As a freelance writer, one of the best problems to have is being “overloaded” with work.
Being busy makes the time go faster. You’ll log more billable hours, which means you’ll make more money. And, in general, you’ll feel much better about your career, because you’re developing your skills at a faster pace and you feel financially secure.
Plus, you’ll encounter a “snowball effect.” The more good work you do, the more happy clients you’ll have and the more referrals you’ll get. Then you’ll have even more clients to do more good work for, which will lead to more referrals, and so on.
Having a lot of work is a good thing with one qualifier …
You have to be able to manage your work and time effectively. And the quality of your work shouldn’t suffer. Here are eight tips to help you, when you find you have a lot on your plate:
- Hire a virtual assistant – Make arrangements to farm out some of your more time-consuming tasks, such as proofreading and research. If your assistant is qualified, you could have them do some editing or even help you with your marketing tasks.
- Subcontract out work to a qualified associate – If you have a writing friend who isn’t quite as busy as you, bring them in on some of your projects. You still deal directly with the client, handle all negotiations, and oversee all the copy. You’ll pay your colleague 10 to 20 percent less than you charge the client to compensate for your time. That way, you can say yes to a new client, even when you’re busy … and should they need more copy down the road when you may not be so busy, you’ll be on their short list.
- Ask for more time – If you have a deadline coming up that it looks like you’re not going to meet, ask for more time. It’s not something you want to do often. But sometimes there is flexibility in your client’s schedule. And asking them for more time is preferable to not doing your best work or missing the deadline.
- Eliminate distractions – To get more done in less time, eliminate as many distractions as you can. Unplug or sell your television … disconnect your Internet when you’re not using it … turn off your cell phone, as well as your home and/or business phone. Check your email inbox once, maybe twice, a day.
- Make time for exercise – When you’re busy, the tendency is to skip your daily walk or exercises. This is a mistake. Stick to your workout schedule. You’ll have more energy during the day, you’ll sleep better during the night, and you’ll find it easier to focus.
- Work longer hours – Get up an hour or two earlier, or work a bit later at night. Work a few hours after dinner each night. Put in half a day Saturday morning or afternoon. Be willing to work as hard as it takes to meet all your commitments.
- Learn to say no – Nobody wants to turn down good-paying work. But if you’re just too busy, it might be the best thing for both you and your client. But don’t just say no. It’s an opportune time to refer the client to someone you know will do a good job. Who knows? One day, your friend may return the favor.
- Ask them if they’re flexible on their timing – Before you turn down an assignment, ask your prospect if they could wait until your schedule frees up down the road a bit. If they value your writing ability enough, they might be willing to wait till you’re available.
Do you have any tips to share on what you do to cope with having too much work to do? If so, share them here.
