Hi again, writer friends,
My freelancing goal this year is to get more work from fewer clients. While part of it is so I can cut down on the pitching and admin in order to have a better work-life balance, the bigger reason is that I want to create time for writing all the book ideas I have floating around in my head.
So many of us think of traditional publishing as the path forward, not because it makes good business sense, but because there’s this myth among newer writers that if you’re with a publisher, you can focus your time and energy on writing, not marketing.
I’ve signed with four literary agents in the last ten years—including PFD in the UK and Trident Media in the US—and not only has this led to no actual career building, but the work of signing with those agents, writing proposals, getting books they deemed “excellent” into “even better shape so they can bring in six-figure advances”, and entertaining endless requests for revisions and marketing has taken me away from the act of creating.
Conversely, when I indie published my books, I wrote nine in two years. As I write this, I’ve had 49 consecutive months of book sales. Consistent book income in my bank account every month, without fail, for the last 49 months. (And, if we’re being honest, I haven’t even done a good job of promoting them.)
So I’m taking a step back and organizing my life this year. Scaling the automated and passive income from the work I’ve already done, while creating space in my life to write more.
And that starts with taking care of my time and income. Steadying both so I don’t have the stress of either as I move forward with my plans.
This means getting more assignments from fewer clients, as I mentioned.
And I’ve been using the principles in 30 Days to Freelancing Success to do it. (See what I did there?)
The course is open for enrollment until January 26. You’ll want to get in before then.
Cheers,
Natasha