Comments on: Things I’ve Learned from a Freelance Writing Career

By: Lori Widmer

Lori Widmer — Fri, 07 Mar 2014 14:04:34 +0000

That makes no sense to me either, Meryl. I remember talking with a client years ago. I'd waited for him to call for a month. At that point, you figure they're not coming back, right?

Wrong. He showed up on a Friday afternoon via conference call with his team and told me all he needed. Then he said "Let's talk on Monday."

I said, "Sorry, I'm not in the office next week."

His response: "Didn't you just have a vacation?"

Did I say that? Hmm. It's true that it was a vacation, and that I had taken time off two months prior, but where is that A) his business, and B) up for discussion?

This was the guy who sent emails out at midnight. No thanks. Don't demand that same kind of stupidity from me, buster.

I don't blame that actress for leaving, either. That's insane.

By: Meryl K. Evans

Meryl K. Evans — Fri, 07 Mar 2014 13:49:41 +0000

Also don't get why more companies don't encourage work/life balance. Working long hours is not a badge of honor. I admit I used to do that early in my career -- but it made no difference. No one was impressed. We're more efficient when we're rested.

I was looking up to find out why an actress left a show. Apparently, the crew worked 100 hours, seven days a week. Don't blame her.

By: Lori Widmer

Lori Widmer — Fri, 07 Mar 2014 13:11:53 +0000

ROFLMAO! I never even noticed. 🙂

By: Gabriella f

Gabriella f — Fri, 07 Mar 2014 02:22:25 +0000

Did I really misspell combust????

By: Lori Widmer

Lori Widmer — Thu, 06 Mar 2014 20:37:44 +0000

Gabriella, maybe you've unlocked the key to that spontaneous combustion theory…. 😉

By: Gabriella F

Gabriella F — Thu, 06 Mar 2014 20:20:08 +0000

Oh, good for you, Lori! Yes, it's all about what's best for you; others can't tell you what would work for you.

I'd have been turned off immediately by the hours burden and the weekend work. I feel like I've earned the right to set my own schedule, and if I had to go back to working on other people's schedule--and, gasp, in an office!--I might spontaneously cumbust.

Congrats on trusting your gut. You won't regret it.

By: Lori Widmer

Lori Widmer — Thu, 06 Mar 2014 15:45:02 +0000

Jenn, exactly. I'm too much in love with a balanced existence. It wouldn't work too well.

Well said, Cathy. That voice is the one that should matter most, yet it's the last one we consider sometimes.

Oh gawd, Meryl. The word "pantsuits" made me shiver, too! Ack! Give me jeans and t-shirts any day!

Right, Yo. I'd love to know why we as a species ignore intuition as much as we do. But I think once we open the door to trusting our guts (big or otherwise :-)), decisions are easier to make.

By: Yolander Prinzel

Yolander Prinzel — Thu, 06 Mar 2014 15:41:18 +0000

Great post, Lori. The point about the gut is a HUGE one (hahahaha). Recently, I turned a blind eye my gut. I told myself that I was being a baby about something and ignored my fabulous paunch. As you can imagine, I'm paying for that now--big time. Someday I'll stop doing that, I'm sure of it. Right?

By: Meryl K. Evans

Meryl K. Evans — Thu, 06 Mar 2014 14:10:46 +0000

Agree with Lori, Cathy and Jen! Reminds me of the Pajama Diaries comic from Feb. Main character reflects on the fact it's been a decade since she went freelance. Her biggest fear isn't getting gired, losing an account or losing money ...

It's going back to an office. Alarms, commutes and pantsuits *shiver* :)

By: Cathy Miller

Cathy Miller — Thu, 06 Mar 2014 13:58:43 +0000

I may have shared this before. My Aha moment came at an industry event where I helped assemble a panel of speakers discussing freelancing.

One panelist owned a writing business. He talked about how he reserved a year's salary when he made the leap from corporate to freelancing. He stated, "I figured, worst case scenario, if the freelancing did not work out, I could always go back to corporate."

My heart lurched. I knew I could not do that. This is not to say corporate life is bad for everyone. I earned a great living in corporate for over 30 years. It simply was no longer the right life for me.

You nailed it, Lori, when you talk about figuring out what is best for you. And that is going to change throughout your life.

It is difficult to shut out the noise of every other person's opinion to hear the only voice that really matters. Your own.

Congratulations for listening to that important voice.