As people age, their career goals, financial needs and other life factors are often in a state of flux, changing as their circumstances evolve. As an older adult, you may be considering making the leap to freelancing, and people in your demographic often have a lot to bring to the table.
Take advantage of your life experience
As an older individual, you have a lot of life experience that will shine through in your work. Throughout your life, you have gone through love and loss, maybe raising children and having them leave the nest. This can make your writing more engaging, connecting to the reader on an emotional level.
Patience can pay off
You will have learned, through practical application, that patience really matters. You stick with difficult tasks and have developed techniques to make them more manageable, such as breaking them down into smaller steps. You don’t give up when the going gets tough, and this is a very valuable skill, especially when it comes to taking on larger, more lucrative projects.
Soft skills can be very valuable
As someone with many years of experience in the working world, you may have picked up a lot of soft skills without even realizing it. Now is the time to take full advantage of them. These include skills such as time management, communication and problem-solving. You are also adaptable and have an extensive knowledge base to draw on.
Experience matters
If there is a subject area in which you have significant education and real-world experience, you may be able to secure a new career for yourself writing for a niche market. This may be a chance for you to share your interest and knowledge and get paid for doing so.
Cash in on your creativity
Another soft skill that you may draw upon is your creativity. You will have seen and done a lot in your life, and this may help you create articles and other content that quickly engages readers and holds their attention.
Whether you choose to write for a niche audience or a broader audience, you will have learned ways to craft informed, well-written pieces, how to find reliable sources and also how to manage your work-life balance.
How to get started
Writing online may seem daunting, so it can be a good idea to begin with the reliable basics: a pen and paper. Choose a subject you are interested in, assign yourself a topic and begin. For example, if you have an interest in gardening, you could assign yourself the task of writing about the benefits of seed saving.
Be kind to yourself
You may still be wondering how to start freelance writing at any age. Just as with any career, you’re going to need to get your feet wet and you can expect to make some mistakes along the way. View those as learning opportunities, not personal failures. Pick yourself up, dust yourself off and keep going. Set a routine to write for a specific amount of time each day, and don’t give up.
Perfect your portfolio
An online portfolio of work that you feel represents your skill set can be a valuable tool for attracting new clients. You can use platforms such as Google Docs or a simple website for this purpose, updating them as you create new pieces.
Find your community
When you are first getting started, it can be helpful to find others who are in the same boat. There are many groups on social media that may be helpful.
As you progress in your new field, you may want to consider joining provincial writing federations or the Canadian Freelance Guild. Each organization has its own policies, fees and benefits.
When it comes to freelance writing, age presents no barriers, and can actually be to your advantage. Submit your application to join the team at Words of Worth today.