I just wanted to put pen to paper (or should I say pixel to screen) to share with my fellow freelancers, (I can say "fellow" now because I've just finished my first paying commission), the sheer delight and satisfaction of actually having joined "the club".
I'd spent a good many months bumbling around on the internet, looking for the elusive work from home opportunities. But, I am sure many of you have also been there, only to find out that 99% of so called "get rich schemes" are no more than scams.
I find it highly ironic that when you are in dire need of raising that extra "dosh", all you come across in the vast majority of cases are the rip-off merchants. UNLOCK THE SECRETS OF THE INTERNET. LET ME SHOW YOU HOW I EARN £565 PER DAY – ALL FOR ONLY £59.95 Of course it’s all rubbish. You are simply being conned out of whatever hard earned money you have in the first place, to feather some slime-balls personal get rich quick scheme. Regrettably, I have to admit I have fallen for several such schemes.
I then chanced upon the concept of freelance writing over the internet. Now this intrigued me, (a) because I had never given it a thought before, and (b), I’ve always had a love of writing, since those early spotty school days when I used to write the odd article for the school magazine, and rate supportive reports from my English teach (Mr Sibley), for my compositions, better know as essays these days I think.
Now don’t get me wrong, there are still plenty of sharks out there in this business too. Sites that want to sign you up for a fee (yes, more of that hard earned money going rapidly down the plughole) who will teach you how to write and will charge you even more for a list of websites that advertise projects to bid on.
However, with a little perseverance and effort, it is possible to find sites (like Triond) who will help, and are there to allow you to explore your dream.
I penned a couple of very basic pieces of writing on Triond, more to see if I could do it and as to whether or not they would actually be published. They were. No great thing in that I hear you say, but it did however give me some small measure of confidence that I really could do it.
With my new found confidence tucked under my belt, I set out to find a paying commission, and find one I did.
I found a guy who wanted five, six hundred work articles on various aspects of relationships. One had to bid for the work and there were already many bids listed. I added myself to the growing list, going in at the lowest fee of $20. I explained in my “blurb” that I was new to the business and was looking for someone bold enough to give me a chance. I actually heard back from him by email very soon after, when he asked me what sort of experience I had and what made me think I could complete his project. I explained that I hade been around the block a few times myself (haven’t most of us?) and that being a reasonably sensitive person, with a flair for writing, that I was his man.
I didn’t hear anything for a couple of weeks, and, to be honest, I had written this one off and had put it down to experience. However, when I got out of bed last Sunday morning and checked my emails (I know, sad isn’t it?), there was my bid acceptance.
Now I know that $20 is not that much, particularly with me being a Brit and the £/$ exchange rate being as bad as it is, but as you can imagine, it wasn’t the money as much as the principle. I had landed my first paying job. But now……could I deliver? It’s one thing thinking you can write, but after so many years with my quill getting dry, had I lost the knack?
I delivered the first couple of drafts and invited criticism. You can imagine my apprehension as I waited. But the feedback came back positive. QUALITY WRITING – KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. I was spurred on, and despite catching a nasty bout of flu, I finished in the agreed time. The next day I received notice that my cash was in my account and I had my first rating. (A good one too).
So, it looks like I have rediscovered my flair for the written word and found to boot that I can earn some extra cash. Now I do understand that it may be a little while before I can land my next paid project, I am not going to get carried away, but at least I have my foot on the bottom rung of that ladder.
Onwards & upwards, and here’s hoping that we can all grow our presences, portfolios and reputations along the way.
