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Freelance Writers & Gamblers: How the Two are Too Often Alike

On my last vacation (long overdue) to Las Vegas, I noticed that there were a lot of similarities between the gamblers in the casino and many freelance writers I knew. Many frustrated gamblers would spend their money, time, and effort hammering away at the newest machines, trying out the newest strategy or the newest hot game.

They do this hoping to hit the jackpot and become rich. When they don’t, they leave frustrated and work to earn just enough money to come back and try again.

Many beginning freelance writers have similar misguided ideas about writing for a living, and the same can even be said about creative writers, as well. If I just sell that one book I can quit my day job . . . or if I take that one big trip “National Geographic” won’t be able to say no to my travel articles . . . I just need that one lucky break.

Sound familiar? Most of us have been there at one time or another, but what beginning writers need to realize is that writing is hard. The thing is, it’s never about the jackpot or the lucky break.

The way you get rich in Las Vegas is to notice that the cocktail waitress is making $50 or more an hour in tips. The hard work, training, and persistence is what makes her far more likely to become rich than the people gambling. The same is true making a living as a writer.

Yeah, once in a while a writer gets lucky and hits it big early, but far more often the way to make a living as a writer is through hard work, dedication, and taking the time to pay your dues, learn the ropes, and to be too stubborn to quit.

That’s the key to becoming a successful writer. Hard work, persistence, constant learning, and a lot of writing: not a “lucky” break. Freelance writers who write and are persistent are the ones who learn all the nuances needed to succeed as a freelance writer.

In the writing world “lucky breaks” almost always happen to the writers who have learned how the job works, and know how to put themselves in a position to succeed.

But don’t expect an immediate and lucky big break. If you put everything you have into a big break, you’re going to be disappointed. Get your name out there, find work and do a great job, get paid, build a sterling reputation, and repeat. Do this enough times and the pay raises and high paying jobs that seem like manna from heaven will come.

If you’re a first time freelance writer learning the ropes, don’t be a frustrated gambler at the slot machines. Be smart, work hard, and persist. When your reputation grows as a top notch freelance writer the jobs, money, and payment per hour avalanches in your favor.

It’s really amazing when it happens for the first time, and you’ll know you’re making it when you’re turning down work left and right that you would have killed for in your first month or two as a writer.

So keep writing, and forget good luck, persevere!

And if you would like to learn more about how gamblers and writers are alike, feel free to visit my webpage that help beginning freelance writers.

Thanks for reading.

Shane “Master” Dayton

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