Freelance Writing: How Thin Should You Spread Yourself?

Published: June 13, 2008
This was initially published on my now-defunct No Job for Mom blog.

As a freelance writer looking to earn money on the internet, I started out slow. I wanted to learn the ropes and write quality articles. Once I realized the online income earning process really worked, I thought if I doubled the effort, I would get double the income. Wait, why double the effort, why not triple it for triple the earnings. Why stop at tripling, why not quadruple the efforts…you see where I'm going.

My theory was just that…theory. In actuality, if you spread yourself too thin, it doesn't work. Over time, being spread too thin causes the product quality to suffer. Unfortunately, I found this out the hard way.

When is Enough Enough?

As good as it sounds to have a plethora of writing assignments lined up, sometimes you just have to say no. It's better to say no than to say yes and hand in a sub-par product.

Quality is of the utmost importance when it comes to being a freelance internet writer, especially if it's not a ghostwritten piece and you get to sign your name and display ownership of your work. Unlike magazine articles, which seem to disappear once the next edition is published, internet articles seem to gain in popularity over time. A few shoddy articles can stick with you forever.

Help for the Overloaded Writer

An alternative to turning projects down is to find a writing partner. Sometimes this is easier said than done. You'll need to find someone whose writing skills you admire with a work ethic that mirrors yours. Two can usually accomplish twice as much as one.

Reputation is Everything

If you find that you're slapping articles together to meet deadlines only to later wish that you had taken more time and care before submitting the piece, it's time for you to rethink your commitments. As a freelance writer, your reputation is everything; don't ruin it. Quality pieces attract quality inquiries, whereas slipshod articles don't attract anything.

Realizing that I had spread myself too thin caused me to take stock and modify my workload in order to maintain quality. I truly believe it will pay off in the long run.

About the Author: I am Felicia A. Williams, a wife, mom, grandma, writer and eternal student.

Last Modified: 25 November 2020