Woe is the freelancer

I have a hardy and hard-to-squelch self-pity gene. Yes, it’s my mother’s fault. That’s a joke, Mom. Really! It's easy to whine when you freelance because you run into situations that call for whining and whining only. Seriously, if you want to freelance, you should be prepared for the woe that accompanies the wow.

Cover your ears, you stoics, turn away, you hardhearted! Because I am about to expound on the woes of the freelance life:

You never know where your money is coming from or how much it will be. Which is why you must secure two or three clients who will pay you a regular sum each month. And despair when they go bankrupt or change direction or fire your contact and dispense with your services. Better than despair is a long client list. Even if they come to you only as needed, they may very well tide you over until you find another one or two regular clients. (And, of course, you should have savings socked away for these rainy days. They will come.)

You have minutes and hours and days without structure. You can do whatever you want. That is bad, very, very bad, especially if you are the creative fun-loving type. Find a daily schedule that works for you and will help you bring in the money and stick to it. Err only occasionally and briefly. Keep to-do lists and deadlines. Post them where they can be seen and referred to as you are typing in the Facebook address for the fourteenth time.

You don’t have health insurance. Unless you buy it. Which is a daunting proposition for one person, let alone a family. Make sure you have it before you jump into the freelance pool. It is your lifeguard.

You will have feast and famine. The famine times will make you believe you will never work again. Feast times make you feel like a millionaire. You’re not. No, you can’t afford that stunning pair of boots. No, a new car is not a good idea right now. Have you heard the one about a grasshopper and an ant? It’s a good one for all freelancers and I’ve learned its truth the hard way. More than once.

You pay employee and employer taxes. I hate paying taxes (I believe in them but I still hate them). I shroud my home in black tulle on April 15 and on the quarterly dates for payment that occur throughout the year. If you want to freelance, however, that is the reality. Make sure you charge a rate that includes this sad reality. And to cover your expenses. No more stealing pens, paper, copies, etc. because you don’t have an employer to steal from. You are responsible for everything from paper clips and ink cartridges to computers and desks. Bear it in mind when working out your hourly rate.

A deadline is really a deadline. No fudging, no putting it off. If you tell a client you will have something done on x date, you need to have it done. Or have a really really good reason why. That’s why I keep my clients updated on my work regularly. If I’m having trouble getting a hold of people to interview, I tell my client. If I come down with the flu (an upside to freelancing-coming into contact with fewer germs), I crawl to my desk to let my clients know.

There is no one to shoot the bull with. And even spouses and significant others may not understand the ins and outs of your chosen career. That’s why formal or informal groups of like-working others are critical. I’m part of several e-mail groups, belong to two professional organizations, and meet with freelancer friends every few months. It’s invaluable—both because of the business you might find and because of the well of good advice and counsel you can get and give.

If none of this deters you, then freelancing just may be the career for you.