What’s So Great About Freelance Writing?

I think that sometimes we get so caught up in the day to day business of writing that sometimes we forget about all of the great things that come to us through freelancing. There is no doubt that this is not the easiest profession in the world and there are certainly days that we wish we had taken up underwater basket weaving.

So, step back from the trees with me for a moment and lets get a look at that forest.

• People connections – In the course of my freelance work I have met some amazing people. Some have great stories to tell. Others are remarkably intelligent and put me in a state of awe. I’ve also met others like me who are doing their best to eek out a living doing this kind of work. This group impresses me greatly because while they are competition in a very real sense, it never feels that way. We exchange ideas about how best to go about this business, we laugh and cry over our war stories and every day we get up and do it again. I love the people connection aspect of being a freelance writer.
• Freedom – If I decide I want to get up at 5am and write then I can do that. If I want to devise a marketing plan that involves only methods that speak to me then I can do that too. I don’t need permission to do anything. I might decide that I only want to take certain kinds of assignments. I can take a day off to spend with my kid or a week off to spend with my sanity.
• I get to call myself a writer – I’m writing and I’m getting paid to do it. That makes me a writer, it does. As I go, I get better at my craft. The writing that I do for myself is funded and fueled by the writing I do as a freelancer. Freelancing allows me to write in a variety of venues for a wide range of clients. It expands my writing horizons. I’ve written product descriptions, long-tailed keyword articles and magazine articles for print. I’ve ghostwritten a book and I’ve edited writing projects for a variety of clients who had otherwise reached the end of their rope.
• Income- At all times, I am in control of how much money I’ve got coming in. This can be a really great thing as long as clients are paying and I’m doing my job as an independent businessperson. It’s possible I’ll grow rich, but even if I just pay the monthlies I’m a happy camper. There are a lot of folks who squeak by each month doing something they absolutely hate. I’m lucky.

I know I’ve just touched the tip here. There are a lot of great things about being a freelancer. What would you add to the list?