In June I left my full time job to work contract and freelance hours. The goal is to free up time for my creative side hustle, with the goal that those projects will eventually become the main hustle.
I’ve contracted full time before, so I knew what to expect. It’s not for everyone, but it’s perfect for me if I stay focused. I like that I save time on my morning and night commutes. I also am way more productive because I can work on my own terms, which is motivating (not to mention the meetings I get to sit out that always seem to eat up so much time). It’s also perfect for dating a comedian who works at night. (Oh wait! We are married now! Eeeee!) I like that, when possible, I can work night shifts like he does and we can spend the afternoons together.
I recognize how lucky I am to get to do this. Not a lot of jobs or professions allow for this kind of freedom. I also recognize how hard I’ve worked to get to this point. Like Roxane Gay says:
I was much more prepared for this second go at freelancing full time. Here are some tips that made a longterm setup like this possible. Good luck!
Dust off your contact list a few months before going rogue
Reach out to employers or contacts who may hire freelancers that do your kind of work. Let them know when you’ll be available for hire. Keep it cordial. Don’t sound desperate. Offer your updated resume and CV and thank them for their time, regardless of an opening or not.
Save six months of expenses
That sounds like a lot of savings, but it’s for peace of mind as you wait for checks to roll in. Sometimes publications don’t pay until the work has been published, and when you’re writing for magazines, that can mean you’re waiting two sometimes three months until you get your check. Be sure to ask when you sign a contract what to expect in terms of a payment schedule.
Start an invoice and check tracker
I have a Google Sheet that tracks my assignments, publication contact info, date of assignment, due date, date submitted, date of invoice, invoice number, check number and date payment was received. I also keep notes on whether or not taxes were taken out of each check. That will come in handy come tax season and also helps you remember what amount of spendable money you *actually* have in your bank account.
Get that calendar sharp
Google Calendar is my other freelance lifeline. I have my personal and work calendars separated but can view them both at once. They’re color coded. Google: Making creative people organized since two thousand and whatever. I’m a sucker for paper calendars but I’ve found I just cannot keep up with adding or changing everything in by hand. The Google Calendar lets me stay flexible and I can add to it on the go on my phone. I create an event for 6 am each day of the week that keeps a running to do list so I don’t miss anything. This is helpful when you’re working for multiple contacts.
Work on your self discipline
I have a sign on my desk that says “Get shit done.” Seriously. You need to get shit done. Approach your at-home work hours the same you would in-office. You wouldn’t do the dishes or decide now is the perfect time to bleach the shower while on the clock. You shouldn’t at home either. Having set work hours dedicated to work only is the standard for a reason: It, well, works.
Thank your lucky stars
Don’t take the work or your work life for granted. Here are some images from the New York Public Library that make me do a little dance that I was born when I was, where I was, as I was. Some things hard work can’t count for. <3
Carpenters and construction workers waiting outside Florida State employment office trying to get jobs on Camp Blanding in Starke, Florida. December 1940.
“Closing Time” by artist Ann Nooney for the U.S. Works Progress Administration.
General Office at the Gordon-Pagel Co., Detroit. Postcard issued 1898-1931.
