Comments on Freelancers Have THe Right Idea

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I have been a full-time freelance writer for 12 years and I can tell you, it's not all roses and champagne...there are many downsides to it as well...but it can be good if you really work hard! However, I would say that it is a GIANT LEAP from blogging to freelancing for *real* money...

posted by Julia. on July 8, 2005 at 9:04 PM | link to this | reply

tigerprincess
Good luck with the next jump, tigerprincess.

posted by johnmacnab on July 8, 2005 at 7:18 PM | link to this | reply

Right On-L E Gant!
I am with that rave!  On my part-time job, I am underpaid but it still affords me time (on good days) to write and edit my work.  Writing has been my passion for years...I am fortunate enough to have more time to work on it.  Someone told me that Grandma Moses did not start painting until age 80.  I have her by least 30 years; here's hopin'!

posted by ItsRaine on July 7, 2005 at 5:25 PM | link to this | reply

t-p: The best way of describing being a freelancer is that freelancers are gainfully underemployed when they are not unemployed. Instead of one boss, you finish up with many, mostly people who feel that they can do what you do better than you can, if only they had the time. Your clients are never fully satisfied with what you produce (no matter what nice things they say or write about you), because it should have been done cheaper, faster, sooner. They don't value your time; they can't see that you might need to spend a day thinking through what you will actually produce, and resent paying for any research you might need to do - you are not supposed to learn on "their" time.

In other words, it's a bigger pain in the _____ than working for someone else, where you get paid whether you produce or not.

But then, I'd not have it any other way! 

posted by L.E.Gant on July 7, 2005 at 1:43 PM | link to this | reply

Honestly
I'm at a point where the only thing I may miss is the stability

posted by tigerprincess on July 7, 2005 at 12:56 PM | link to this | reply

lol

Yeah...

It can be great at times, except sometimes a salary would be nice because you know you can depend on a certain amount of money every week or month.  But, I like the idea of sitting here in a t-shirt and shorts being able to do it on my time.  And, there's no daycare for my kids.  Instead, they sit at my feet while I work away...

posted by RachelAnna on July 7, 2005 at 9:53 AM | link to this | reply

NCWriter
You've convinced me. I think my next move, in the event I should have to, is going to be that of a freelance writer.

posted by tigerprincess on July 7, 2005 at 7:09 AM | link to this | reply

Yes,
we do have the life! I set my own hours, true, but I do have to work like hell sometimes to keep pain in the butt clients happy. It is a great lifestyle, but keep in mind, you still have a boss...a client. (But yes, I'm barefoot, and in shorts and a tank top sipping coffee in front of my computer)
;-)

posted by NCwriter on July 7, 2005 at 6:27 AM | link to this | reply