Comments on: Lesson Learned: Some Useful Mistakes http://www.essentialprose.com/write-create/lesson-learned-some-useful-mistakes Creative, conscious living. Sun, 06 Feb 2011 07:17:33 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Essential Prose | Zoë Westhof | Taking the Plunge: Why Too Much Planning is for Wimps http://www.essentialprose.com/write-create/lesson-learned-some-useful-mistakes/comment-page-1#comment-78 Essential Prose | Zoë Westhof | Taking the Plunge: Why Too Much Planning is for Wimps Mon, 03 Nov 2008 07:12:29 +0000 http://www.zoewesthof.com/?p=173#comment-78 [...] time to drag out the planning process, so I launched, and then adjusted along the way. Of course I made plenty of mistakes, but that’s how you consistently approve the method to your [...] [...] time to drag out the planning process, so I launched, and then adjusted along the way. Of course I made plenty of mistakes, but that’s how you consistently approve the method to your [...]

]]> By: Zoë http://www.essentialprose.com/write-create/lesson-learned-some-useful-mistakes/comment-page-1#comment-29 Zoë Sat, 27 Sep 2008 06:09:36 +0000 http://www.zoewesthof.com/?p=173#comment-29 @Clare - Well said. Sometimes it takes too long for freelancers to build up confidence that allows them to follow the tips you've listed. It certainly helps to have reassurance from an established, successful freelancer! @Clare – Well said. Sometimes it takes too long for freelancers to build up confidence that allows them to follow the tips you’ve listed. It certainly helps to have reassurance from an established, successful freelancer!

]]> By: Clare Lynch http://www.essentialprose.com/write-create/lesson-learned-some-useful-mistakes/comment-page-1#comment-28 Clare Lynch Thu, 25 Sep 2008 16:28:21 +0000 http://www.zoewesthof.com/?p=173#comment-28 Hi Zoe Here are my three tips, from someone who's been successfully freelancing for just over two years now: 1. Learn to love the downtime. When you first start out, it's easy to be terrified if you don't have any work pencilled in for the following week, say. But something always turns up and before you know it you're wishing you hadn't wasted your downtime worrying about having the downtime! 2. I once read that freelances spend a third of their time looking for work, a third of their time doing the work, and a third of their time trying to get payment for the work. I've found this to be largely true - and I price accordingly. Which brings me onto my final point . . . 3. If some people don't say you're too expensive, then you're not charging enough! Clare Hi Zoe

Here are my three tips, from someone who’s been successfully freelancing for just over two years now:

1. Learn to love the downtime. When you first start out, it’s easy to be terrified if you don’t have any work pencilled in for the following week, say. But something always turns up and before you know it you’re wishing you hadn’t wasted your downtime worrying about having the downtime!

2. I once read that freelances spend a third of their time looking for work, a third of their time doing the work, and a third of their time trying to get payment for the work. I’ve found this to be largely true – and I price accordingly. Which brings me onto my final point . . .

3. If some people don’t say you’re too expensive, then you’re not charging enough!

Clare

]]> By: Zoë http://www.essentialprose.com/write-create/lesson-learned-some-useful-mistakes/comment-page-1#comment-24 Zoë Thu, 18 Sep 2008 08:54:59 +0000 http://www.zoewesthof.com/?p=173#comment-24 I haven't reached the one year mark yet, but I'm sure balance will still require effort. Sometimes simplifying seems tougher than letting yourself run into overdrive. By the way, the RSS feed should be working now. Thanks for alerting me! I haven’t reached the one year mark yet, but I’m sure balance will still require effort. Sometimes simplifying seems tougher than letting yourself run into overdrive.

By the way, the RSS feed should be working now. Thanks for alerting me!

]]> By: Melissa Donovan http://www.essentialprose.com/write-create/lesson-learned-some-useful-mistakes/comment-page-1#comment-21 Melissa Donovan Wed, 17 Sep 2008 20:13:11 +0000 http://www.zoewesthof.com/?p=173#comment-21 For me, one of the biggest challenges during the first year of freelancing was balancing work and personal writing. I recently crossed the one year mark and it's still somewhat of a struggle. By the way, I've been trying to subscribe to your blog but it's not working. I'm not sure why, but the feed comes up empty. Just thought you might want to know. For me, one of the biggest challenges during the first year of freelancing was balancing work and personal writing. I recently crossed the one year mark and it’s still somewhat of a struggle.

By the way, I’ve been trying to subscribe to your blog but it’s not working. I’m not sure why, but the feed comes up empty. Just thought you might want to know.

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