The day I quit my day job to become a full-time freelancer, I was convinced I had it made.

After all, minus the cute clothes, sassy friends, and spacious apartment, I was planning a plus-sized Carrie Bradshaw life on the isle of Manhattan, burdened only by my laptop, my brilliant ideas and an occasional deadline.

Looking back at that starry-eyed newbie, I have just two words for my naive self: Grow up!

Granted, it can be hard when you’re just starting out to know how to navigate the unwritten rules of freelancing. As a new writer, you are bound to make mistakes. That’s okay.

Read more about the four ways to tell if your career needs to grow up at The Write Life here