Capturing Chaos

I’ve been reading a lot of articles about freelance writing, and all the ins and outs of developing a freelancing career. I’m not trying to build a career, just add to my base income for a bit more financial security. That means I have a lot more choices than someone whose very existence may depend on their ability to produce lots of content, day after day, week after week, year after year. But whether you’re looking for part-time freelance work or stepping off into a career, most of the advice is based on common assumptions.

For example—a substantial amount of the information revolves around clients—how to get them, what to charge them, your relationships with them, etc. The impression I got, until I started thinking about it, is that without clients, a freelance career isn’t even possible. Which led me to an overlooked area in career-building—how you, personally, function as a writer.

What if you don’t work well with others? Aren’t willing to write to order, and rewrite until the client is satisfied? What if you are terrible at meeting deadlines? What if you have an overwhelming need for variety in your work? An assignment of ten, twenty, or more, articles on the same topic would have you smashing your head against the nearest wall. Researching and writing on topics that bore you to tears drives you into mental paralysis.

A recipe for failure? Give up now and resign yourself to sticking with your current job—if you have a job? No. Working with clients is one way of freelancing. For some people, it’s the easiest and most profitable way. But it isn’t necessarily the right or best way for everyone. There are many paths to a freelance career in writing, and finding the right one depends on knowing your own needs and preferences.

Trackback URI | Comments RSS