Your freelancing action plan... and a FREE holiday gift! 🎁
Why you should have an "action plan" as a freelancer and how to build one... plus, a downloadable action plan guide!
Hey, readers of The Ghost Post! 👻 Today, I want to discuss why you should have a freelancing/ghostwriting action plan and how to create one. I’ve also prepared a free gift to help you put together your action plan! It’s available towards the bottom of today’s post, so be sure to scroll down there and check it out. 😉
Why do I need a freelancing action plan?
One thing I dislike about the freelancing lifestyle is how uncertain everything can feel, whether in terms of finances, how to propel your business forward, what to work on during slower weeks, etc. When I began freelancing, I was so confused and lost. I launched a website and started building my portfolio, which are great first steps, but I had absolutely no guidance on what to do next! I wasn’t sure where I needed to go to find my ideal clients, how to productively fill the early months (when clients were slow coming), or how to maintain discipline as a remote worker.
Everything changed when I reframed my mindset towards my freelancing career, set actionable steps and goals for myself, and stuck to a plan. Within a few months of this shift, I landed new book deals, had far more consultations with potential clients, and grew my Substack newsletter considerably. I’m here to tell you what catalyzed my perspective and habit changes so that you can view your writing career in a healthy, productive way, too.
Early into my freelancing journey, I was whining to my boyfriend about having not yet landed a book client (ha - if that gives you any idea of my inability to be patient!). Since I’d begun so recently, he asked why I was so worried. I replied that I was nervous about finances since I didn’t have a job.
He stopped me right there.
“See, that’s the problem!” He pointed out. “You do have a job, but you’re not thinking of your freelancing as one. You have to see freelance writing as your job to take it as seriously as you want to.”
That comment knocked the wind out of me. Of course, I immediately felt silly for neglecting to see such an obvious conclusion. But he was right: I hadn’t been taking myself or my freelancing seriously enough to see it as my career. Honestly, I didn’t have the confidence to label little old me as a business owner. I’d been busy fighting the nasty voice in my head that told me I would never be good enough to succeed as a freelancer.
His point forced me to realize that I had to ditch that voice and really go for what I wanted.
I used to cower when I was asked what I do for a living. Now, I smile and say, “I’m a ghostwriter!” with pride.
My mindset shift didn’t only provide me with a confidence boost. It also taught me that I needed to see my work as a business, so I needed to learn how to run a business. I needed to develop the skills necessary to exude confidence, grow daily as a writer, accept losses and wins with equal grace, and define actionable steps to accomplish my goals.
I began by listing out my major goals for the next year. After assessing honestly the current state of my business, I wrote down what I wanted to accomplish by 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months out. I chose goals that were realistic, but still substantial for myself and my business.
Then, I broke those overarching goals down by focusing on the first 3 month chunk. What steps would I need to take in month 1, month 2, and month 3 to reach my big goals for month 3?
Finally, I listed weekly and daily to-dos to make sure I stayed on track and didn’t forget the little things in my business.
I know all that breakdown sounds over-the-top, but it truly works for me. Having a checklist every single week helps me stay on track and feel a sense of accomplishment with each task I complete. When I followed the “action plan” process, I began to significantly exceed my goals because the to-dos I’d deemed essential didn’t take nearly as long as I anticipated, freeing up countless hours of work time each week. I used those extra hours to go further in terms of client outreach, working on my novel/Substack, etc. Because I made realistic, substantial promises to myself, I was able to do more than I ever thought possible.
Now that I’ve told you the “why” and “how” in regards to my freelance action plan, I’m excited to provide you with a comprehensive, easy-to-follow guide to make your own!
Free Gift 🎁
Here’s my FREE gift to you: a downloadable Freelancing Action Plan guide that walks you through the steps of setting and keeping goals for your freelancing business this upcoming year.
This guide is applicable to ALL types of freelancing, including freelance writing, photography, music, art… You name it!
You can download the PDF to fill out on your tablet, phone, or by print-out by clicking the purple “Download” button below. Thanks for supporting The Ghost Post & Happy Holidays! 👻☃️
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As someone who has these big ideas of what I want to accomplish but struggles with executing them, this post was so helpful. I will definitely be creating actionable steps moving forward! Thanks!
Thank you for sharing this post Emma. I really related to your comment about not seeing your freelancing as a 'job'. My thought processes have been exactly the same with both my baking business and writing. Definitely going to follow your action plan to set goals for 2025!