Be A WAHM: Become A Freelance Writer

There are already so many mothers who gave up their 9-5 office jobs to work from home. I did! I can honestly say that it was not easy in the beginning, I had to think things over so many times before I decided to become a WAHM, but I can also say that I am now enjoying the benefits of working from home.

Who does not want to stay at home and spend more time with the family? I bet most mommas will trade anything just to be with their families while earning. I made the decision to work from home only 7 months ago, and I am grateful for the time I get to spend with my son more than anything.

I am currently working as a freelance writer. I work flexible hours and have the opportunity to stay at home with my son, set my own rates, and be my own boss. So if you’re also trying to convince yourself whether going WAHM is the perfect career choice for you, then read until the end to find out more about becoming a freelance writer.

Why Freelance

Freelancing has become so popular nowadays, especially for moms, because of the flexible working hours, ability to avoid the traffic jam, and the opportunity to stay at home while looking after the family. As you have flexible hours, it gives you more free time for leisure and travel.

As a freelancer, it is also great to be able to set your own rates for your services and therefore having the opportunity for unlimited earning potential.

One of the best things about becoming a freelancer is that you can work from home or anywhere and anytime you want. In my case, I knew I would be a freelancer working from home most times as I have a toddler to mind about.

Why Freelance Writing

There are many freelance jobs available online especially for moms- blogging, affiliate marketing, bookkeeping, proofreading and editing, online selling with dropshipping, becoming a social media expert, online teaching, graphic designing, writing. I could think of so many more!

I tried to apply for some of the jobs I have mentioned, but I discovered that as much as I can claim that freelancing is an excellent opportunity, working from home is not always easy especially if you have a clingy toddler around. In my case, my now almost 3-year old boy was very clingy when I started looking for work-from-home jobs. Whenever I had video calls for interviews or quick meet-ups, my boy would whine or cry for milk. You see, I breastfeed.

I had to figure out a way to be able to work from home while I attend to my child, and so I thought that if I could not work in front of a camera, then maybe, a work that does not involve videos and calls would work for me.

While searching for online jobs from different freelancing platforms, I came across a job post for an online content writer/ blogger. I thought that I can write and do research because my work as a teacher merited me those skills. I was in the academe for the past 16 years before I decided to do freelancing.

Freelance writing is very popular among mothers because it is one of the most flexible work from home when it comes to schedules, WAHMs, just like the SAHMs, juggle a lot of things while at home, the WAHM's workplace is also the home that she needs to maintain.

As I mentioned in my previous blog post about my WAHM story, it's hard to separate personal and professional roles because my workplace is my home. The boundaries between the two are blurred and that it is very challenging to execute income-generating activities and maternal duties daily. The good thing about it is that IT- CAN- BE- DONE!

Becoming a freelance writer allowed me to become a professional in this field and a hands-on mother at the same time.

How To Get Started As A Writer

If you like to write, then congratulations! You can make a lot of money as a writer if you have the right attitude and mindset.

Writing is one of the best work-from-home jobs for moms because you get to work on your own time, at your own pace.

But how do you get started? Here are some tips:

Take up online courses on writing

If you are serious at becoming a freelance writer, I would highly recommend taking online courses. There are many free webinars and learning sessions you can find online. I recommend Elna Cain’s Free "Get Paid To Write" email course as her content has helped me a lot in mustering that confidence to start as a freelance mom writer. I also read a lot from Carol Tice and follow her on twitter for updates on her blogs and writing tips.

If you’re from the Philippines and wants to know more about content writing and blogging, you may want to follow The Greatest Digital Creatives by Cherrie Ann Balictar, The Writer's Brewery by Nizza Gueco, and MotherAnt by Charlyn June Fadchal- Awing- they all provide free learning sessions for the writer wannabe. I have learned a lot from these mentors, and I am sure you will learn a thing or two from them.

There are also those who would offer premium courses, but you can really make good use of the many freebies being offered online. If you have the extra money to go on premium workshops, then go for it. It is also important to invest in self-improvement and acquiring new skills.

Sign up on freelancer platforms

When I started, I was looking at Facebook pages for freelancers and writers for jobs. I responded to every single job ad and did cold-pitching. I then discovered that I can also find jobs in freelancer platforms like UpWork, Fiverr, OnlineJobsPh, FreeeUp, and many more. Linkedin is another brilliant website to find legit clients.

Network with other writers and talented people

Grow your freelance network, especially with freelance writers because often, your fellow writers may and will help you find a writing project.

Set a reasonable rate but be professional

You have to know how much your services cost. You may want to check online how much other freelance writers are charging for a start but make sure that you charge what you feel is commensurate to your skills and expertise.

There are a lot of lowballers out there. You might even be frowned upon because your rates are higher as compared to others, but just make sure you can sell your skills and have a ready portfolio to show clients in case they ask.

Promote yourself as a writer and be professional. When you upload online resumes, create a professional looking one and highlight your skills as a writer. Do not take offers that are too low but do not overcharge as well. Prove yourself worthy as a content writer and let your portfolio speak for the kind of work that you do. Reasonable clients will be willing to pay the price but ensure that you do your part in becoming a highly paid writer.

Have a portfolio and promote yourself as a writer

I know you may be wondering how you’ll be able to have a portfolio when you are just starting. I would say, start putting up a blog. My blog landed me my first writing job. You may also be able to monetize your blog later on. In my free blogging basics resource, you will find about ways on how you can monetize your blog.

If you do not have a blog and if you do not have the intention of making one, you can always ask your clients to give you a writing test so they may be able to see how you spin words and they may know more about your tone of writing. When you do that, ask the clients who you are writing for, so they will see that you keep the client’s readers in mind when you write for them.

I highly recommend creating a blog as this will help you be familiar with writing in a content management platform which some of your clients would ask you do. Having a blog also establishes discipline in writing. It is an excellent way to practice and polish your craft.

Is It Easy To Become A Freelance Writer?

To be brutally honest, it is not! It requires so much mental energy to be able to come up with something. Your skills can be learned, and your skills may help you land a job, but you need to have the dedication and the discipline to stay on this freelancing job for a while.

Money is not always guaranteed, clients may back off, a contract may end; but with the right mindset and attitude, you will, as I have mentioned, have access to unlimited earning potential. It is not an overnight success nor a get-rich scheme. You have to put in the work.

A Final Word To Aspiring Freelance Writers

I managed to ask Ms. Cherrie Ann Balictar of The Greatest Digital Creatives about what words she can share to aspiring writers, and this is her message:

“One of my biggest inspirations in pursuing a career as a content writer is a song called The Painter. It is from an amazing band, I'm from Barcelona.

The chorus says, ‘Don't give up on your dreams, boy. Don't give up on your dreams, now buddy.’ I mean, it's a simple, honest-to-goodness tip. Nothing fancy. But it hits the spot, you know. Sometimes it's just enough to keep you going.

I'm not one of the lucky ones who succeeded and conquered from the beginning of their career, all the way through. I tried and failed many times. Guess what, the world did not stop for me. I have to keep going. I have to keep breathing. I can't say that the struggle has ended. It's still there. To survive is to handle it with grace and grit.”

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