Like this:

My Beautiful Baby Boy

All parents say that having a child is the best thing that’s ever happened to them. And, I happen to agree. But I still feel guilty.

Every parent wants to be able to provide their child with all they had and more. And yet, I feel guilty because I didn’t do enough to prepare for this. Sure, I read the books, read the blogs, tried copying the pros. But it just wasn’t enough. I still don’t feel like I have the confidence to convince a client that I could write some copy for them. I’ve read how to market myself as a writer, but how to make that career switch, when currently I’m only seen as a web designer? I feel like clients will say, “Well what practice do you have?” and I won’t be able to meet their expectations.

I am sure I’m not alone. Probably lots of new parents want a stay-at-home job so they can take care of their little ones. I know I’m searching high and wide. And I don’t need to make 100K right off the bat, just matching my little salary will do. But I’m afraid. Afraid of looking like a fool because I just don’t know how to get results.

My website promises that if I don’t get results I’ll tweak the customer’s copy until I do. But even then, I’m afraid I won’t be able to and I’ll end up disappointing my clients.

As the New Year turned, I resolved to make this the year I’d go out and start finding clients. But I’m terrified I won’t be able to help them and I’ll just crash and burn. The biggest question I fear: “But HOW will you get results?” And I don’t know the answer.

2012 is the year I resolved to FOCUS (follow one course until successful). So you can imagine how excited I was to read about the Damn Fine Words writing course in the Men with Pens newsletter. But I was quickly disappointed. There was no way I could afford the price tag, even though I was sure it could make me more than that (& it certainly is worth more than that!). I kept looking for another course like it, only in my price range. I looked at some more books and daydreamed about the opportunity I had to pass up.

Instead of building up my own writing business I turned to looking for freelance design jobs, something to keep me home with my new child. I kept hearing my parents voices in my head, saying that writing will never be a lucrative enough career for me to have and still be able to raise a family.

The pressures new parents face are overwhelming at times. Add to that the stress of looking for a new job, while working full-time with a looming no-more-telecommuting-deadline and you have a mother who is having a difficult time to say the least. Writing, I feel is my only way out. My way to control the amount of money I make and to have a stable home environment for my child.

The Damn Fine Words writing course is THE opportunity I’ve been waiting for. Just Module 1 Section 03 – How to Create External-Internal Balance would be invaluable to me, building my confidence in my writing skills would help motivate me to get to the next level.

And Module 2 Section 05 – How to Discover Your Ideal Reader is what everyone always talks about, but doesn’t ever offer specific suggestions on how to actually find out.

Being able to take the Damn Fine Words writing course will help me banish my guilt to say the least. It’ll help me grow in ways that I’m excited to be growing in. It’ll help me finally say, “Yes I can be a successful writer.” And it’ll help me provide the best for my child: a mother who can work from home and be around to provide all the love and support I have to give.

Advertisement