So You Want To Be A Freelancer?

Posted in Writing.

Back in June 2011, I shared some big news – I’d quit my job and had decided to go freelance. Seven months later, my freelance business is going well, and I often get asked about my work and, well, how it works.

Today I posted about a copywriter job on Twitter, which led to a few discussions about getting into freelancing and the best way to do it. After seven months I don’t think I’m an expert on the subject. But when I first started out I found it really helpful to hear others’ perspectives and experiences, so thought I’d share my own.

So You Want To Be A Freelancer?

littlebirdfashion
My home office

The question I’m asked most is ‘how did you do it?’. And my answer is really simple – I quit my job. Taking that first step was the hardest, scariest, most irresponsible thing I’ve ever done in my career – I wasn’t forced into it through redundancy, it wasn’t a necessary move, and I left a full time, well paid role behind. But all that turned out to be an excellent driving force – I had to make it work, or live with the knowledge I gave up a secure job to bum about watching CSI: NY reruns all day (which does still happen, sometimes).

With that drive behind me, I pulled in every contact I could think of. After working in a range of advertising agencies I had a fair few entries in my little black book and I’d remained on good terms with them all. That’s another thing about freelancing – you can’t burn bridges, ever. In an industry like marketing, everyone knows everyone and word will soon spread. When it comes to social networks, I have a strict ‘don’t talk about work’ rule – unless it’s something positive, I just don’t say it. And maintaining those strong relationships meant work was soon coming in.

For the first few months, I had no idea what I was doing. I swung between sitting rigidly at my desk from 9-5.30pm to taking three hour lunch breaks and coming home laden with bags to working ’til 1am, hunched over my laptop. Managing my own time has been the most difficult part of freelancing – there’s no one to tell you work starts at 9am, no one to stop you spending all day on Twitter, and no one to tell you to go home when you’re still working at 10pm. I’m slowly adjusting now though – I’ve realised I can go swimming in the morning and start work afterwards, or take a day off in the week to see a friend. The beauty of freelance is in creating your own schedule and not having to adhere to a traditional working week.

I love my work and enjoy being my own boss (no one can tell me a leather skirt isn’t ‘appropriate office attire’), but freelancing is hard. I’ve seen it described as ‘feast or famine’ – some months I’m up to my eyeballs in Word documents, and others I’m twiddling my thumbs (well, not quite). Saving for and paying your own tax is hideous. Working from home is lonely (although Twitter helps, and I’d thoroughly recommend a cat). After five years of working in close-knit creative teams, I miss having people to sense-check my ideas. But it’s all a learning process, and every day it gets a little bit easier.

The other thing people often say to me is ‘I really want to do it, but I’m too scared’. Most days I operate in a state of managed terror – I check my accounts constantly, calculating and recalculating my figures to make sure I’m earning enough. Every conversation is an opportunity for work, and I take the chameleon approach – not every offer is the perfect match for my skills, a well-known brand or a big payer but if I can help, I will.

Going freelance hasn’t been simple. I still hate Excel and I miss wearing shoes every day (slippers are a freelancer’s best friends). It was a bold decision, but one I don’t regret and one I hope will continue to work out for me. For anyone thinking about taking the leap, I’d recommend hunting down fellow freelancers on Twitter, reading everything you can (especially this fab post by The Dexterous Diva) and making sure you really understand the tax stuff. Those HMRC guys mean srs bidniz.

Have you ever considered going freelance? Are you a freelancer yourself? Share your thoughts, tips, advice or concerns in the comments.

PS – If you’d like to chat about freelancing, writing, tax returns (don’t expect much on that one) or anything really, you can email me or find me on Twitter.

33 Comments

City Girls Fashion Box

Great post! It is a pretty brave thing to do! My dad is a freelance graphic designer, and like you said he can be busy like crazy to doing zilch. But i’m pleased that its worked out for you 🙂 xxx

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Cherry

I have been thinking about going Freelance for a little while now. After Graduating in 2010, I’ve done lots of experience and placements but am not having much luck on the job front, so I thought why not bring the work to me through Freelancing. There are a lot of questions I have to ask and have found that a simple cry for help on Twitter has helped me gain some great advice and seeing your post today has helped further. Would you recommend going straight into Freelancing having not had a steady job in the industry like you did?

