Photo by Beth Macdonald on Unsplash
Have you retired but miss the times when you were busy with work? There is a solution for retirees like you. You can choose a new career path and become a freelance writer.
Just think about it. You will work from home (or any other place you like) and have a flexible schedule. You will uncover your true potential and bring your skills to use. On top of that, you will make some extra money and get an opportunity to meet new interesting people online.
Sounds like a good idea to you?
Here are seven tips that will help you to launch your new career.
Be aware of your weaknesses and strengths
If you want to get a freelance writing job, you should know your worth. You should be aware of your weaknesses and strengths. It will allow you to present yourself to your prospective clients in the best possible way.
What can you do better than younger writers? Firstly, you should understand that you have more professional and life experience than the vast majority of modern freelancers, and that allows you to write more complete copies. Secondly, you are more attentive to details. You don’t get distracted by social media notifications and other things while working on your writing task. It means you can create copies of better quality.
Now let’s talk about the things you are not that good at. As a retiree, you are likely to work more slowly than younger freelance writers do. And the chances are it takes you more time to learn how to use new tools and services.
So how should you present yourself to get a freelance job? You should put emphasis on your experience and high writing quality. Also, it will be wise of you to apply only for non-urgent projects.
Start with learning the basics
What did you do before retirement? What field did you work in?
If you have never worked as a writer before, we highly suggest you learn the basics first. For instance, you can visit websites that focus on academic writing for college and grad students to get acquainted with the fundamental principles of writing. You can also enroll in online writing courses on educational platforms like Udemy, Coursera, and SkillShare.
Don’t feel ashamed to ask for help
Do you need someone to explain how to use AI-powered writing tools to you? Do you need someone to help you to set up a profile on a freelancing platform? Don’t feel ashamed to ask your kids, grandkids, or your neighbor’s kids to assist you.
You helped your kids and your neighbors million times. Now, it’s time for them to pay you back. Call them today and ask them to assist you with a few simple tasks.
Don’t be afraid to try something new
Don’t let the fear of failure stop you from becoming a successful freelance writer. Be open to experiments in writing, and don’t be afraid to try out different editing and proofreading tools.
For instance, if your daughter recommends you to start using a writing service like GetGoodGrade, or a proofreading tool like Grammarly, go for it. Well, it may take you some time to figure out how these tools work. But once you understand how you can use these tools, you will boost your productivity as a freelance writer.
Start small
To succeed in freelancing, one needs to build an outstanding portfolio and get lots of positive reviews from clients.
So don’t expect that you will become a successful freelancer writer overnight.
It’s challenging for newbie freelancers of any age to land the first project after the account setup. The best strategy for newbies is to apply for low paid jobs first. You will not make big money in a first month or two, but it will allow you to collect enough reviews to kickstart your freelance career.
Don’t listen to what other people say
Unfortunately, not all people who surround us are ready to support us in our new beginnings. Thus, we should focus on what is important to us and don’t take the negative words of our family and friends seriously.
If someone says that “you’re too old to start a new career” or “you don’t have outstanding writing skills,” – just ignore them. You can achieve whatever you want in your life.
Don’t let other people hold you back from accomplishing your goal. Remember that the only reason why these people don’t support you is that they gave up their dreams, and they don’t want other people to achieve success because it makes them feel miserable.
Get connected with like-minded people
You are not the only retiree in the world who wants to become a freelance writer. There are many people of your age out there who have chosen the same after-retirement career path. You can connect with them via Facebook, blogs, and forums to discuss different aspects of freelance writing and get the support you need.
Just do it
Freelance writing can turn your retirement life into an exciting journey full of new opportunities.
Even if you are unsure whether you want to become a freelance writer, give it a try. You will never know whether you will like it until you try it.
We wish you good luck! And remember that if you feel enthusiastic about this goal, you can accomplish it!
Author’s bio. Jessica Fender is a professional writer and educational blogger. Jessica enjoys sharing her ideas to make writing and learning fun.
