Impeccable writing. Standout research skills. A deep understanding of buyer psychology and the principles of storytelling. These are all essential skills for freelance writers. But what about freelance writing skills that aren’t related to writing?
Having longevity in this industry is about two things: being an exceptional writer and knowing how to run a successful business. After more than sixteen years as a freelance writer, here are ten (non-writing) skills that have kept my business thriving.
10 Non-Writing Skills Freelance Writers Need to Cultivate
Even amazing writers struggle if they don’t learn to manage the business side of freelance. Here are the top non-writing skills that can turn you into a standout freelancer.
1: Proactive communication
Being open and honest with your clients is one of the most underrated skills in freelance writing. When you communicate well, it keeps you and the client on the same page.
Have to miss a meeting because the kid got sick? Let the client know as early as possible.
? With communication, you reschedule for another day. The client tells the little one to feel better.
❌ Without communication, the client sits on a call for ten minutes waiting for you to join. Then they hang up in frustration.
Open, proactive client communication helps neutralize issues before they become problems.
2: Consistent follow-through
Ask anyone who hires writers. It’s tough to find freelancers who consistently live up to their promises. (Read: showing up to every meeting, hitting deadlines, following briefs, and incorporating feedback.)
Treat deadlines as ironclad agreements. Entire content production schedules are often built around them. If you’re late on your part, the entire process might need to get bumped.
How can you cultivate consistent follow-through?
Overestimate how long any project will take. This gives you a cushion to deal with the unexpected. As a bonus, you’ll come in impressively early if everything goes to plan.
What if something happens, though, and you can’t meet a deadline?
You’re a human being. Life throws curveballs. It happens. Just let the client know as soon as possible so they can plan accordingly. (Also, do everything in your power to ensure this is the exception, not the rule.)
Many freelancers put in tremendous effort when projects start. Then they fade. Bring your quality, enthusiasm, punctuality, and creativity to the first project…and the hundredth. If there’s more work after the contract ends, you better believe it’s going to the reliable writer.
“Bring your quality, enthusiasm, punctuality, and creativity to the first project…and the hundredth“
Liz Heflin
3: Client relationship management
When you start earning referrals and recurring work, you stop spending every waking minute chasing work. That opens up huge possibilities in your business.
How do you get to that point?
Some of it comes down to talent, results, and deliverables. A significant part, though, is being easy to work with. People like to work with people they like. Simple as that.
You could be a Pulitzer-level writer, but if you’re difficult or unpleasant, no client will want to stay long.
A few tips. Always be respectful and professional, even through edit requests and constructive criticism.
Also, bring your initiative, experience, and expertise to every job. Clients want great content with minimal hand-holding and drama.
4: Organization
As a freelance writer, you’re often wearing all the hats. Writing. Editing. Marketing. Client management. Client acquisition. Accounting and invoicing. Administrative tasks.
If you don’t have strategic processes to manage your bandwidth as a busy freelancer, things will start to slip through the cracks.
That’s where organization comes into play.
Keep everything in order by maintaining meticulous records, delegating tasks as your budget allows, and finding tools to keep you organized. As a few examples, I love Notion HQ for to-do lists and calendars and Hubstaff for time-tracking and invoice creation.
5: Self-motivation
As a freelancer, you have freedom, autonomy, and flexibility. The flip side? You’re responsible for every aspect of your business.
There’s no boss looking over your shoulder or setting your schedule. There are no coworkers to consult.
You have to manage your own time. Be your own boss. Make business decisions around client acquisition, project selection, contract negotiations, and business expansion.
If you can’t find ways to get (and stay) internally motivated, your business will stagnate.
So, what should you do if you struggle with staying motivated?
Think about your why. Do you freelance to spend more time with your family? To dictate your own earning potential? To hand-select your projects? Getting motivated and avoiding procrastination are easier when you have a deeper reason in mind.