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Jen

Hi Cherry,

Good question. I guess it really depends on your personality and how self-motivated you are. Working in the industry first is a great way to learn your craft, understand how agencies work and gain contacts… but you can do all that yourself, if you’re proactive. I think the contacts are the most important part so if you’ve built up a good network through work experience etc then I don’t see why not! It’s always worth a try if you’re struggling elsewhere, anyway.

Good luck! 🙂

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eyelinr

Hi Jen,

I have desk envy!

I worked at home for almost four years (although for someone else rather than self employed – i’m not clever enough for the tax stuff!) and I found myself nodding at almost everything you’ve said here; a cat and twitter are definitely a working from home girls best friend!

Hope your freelancing continues to grow from strength to strength.
x

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Char!

I think it’s awesome that you are your own boss! I’d love to own my own business one day but I’ll probably get too carried away with taking time off whenever I want, haha X

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Charis

Great post! I’d love to work for myself one day… I’m going to really push myself this year & maybe this time next year it might be a viable option for me.

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The Style Box

I’d love to go freelance. So many people are doing it now, I really do think that’s the way the world will work in a few years time. My husband is a freelance food writer and he has his ups and downs but I don’t think he’d change it for the world. Luckily, my job covers all the bills if it needs to so we don’t have nail biting months where we wonder if the electric will be cut off – it just means we have to be able to adapt if we have less money some months. But it makes him so happy and that’s what it’s all about.
Glad to hear it’s going well for you 🙂
x

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Style Eyes Ethical Fashion Blog

Great post! I have been freelancing for about 3 years now and agree with everything you have said. I went freelance after starting off blogging and writing in the evenings, eventually it got too much and I resigned from my job so that I could devote all my time to it. I struggle to switch off from work and most night work until 10pm plus weekends. But on the plus side, as a mum, I can fit my work around the children (most of the time). Definitely the best bit, I can wear what I like. I sometimes find it a bit lonely as I am not near London and is difficult to take time out to travel to the social/ networking events.

Wishing you a fantastic freelancing 2012!

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Sofia

Thanks for the post Jen! I’ve been freelancing since September last year and yes, the taxes bit is a pain.. However, there is nothing like controlling your own time and income. There are a couple of books that I found very helpful at the very beginning, Eat that frog by Brian Tracy and Do the work by Steven Pressfield. I think the biggest challenge ( at least for me) has been learning what activities add most value and which ones are just busy work. Thanks again Jen. Cool stuff!

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Katrina

wow that is amazing. great post, i am starting to understand the life of freelancing…im an artist and im tempting to go freelance, as i am currently working full time and getting paid well. i have saved up and everything.

still in the dilemma though!

xo katrina

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JCT

Glad to hear it’s going well, especially in these super-tough times. You sound v sussed. I’m on my second spell of freelancing (4.5yrs and counting) and blog about the whole homeworking lifestyle here http://jctblog.wordpress.com/ It’s called ‘How to be Unemployed the White Collar Way’.
Basically slippers, tea (+ biscuits), Twitter, lack of heating and unpaid invoices feature heavily.
Wish my desk was as tidy as yours.

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Kimberlee Van Der Wall

Great post! I was a freelancer myself after being laid off. At first I had no idea where to begin or how to approach new clients. No one told me! I made it up as I went along but it was a great experience. Now I’m working at Amazon which is quite corporate but still creative 🙂

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LilyLipstick

Great post, I can’t believe it’s already been seven months since you went freelance! Glad to hear its going well, I’m super envious of you for working from home but I think the lack of routine and interaction with others would be hard to get used to. Although not having to walk to work in this weather would definitely make up for it! x

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tor (fabfrocks)

So glad you wrote this post. I’ve been toying with going freelance for more than 12 months: it’s just (like you say) hard to give up a well paid job! Hopefully by the end of 2012 I’ll take the plunge!

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Lizzy Lips

I’ve dabbled in the art of freelancing but I’ve never got to the point of quitting my job.

I was getting pretty fed up in my old job before Christmas and was really thinking seriously about freelancing full time even signing up a few clients but then I was fortunate enough to land myself and pretty sweet as job so I’ve not dived in the the self employed world just yet.

