5 Reasons why Freelance Writing is the Best Job in the World!

I don't mean that you have 'more free time' if you're a self employed writer. Oh no no! You might find that in your first few months you're busier than you've ever been it takes a lot of work to get to where you want to be.

What I mean by 'Free Time' is that you can choose how you spend your time and plan your working day around your other commitments. Are you a parent? You can organise your day so that you start work at 9.30 once the kids are dropped off at school and you've done food shopping.

Or take an emergency dental appointment for example. If you've ever been in full time employment and had something like this then you'll know of the disapproving looks or tone of voice you get from managers when you say you need the time off. Freelance writers don't even need to ask!

When you're self employed there's never any worry that you might get laid off or you might have to move office block or your hours might get changed etc. etc. etc.

If you want things to change then you make them change, but nobody's going to make you. Of course sometimes it's nice when other people have to make hard decisions for you, such as managers and team leaders, but it's a much better feeling when you make them for yourself and see things going well as a result.

There are some shocking statistics about how creatively stifled people feel in their jobs.

Now, to be a freelance writer you need a portfolio. I've chosen (until I organise hosting and buying a domain) to have a blog where I post samples of my work. What this means is that I get to choose whatever I write about and simply stick it on my blog and still rest assured I was being productive with my time! Okay so I haven't written a fantasy novel yet but if I get a sudden burst of inspiration then I know it will go to some use on my blog

One of the best things about being a freelance writer is that you get to choose what you work on. If things are going well then you can refuse a boring job for another offer that's much more interesting, or has better prospects.

I'm never afraid to say to my clients 'I don't enjoy writing about this/in this way so I will be charging 25% extra'. At the end of the day there's no way anyone can be expected to write well on every niche on the planet, so some jobs require higher pay or a longer deadline than others.

A lot of people don't even know what job satisfaction feels like. That's sad, isn't it?

A few months ago I hated being a freelance writer. I mean HATED. I couldn't find enough work to pay the bills and my motivation levels fell. I had to move back home with my parents, but after sorting myself I've learned to love it. The trick to becoming a great freelance writer is to organise your time to the hour and to plan your expenditure to the penny.

Now I get up and relish the thought that I can stay in bed and write all morning, or get up and go for a walk before I start. I look forward to settling down in the afternoon with a cup of tea to get some typing done and when I'm finished for the day I close my laptop with a sense of fulfilment, rather than guilt as I used to.

Shame I'm still as cheesy as I always was.