6: Self-promotion
You never want to put all your client acquisition eggs in one basket. It’s great when recurring work and referrals come your way. Ideally, though, you’ll also have a steady stream of inbound leads and other opportunities.
While these don’t simply materialize on their own, they can come through self-marketing efforts. Think building a brand on social media, creating organic content, and networking.
Whether you’re blogging or using social media, the framework for effective self-promotion is the same:
- Identify your business goals.
- Identify your audience.
- Identify your audience’s pain points, challenges, and desires.
- Provide content that solves those problems, answers those questions, or otherwise provides value.
- Build your “like, know, and trust” factor.
- Be top of mind when your ideal client needs the services you provide.
This process is about establishing your authority, expertise, and value in the eyes of your ideal customers. Make sure your content accomplishes that.
7: Continuous learning
If you want sustained success in this field, you need humility and dedication to learning.
Even if you have sixty years of experience, you’re never going to know everything about writing or content marketing.
Humility helps you recognize you don’t know everything. A dedication to learning ensures you put in the time, effort, and energy to stay current on always-shifting best practices.
8: Strategic pushback
This is a tricky line to walk. If you get it right, though, it’s an effective way to boost your value (and your rates).
Clients hire you for your writing skills and your expertise. Say they’re making content strategy suggestions or edits that are detrimental to their brand or business goals. Say something!
Know when to push back on client feedback or content direction. It transforms you from a hired pen to an invaluable partner and consultant.
Disclaimer: Don’t push back for the sake of pushing back. Sure, maybe you don’t love a suggestion. If it won’t negatively affect the campaign, though, weigh whether that’s a battle worth waging.
9: Boundary setting
How do you create a more sustainable, enjoyable, creative work environment?
Think about what matters most to you, and set clear boundaries to protect those things. Daily working hours? Type of work? Ideal rate? Write these things down. It’ll help you shape your business to your lifestyle.
If you’re working from home, it’s easy for your work life and your personal life to bleed together. Figure out how to demarcate. (An office with a door. A hard stop at five o’clock.) Whatever the strategy, find a way to feel fully present in work and life.
Half the battle is setting your boundaries. The other half is sticking to them. If a client asks for a rush job and this violates an established boundary, don’t be afraid to use the most empowering word. No.
10: Rejection handling
There’s no getting around it. Even the best writer has to deal with rejection. A lot.
If you let every no send you into a spiral of imposter syndrome, you’re not going to enjoy the work. You might even bail on the profession altogether.
Instead, when you face rejection, keep perspective. So many companies need writers. One rejection is nothing compared to the number of available opportunities.
And remember, people turn down pitches and applications for lots of reasons. Budget. Company fit. Content needs at the time. A no is not a personal indictment of your talent or value.
Don’t Shortchange the Business Side of Freelance Writing
“Freelance writer” is a misleading job title. This career path involves so much more than just writing alone. You’re running your own small business, which takes a laundry list of specialized skills.
Spend as much time learning how to be a business owner as you do learning to be a stellar writer. Writers who do this, enjoy more freedom, flexibility, and staying power.
What about you? What skills help your freelance business thrive? Is anything missing from our list? Let us know in the comments!
FAQs about Freelance Writing Skills
How do you describe freelance writing on a resume?
When describing your freelance writing business on a resume, it’s helpful to do the following:
- Highlight your top skills (hard and soft)
- Show how your education or certificates contribute to your success
- Tailor your most relevant contracts or gigs to the new desired role
- Include proof of results with quantitative data
Do you need a degree to become a freelance writer?
No, you don’t need a degree to become a freelance writer. Clients care about quality, reliability, and results far more than certificates and degrees. They don’t hurt, but anyone with stellar writing skills and a willingness to learn can jump into this profession!
How can you improve your writing skills?
Improving your writing skills comes down to two main things: learning and practicing. Study great writers with a critical eye. See what makes their writing sing, and then put what you learn into continual practice.