Solid advice for very busy Freelance Copywriters
It’s good to be busy. Busy pays the bills. Busy stops you freaking out that the bills might not get paid.
And busy reassures you that you’re wanted, valued and loved.
It’s also a potential trap, that given half a chance, will snap your ankle and then proceed to munch its way up your shinbone, and won’t stop until… sorry, I’ve just made myself feel a bit queasy.
What happens when all your freelancing ships come in at the same time?
I’ve already written lots about what to do when the work’s not coming in (links at the end).
The other end of the scale is when everyone’s knocking at your door, all at once.
How do you cope with ‘too much’ work? “Nice problem to have”, I hear you mumble, but it really isn’t (even though it sort of is).
Too much of anything is too much. Even the good stuff.
But as a Freelance Copywriter, sometimes it happens. And when it does, you grit your teeth, gird your loins, clench your buttocks and order in the caffeine tablets (don’t though, they play havoc with your bowel movements).
You quickly go from grin to wobble to panic. 48 hours worth of work in 24. Research, writing, editing and proofreading in the time it should take to soak up the brief. Cue high blood pressure, mediocre work and unhappy clients.
There is another way.
How to make busy-ness work for your business
I’m like you, I love being busy. But, I don’t like that tightness in the chest and hump-back-bridge-belly feeling that comes with ‘too’ busy.
So here’s what I do to try to make sure it doesn’t happen in the first place:
– Put caveats in your proposals that point out the time penalties when clients come back late with feedback (which they will, and do).
– Make it your responsibility to say how long a job will take – you know best.
– Leave enough leeway with a project. Two days work shouldn’t be done in two days – you need to allow for unforeseen toe-stubbers and enough time to leave the work to simmer in the background before sending it.
– Make sure there are enough gaps in your life to have a life. Even from a business perspective, it makes sense. The bits in between the work bits, that’s where your creativity comes from after all (more on that here: How did I get here?)
– Leave room to get all of that stuff out of your head and make space for the next lot. It’s not easy writing about homeopathic lumbago cures while you’re thinking about the pros and cons of industrial strength grommet grease.
This could be the hardest one of all (and I should know, ‘cos I’m a massive copywriting hypocrite):
It goes against all your instincts, but sometimes…
– You’ve just got to let some of it go. Don’t say ‘yes’ to everyone who wants your services*. Save yourself for the project types, sectors and clients you love.
But…
– When you do say ‘no’, unless it really is a granite, ‘no I don’t want to ever work with you again, because you’ve got scary eyes that pierce my soul, and you never pay your invoices anyway’, find a way to leave the door open. You just never know, the next project they want you for might be a real doozy.
What to do when you can’t avoid bursting at the seams
Unfortunately, unless you’re a superstar when it comes to running your life, overload will happen at some point. When it does, there are a few things I do/have done that really help:
– When you get that knot in your stomach, take some deep breaths. Breathing is intimately associated with the mind. Slow the breathing down and the mind will follow. Five minutes in the breathing zone will most likely save you half a day in Panicsville.
– Start early. Set the alarm for a couple of hours earlier than your normal wakey-wakey time. Everyone else is asleep, there’s no distraction from incoming emails and phone calls. It’s amazing how much gets done when you’re focused on that one thing that’s clogging the pipes.
– Work like a tornado in miner’s overalls until the in tray’s empty, then treat yourself to a few days of R&R. Let your brain uncramp and your eyes re-focus beyond the laptop screen. Recharge those batteries and come back swinging.
Yes, being stacked out is a nice problem to have (kinda, sorta). But when it hits, I hope your days are filled with as much joy and contentment as they are with client projects.
Love and patience.
Jonathan x
Jonathan Wilcock (that’s me) is a Senior Freelance Copywriter.
You can drop me a line here, or email jonathan@sowhatif.co.uk
* To a certain degree, especially when you’re new to the Freelance Copywriting game, it’s good (sort of) to say ‘yes’ to just about everything that shuffles your way. You’re building a network and a reputation. You’re also trying to work out what it actually is that a) you’re good at and b) what really tickles your undercarriage. And even later in your career, stretching yourself is a good thing. Just make sure you don’t snap while you’re at it.
A couple of links with tips and nuggets for when the work ain’t flowing:
– How I slapped myself out of the freelancer doldrums
– How to have a long and happy copywriting life
And particularly if you’re new, or newish to the game: