Freelance ups & downs

[sarahmichigan]

I was feeling a little nervous the last few weeks about freelance work drying up, but I think it was just the holidays. In addition to my usual freelance sites putting up a few new assignments, in the last couple days, I've managed to land an on-going freelance copy editing job and have been queried about doing some freelance page design/graphic design. The copy editing is definitely a go- it's someone I've done work for in the past, so I know what he wants, and he's going to be paying me well. It should be something on the order of $100+ a month for at least 4-5 months starting in February. The graphic design job is contingent on my sending suitable work samples and the two of us being able to work out a schedule, but I'm hopeful about it.

I think I need to stop worrying about workflow on a weekly basis and really look at incoming work and cashflow in more of a monthly or quarterly fashion. Every time I start to feel a little panicky, something good has come along. It's unfortunate but true that bad economic times tend to be good for freelancers, because it's easier and cheaper to pay people on a temporary contract basis than hire people and pay them benefits...

Comments

[ceannfort.livejournal.com]

We are always looking for copy editors at T&F--the process is slow but it is lucrative. Let me know if you are interested and I'll give you my work email address!

[sarahmichigan.livejournal.com]

I'd be at least interested in knowing more- thanks!

[ceannfort.livejournal.com]

Ok--emailing you now!

[maryrw.livejournal.com]

I relate completely, Sarah. I was really sick a lot this fall and ended up keeping one large project more than twice as long as I should have. Scary. I hope I haven't lost that client for good. And my other regular client I had to turn down a time or two this fall because I was sick and working on the project that would not end.

Now I don't have any freelance work at the moment, which is great because it gives me a chance to focus on writing, but I'm not at a point (yet) where that's bringing any money in. So money-making opportunities are a bit thin...

Since I first built momentum up in the copyediting work, it's been pretty steady, almost miraculously so. Now I'm clearly transitioning to writing more than editing. The precariousness and uncertainty of it can be nerve-wracking in dicey economic times. I'm proceeding with faith and mostly manage to keep the panic at bay.