6 Things to Consider Before Taking a Gig

When I first started freelancing, I took just about any job I could find. I was so happy to be getting paid to write, I didn’t realize that I should be choosing a freelance writing job just like I’d choose any other job. It only took a few bad jobs - low paying, topics I wasn’t interested in, demanding clients - for me to see that I’d have to put more thought into the jobs I applied for and accepted. Now, here are 6 of the things I consider before I take on a writing gig.

Can you do the job?

Being a writer doens’t mean you can write any and everything. If you don’t have experience writing sales letters, you should think twice about taking on a copywriting gig. You’re doing yourself and the client a disservice if you accept a job you can’t do. If you have doubts, it’s better for your client relationship and reputation to state them upfront. Let the client decide if he wants to hire you or not.

Is it in your niche?

Having a writing niche makes it a lot easier to pick jobs. I focus on personal finance, so it makes deciding not to write about lawn maintenance a much easier and faster choice. Even if you don’t have a niche specialty, you can narrow down the topics you will/won’t write about.

Is it paying your rate?

I’m sure none of us would have a problem accepting a job paying morethan our set rates, but accepting jobs that pay less, well, that’s another story. There’ll be jobs that pay less than what you typically charge and you’ll have to make the decision whether or not to accept them. You might set a policy that your rates are non-negotiable and in that case, you’ll never accept jobs that pay less. Or, you might have a minimum rate you’ll accept. For example, if you typically charge $.15/word, you might, on occasion take certain jobs that pay $.10/word. If you take jobs that pay less, make sure there’s something in it for you (besides a pay cut) and that it won’t affect your short term ability to make ends meet.

Would you like the work?

If you don’t like the work the job entails, you will have a tough time getting through the job (unless you’re super self-disciplined). I’ve been on the verge of handing jobs back because they were so mind-numbingly boring that I couldn’t imagine typing another letter. As you consider taking a gig, imagine yourself doing the work. Could you really sit at your laptop and type out 5 articles about cutting grass and pulling weeds?

Is the timeline/workload reasonable?

Nothing against the clients who hire us, but sometimes, they don’t understand how much work goes into what we do. They can have unrealistic expectations about how much work can be done in a certain amount of time. Before you take on a job, make sure you and the client agree on how much work is to be done with a certain amount of time. If the client insists on an impossible timeline, just move on.

Can you have a good relationship with the client?

You’d think it would be easy to get along with everyone on the internet. But, that’s just not true. Personalities and work styles come through email and instant messaging the same way they do in face-to-face interactions. A lot of times, you don’t notice the idiosyncrasies until after you’ve been hired for the job. But, if you notice upfront hints that the client will be difficult to work with, give the job some thought before accepting it.

What things do you consider as you’re deciding whether to take a writing job?