Okay, I’m getting a BIG ol’ box and setting the issues of inconsistent revenue, lack of benefits, etc. inside the box, taping it shut, and putting it aside for a minute (did I mention it’s a really BIG BOX?), all to acknowledge that there are times when I love being a freelancer.
Emphasis on freelance.
Today I’m working from my kitchen table. All my snacks and coffee are here. Seattle is certifiably in bloom. The days are warming up. I’ve got the window open, and all kinds of bird sounds are flooding my apartment.
A little later today, I have a meeting with a new client, and I’ll start work on a new Pride-themed article for another publication.
Maybe I just come alive in the warmer months, and maybe there are little snatches of time where I love being freelance.
I work with clients, but I don’t have a boss.
I get to negotiate my contracts (as anyone in any kind of employment can and should do).
I can take a walk in the middle of the day.
I set my hours and working days.
I pursue work that aligns with my values.
At worst, freelancing is hustling to snatch up low-paying gigs to survive. When I started full-time self-employed freelance in 2019, it was rough.
Thankfully, I had cheap rent and a partner who was (and still is) self-employed as well. Honestly, I don’t think a traditionally employed partner would have understood the hustle or been half as supportive. She encouraged me to keep going even when I was about to throw in the towel. It was really down to trips to the food bank and “do I buy toothpaste or toilet paper, or pay this bill?” type of questions — for a long time.
Things are different these days. Taking the path of entrepreneurship forced me to grapple with the business side of writing and editing, and I’ve become a lot more savvy because of it.
“The sooner you see yourself as a business, the better,” was a piece of advice I relayed in a panel discussion “The Freelance Survival Guide” at the Society of Professional Journalists last year.
It’s advice I still stand by and I think is good for everyone, whether freelance or traditionally employed.
These days I’m flexing that entrepreneurial brain muscle. Whether I continue to be full-time self-employed freelance, or if my path leads me to a part- or full-time position, I know it’s ultimately up to my brand and network.
Of course, by the time I’m done writing this, I’m sure I’ll have an emotional tailspin of opposing feelings about it, wondering where I’ll be able to drum up the extra funds I’ll need to sustain me through the summer. But for today I feel happy — and Vitamin D-saturated — in this moment, so I’ll take it!
A little about me: I’m a freelance writer, editor, and journalist who writes and edits for news outlets, nonprofits, and businesses. Some topics I cover include: arts, food, coffee, community events, and LGBTQIA+ issues. I write articles, branded content, PR releases, and social media content, and I’m currently accepting new clients!
Send me a message at the Contact Me page to connect.
Thanks for reading!
