Freelance writing has opened the door to a many opportunities for novice writers and veterans alike. Now, we have to create a balance between our creativity and time. Which will win? It should be both and you can do it!

How can you measure your success? Money? Cars? Career? Dream?

You're successful when you wake up in the morning proud of the work you do and the love of your family.

What is success? Well, everyone talks about having success once they've acquired the big house, money, and status but few consider the work they've put into getting there. There's beauty in a struggle; writers endure this everyday of their career. They must use each idea to shape into an article, essay, or some other copy to present to readers. Freelance writing is an exhilarating career, but many people have no idea how hard the work can be. The work in freelance writing can take your breath away once you receive your first assignment. For instance, I was ecstatic when I received a writing position with an independent record label. I was in a new state of mind and approached every article or blog with my full attention. I knew that my writing skills were only half of the success I could achieve while working with them so I dedicated two months to studying the e-marketing techniques.

Creativity is half the battle because so much is added within the equation. You must instill discipline within yourself to move towards a better goal each time. Some people are born to follow the crowd with a mindless chatter, but few follow their hearts in achieving their dreams. If you are unaware of your talents, take some time to figure it out before jumping into ‘what they said’ would be the best solution for you. Many of the most notable authors and/or writers had to take the unmarked path to success. Some writers went weeks without work, but they felt that the chase is worth it. Some authors lost their jobs because they became engrossed with their books. The ability to line the stars up are not only in the midst of a sentence- it’s in the midst of your heart.

Can you follow directions? Do you need someone to hold your hand throughout your assignments? I've gained valuable time management, organization, and communication skills since I started. Freelance writers must have control over the amount of work they accept so deadlines are not missed. Have you missed a deadline before? Do you feel as if it's the end of the world when your employer questions your progress? Be creative with your time management for more productive days. Allow yourself time to adjust to this freely held career. Freelance writing makes you want to wake up in the morning with a pen in hand and notepad in the other. Take notes of your great ideas or business plans that may help you succeed in the field faster. Also, authors should recognize where the soul of their stories lie. Spend some time managing or plotting the scenes of how you can write a masterpiece in your sleep. Take a walk around some trees and enjoy the fragrance of nature. Develop a work schedule that allows you time to clear your head so you can return to work fresh.

Successful freelancers suggested I keep a schedule of all work due within specific time frames to break projects into workable loads. This has helped me work around the interruptions I might have during my work hours. Writing can be handled in pieces; consider the project as an opportunity to excel your previous work. I hope to be an excellent writer because my love for words has kept my spirits high for years. With the support of the writing world and my family, I know I can do anything I want in this field.