With Cyclone Alfred fast approaching, some of the planning and preparation feels eerily familiar.
As I write this, my hometown of Brisbane is bracing for the imminent arrival of Cyclone Alfred.
(For readers not based in Australia, Alfred is the strongest tropical cyclone to threaten this region for more than half a century.)
I spent Wednesday morning gathering up outdoor furniture, potted plants, gardening equipment and other loose items from the backyard and bringing them inside, or tying them down.
I even picked all the Tahitian limes from our tree, so they didn’t turn into little green projectiles.
I spent the afternoon charging power banks, filling the freezer with ice, and stocking up on essentials like bottled water, tinned and packaged food, petrol, and cash (for when electronic payment systems go down).
Getting ready for game time
All these boring but necessary tasks reminded me of the planning and preparation that’s also crucial in freelance writing.
Without it, we risk being caught off guard when it’s ‘game time’.
Taking regular time out to think about where you’re going and what you’re doing can help cushion you from the inevitable knocks.
It also ensures you’re well-positioned to capitalise on market conditions rather than drifting without direction.
Here are 7 strategies which can help you lay the groundwork to stay ahead of the curve – cyclone or no cyclone.
Strengthen your foundations
More than 400,000 sandbags had been distributed in Brisbane by Thursday morning of this week.
But just as you wouldn’t wait until the cyclone hits before putting these in place, neither should you wait until a dream client calls before refining your craft.
It’s easy to get so caught up in daily deadlines and pressures that you fail to nurture your own professional growth.
Try to always be improving your skills and knowledge of the industry.
There’s grunt work involved in this.
Reading industry news and learning or practising new skills aren’t glamorous tasks and they don’t provide immediate financial rewards.
Without them, though, you risk being unprepared when it comes to the crunch.
How to do it:
- Invest in writing courses, workshops, or other learning opportunities to stay sharp.
- Read widely in your niche and beyond.
- Learn new skills, such as photography, SEO, or content strategy.
- Carve out dedicated time each week for skill development. Pop it in your schedule like you’d do any client project.
Gather your supplies
Something else I did earlier in the week was prepare a getaway bag with spare clothes, medication, and scans of important documents saved to a USB.
While it’s unlikely we’ll need to evacuate, no-one really knows how bad this thing will be.
I didn’t want to be scrambling should that knock at the door arrive.
In much the same way, when a client wants to see writing samples, it’s too late to be trying to ‘get your shit together’ on the fly.
Your portfolio is your virtual storefront.
Ensure it is polished, engaging, and accessible at all times.
Read more on how to make your freelance writing portfolio stand out.
How to do it:
- Include a diverse range of stories that showcase your expertise
- Regularly update your website with the latest samples of your work
- Choose quality over quantity
- Structure your portfolio in a way that makes most sense to you (whether chronological, by subject, or by client)
Establish a strong online presence
As I continue drafting this post, the notifications from Brisbane City Council and the Bureau of Meteorology drop in with increasing frequency.
“PREPARE YOUR PROPERTY NOW and secure loose items, this includes bins and items on balconies,” one of the latest missives reads.
But just as you wouldn’t trust emergency weather updates from an outdated source (or one of the many conspiracy theorists who claim Cyclone Alfred is nothing but a hoax) you can’t expect clients to hire you if you’re invisible online.
For freelance writers, establishing a strong online presence enhances visibility, credibility, and career opportunities.
How to do it:
- Build a professional website with clear service offerings.
- Optimise your LinkedIn profile with relevant keywords.
- Build a strong social media presence on your preferred platforms.
- Publish a blog to share insights, attract traffic, and demonstrate expertise.
Develop a proactive networking strategy
Just as with the Brisbane floods of 2011, there’s been an inelegant scramble at the shopping centre for survival items like spare batteries, torches and toilet paper.
At the checkout, goodwill has sometimes been in short supply.
But when a cyclone is approaching, people can’t rely only on their own resources.
Speaking to the media, Queensland Premier David Crisafulli said the crisis has prompted many people to reach across the back fence for the first time.
“(I’ve seen) neighbours helping neighbours and strangers helping strangers and that’s really important at the moment,” he said.
