I am updating and re-posting this piece from a couple of years ago, since a new friend just mentioned how "fun" it must be to work for myself. The reason I'm re-posting this is I'm too busy to think, much less write, much less write a blog post--lots of manuscripts stacked up on my desk and I'm happy happy happy to be so busy--hasta!
When I tell people that I'm a freelance editor, people always say "How cool--that must be fun!" and of course, it is--but there are good and not-so-good points about working for yourself...
Most all authors are freelancers, even if they have a "day job" because they are not usually getting paid to write (not as they write, that is--hopefully, they do get paid, but usually months or even years later).
Here are just a few of the Pros and Cons of Freelancing:
Pro: You make your own schedule (plenty of time to read).
Con: You can easily feel guilty if you are not working (never enough time to read for FUN).
Pro: You're your own boss (no one to tell you what to do).
Con: You have to motivate yourself--and on some (sunny) days that is really difficult to do.
Pro: You set your own rates and can ask for what you feel your skills are truly worth.
Con: You don't get a weekly paycheck. (Sometimes more than a few weeks go by!)
Pro: You can work from home (in your pajamas, even; I don't because I feel better when I am "dressed for work")
Con: Your home is your office and your job never really stops.
Pro: Your job is your life and it's fun!
Feel free to add to the list--I'd love to hear from you.
hasta pronto!
If your income is not steady, such as in real estate sales, you need a spouse with a steady income. That's true of fulltime free-lance editing and writing, too.
ReplyDeleteJames Ashley Shea
Freelance writing sounds more glam than it actually is-esp now that print mags have evaporated and everyone with blogs wants content for free. That said, it's a terrific way to build your writing platform. Ah, the yin & yang of our writing life...:)
ReplyDeleteIn fact, working as a freelancer is not such a simple thing. My good friend works as a proficient writers and he spend a lot of time for writing an essay at different topics, but the good thing is that it helps him to earn not bad money.
ReplyDeleteA lot of good news in this post.
ReplyDelete