I Lied to Get Clients as a Freelance Writer
How I got my first client
One morning about three years ago, I was hungover, on the verge of being broke and had the munchies. In my previous article:
I wrote how I managed to survive quitting my 9–5 job and become a full time freelancer, but that’s approximately three years into the future.
I was a young, twenty-something year old kid with expensive vices who was running on fumes just to get through one night. I was in an awful state and knew I had to get it together. I was a real-estate agent who wasn’t doing anything to get sales. I was living off on the small amount of allowance the company gave and wasn’t receiving any commission; in short, I was a horrible employee.
I knew it though. It’s something I really struggle with — doing something I give no crap about, but what I also knew was that I’m good at something, which was coming up with ways just enough to get through the next month’s bills.
Another thing people say I’m good at are words — reading, writing, selling, persuading. I knew another thing, which was I don’t want to be a corporate slave my whole life, that’s when I decided that I’m going to start freelancing.
The whole idea was foreign to me, but the perks in my head seemed nice, even way too glorified. I had no idea where to start but with the help of our good old friends Google and YouTube, I was well on my way within 2 sleepless days. At least, well enough to know the basics.
I watched countless of videos on YouTube on where to start but one channel really helped me: Creative Revolt. I’m not affiliated to her in any way, I just remember her being relatable and easy to understand.
Another one that helped me with starting out as a freelancer is this listicle of good job boards for freelancers.
Getting my first client
There were many job ads looking for writers and editors but I remember not one of them was looking for a noob, borderline-alcoholic, chain smoking kid with no experience aside from essay writing in college.
Almost all of them required experience and a portfolio, both of which I had nothing to show; so here’s what I did:
Clicking the ‘Apply’ button any way
To my surprise, most ads on the job boards didn’t ask for an actual portfolio on the first process; they were asking me to do a writing test to which I complied. I’m pretty sure I did 3–4 writing tests that night, all of which were nicotine induced.
Talking to the client
On the form, they asked the typical information: full name, e-mail address, ‘why do you think you’re fit for this job’ shenanigans. The next day I got two e-mails, both of which liked my writing but were asking for a portfolio, which made me lit another cigarette.
One worldly idea came to mind: compile all the writing tests I did and show them as my portfolio.
Voila! It worked!
Another question from them arose: what’s your writing experience?
Here’s what my religious grandma wouldn’t approve of:
Lying about my experience
I would save you the long story of the well constructed lies I told to land my first client (I landed both, one just was easier to talk to).
One was looking for basics skills in Photoshop, which, if you could act even a little bit surprised would be great, I had zero knowledge in, but typed in ‘yes’, and gave my friend’s photo edit to show (with her knowledge, of course).
The other client asked if I know about the APA reference style, to which I answered, ‘of course, I used that for my college thesis and with other clients as well’.
Both were complete and utter lies.
But lying isn’t the end, I had to actually do the work with absolute garbage knowledge, which brings me to the last but most important point:
Working hard
You have seen these words together many many times before, as have I; but there’s a reason why. Nothing beats it. It’s a huge part in the complex formula we’re all trying to solve.
All the things I lied about having experiences in, guess what? I actually had to learn them, and learn them quick. I ate, slept and dragged friends in front of my laptop to teach me how to use Photoshop; I even messaged my previous professor in research studies and asked for help with the reference style.
No matter what your sustainable goal is in life, hard work can’t be one of your missing links. You can throw out the sleepless nights, I’m sure there’s someone out there who’s successful with a work-life balance. You can throw out buttering up clients, people still get jobs without the grease; but not hard work. There’s no substitute for it.
This article is not aimed to promote lying, although it’s a part of it. What I’m actually trying to get across is just start — a plain and simple word.
Stop making excuses like these:
‘I don’t have enough experience.’
‘I don’t have a portfolio.’
‘I’m scared to be rejected.’
The writers you’re always excited about when there’s a newly published article or story under their names? They all started with no experience, no portfolio, and I can bet you, they had insecurities about starting their journeys.
Planning your journey is okay, overthinking it is not.
Start, even if you’re afraid to get lost. That’s the only way to grow, that’s the only way to learn — start.
Check out my other works:
