IN TODAY’S ISSUE:
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Every successful freelancer does this
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Want what they have? You’re not alone
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Resources for freelancers + authors
FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK
Hey writer friends,
A reminder, if you need it, that every successful freelancer you know has:
– Been rejected
– Been directionless
– Been ignored
– Been confused
– Been anxious
– Been discouraged
– Been close to giving up
There will be plenty of days when no one responds to what you write.
There will be plenty of days when you don’t get a single response.
There will be plenty of days when you feel like there is no point to any of it.
You will always have the opportunity to tell yourself stories.
To decide that you’re a failure.
To complain they had it easier.
To quit because it’s just not working for you.
You have to repeatedly decide to keep going.
To love the work more than you hate the discomfort.
To hit send even when no one responds.
You have to get relentless and unapologetic about getting to where you want to go, even when no one cares, no one gets it, no one responds, and no one buys.
You have to keep showing up.
Because it’s the only way they will.
Enjoy the issue!
Natasha Khullar Relph
Editor, The Wordling
WHEN YOU’RE ENVIOUS OF THEIR SUCCESS
I’m still in holiday mode, so here’s something I wrote a couple of years ago that remains relevant today:
My kid came home from school a little mopey the other day. On digging, I found there had been a science competition that he’d really wanted to win, but he didn’t place. It wasn’t just that he failed to achieve what he wanted, but that he was feeling envious of those who had.
Hmmm.
I didn’t know what to say to him, of course, because this isn’t something I would have any experience with at all.
No, siree, I do not obsessively read Publishers Marketplace, piece together information about other people’s book deals, obsess over what age they were when they sold their first novel, how big their print run was, or whether or not they have children (because we all know it’s harder to write when you have children. Or cats.)
I don’t do any of these things. Because that would be neurotic behavior, and we all know I’m not capable of acting like that.
And so if, like me, you do not do any of these things, then here’s what I have to say to you that might help you remain that way:
1. You cannot–CANNOT, you hear me?–stack your losses up against other people’s wins.
If you’re going to compare, compare your wins to their wins, your losses to their losses. But you cannot make a list of your failures and their accomplishments and call it a fair match.
My kid is basically a maths whiz, but because it’s so easy for him, he doesn’t even register the wins in that area. What comes so easily to you that you fail to give yourself credit for?
2. If you didn’t give it your best shot, give it your best shot next time. If you gave it your best shot, then that’s all you can do, and there is no point worrying about whether it’s enough or not.
Sometimes, no matter how hard you try, it won’t be enough for other people. Just make sure it’s enough for you. And if you gave it your best, it’s enough.
You are enough. You, my friend, are more than enough.
3. You might be sitting here envying them for their science wins and book deals; they might be sitting there envying you for your maths scores and newspaper bylines. Isn’t it all so pointless? Just another way of us collectively feeling shit about ourselves and one another?
Let’s not do that anymore.
4. There is no finite amount of success in the world. If they can have it, so can you. Today was their day. Maybe tomorrow will be yours.
5. Don’t measure yourself and your worth by your achievements. Because they will never be enough.
Love the work you do. Do it to the best of your ability.
If you learn to let that be enough, you will remain excited and happy about trying again. If not, you will become bitter.
And it’s no fun to live life being bitter.
When you’re ready, here’s how I can help you:
• 220+ Publications That Pay $1 a Word: Interested in writing for high-paying publications? Here’s our exclusive list of markets that pay between $1 and $3 a word.
• US and UK Literary Agents: Our literary agents database is a list of 1,500+ US and UK literary agents with links to their recent sales.
• The Playbook for Multipassionate Creators: Look around and you’ll notice that some of the most successful writers today have multiple streams of income. They’re writing books, publishing columns in newspapers, launching Substacks, and teaching workshops. This is how they’re doing it.
The writing life wouldn’t be half as fun (or even bearable) without writing friends. Share The Wordling with a writing friend who you can count on to “get it.”