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.
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.
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.
Christina Frangou on freelancing
Nice read. And thanks Paul for the variety of writing. (Tiny typo: "ask me for to nearly"?)
Excellent piece with lots of good advice.
Love this stuff. Makes me want to write again!
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.
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.
Great advice. Thank you.
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.