When I started freelancing full-time in 2023, it didn’t occur to me to negotiate deadlines or fees. I failed to build flexibility into my schedule for editing. (Once, editors from three different publications all sent me edits on the same day, even though I’d filed the original stories across the span of five weeks.) I missed the boat on filing for unemployment, and I still don’t have the dialed-in yet luxurious routine I’d fantasized about. No calls on Mondays? Not happening (yet).
Fortunately, for me, the unexpectedly good aspects of freelancing have overridden the unexpected challenges that come with any learning curve. I’ve reconnected with old friends and editors, and made more new and fulfilling connections. I’ve seen my byline appear — and reappear — on Barnes & Noble magazine stands, and trained for a triathlon without waking up at dawn or ditching my social life. I love that which stories I write, and how and when I write them, is up to me (so long as I meet the deadline, of course).
So if you’re a new freelancer, allow me to help you avoid some of the early fumbles and get to the good stuff sooner. Here are some of the most common mistakes my freelance peers and I see in those new to the game.
1. You only consider pitching mainstream outlets
Don’t sleep on the thousands of non-mainstream outlets that need strong health writers. Almost all universities publish magazines and online content like faculty profiles. Every medical specialty has at least one association, many of which publish newsletters or magazines. Some fitness franchises like Peloton and Life Time produce magazines, as do many hospital systems and trade organizations.
“It was surprising to me how much university and institutional freelance work is out there,” freelance science writer Rachel Tompa, Ph.D., previously told me. “To me, that’s very hopeful because these are organizations that have a different financial model and are subject to different pressures than journalism outlets.” Most of her clients pay at least a dollar a word.
2. You bank on the big wins
Similarly, a freelance writing career is rarely sustained with a few big wins, Michael Schroeder, an AHCJ member and freelance writer and editor based in Indianapolis said. “A common mistake is trying to land the ‘perfect assignment’ — big payday, your dream publication,” while neglecting steady, smaller gigs. Just like many staff writers rotate between quicker news pieces and longer features, “successful freelancing usually requires that kind of mix, too,” he said.
3. You pour all of your energy into pitching
A lot of new freelancers spin their wheels developing and sending out pitches that, more often than not, get ghosted. That’s a lot of uncompensated energy and time. While I find it fun and energizing to craft pitches for new publications, I now view that work as creative — rather than financial — fuel.
Instead of mercilessly pitching, aim to (re)connect with editors who already have stories in mind they need to assign. Once you have a relationship and understand their style, see if they or colleagues are open to ideas from you.
4. You’re isolated
I was surprised to discover just how many freelance writers are out there, and how many regularly congregate in various online communities to swap advice, editor contacts, calls for pitches and more. There are Facebook groups and Slack communities, podcasts and books for and by people like you and me. I’ve listed some of my favorite resources here. Rather than competitive environments, I’ve found these spaces help writers find the right homes for their stories while collecting skills and support along the way.
5. You don’t negotiate
Jen Underwood, a freelance writer and psychotherapist in the Chicago area, said she notices a lot of novice freelancers accepting the first amount of money an editor offers. “I have successfully negotiated higher pay with every pitch,” she said. Underwood’s other career has prepared her well in that regard: “As a therapist, I’m used to billing for my time,” she said, “but I think writers struggle with more ‘imposter syndrome.’”
For my part, I haven’t always had requests for more cash fulfilled. But it has never hurt to ask. Plus, sometimes you can negotiate for something else, like a later deadline or support from a research assistant on staff.
6. You’re too timid
Similarly, several experienced freelance writers told me that folks new to the freelance world often back down from a publication after a single rejection or a non-response. Those of us with more years behind us simply try again later with a new idea or check in a few times if we’re met with silence. “Don’t be afraid to follow up. I’ll try three times, then I move on,” one freelance journalist in a Facebook group I belong to said. It has paid off: One national magazine took “forever” to respond, she said, “but it led to several articles in the end.”
7. You take “feedback” too personally
When you’re working with a single editor or two in a staff role, you develop a rapport and learn each others’ communication styles. But when you’re working with all kinds of editors across all kinds of publications, you learn how widely their messaging varies.
Some of my editors, for example, use effusive exclamation points and praise in addition to requests for changes; others are, well, blunter — calling out only what they find flawed (if not rewriting portions entirely themselves). Some extensively mark up copy, others publish it more or less as-is. Some editors assign stories unprompted, others need to be asked. This is all to say: Their differences tend to be more of a reflection of the publication’s needs, voice, pressures and timeline, as well as the editors’ own experiences and preferences, than you. If you learn that early, you’ll spare yourself some emotional turmoil that can be better channeled into your next pitch.
8. You expect every assignment to feed your soul
Have I always dreamed about covering the health benefits of prunes? No, but reconnecting with the editor who assigned it — and reaping the benefits of an association’s higher rates — fulfilled me in other ways. Am I going to be submitting my guide to plantar fasciitis surgery for any literary awards? No, but I earned a few bucks and met a few great sources along the way.
On the other hand, the stories that have felt immensely purposeful — like my New York Magazine investigation into a postnatal retreat or my Women’s Health feature on elite athletes with ADHD — haven’t netted out from an hourly rate standpoint.
“It’s good to realize that not every story will feed your soul,” said Randy Dotinga, a San Diego-based freelancer and AHCJ board member. “Those stories, in fact, may need to be subsidized by much-better-paying work that isn’t as satisfying.”
9. You haven’t evaluated if freelancing is really for you
Before 2023, I’d never really considered freelancing full-time. I was more than pleasantly surprised to discover how well it suits me: As an extrovert, I entered the fray with loads of connections and a knack for relatively effortlessly making many more. I like change and spontaneity and am not risk-averse. At least at this point in my life, I value freedom over the (often merely perceived) stability of a salaried job.
Many journalists are different. Some thrive on structure, routine and longer-term planning. Some may prioritize health care plans and other benefits that come with more traditional roles. Many don’t recognize that most freelance success stories include pulling income from non-journalistic projects, if not also from family members or partners.
“Freelancing isn’t for a lot of journalists. It requires a special brand of hustle,” Dotinga said. “I’ve known a lot of staff journalists who couldn’t adjust (and then declare ‘nobody can make it as a freelancer’).” Simply not true.
10. You don’t take care of yourself
Some new freelancers can feel like if they stop pitching, writing, marketing, connecting, researching, business-building, you name it, their whole livelihoods will slip through the cracks. And while the fear isn’t entirely unfounded (again, not everyone can and does make it out here), the sooner you find some balance, the sooner you’ll learn doing so supports, rather than detracts from, your career.
Schroeder said he likes to maintain a mix of writing and editing work, and frequently thinks about how to sustain and create energy in all areas of his life. “As a parent, this is something that allows me to focus on the big picture and makes me more productive overall,” he said. “I work hard and make no apologies for being a whole person. I think we’re all more astute writers and editors when we operate that way.”
Source: 10 signs you’re a new freelancer, and how to act more experienced
