom. It immediately took my writing from casual blogging to writing magazine
articles with a purpose.
- System
If
you don’t buy the groceries this week you won’t be preparing any meals! Rarely
do things go well when it’s hit or miss. This was my difficulty. I am very
organized and efficient when it comes to managing my home but the writing kept
falling through the cracks. That's because I only wrote when inspired. I
learned if I sat down at my designated time, inspiration would come.
Choose
certain days for specific tasks. For example, on Tuesdays and Thursdays I check
the freelance job boards for assignments and apply. Once a week I write an
article and submit it to the 3 magazines I'm interested in. Twice a week I
research various topics I need to learn such as keywords, driving traffic to my
site, etc. The internet is bursting with free courses!
I
also bought a composition notebook and keep a "diary" of my daily
writing accomplishments. It really helped me stay encouraged when I had an off week due to
sickness, interruptions, and appointments.
- Sanity
Let’s
face it, moms are in demand! Yet, it’s alright to communicate to family and
friends that you are unavailable when you’re working from home.
If
your children are very young and an hour a day is all you can manage, make that
hour count. Plan on writing
in the morning before the children are up, during naps, or after
they go to bed. Or provide a quiet activity for your children while you write. If your children go to school then designate 2-4 hours each day and
stick with it.
If
you don’t treat your freelance writing seriously, no one else will. It’s a
business that will provide an income and that’s serious stuff.
- · Successful
Since joining an online writing group, I have learned to believe I can have a freelance
writing business from home. If you are a
stay-at-home mom, you are used to working and not getting a paycheck. To think you
can actually get paid for a writing assignment or publishing a book seems out
of reach.
I’ve got great news for you: it is
within your reach.
However, it’s going to take patience and work. Don’t
discount submitting one magazine article each week to an article directory or
taking a resume writing course and begin offering resume writing services – it all
counts. Just keep plugging away and don’t give up.
Even if you have a goal of writing a book or a becoming a regular contributor to a magazine, you have to start somewhere. Dream big, but don’t forget to make it happen with earning money from writing projects that will help develop your platform, develop your writing skills, and get you where you want to go.
Even if you have a goal of writing a book or a becoming a regular contributor to a magazine, you have to start somewhere. Dream big, but don’t forget to make it happen with earning money from writing projects that will help develop your platform, develop your writing skills, and get you where you want to go.
Do
you have any ideas to add? Please share them!
~
Kathleen Moulton lives at the foothills
of the beautiful Adirondack Mountains in Upstate NY. She is a 25 year veteran
homeschooling mom, a member of the Working Writer’s Club, and monthly
contributor to Heartbeat the Magazine. You can
find her passion to encourage at "When it Hurts" - http://kathleenmoulton.com
