And the last lesson I will impart to you is this . . .
Read Advice Like This, Then Feel Free to Ignore It
Yes, that's a stronger wording than I originally indicated yesterday. But I'm thinking of something another writer I know wrote about manifestos. She said to beware all manifestos--including her own.
Wise words. And there's a lot of advice floating out there about freelancing—how to market yourself, how to brand your business, how to work with editors, how to pitch publications, blah-blah.
All well and good and it's always a good idea to seek out good advice when you need some help. But at the end of the day, when push comes to shove and when the rubber hits the road (have I exhausted all possible clichés?), there is no guaranteed, paint-by-numbers approach to succeeding as a freelance writer—or in any other business for that matter.
Don't take advice as gospel. Advice should be considered in light of your own inclinations, temperament and goals, before you adopt it. You are the captain of your own ship, in that regard. And, if someone else's advice doesn't jive or resonate with you, then you should feel free to follow your own counsel. I'm not saying your decision will lead to a better result (see Part 2 on mistakes). I am saying that what other people do may not be right for you. And there's only one sure way to find out if you're right.
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