This is what came up when I Googled 'freelance'.
Life takes some interestingly ironic turns sometimes. A couple of years back, I was a freelance copywriter ‘full-time’. I use the quotes because at the time I was the greenest of green; very often writing for a pittance, and having to work as a delivery driver to subsidise my meagre freelance income.
Here’s a tip: never work for any less than you think you’re worth ($1.50 per 500 words is laughable, even for a noob copywriter).
Now, roughly three years later, I find myself being offered more and more freelance opportunities. However, I do work as a full-time copywriter 40 hours a week, so I’m having to turn a few of them down. There are some that I have taken, though. I work on those contracts evenings and weekends. The point is, why is it that the freelancing world starts to seem lucrative just as soon as I position myself on the fringes of it? Sod’s law perhaps. Still, I’m taking full advantage of being able to effectively choose my own rates – because freelancing is now more of a hobby, I can cherry pick a little. And it gives me a nice little financial boost – useful in times such as these.
I often find myself thinking ‘hey, I should just quit my job and go freelance again’. It’s a nice dream; but I also know that the moment I do that, the freelance market will dry up. Either that or I’d just stay in bed all day and get fat. It’s just the way things go. On second thought, I think I like it this way. It’s like if you loved doing puzzles, but got paid for it. In fact, that’s probably the only way you’d get me to do a puzzle – yawn. Unless it was one of those awesome 3D Star Wars ones.
I digress.
If you find yourself wanting to do something a little different, maybe make a little money on the side, I’d recommend you find your passion and exploit it. The internet is a cess pool of people with too much money and ridiculous tastes. Find them.
The bottom line is simply this: do what you love.
Even if you have to work 40 hours a week at something that’s just ok, always find time to do what you love.