For me it’s a risky business, I have debt so running the risk of not earning enough one month could be pretty dyer. However I think if you’re properly prepared and stable finacially then it can offer exciting prospects and great earning potential… if you’re self motivated.

So glad to hear your doing well Jen.

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Lizzy Lips

I’ve dabbled in the art of freelancing but I’ve never got to the point of quitting my job.

I was getting pretty fed up in my old job before Christmas and was really thinking seriously about freelancing full time even signing up a few clients but then I was fortunate enough to land myself and pretty sweet as job so I’ve not dived in the the self employed world just yet.

For me it’s a risky business, I have debt so running the risk of not earning enough one month could be pretty dyer. However I think if you’re properly prepared and stable finacially then it can offer exciting prospects and great earning potential… if you’re self motivated.

So glad to hear your doing well Jen.

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Laura loop

What a great post- I love your blog. Slight guilty feeling that my lunch break is approaching its third hour today…

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Amy@everytimeatillrings.blogspot.com

I’d like to go freelance but it is the paperwork and tax stuff that puts me off. Maybe I should take the plunge!

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Ginger Pickle

Really helpful post! I have my own online boutique business opening soon but have just been offered an interview for a really great company as a trainee recruitment consultant i.e a ‘proper job’. It’s really tough because part of me wants to do my online boutique full time so I can really go for it, like you did. But another part of me doesn’t want to turn this opportunity down if I was fortunate enough to land this well paid job.

I’m really confused :-/

Jade

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by Alice

great post jen
you must be really good at what you do to be able to go off on your own at such a young age
well done and keep up the good work
i would love to go freelance someday, but a the minute i don’t see it ever suiting my current career path.

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KatGotTheCream

Great advice Jen. I’ve done freelancing two ways. The first was as a single person living in London which was, I won’t lie, seriously scary, struggling to pay big city rents without a partner to offer any buffer on the lean months.

Now I find it more enjoyable as it fits around my childcare and I’m not the only one bringing a wage into the house.

That’s not to say all you single ladies couldn’t make it work but i would advise you to start by supplementing a regular income with freelancing first or having at least 3 months’ worth of salary saved to tide you over the initial start up period.

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Ms Wanda

I’ve been freelancing for about 9 months. Yes the loneliness can be tough. I probably over share on twitter. About 6 months ago I stepped up to having two cats (one can not be relied upon to be there in times of need). But basically I wouldn’t change it for the world.

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SabinePsynopsis

That was such an enlightening and great post (and I loved reading the comments, too). I always knew you’d make it, Jen, but it shows very well that if you go for freelancing you really have to go for it. No one to hide behind (which I guess is part of the fun).

xoxo

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Tobeapoet

Interesting post… I’m thinking that after my contract is up at my current job I’ll freelance alongside waitressing or bar work to supplement myself. Hopefully that’ll be OK as I could earn well enough to not need a “real” job that’s full time (waitressing is so dull). Thanks for your useful words! If ever you need a marketing partner give me a bell! @tobeapoet http://tobeapoetblog.blogspot.com/ xo

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Amy

Okay, so I stumbled upon this post a little late (though this just proves you are as good at SEO as you say you are 😉 ). Thank you for your honesty here. As a soon to be graduate experiencing huge difficulty getting a foot on the ladder I have to admit that I am considering freelance work. The thing that terrifies me though is wondering if I am actually good enough, which is a hurdle I definitely need to get over to better promote myself. I wonder if it is better to get some experience of the working world before going freelance though, to make it more justified? I would assume that it would be even more difficult attracting work without a CV brimming with internships/ previously published work. It’s a tricky question, one you’ve got me pondering a bit more seriously after this! Thanks for sharing.
amycard.blogspot.com

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MooMar

Thanks for this. I’ve only just stumbled across it but freelancing is all I’ve been able to think about lately. Feeling motivated, so thank you

Melissa…xox

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Chichi

Great post! I always wanted to freelance and I took the plunge at the beginning of this year. I definitely prefer it over a traditional 9-5 job. Now all I need to do is to earn enough money to live off of.

Chichi
chichiwrites.com

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