I became a freelancer

December 7th, 2009

But things are not improving and I need more work
Over the past few years I have become a full-time writer. I didn’t actively make the switch from insurance clerk, it just happened. I got carried along on a wave of writing assignments and then suddenly I was a full-time writer, unable to think about doing anything else. Big mistake as it turned out.

Some experiences
I have had some good and some grim writing experiences. You have to be lucky in a field like freelancing. If you are working via the internet you never meet face to face with your client so you cannot see who you are dealing with. Is he or she an angel or a monster?

Getting started
This was the easy part. Someone offered me a writing job – it was a mixture of semi-technical and translation. I took it and enjoyed doing it. The money was very good so I enjoyed it even more. When it was done I printed myself some business cards and a flyer advertising myself. I said I could write anything – another big mistake.

A monster
A voice on the phone asked if I could write IQ and OQ protocols. These are the protocols that are submitted to the FDA to accompany a request for a license to manufacture drugs. “Sure,” I said. It was a nightmare. This writing commands big fees and I was excited by the prospect of the money and by the fact that a job early in my writing career was so large and serious. The work went on… and on… and on.

An angel
One day I saw a one-line ad in the newspaper. “Writers wanted” and an email address. I answered and was asked to write a short article on a subject. I did it, sent it back and it triggered an 8 year, and still ongoing, relationship with a client who I have never seen or even spoken to.

Now is a good time; freelancing thrives in a recession
The reasons for this are obvious:

• Companies lay off staff but work still has to get done.
• Freelancers save companies on employee overheads such as office space, healthcare, etc.
• Laid off workers start businesses and many of these businesses succeed and in turn hire freelancers.

Be professional.
The fact that you are a one-man show and that you don’t have a boss to report to, does not relieve you of certain behavior.

• It’s okay if you work at home in a pair of boxers but remember to behave professionally with your clients.
• Respond immediately to inquiries for new work.
• Submit your work by the promised or agreed date.
• Be timely with invoices. Use a web-based invoicing tool that looks good.
• Use up-to-date software.
• Back up your work in case there’s a problem at the other end.
• Be meticulous with your records and reporting to the tax department.
• Be the best freelancer in the business!

This entry was posted on Monday, December 7th, 2009 at 10:04 am and is filed under Employment. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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