As Halloween approaches, we're faced with scary images of ghosts, goblins, witches, and clowns (not everyone finds clowns scary, but I know plenty of people who do - hence the photo at left). Then there are other fears that eat away at us year round. Like the fear that we'll never land another assignment again. Or the fear that readers won't like our work. Last year, I surveyed readers and discovered that their biggest freelance fear is going broke. But there are plenty of other worries that keep us up at night. (Is it just me or are a lot of freelancers raging insomniacs?) Here are five freelance fears along with tips on how to deal with them. Fear #1: What if there's a mistake in my work? Whether it's a mistake you made or one that got inserted later, stuff happens. As I wrote in this post on about handling mistakes, the best thing you can do if it's your mistake is to own up to it. Of course, there are plenty of things you can do to prevent errors from happening, including reading your copy out loud, enabling the forgotten attachment detector in Gmail, and more. Unless you make repeated mistakes or one huge gaffe, it shouldn't haunt you later. Still, it's best to avoid errors whenever possible. Fear #2: What if readers leave nasty comments?
If you ever write anything slightly personal or controversial, then you're bound to attract some haters. On the one hand, that's how you know you've really struck a chord with people, but on the other hand those nasty comments or hate emails can really sting. It takes a lot more courage to write that personal essay or blog post under your real name than to leave some anonymous comment, so take heart in knowing that. Also know that editors like it when your content sparks intense debate, so they won't hold it against you. And if that's not enough, then simply STOP READING THE COMMENTS. Fear #3: What if my editor or client wants tons of revisions?
It can be disheartening to have a document returned to you with loads of additions, subtractions, and other changes. But with some clients or editors, that's simply the norm and it's no reflection on your abilities as a writer or your worth as a human being (obviously). The real test is whether you land a repeat assignment. I try to study all the changes the client or editors makes to my piece so I can incorporate those stylistic changes myself and really nail their voice next time. Fear #4: What if a client tries to stiff me?
It's an unfortunate reality that some clients, whether because of cash flow issues or actual malicious intent, avoid paying for your hard work. There are several strategies you can use to avoid being scammed, but if you're already in that situation and a strongly worded letter, email, and/or phone call doesn't work, consider reporting the client to Angela at WritersWeekly's Whispers & Warnings or (if you're a member) enlisting the help of ASJA's Grievance Committee. Fear #5: What if all my clients leave me and I never get another freelance assignment ever again?
Clients come and go. That's just the nature of the business. But if you're good at what you do and diligent about marketing yourself, then you'll find a way to fill that hole. (Plus, it's unlikely that all your clients will leave you all at once unless you've grown reliant on only one or two clients for all your work.) In addition to marketing and networking, you can also boost your odds of maintaining a steady flow of work by constantly working to improve your craft. For instance, earlier this year, I earned a Certificate in Writing for Professional Communication. I'm usually reading at least one book related to writing or small businesses, and I read a ton of blogs of those topics to stay on top of my game. What about you? Have you faced any of these freelance fears? Are there other concerns I've missed? Leave a comment and let us know! Flickr photo courtesy of Nwardez