There’s a lot of help out there for writers, especially beginners who don’t know how to get started. There are also promises for writers who are dying to make six figures in 30 days or less. But if you fall somewhere in the middle, you’re part of an ignored group.

The beginners high has worn off.

You’re past the thrill of getting started. Now, you stare at your laptop screen every morning and wonder, “Is this all there is?”

Let me guess:

• You lose sleep at night because you haven’t paid your electric bill and don’t remember the shut-off date.
• You want to scream at the clients who are taking advantage of you, but you can’t because you need their money.
• You have anxiety buzzing in your chest because you know there must be another way, but you have no idea how to find it.

And also…

• You’re sick to death of the topics you write about most often. Your clients are happy, but you definitely are not.
• You’ve managed to make a living as a writer, but if it’s going to be this boring, difficult or heartbreaking, you’d rather work in retail, even though working in retail is also a living nightmare.
• You’ve given yourself an ultimatum: make this happen this year or go back to 9-to-5 work.

I’ve been you.

I’ve negotiated with my electric company. Figured out how to stock my fridge with $10 to my name. Bitten my tongue when a client deserved un-nice words.

Then I dropped topics I grew tired of and picked up niches I was excited about. Let go of clients who weren’t a good fit and welcomed newer, lovelier ones. Discovered how to love my life and my job without sacrificing either.

And I gave myself that ultimatum, then met it, exceeded it and set new goals within 3 months.

I’ve faced other career mountains, too. I’ve found ways over them or around them or through them. Sometimes I’ve turned on my heel after saying, “Oh, you’re not my mountain.”

Here’s what I believe you can do:

• Find work when you need it most. 
• Break into writing niches you don’t have (much) experience in yet. Get rid of the topics you hate writing about and write about the things you love (or at least like).
• Dump clients who are bad for any number of reasons. Easily spot those red flags in the future. Stop wasting time on dead ends.
• Forecast what clients are going to want before they even know they want it.
• Create your own best practices and guidelines that build a job you love instead of one you dread.

Does that sound good?

Email me at lindsaypietro@gmail.com. All you have to do is tell me what’s going on, and we’ll figure out a way forward.