The Steep Climb of a Freelance Writing Life

I’ve adopted a new old hobby. What I had once did begrudgingly, I now do with a little more skip in my step and a little more patience and faith.

Hiking is the new man in my life. And it has just booted out biking temporarily.

Although I’ve been hiking since I was a kid sometimes for 6 hour stretches at a time, I never really adored it like I did the feeling of the wind whipping my hair on a bike ride or the fun of dancing like no one was watching in zumba.

But recently, hiking has grown on me.

The heat. The vigorous, seemingly never-ending climb. The fear that there may be a mountain lion lurking. The confusion that often hits my husband and I when we think we can’t find our way back.

These are the things that I hated in my 20′s. These are the things that I have learned to accept in my30′s.

Why?

Because the path of a hiker is kind of like the path of life. It’s scary, unpredictable, and yet there is a surprising sense of peace once you get there, as though everything is going to be all right.

The more I thought about it, the more I realized that the entire journey is also a freelance writer’s life. That if we could learn how to calm our inner fears and anxieties while walking on a hiking trail, there may be a way to begin a more peaceful path on the road to success as writers.

Tools You Need to Get Through the Climb

1. The right tools. 

When you’re hiking, you need water, a snack (if you’re going for awhile), a jacket (just in case), good shoes and maybe even a walking stick. Knowing what you need ahead of time is important as is in freelance writing. Before you leave that job to take on the freelance world make sure you prepare yourself with enough finances to keep you afloat, networks to support you in case you fall and basic necessities like a laptop and a place to set up shop.

2. Stamina

In order to finish a hike, you need stamina. Same with writing. If you are a quitter, you won’t make it. When you start to get tired, when the trail seems insurmountable, you will give up. But success in writing is like hiking, you need to persevere. Even though that steep climb up ahead seems daunting, the only way you’re going to get to the end of the trail is to keep going.

3. Faith

Which brings me to faith. You don’t need to be religious to be successful. But you need to take a good hard look at how far you’ve come and see that you’ve already climbed many mountains before. To keep on the journey, you need faith to realize that you can keep going.

Quick Tip: If you’re not naturally optimistic, create your own set of tools to pick you up when you’re feeling doubtful about your journey. Keep a book with positive, uplifting quotes by your bed. Call a supportive friend. Listen to inspiring music. Do whatever you can so that you have enough faith to keep going.

When business is slow, when your energy is low, those are the moments when you need to believe in yourself and your skills.

Have a hobby that mimics writing for you? Got tools to help you persevere on your freelance writing journey? Share your thoughts and advice here.