The Freelance Author’s Information for the Holidays: 5 Wholesome Ideas

This time of year can be both an exciting and frustrating time for freelance writers, which is why this freelance writer guide for the holidays will help you stay healthy!

While many enjoy partying with family and friends, this time of year can be difficult to keep income flowing.

Follow these tips to start planning for a successful holiday season.

The travel guide for freelance writers for the holidays

1. Check your finances

Vacation can get expensive.

If you buy gifts, traveling to visit family or planning a feast for 30 you are likely to have some extra expenses this time of year.

With the shorter days and colder temperatures, you are also likely to have higher daily expenses. Expenses like electricity and heating bills usually go up at this time of year, so plan your finances accordingly.

When calculating your expenses, don’t forget things like Secret Santas, exchanging white elephants, ingredients for gingerbread, eggnog, Christmas donations, decorations, Holiday parties and meeting friends. All the small expenses add up.

2. Plan your workload

Once you have an idea of ​​your year-end spending, you can decide whether it makes sense to do extra work.

Think about whether you need to send out additional pitches or ask your regular customers if they have additional work available.

It’s also a good time to be yours Annual review and ask your regular customers for a raise in the new year.

3. Check your calendar

Take a few minutes to look at your calendar through the second week of January or so. See your deadlines, see when you are traveling, and make note of holiday parties and other events.

Decide whether you want to take a break during the holidays. Think about which days you want to withdraw and whether or not you plan to travel. Then you can plan your work schedule around these dates.

4. Work ahead and expect delays

When you need to reach out to someone for your stories, start right away. During the holidays you will find that many topics are even more difficult to achieve than usual.

Try and conduct your interviews as early as possible so that you can contact us again if you have any follow-up questions.

Also, be aware that many editors will be absent or difficult to contact during the holidays. Now, take a little more time to go through your assignment and come back with any questions or concerns.

It’s also a good idea to work on assignments ahead of time so that you can get back to early on with any questions that arise along the way.

5. Have a communication plan

When you’re out of touch for a long time, set up an auto reply and voicemail message to let people know when you’ll be back in the office. It’s okay to take a vacation, but it’s also important to share your availability.

It probably makes sense bring important files with you and have a plan to address any last minute changes or changes when you travel. As well as planning ahead and doing your best to get your stories out early, it’s not uncommon for something to show up that requires last minute attention.

If you’re just taking a long weekend, say Thursday through Sunday off, you may not need an intense “away plan”. But if you plan to take two weeks off, you will likely want to make a plan.

Some people like to leave an automatic reply with alternate contact information, such as: B. a telephone number for “emergencies”. Others prefer to check-in via email once or twice a day, but it can be difficult to really disconnect with constant check-in. Each writer must decide what is best for their particular situation and plan accordingly.

An unexpected benefit of the vacation guide for freelance writers

While there will likely be a lot of delays during the vacation, this can also be an opportunity for freelancers.

While many editors go on vacation, others use this slow time to get on with their work. Some editors may be particularly open to pitches during this time as they may receive fewer requests.

It’s also a good time to be an editor’s point of contact for a last-minute story when their regular author base is not available. If you are available, it can be helpful to reach out to your regular editors and let them know that you are available.

Using this freelance writer’s guide for the holidays can help turn an often slow season into a successful one. They can also help you plan a much-needed break to spend some quality time with family and friends.

It’s your turn: How do you prepare for the holidays as a freelancer?