If you're new to freelance writing, one thing you may not realize is that there is cycle, which is explained just below. It helps to know this so that when writing jobs just seem to dry up, you don't panic. In this article we'll explain when the busy and slow times are, and I'll tell you six things you should not do when the going "gets slow." I've been a freelance writer since 1993, so these insights come from many years of experience.
The Slow and Busy Times in Freelance Writing
The slow times tend to be from about mid-June through Labor Day and from Christmas through the end of January.
The busy times are usually after Labor Day and continue on through mid-November (just before Thanksgiving). Then, you might have a pickup of two or three weeks after Thanksgiving, until right before Christmas. It slows down again for three to four weeks after Christmas, picking up again in late January/early February and going through May/early June.
Now that you know the cycle, following are six things you should not do when things get slow - even if your slow time falls outside of these guidelines.
I. DON'T Panic: If you're a newbie to freelancing, it's easy to second guess yourself - as in, "Did I make the right move?" Don't.
II. DON'T Stop Marketing: In fact, when the freelance writing jobs dry up, you should actually double down on your marketing.
III. DON'T Delay Marketing: It should be the first thing you do every morning because it's your biggest responsibility as a freelance business owner. Look at it this way, if you're not landing writing jobs, pretty soon, there'll be nothing else for you to do anyway.
IV. DON'T Lower Your Rates: Slashing rel=nofollow [http://inkwelleditorial.com/freelance-writing-rates-4-truths]freelance writing rates is one of the first things many freelancers do when jobs just seem to dry up. Don't!
The main reason is, you'll attract the wrong kind of client and it can mess with your self-esteem to work for less than you're worth. Trust me - just don't do it.
V. DON'T Overspend When You Land "Big" Jobs: In other words, make saving a habit. You'll be grateful for the financial cushion you build up when things are slow.
VI. DON'T Give Up: There is a lot of work out there, especially for qualified online writers (ie, SEO writers) these days. Proof? Did you know that...
In 2012, content marketing was the leading tactic for 18.9% of marketers worldwide. In 2013, the % has grown to 34.8% [Source: FastCompany, A Top LinkedIn Exec On Why Content Marketing Matters More Than Ever]
Conclusion
Use the downtime as a freelance writer constructively, eg, update your website, learn new skills, produce new marketing materials (eg, special reports, ebooks, etc.). FYI, a lot of freelance writers are diving headlong into self-publishing - writing and selling their own ebooks online, which produces a whole other income stream.
About the Author: Yuwanda Black heads New Media Words, an SEO writing company she founded in 2008. She's also the author of over 50 ebooks, which she wrote and self-published. They cover topics such as [http://inkwelleditorial.com/seo-content-writing-package]freelance writing, SEO writing, self-publishing and online / affiliate marketing. They can all be found on her freelance writing website, Inkwell Editorial. She used one of these slow times to finish her first contemporary romance novel, 3 Weeks 'til Forever, which you can find on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Freelance-Writers:-6-Things-You-Should-Not-Do-When-Writing-Jobs-Just-Seem-to-Dry-Up&id=7726114] Freelance Writers: 6 Things You Should Not Do When Writing Jobs Just Seem to Dry Up