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Launch & grow your freelance writing career... even if you don't have experience!

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Drinking Coffee With Writers: Christina Lyon, Wellness & Digital Marketing Writer

July 13, 2020 · In: Drinking Coffee With Writers

Risk taking and believing in yourself pays off big time, and this week’s featured writer is proof. In this installment of Drinking Coffee with Writers, digital content marketing writer Christina Lyon is dishing out positive vibes and actionable advice.

Find out how she landed travel blogging opportunities, leveraged her blog to get her first Upwork clients, and ultimately found her passion in wellness and marketing content. Grab a cup of coffee (or your hot beverage of choice) and dig in.

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Freelance Writing Cafe: What was the #1 reason you decided to start freelancing? 
Christina Lyon: I always wanted to write professionally and work remotely, but it took me hitting rock bottom as a broke college dropout with a pipe dream who couldn’t land a “real” job to endeavor into blogging and ultimately freelancing.

How did your freelance journey begin?
In college, I bounced from major to major trying to find my calling, and ultimately decided on journalism. However, I always doubted my choice because I’m more of a creative writer and storyteller than a reporter.

In 2016 I studied abroad in Florence, Italy, and started a blog to chronicle my travels. Between museum hopping, wine sipping, and savoring every dose of la dolce vita (and Italian vino!), I fell in love with traveling and blogging.

In 2017 I was supposed to transfer to university. Instead, I accepted an offer to do a travel exchange trip to learn Spanish in Panama and write about it on my blog. Best choice I ever made!

I didn’t start freelance writing full time until 2018, but those two years of blogging served as a foundation for learning my craft.

Finally, after stumbling through interviews with marketing firms and struggling to bring in an income, a light bulb went off. Why not offer my blogging and writing skills to clients? It seems obvious, but the fear of rejection and self-doubt ultimately prolonged my freelancing career.

I created an Upwork account, started pitching, and included a link to my blog in my proposals. As a beginner without a legit portfolio, all of my clients hired me because of my blog! I hadn’t made a cent from my blog until that point, so it was rewarding to see it be the driving force for my success.

Of course, my intention was to start travel writing, but I found success in wellness and digital marketing, and I fell in love with these two niches.

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What is the most important lesson you’ve learned so far?
I’ve learned that being clear about my needs, value, and rate isn’t offensive. When I first started freelancing, I was so self-conscious and uncertain about discussing rates.

It took me about a year to get over impostor syndrome and realize that I’m an asset to my clients. I quickly found myself in demand, and this gave me the confidence to bid higher, pitch to bigger publications, and get out of my comfort zone.

What is something you still struggle with as a freelance writer?
Organization and routine. I understand the value of a schedule, but I am a bit of a frazzled writer — papers fluttering about, inbox overload, coffee stains on my shirt, hair in a curly, frizzy mess, struggling to achieve work-life balance. Someday I’d love to be organized, but in the meantime, I stick with the process that works for me, even if it’s a bit unorthodox.

What advice would you give to freelancers who are just starting out?
Work on your craft every day, whether that’s writing a blog post, networking on social media, editing your work, taking a course, or building a website or blog. Treat your writing like a business. Water it and give it sunlight every day, and in time, it will blossom. Please, don’t ever give up on yourself! You are only one yes away from radical transformation.

What is your favorite thing about freelancing?
I’ll be honest: I love not having to answer to a micromanaging superior. I’m strong-willed and don’t do well with supervisors, and have pretty much always clashed with authority. I work best with clients who trust my process and respect my autonomy. Working for myself has been incredibly freeing!

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What is your favorite app, tool, or tip for productivity?
Asana for content planning. Grammarly premium for writing. Canva for imagery, social media, and graphics.

Do you have a go-to mantra or quote that keeps you inspired?
Yes! “Carrying the fire” is from one of my favorite books: The Road by Cormac McCarthy. When I doubt myself or my place in the world, I say this mantra, and it grounds me in my intentions and values to push forward and persevere. Even if the world goes to the bin (which, it kind of has this year), I’m carrying the fire.

What’s your favorite hot beverage to sip while working?
Coffee. Dash of almond cream. Extra hot.

How do you find the motivation to work when you’re distracted or having a bad day?
If I have a strict deadline on a tough day, I’ll go for a long walk to try to get out of my head. Mostly, on bad days I know my writing will reflect it, so I’ll tackle non-creative tasks like research, SEO, or writing an outline.

What is your favorite place to travel to?
It’s funny because I got into freelancing so I could work from anywhere, yet since I started, I stopped traveling! I’m changing that after this pandemic. Italy will always have my heart, and I’d love to live there part-time.