Freelance writers also thrive when they cultivate mutually supportive relationships with others.
Networking isn’t just about meeting people, having a few drinks, and shooting the breeze.
It’s about staying top of mind so that when an opportunity arises, your name pops up.
How to do it:
- Attend industry conferences, webinars, and meetups.
- Follow and engage with editors, publishers, and fellow writers.
- Offer value by sharing your knowledge in networking groups.
- Drop past clients a line to keep the doors open for future work.
Diversify your income sources
Sandbags can reduce the impact of flooding on your home, but you wouldn’t rely on this as a single source of protection in the lead-up to a cyclone.
Authorities also recommend you tie down loose items, cut down overhanging tree branches, clear gutters and downpipes, and remove any debris.
Freelance writers, too, can buffer themselves from the vagaries of a tough market by diversifying their income streams beyond a single client, service, or industry.
Developing additional income streams by offering multiple services – or even working in an unrelated field – can reduce the time you have available for your passion projects.
Yet I’ve found that the constant worry of not knowing when the hell you’re getting paid (which is, sadly, a fact of freelance life) is not conducive to a calm or creative frame of mind.
Alleviating this anxiety by engaging in other work helps me relax enough to do my best writing.
How to do it:
- Find (or keep) a part-time job or business
- Offer multiple services (e.g., blog writing, ghost writing, editing, and consulting).
- Write for multiple clients so if a publication folds, or an editor leaves, you’re not left in the lurch.
- Monetise your expertise through courses, e-books, or speaking engagements.
Stay up to date with market trends
The advance warning we’ve had about Alfred is down to the meteorologists who track storms, and the weather presenters who communicate the details.
In the absence of this information, I wouldn’t have a clue about what’s happening off the coast, because all we’ve seen in the neighbourhood thus far are a few squalls and some isolated showers.
For freelance writers, keeping an eye on industry trends allows you to anticipate changes in the industry and position yourself accordingly.
For instance, AI-generated content is changing the industry.
Writers must adapt by offering things AI struggles with – such as humour, hands-on expertise, storytelling, and critical thinking.
(Read this for more on developments in AI and how to win the writing war against the robots.)
Writers who can anticipate shifts can change tack quickly and seize opportunities before others even realise they exist.
How to do it:
- Keep up to date with media industry news (e.g., ASTW, Nieman Lab)
- Join professional associations and online writer communities where insights are shared.
- Track emerging content formats and platforms – and even experiment with those you’re unfamiliar with.
- Read outside your area of expertise for fresh perspectives.
Maintain a flexible approach
Cyclone Alfred was originally predicted to make landfall on Thursday night, or in the early hours of Friday morning.
But when Brisbane residents woke to blue skies and barely a breath of wind yesterday, it turned out that Alfred had oscillated and doubled back, before resuming his trajectory towards the east coast.
This meant that while we’ve planned for at least three days of water and power outages, our resources (and the agonising wait) must now stretch over an additional day.
It just goes to show that the most advanced modelling, and the best laid plans, can still be derailed by forces beyond our control.
The freelance writing market is just as volatile, with trends, algorithms, audiences, and editorial preferences constantly changing.
For example, journalists who used to rely on print publications now generally write for digital media, optimise content for SEO, record podcasts, or produce social and multimedia material.
And while ‘niching down’ can be good advice – sometimes – beware the risk of getting stuck.
Stay open to new topics and consider how your existing niche (e.g., travel) intersects with others (e.g., food). This simple exercise can open up new worlds.
How to do it:
- Embrace new tools such as AI chatbots, approaching them as assistants, rather than threats.
- Experiment with different writing formats and styles
- Follow the thread of your curiosity rather than rigidly sticking to one or two ‘comfortable’ topics.
- Be open to last minute assignments or famils and other adventures like remote work.
(EDIT: So you made it to the end? So did I. At least, I think. After falling asleep to howling winds, Cyclone Alfred weakened to a tropical low overnight. We’re without power, and it’s still raining off and on, but overall, we’re in pretty good shape. Thoughts to those who weren’t so fortunate.)
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