Comments on: The State of Freelance Mind

By: Lori

Lori — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 17:37:35 +0000

Ooo, that sounds fantastic, Stacey! I love the ones that allow you to combine passions. I'm the same way about some of the corporate stuff – great clients, but not exactly rip-roaring fun. 🙂

By: StaceyW

StaceyW — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 15:42:22 +0000

My degrees and career experience are in two areas: journalism and interior design, so my favorite assignments are ones that allow me to combine them. I'm covering design trends for a general interest pub and the business of design, architecture and the arts for a business pub. I love working for both!

I also have a great assignment going with a corporate client ... it's my best gig from a money perspective, which puts it high on the priority list (a writer's gotta pay the bills and all). But I'll be honest - it's not where my heart is.

By: Lori

Lori — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 12:21:37 +0000

Gabriella, that's what I'm talking about! Great to hear you're experiencing what a lot of freelancers are - a wide-open market full of opportunity. :)

Paula, my guess is that woman was looking for something of value from that crappy seminar! Your brains would have been picked over like mad, I bet. :)

Thanks, Kathy! I'm excited about it.

Stacey, I think you're right. I've not heard of freelancers having a beat, either. Definitely a sign of the times! When I worked on newspapers in the 90s, the beats were off limits to anyone but staffers. Sounds like you've found some great sources of work! What's your favorite?

By: StaceyW

StaceyW — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 02:54:31 +0000

I've been small-scale freelancing for years, but recently I switched to freelancing as a full-time job - meaning I got my start with the economy down in the dumps. You mentioned in your post that layoffs have led to greater need for freelancers, and I've found that to be true. In my market, there've been a lot of newspaper layoffs in recent years, but our local papers still need writers to fill the pages. They're using freelancers like never before - and I'm busy as heck trying to keep up with them. In fact, I even have beats at two different newspapers. A freelance writer with a beat? I could be mistaken, but I think that's a fairly recent phenomenon.

I've also found the same thing happening with other clients. I recently took on a university client, and I'm in the midst of a four-month in-office assignment for a corporate client.

I know this is a feast-or-famine business, so I feel like I need to knock on wood after talking about how busy I am, but I really AM that busy.

By: Irreverent Freelancer

Irreverent Freelancer — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 22:58:56 +0000

I forgot to add congratulations to you and Devon on your teleseminar!

By: Paula

Paula — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 22:41:33 +0000

I don't even remember who that speaker was, Lori. I went to the workshop with folders filled with clips to give to any viable editors I saw and brought all my folders back home. (Granted, I was in a great deal of pain from my first major back injury a week earlier, so I left at noon.)

The second session wasn't much better. I recall the speaker was from Alaska or had written about it. I was looking forward to learning something new and quickly realized she didn't have much more experience than I did. Sure, she'd sold a lot of articles, but they were all to the same place, a niche publication.

My first warning sign should have been when the woman sitting next to me asked what I did for a living, and after I said I was a writer, she said, "But what do you really do?" I showed her one of my clip folders. She promptly asked if I wanted to have lunch with her friends and herself. Luckily I'd already planned to leave early.

By: Gabriella F.

Gabriella F. — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 21:28:31 +0000

Funny, the recession has been beddy, beddy good to me.

Yeah, a few of my clients lost budgets or actually closed up shop. But I've kept plugging away and been able to find replacement clients. Yep, there were times I was a little slow and wondered if our freelance business model was in jeopardy, and I still wonder how it will continue to shift. But down times have turned into crunches--every time.

The result is that 2009 was better than 2008, and 2010 was my best year ever.

You peeps are right. You make your own career. If you're talented, professional, and work hard enough, you'll be fine in whatever economy.

By: Lori

Lori — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 18:48:50 +0000

LOL! That could be. 🙂

By: Cathy

Cathy — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 17:53:04 +0000

Lori, I think you are confusing that with Don't let the door hit you in the rear. :-D

By: Lori

Lori — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 17:26:43 +0000

Ashley, just frame that and sell it - "if you want it bad enough, you'll make it work." You're right - the excuses are crutches. It's the modern form of writer's block. :)

Paula, that woman had no business spreading that negativity around. How many people were present, starting out, and thinking they should just give up? YOU should have been speaking!

Cathy, I agree. Yet don't some of them read it this way: "When the Lord closes the door, He then closes the window as I'm halfway through it"? :)