Sounds like we could all tell similar stories. I’m not sure whether that’s a good thing…

A few years ago a friend’s sister’s job as a librarian was in jeopardy due to budget cuts. Because she got an A in our high school creative writing class (where you got an A for showing up and turning in assignments without major grammar or spelling errors) she said, “If I get laid off I’ll just be a freelance writer like Paula.” I laughed. She didn’t even know where to look for clients. Thankfully her job was spared.

Yes, I’ve heard that too. Aside from what you mentioned, I couldn’t in good faith recommend someone to a client I value (or a potential client I might want to work with) without having any idea whether the person will be reliable or even has basic writing skills.

Oh, and the most common statement I hear from aspiring freelancers (the actual freelancers would never say this) — “I’ll take any overflow work you have.”

Overflow work? Never understood what that even means. If they mean “extra” work, there’s almost never any of that. I either stop taking work when I have no more time for new work or I push the deadlines out so I can fit it all in.

It’s another way of saying “I’ll just sit here and wait for you to funnel work my way.”

Yes, I know. Or their eyes light up when they hear you work from home. “I’d LOVE to do that!!” Never mind that they have no interest in or experience with writing in any form. My husband and a few other people know I work hard. After this length of time that’s good enough for me.

Oh Krista, you’ve hit on a huge peeve! And I know it’s because most people don’t understand the time and effort involved in getting to where we are, but still. I think the word “free” causes some people to associate our work with the term “free and easy.”

Nothing easy about it!

Good point, Paula. You never know what someone else is doing that may work for you!

When I replied to Shawn’s comments in your previous post, I noted that most of us who’ve been at this a long time are constantly trying new ways of landing good clients so we can keep moving forward. So this post is for all freelancers, not just the new or frustrated ones.

And I hope Shawn comes back. He/she really seemed frustrated, and this ought to at least give a direction for that pent-up energy.