I’m kind of pulling a Chuck Wendig here, admittedly. Last week I wrote a post about how much I love being a freelance writer and why it’s so awesome. But I don’t want to blindly encourage all you budding writers to take the plunge into freelancing. Because, as it turns out, you’re probably not cut out for it.
No, really. Hell, I’m probably not cut out for it, either. We should just stick to writing fiction while toiling away in regular jobs, because freelance writing is a bog of eternal stench in comparison. Don’t believe me? Fine. Here are five reasons you shouldn’t dive into a freelance writing career.
1. Because you aren’t dedicated enough.
How often do you submit your work to journals or contests? Are you getting accepted to many of them? Because freelance writing is like that, except more intense: You send your work to magazines, newspapers, businesses, and a whole bunch of other people and, here’s the catch, if they don’t like it, you might not get to eat that week.
Seriously. You can’t not write. You can’t put yourself at the mercy of your “muse.” As freelancer, you have to write pretty much daily, no matter what kind of mood you’re in. On top of that, you have to query editors and cold call businesses. What? Surprised clients don’t come to you? Get used to it–you actually have to convince them that they want you to write for them. A freelance writer’s job isn’t writing, it’s selling.
2. Because you can’t handle all the responsibility.
I hope you like working, because as a freelance writer you’ll be doing a lot of it. Because “freelance writer” is a misleading title. The job description includes: writer, editor, blogger, agent, publicist, debt collector, and bookkeeper. And if you work from home (as many do) then you can add housekeeper to that list. Being the stay-at-home worker you are, you’re expected do tidy up during your work day.
Worse, no one is on your ass to get all your work done. You have to be responsible for your own lazy ass. Being your own boss means no one looks over your shoulder or reminds you to keep working. Self-motivated? You’d better be.
3. Because money is important to you.
If anyone relies on you, freelancing is probably not the answer. That’s not to say you can’t be a freelancer with dependents, but usually the job exists before the dependents in that case.
As a freelance writer, you’ll look back fondly on Fridays as both the end of the work week and payday. Even if you have regular clients and a decent weekly workload, pay is somewhat sporadic. Depending on a particular client’s terms, you might not get paid for months for a piece. Or a client might decide not to pay you for your hard work and you have to chase down your paycheck.
Even when you set the pay due date, you still have to wait for the money to arrive.
4. Because you’ve never worked so much in your life.
My longest work week before freelancing was 60 hours. Now? That’s kind of an average week. I’m a do-it-myself kind of guy, mostly because I can’t afford to outsource the more time-consuming jobs right now. That means I’m working pretty much all the time. I work when I’m not even working, thanks to a probably overactive brain.
The thing is, work you love to do is still work. It’s not all dancing and listening to great music for me. I take every Saturday off if only to not go completely insane. And even on Saturdays, I do work. Mostly it’s smaller stuff–I typically refrain from writing on my days off–like accounting and brainstorming.
5. Because you can’t take the unpredictability.
The last time I was out job hunting it struck me that looking for a job is a lot like a full-time job that doesn’t pay. Freelance writing is like that: You spend a lot of time looking for a job, then hope you make enough to support yourself. (And start it all over again the next day, whether or not you get a job.)
The biggest part of the job description is prospecting for clients and applying for gigs. In fact, that’s kind of a prerequisite for the whole job. No clients means no pay. Like I said earlier, freelance writing isn’t about writing, it’s about selling. Selling yourself and your skills as a writer. Much like applying for a regular job… Over and over and over again.
I don’t care how much you love to put words on paper or on screen. You probably won’t love it so much when your life basically depends on it.
-Austin
You might also like:
- Freelance Friday: You Need a Writer’s Contract
- Freelance Friday: Business or Pleasure?
- Be Jealous: Freelance Writing is the Shit
- Freelance Friday: You Must Fight a Bear
Great words of wisdom. I know it’s nowhere near on the same level, but my commitment to blogging every day this year has help to divest me of some of the romanticism of writing. Anyone who wants to write should be willing to commit to it in the same way they commit to their job.
And I can’t even begin to imagine what freelancing must be like from a monetary standpoint. Kudos to you sir. I think I’ll stay at Wal-Mart for the time being.
The commitment part of writing was the first big shocker for me; it happened when I first started blogging, too. I don’t think it takes too long to get used to, though, and once you’re there it just gets easier.
As far as money is concerned: When you’re first starting off the income is slow and small. I’m lucky enough to live with some people who are helping me financially as I build my career. But if I were on my own? I’d be at Wal-Mart, too.
Well I am lucky enough not to be at wall-mart..just as lucky to make a buck or two at freelancing….but oh! my..I agree with every word. Did I say lucky..wait did I mention I am lucky? Ok! so it helps a little that my husband works, ok! so he may be considered by most to be the “provider”, but I do my part..oh! ok so I am on workers comp and that helps too..but I am still lucky to be making a buck or two at what I love to do…and again Austin, your creative way of stating the facts are dead on!!!!
Pingback: Freelance Friday: Business or Pleasure? | Write–Err, Blog
Pingback: Freelance Friday: What’s It Like? | Austin Wulf