What’s one interesting thing about you that people might not know?
My ultimate passions are writing fiction, poetry, and music. I’m currently editing my first fiction novel and poetry book. I’m a musician and songwriter and have an album dropping this year. 🙂

We love how exciting and dynamic your path to freelance writing has been! Any other words of wisdom to share?
Allow yourself to believe that your big, seemingly unattainable dream is actually just a series of strategic steps and a lot of hard work. Know your worth and run from red flag clients who undervalue or low-ball you. Embrace that, and you can achieve anything you set your mind to.

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Don’t forget to give Christina a follow on IG and check out her gorgeous website too!

 

☕️ Drinking Coffee With Writers is here to give you a dose of inspiration and actionable tips for the week ahead. We’re showcasing freelance writers who are designing their careers and living life on their own terms.  Want to be our next featured writer? Drop us a line at info@freelancewritingcafe.com

 

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Drinking Coffee With Writers - Christina Lyon - Wellness Digital Marketing Writer - Freelance Writing Cafe - PINTEREST

 

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By: Michelle Christina · In: Drinking Coffee With Writers · Tagged: Christina Lyon, christina lyon freelance writer, drinking coffee with writers, expert freelance writer, freelance writer interview, freelance writer tips, freelance writing tips, Wellness Content Marketing Writer

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Worth a re-post considering the wild volume of the Worth a re-post considering the wild volume of these requests coming in lately: 

We get a lot of DMs from writers asking if we can hire them. 🤔 We're not hiring writers -- we create our content in-house -- but we CAN help you find work the effective way. 👍✨⠀
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(Random DMs begging for work aren't helping you. 👀)⠀
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Our entire method is based on launching and growing your career LONG-TERM instead of using these little flash in the pan, scatter DMs everywhere "strategies". 
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SO! If you're ready to learn how to do this stuff the right way, check out any of our free resources! ✨
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🍁 NOVEMBER FREELANCE WRITER CHECK-IN 🍁 A fe 🍁 NOVEMBER FREELANCE WRITER CHECK-IN 🍁

A few questions to ask yourself as we transition into a new month:

☕️ How are you feeling about your goals so far this year? If you're feeling behind or overwhelmed, remember that while we're nearing the end of 2022, it's not over yet!

☕️ On a scale of 1-10, how strongly do you feel that you'll hit your goals this year? What needs to happen in order for you to hit those goals?

☕️ Write down 1 thing you'll take action on for each remaining month of 2022 to finish the year strong.

☕️ Write down 1 thing you'll do each week to ensure you stay on track. This might mean: booking a weekly discovery call, writing a niche-specific blog post, reaching out to past clients, etc.

☕️ It's not all about hustling! How can you take better care of yourself through the end of 2022 so you FEEL good and can show up as your best self in your freelancing career?

Wishing you a productive, healthy November!

#freelancewritingcafe #freelancewriter #freelancewriting #freelancewriters #freelanceinspiration #freelancewritertips #freelancewritingtips #freelancewritingsuccess #freelancewritingbusiness #freelancingfemales #womenwhowrite #writersofinstagram #freelancesuccesstips #freelancesuccess #upworkfreelancer #freelancelifestyle #freelancelife #writerslife #remoteworker #remotefreelancer #remotewriter #workfromanywhere #workhardanywhere #mobileoffice
Are we getting desperate? ⚠️ There's a hint o Are we getting desperate? ⚠️

There's a hint of panic in the freelance community re: decreased workloads, low-paying clients, inflation... These fears are valid, but is this energy we can rise up and ✨prosper✨ in?

I won't say it's impossible to build a career out of desperation. That "oh sh*t" moment can lead to extraordinary results. But if you stay in desperate energy, you'll operate from there (which clients see as a red flag).

Like it or not, being an energy match for a client is a big deal. They want focused problem-solvers who can get results. When your stress seeps into your interactions, you could be scaring those high-quality gigs away.

It goes like this...
📌 Freelancer: *Panics about money*
📌 Client: *Senses desperation, doesn't hire them*
📌 Freelancer: *Confirms fears, continues to panic*
(The cycle perpetuates!)

A subtle mindset shift can help:

☕️ Be aware of inner dialogue and how it leads to self-sabotage. Are you sending sob stories with pitches? Alluding to needing money immediately in ANY way? Cutting corners to get paid faster?

☕️ Flip the script. Yesterday's failure doesn't mean today will be the same. Society's panic doesn't mean you need to spiral. This is a new day full of new opportunities, new clients, and new ways to collaborate. 

☕️ A recession means clients are more eager than EVER for ways to reach their own customers... and that's your specialty! This is your time.

