For many writers, building a career can be tricky; and if you don't get your dream job right after your degree, it can be a little scary.
Queue freelancing! It's a popular choice for anyone trying to make a start or trying to make some extra money, but the idea of freelancing is not as simple as one might think.
The world of freelance writing and journalism can sound like an absolute
dream come true or a complete
nightmare, depending on who you are, what you need and what you are looking for.
That is why media update's Alrika Möller is revealing both the good and the bad of freelancing. Okay, let's start …
Scheduling
Pro:With freelance writing, you don't have
set office hours or a
rigid schedule making things difficult.
So, you are not a morning person?
No problem! You don't have to get up at dawn to sit at your computer. If you want to take an
extended lunch for an appointment, or you have a
holiday planned, you don't need to ask anyone for
permission. After all,
you are your own boss.
You have the
freedom and
flexibility to make your own schedule.
Con:There is such a thing as
too much of a good thing. You might be one of those people who
enjoys structure, or
maybe you need a
set schedule to keep you focussed and stay on track.
If you are that person, you
might not enjoy the freedom of freelancing, and you will have to
create your own schedule. It is possible to add structure to your own life if you
prefer it.
Choice of projects
Pro:When working as a
freelance writer or journalist, you can
choose your topics. You have the option to
say no.
Most writers have a
genre or topic that they love. In freelancing, you can choose the projects you engage with based on how much you
enjoy writing them.
This can make writing
even more fun than it already is because you can
create your niche and build a specialised
portfolio.
Con: There is
no guarantee that you will get projects that you love. So, if you
say no to something that might not be your favourite topic, you might
miss out on projects.
Holding out and waiting for a project that better aligns with your
interests sounds great until you no longer get offers from clients. This is because they know you will say no, or you find yourself without any opportunities
for a time.
Saying no sounds
idealistic if you know what is out there. Take the
time to consider every project that comes your way
before saying no and hoping something better comes along.
Payment
Pro:It is
very exciting to quite literally be able to
name your price. When you are a
freelance writer, you will have clients that
will pay you for your work.
The
advantage here is that you are the one
setting the price according to what you believe your work is worth.
There might be a couple of
factors that influence how much you decide to charge, but whatever those factors are, it is
ultimately your choice.
Con: Freelance writing is a
competitive industry.
If you name your price and the client thinks it might be
too high, they have the option of going to another writer who is asking less, causing you to
miss out on income.
If you don't have
consistent work, you won't receive
consistent payment. Some months you could be
rolling in cash, while others might fall on the
extreme budgeting side of the spectrum.
There is also no way to know whether or not the client will pay you
as soon as you deliver. If you are worried about
possible payment issues, it can help to decide how much you charge by looking at the industry as a whole to ensure that you don't over or undercharge.
You are also well within your rights to set a clear contract with your clients that stipulates
how much and when they will need to pay you for your services.
Resume and portfolio
Pro: While working as a freelance writer, you can write for
many different
clients and publications on a wide range of topics.
This can be a big benefit to your resume and portfolio. A resume that shows
a lot of experience will make you look better to
possible employers. Now imagine what an
extended portfolio can do for you!
You will not only look
capable, but it will also increase the chances of possible employers
reading your work because you are writing for multiple
clients and publications.
Con: If you ever apply for a full-time writing position, you might have trouble with
references as you don't work as part of
a team, and you don't have an
employer that can
vouch for you.
You also don't have a
set salary that prospective employers can use as a
baseline when you apply for a position or negotiate a salary amount.
There are ways to work around it, but it will
ultimately be up to you to set and prove these standards.
It's all you
Pro: Some writers are not the
biggest fans of editors checking their work. It might be because they have a
specific vision in mind and they don't think they will get it, or they are
very protective of their work.
It is possible that your
client might check the piece before publishing, but there is
no one else you need to report to, or that needs to approve what you write.
You also work
completely alone, which means there are
no distractions when you are writing. You make
all the decisions, and you have the final say.
Con: Not all writers make great editors. Writers can sometimes be
biassed towards their own work, or they can be
extra hard on themselves when they are writing.
That is why it is a good thing to have someone
like an editor to check your work and make sure it is
perfect before it gets published.
Maybe you just want someone to
bounce ideas off of or to help you find that word that is right there on the
tip of your tongue.
When working as a freelance writer, you are sadly left to
your own devices to ensure that your piece is
the best it can be.
There are a lot of advantages and disadvantages of a career in freelance journalism. Did we miss any? Let us know in the comments section below.
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