Lessons from my second calendar year of full-time freelancing

If you've been following the blog for a while, you'll know that I technically been freelancing for a few years now. I took the plunge into full-time freelancing in August of 2017 but it took me awhile to find my footing. By January of 2018, my full-time freelance pursuit was finally earning me enough money to support and eventually surpass my previous salaries.

Now, as 2019 comes to a close, I am so happy that my full-time freelance business continues to support me! When I graduated from college, I never expected to be a freelancer, but I did earn a minor in arts management to prepare me for managing a creative enterprise, which for now consists of me, myself and I.

It’s been a challenging, rewarding road to becoming a full-time freelance writer. Here’s what I’ve learned during my second year:

Saying no won't kill you

You can say no to opportunities that don't serve you or are ethically murky. Even though it may not seem like it at the time, there are better gigs waiting for you that you can't take on if you are bogged down by less desirable work. After putting in work on projects that are meaningful to me and marketing my work, I found that if I close one door another will open.

Follow your instincts

Not following my intuition has cost me time and energy, which in turn has probably cost me money. I have definitely applied and tried out gigs that gave me pause at first. Most of the time when I've done so, the results haven't been great. From now on, I will be avoiding gigs that seem problematic or too good to be true in favor of building relationships with editors who treat writers well and are clear about their expectations upfront.

Be brave

One of my favorite pieces I've written this year was for Pressland by Medium about freelancers not getting paid on time. I'll admit that when I first wrote that article I was worried about what effect it would have on my career. But so far, it has not affected my ability to obtain freelance work. And when I lie my head down at night, I know that I wrote about an issue that many people care about, and that's all I want for my career in the end. Writing that piece was helpful reminder of the satisfaction I feel when pursuing stories that need to be told.

Ask for more even if you don't think you'll get it

This is the biggest thing that I continue to struggle with in my freelance career. Of course, publications, women's magazines, in particular, will champion the cause of equal pay for equal work. But behind closed doors, they will routinely devalue underprivileged creatives. They will not hesitate to lowball and milk you for your marginalized experiences while also tweeting feminist ideology on social media. The information asymmetry of this dynamic has always been frustrating to me, but in the interim, I have been asking for rates that put me closer to my financial goals and trying hard to get over the fear of rejection.

I'm glad that my freelance business has grown to support me, and I'm looking forward to where 2020 takes me.

What's your 2020 vision? What did 2019 teach you? Tell me in the comments.