It's a Hard-Knock Life

     No, I'm not going to jump into a production of Annie -- so be happy for that.

     As an on and off freelancer for many years, I agree with the statement that freelancing is a hard-knock life. 

      But, it can be absolutely worth it.

     Long before the decline of newsrooms, freelancing had a certain allure. Make your own hours (read that, write when the other parent was on duty). Be your own boss (read that, not work for an editor who was a) mean, b) nuts, c) boffing the 20-year-old photo clerk, d) a drunk, e) an EDITOR). Work on the stories you want (read that, not sitting through school board meetings). 

     Then the bottom fell out of the industry. A mixed blessing. It did increase the need for freelancers because news agencies didn't want to pay benefits. But, it also flooded the market with freelancers.

Alex Tarquinio

       Alex Tarquinio, a long-time freelancer in financial journalism, presented a talk on how to survive the hard-knock life of freelancing at the Society of Professional Journalists/Kiplinger JournCamp in NYC in June.

     Her audience ranged from students to recent grads to pros wanting to make the move to pros forced to make the move.

     For the newbies she had tips such as create a startup checklist, decide what life changes you are willing to make (life eating tuna sandwiches and ramen noodles every day for a year), and decide how far you are willing to go outside your comfort zone (like covering a rock-climbing wedding or, worse, back to the school board).

     As someone who has been on both sides of the freelancing game, stringer and editor, I can attest neither side is easy.

     Editors don't want to underpay hard-working and talented freelancers, they are forced to. And they don't have time to hand-hold rookies as much as they'd like to. So, those with experience are better off than newbies when they have to deal with editors.

     Seasoned pros have a different set of needs. We need to ask ourselves if we can afford the uncertainty. Once you have been used to a paycheck and a schedule, it can be unnerving to have to adjust your own time.

     Old pros may also have more trouble writing outside their comfort zone. As well as a smaller comfort zone. But, then again, some of us have written about nearly everything. . .

     It can also be harder for people used to having a job to market themselves. I found getting back into selling-myself mode the toughest part. But I did it. And hearing Alex was comforting in many ways.