☕️ Give yourself a break. If nothing's been going your way, remember: nothing is permanent. Take a day off and ease up on yourself. You can't pour from an empty glass.

Chin up, writers. You won't only "get through this", you'll thrive! ✨

#freelancewritingcafe #freelancewriter #freelancewriting #freelancewriters #freelanceinspiration #freelancewritertips #freelancewritingtips #freelancewritingsuccess #freelancewritingbusiness #freelancingfemales #womenwhowrite #writersofinstagram #freelancesuccesstips #freelancesuccess #upworkfreelancer #freelancelifestyle #freelancelife #writerslife #remoteworker #remotefreelancer #remotewriter #workfromanywhere #workhardanywhere #mobileoffice
Why become a freelance writer in 2022? 🤔 ☀️ Why become a freelance writer in 2022? 🤔
☀️ YOU DECIDE THE SCHEDULE. Rather avoid the "Sunday scaries" by taking Mondays off? No prob! Wanna schedule client calls on Wednesdays only? Do it. Prefer to get your work done before 11am? Why not? Craving midday naps? Go for it! 

☀️ YOU DECIDE WHO YOUR CLIENTS ARE. Learning who you work well with is a process—and it usually comes with a few blips along the way—but it's one of the most liberating aspects of freelancing. You have the power to turn down anyone who doesn't fit your ideal (or close to ideal) client avatar.

☀️ YOU DECIDE YOUR RATES. How much are your services worth? You make that decision based on your niche, value, and income goals. That means you decide how much money you're making this week/month/year. That also means you get to tweak your rates until they're working for you.

☀️ YOU DECIDE YOUR RULES. Your policies will shape the way you work. You get to create/change them as your career evolves. Examples? Don't text with clients or accept unplanned calls. Don't do endless revisions. Don't do rush jobs without a rush fee... etc. Your choice.

☀️ YOU DECIDE YOUR LOCATION. I decided to freelance because being in an office was killing my creativity, productivity and nervous system. The freedom to work from a home office or anywhere in the world means I can deliver work I'm proud of and build a career that works FOR my life, not against it.

Can you think of any other reasons being a freelance writer is awesome? Let's hear them! 👇👇

#freelancewritingcafe #freelancewriter #freelancewriting #freelancewriters #freelanceinspiration #freelancewritertips #freelancewritingtips #freelancewritingsuccess #freelancewritingbusiness #freelancingfemales #womenwhowrite #writersofinstagram #freelancesuccesstips #freelancesuccess #upworkfreelancer #freelancelifestyle #freelancelife #writerslife #remoteworker #remotefreelancer #remotewriter #workfromanywhere #workhardanywhere #mobileoffice
What keeps you going when freelancing gets tough? What keeps you going when freelancing gets tough? 🪫

So many of us are struggling right now because of the economy's steep fluctuation and clients cutting back on budgets (on top of summer being a dry season for many). 

But we both know you're NOT just going to throw in the towel when faced with a challenge, right? 🤔 You're a problem solver, after all. That's one of the reasons you're such an awesome freelancer. ✌️

The truth is, in any economic situation, regardless of the season or circumstances, there are ALWAYS ways to thrive. 

There are clients who need writers. There are opportunities to uncover. The sheer number of businesses and organizations who need recurring marketing copy and content on a weekly basis is wild (with new ones popping up all the time). Just one example. There's 💵 to be made! 

So while you seek those opportunities out, grow your network, and polish your optimism, here's one more thing you can do to battle the "woe is me" energy that's bringing down your vibe:

✨✨ Remember WHY you started freelancing in the first place!

Remember why it's so important to you. Remember why you're made for this. Remember previous challenges you've overcome because you weren't about to give up on your ultimate goal. 

✈️ For some that's location freedom. 
📋 For some it's schedule freedom. 
💰 For some it's uncapped income. 
💓 For some it's "I'm the boss" energy.

Maybe all of these! Whatever it is for you, call it forth. When you're clear on your goal, your creative problem solving and resourceful nature will shine as a natural result.

And, as always, we are here to help! 🤓 What's one challenge you're facing in your freelance career right now? Any tips for fellow freelancers? 👇👇

#freelancewritingcafe #freelancewriter #freelancewriting #freelancewriters #freelanceinspiration #freelancewritertips #freelancewritingtips #freelancewritingsuccess #freelancewritingbusiness #freelancingfemales #womenwhowrite #writersofinstagram #freelancesuccesstips #freelancesuccess #upworkfreelancer #freelancelifestyle #freelancelife #writerslife #remoteworker #remotefreelancer #remotewriter #workfromanywhere #workhardanywhere #mobileoffice

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