8 Comments

Nice read. And thanks Paul for the variety of writing. (Tiny typo: "ask me for to nearly"?)

Expand full comment

Excellent piece with lots of good advice.

Expand full comment

Love this stuff. Makes me want to write again!

Expand full comment

All good stuff. Recommendation 3 is especially important. While running your business, you have to make it very clear to yourself and your friends and family that you are putting in (at least) a full-day's work every day. That means they can't take offence if you don't answer every text and phone call right away and aren't available for long coffee sessions (unless there's some benefit to your work.) You also need to take time for yourself. My wife mentioned that when I was a full-time freelancer, I never took real holidays. I was always poking around. I suppose that gets hard-wired into you. But you do need a break to recharge, and you need friends from the real world who you spend time with simply because you enjoy their company. Take extra time to maintain those out-of-work friendships while at the same time setting boundaries.

Expand full comment

This is absolutely perfect. It also addresses a crucial point that was rarely discussed in J Schools or elsewhere when I started freelancing 40 years ago: that you should expect to be paid properly and on time, and to seek out editors who help make that happen. Thank you, Paul, and Christina Frangou.

Expand full comment

Yes. Most freelancers have a list of publications that are slow to pay, and have to be nagged so much that you end up spending a fair chunk of your valuable time -- and it is valuable, since it's your stock in trade -- chasing down editors who "forgot" to put invoices through. This is valuable information that should be shared among freelancers. It's been almost ten years since I was a full-time freelancer, but anyone who wants my (probably-outdated) advice can contact me.

Expand full comment

Great advice. Thank you.

Expand full comment

This is wonderful of course. However, touching on how much is realistic to expect annually at the outset, mid career and celebrated writer is important information that would add a lot. I still recall peerless science freelancer Michael Smith sharing that at a Science Writers conference. #DinnerwithJulie likewise shared at a Food Bloggers conference a decade back. Both helped me clarify goals and financial expectations.

Expand full comment