I’m very happy to have just finished a piece on how to balance your dream with your freelance business for Elance’s blog. If you have ever wanted to know how I manage to get everything done while snowboarding almost every day, this article will help you out. It provides tips for staying on top of projects and finding clients who are stoked about your passion!
I want to thank Alex from Elance for making this happen. You guys are great, and your service is the stuff that dreams are made of.
Hey Ted,
I’m really glad I stumbled upon this (via elance newsletter). I really really want to freelance and break-free from corporate life. Thanks for the advice and inspiration you’ve provided here – means a lot.
How did you get into writing? Any advice to someone that may have undeveloped writing talent?
Thanks,
Mike
Hey Mike,
I’m stoked that you like my article! It means a lot.
My only advice is to write as much as you can. I write at least 1000 words a day, if not much more than that, so it’s gotten to the point where I don’t have to think about it anymore. It’s also really helpful to read a ton of different authors in a ton of different fields. That way, you’ll know what kinds of styles are out there and how to incorporate them into your own writing style. I’ve found that the most effective writing style for the web is the one I have adopted for this blog. I address you directly, and I talk to you like I’m talking to a friend. People respond really well to that.
If you’re planning on getting out of the corporate life, do it gradually. I was never actually “in” the corporate life, so my advice might not be the best. Realize that even though you are a talented writer, you still have to run a business. I spend a lot of time just searching for clients, and it eats away at my profit margins pretty fast. You might have to live on a lean budget for quite some time before you get to the same amount of money you were making in your corporate job.
Then again, it’s a lot easier for me to live on lean budget when I share a house with 5 other people and entertain myself with snowboarding every day. There is a way to make it happen. You’ll just have to make some sacrifices.
I hope that helps,
-Ted Bendixson