Beginner Frustrations

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It’s 12:38am and I’m still staring at the computer screen. My eyesight filled with a cloudy outlook from being in front of the computer too long.

I’ve been trying to “get things off the ground” as they say and as expected, it hasn’t been easy (hardest part is getting started, amiright? Ha.) I’m doing the the whole laughing thing to keep from getting more nervous 🙂

Lately I’ve been trying to get back into freelance writing. I did a bit while in university and now I’m ready to get back to doing it. Back in the ring and things are fierce! The majority of the job listings I’ve seen could be divided into two types:

1. We are looking for article writers for a well-recognized website. The articles need to be well-researched and adhere to strict deadlines. Unpaid but great opportunity for exposure! 
2. Need well-experienced writers who write well researched, in-depth compelling content. RPW: 0.05/ $25 per post.

Why, why, why? It can be frustrating, frustrating to see how people are okay with paying writers so little for work they want to be top-notch. Scrolling through many of these types of posts has been a downer. The struggles of the beginning stages.

So, why exactly am I doing all of this? I’m sure you can already guess it: debt. Debt in question? Student loans. Da-dung… (just imagine a big bell ringing).

Student loans are like that clingy significant other you just can’t seem to get rid of. I’m going to get rid of it though. Freelance writing and some other endeavors are going to be the avenues to help supercharge it and pay down the debt faster.

My eyes have been gravitating more towards Melanie’s Dear Debt website lately. On the site, she posts submissions from people and their different variations of hatred towards debt. I’m loving it! Awesome motivation.

When it get rocky, you just have to adapt and make things work

Back in March, I bought and went through the highly praised 30 Days or Less to Freelance Writing Success e-course by Gina from Horkey Handbook. The course was amazing and well worth the affordable price tag.

In addition to that, I purchased a better theme for this website and bought a one month membership to Contena Pro. Making those investments!

Doing all of this, I started to gear up to pitch again. Then…my life went in a whirlwind of changes. I attended South by Southwest festival for eight days, then spent a week in Oregon, then hopped on a plane to Bangkok, Thailand, leaving the USA for six months.

All of this meant I didn’t have my beloved workspace anymore. It got traded in for working on couches and dealing with crappy WiFi. Hostel life was awesoooome, but still. Adding to the pile.

A year from now, you will wish you had started today 

This thought rings around my mind every night before I go to bed. While things may not be in the place I want them to be, I’m glad I have gotten started instead of making excuses.

Now I’m in the beginning trenches. I know it won’t be forever. I like to think of this period as the skin-thickening period. Also the sponge soaking period considering how I’ve been reading any and every freelance writing strategy article I can find.

Things are tedious and frustrating right now but I’m glad I got started. That’s what’s important.

• Everyone has to start somewhere
• Do what you can, with what you have, where you are (love me a good Teddy Rosevelt quote)
• Be proactive about telling people what you do, opportunity sometimes strikes at the most random of times

What has been something you have had a rough time getting started with? How did you get through the beginning stages? Let me know. I love hearing different perspectives! 

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Colin // RebelwithaPlan

Colin Ashby is the writer behind Rebel with a Plan, a website dedicated to people who choose to rebel against the norm of living in debt and feeling financially unenlightened. He believes everyone has an eccentric quality to embrace and that lattes are sometimes a necessity (despite what the personal finance community tells you).

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