Do Freelance Writers Really have Freedom?
I was asked an interesting question yesterday: do freelance writers really have as much freedom as it appears on the surface? This was interesting to me because most people simply believe that freelance writers have tons of freedom, and never really think about whether or not this is the truth.
In my opinion, freedom and freelance writing go together hand in hand. If it were not for the freedom of this career it would not be nearly as enjoyable. I think most freelancers agree that freedom is a big benefit, and many of them may say that it is at the top of their list.
Here are three ways freelance writers can experience freedom:
1. You do not have a direct boss. Sure, you have to answer to clients because they are paying you, but you are not an employee but instead a contractor. This means that you can more or less terminate a relationship with a client at any point for any reason. It is nice to know that you don’t have direct report, and don’t have to worry about a boss breathing down your neck.
2. Freedom as a freelance writer means working your own hours. This morning my workday started at 5 am. This is not normal, but I decided to bump my day up a couple hours to get an early start. Of course, this means that I could quit early for the day but I will probably stick around to work on a few projects of my own. The point is that you can start and stop when you want, and work as many hours as you please. If that isn’t freedom I don’t know what is.
3. You have the freedom to work with clients you enjoy. As a freelance writer you and you alone are in charge of your business. I only like to work with clients that treat me right and are easy to get along with. This is not always possible, but it is what I strive for. As you know, when you work an office job you are told what to do and who to speak with.
This is how I answered the inquiring party yesterday, and I am positive that 99 percent of you will agree that freelance writers have tons of freedom within their career.
October 8th, 2008 at 9:31 am
So true! Speaking from a position of someone who still has a corporate office job and is starting freelance writing on the side, I have to say I can’t wait until I can make the jump full-time. One of the worst parts of my office job is not being able to work more than a set number of hours per day, some of which I have nothing to do. This means I can never make more than that set salary, which pretty much drives me insane, especially when I have ‘empty’ hours where I feel like I could be more productive if I had control over my own time. Secondly, I’m doing something I really don’t have any passion for. And lastly, I have a boss that is far too domineering for my tastes. Sure, I have the ‘freedom’ of a guaranteed deposit into my bank every two weeks, and I know exactly what that amount will be. But is that really freedom? Not in my opinion.
October 8th, 2008 at 10:07 am
Janine - Thanks for the comment. I think a lot of people in your position feel the same way. When you finally take the leap you will definitely “feel the freedom” that it brings to your life.
October 8th, 2008 at 5:05 pm
No, I actually find that it leads to less freedom. Your work and home life aren’t separate- you can’t just leave the office and go home. You *could* take off an afternoon if you wanted to, you *could* set any hours you want, but in reality you have to work a certain number of hours a day to make a living and you can’t just take off because there are always deadlines to be met. Sorry to burst anyone’s bubble.
October 8th, 2008 at 6:24 pm
LShep - On some points I agree, but others I have not found to be true. You are right that it can be difficult to separate work and home. But with a dedicated office space I have found this to be quite simple most of the time.
Additionally, it is realistic to set and follow your own hours. Sure, there are deadlines to be met just like every job, and this is something that every writer has to deal with.
In my opinion, being a freelance writer offers more freedom than an office job. Even if not to the extent that many think.
October 9th, 2008 at 5:44 am
There really is no freedom like that of a freelance writer, although I always have a looming deadline because I like to have a large workload.
I am just grateful that I am a freelance writer. Because otherwise, I would spend my job writing and reading all day. (I have lucked into some way to get paid for these activities now!!)
October 11th, 2008 at 8:00 am
[...] me whether or not I work 40 hours per week. One thing that I like about a freelance writer is the freedom. If I want to work 40 hours this week I can. But if I want to work 35 or 45 next week, that is fine [...]