Would you hire a person with hypernasal speech for freelance writing job vacancy in your company? Lately, I've been insecure about my career in writing because I have a cleft palate.

I’m answering this as a fellow freelance writer, not a potential client, but I want to encourage you!

To give you a little background, I’m disabled due to a chronic respiratory condition, which results in symptoms like a frequent cough and sinus issues so intense that they often change the tone of my voice. There are times I feel insecure when meeting with clients, even when I’m healthy and not dealing with these issues! But in my personal experience, this has not been a barrier to building a successful freelance writing career.

Plus, it’s worth noting that you don’t actually need calls to be a successful freelance writer. Sure, there are some clients or companies who request a call before proceeding with a contract, but I’ve also gotten a lot of contracts without ever attending a meeting or hearing a client’s voice. (Plus all my magazine articles have been commissioned via email.)

All of this to say that your feeling is absolutely valid, but try not to let it control your career. If you’re feeling insecure, do your best to avoid calls when possible. When not possible, consider being open with clients about it, or just push onward and see what happens. Hopefully, with time, it will get easier and easier to put yourself in those situations.