My So-Called Freelance Life - Michelle Goodman [2]
Whether you’re on a fact-finding mission, eager to learn how this newfangled way of boss-free working works, or already freelancing on the side and wondering how soon you can turn in your letter of resignation, this book is for you. Even the seasoned freelancers in the bunch are sure to pick up some tips and tricks here. After all, what freelancer doesn’t love a little dirt on how her self-employed counterparts deal with missed deadlines, clients from hell, and checks that are MIA?
For the record, I’m not an accountant, financial adviser, or legal professional. I’m a journalism major turned freelance writer who makes her living writing articles, books, and corporate marketspeak, with the occasional editing or teaching gig thrown in for variety. While I touch on some of the legal and financial gobbledygook of working for yourself in these pages, my advice isn’t meant to take the place of the advice of a trained financial or legal pro (in fact, my own legal adviser made me type this very sentence). So for tax, financial planning, and legal help, please, hire yourself a good accountant or lawyer who can keep you out of debt and out of jail, okay? Don’t waste your one phone call from the pokey on me.
Instead, learn from my sixteen years of hard-won freelance wisdom and the missteps I made while scrambling to gain a foothold on my so-called freelance life. As far as I’m concerned, you might as well benefit from the biggest lessons I learned and blunders I made and save yourself some time, agita, and bounced checks in the process.
Because diversity is a beautiful thing, I’ve also included the war stories and sage advice from several dozen of my full-time freelance heroines (and a couple of moonlighters), from a pet photographer to a personal trainer, writer to web developer, visual artist to virtual assistant, rocker to radio producer, animator to auctioneer. Many of these freelancers are the main breadwinners in their households, regardless of whether they’re single, shacked up, or somebody’s mom. Many have mortgages and kids to put through college. All of them rely on their freelance income to make ends meet; you won’t find any hobbyists or trust fund babies here.
To round out the discussion, you’ll also hear from a handful of clients, financial pros, and legal eagles. And since no DIY career book would be complete without a little homework, you’ll find a few exercises to do along the way (no deep breathing or “creative visualization” techniques—I promise!). So get out your pencils and Post-it notes, and get ready to dig in.
I realize that you may be afraid. Afraid of not having enough money to pay your bills. Afraid of giving up your health insurance and 401(k). Afraid no one will hire you. Afraid you’ll go nuts working alone. Afraid you’ll work all the time and have no life. Afraid you’ll take the leap and your parachute won’t open.
I was too when I started working solo. But I quickly learned that a little planning (and a whole lot of chutzpah) goes a long way, especially when it comes to chasing your freelance dreams and dealing with the financial realities of life without a steady paycheck.
So allow me to be your tour guide as you strive to get your so-called freelance life on track. Let me tell you what to do with those business card designs you’ve been sketching on the back of a pink “While You Were Out” notepad and how to transform that useless corner alcove into a fully functional home office. Because wanting to