Freelancing for beginners

by Gail Miller

Who in their right mind would want to become a freelance? Well, many people actually. Those not wanting to commute to a ‘job’ they hate anymore, people who need to be at home because of domestic commitments. Others, who don’t make very good employees, (myself included) who would simply rather work for themselves or those who like to plan their own days and weeks without being stuck to rigid schedules.

There are indeed many good reasons for working freelance, as well as it often being very lucrative! You can be a freelance anything really.

Illustrator, writer, craftsperson, typist, publisher, etc. But the basics are the same whatever field you go into.

Being a successful freelance doesn’t mean being able to secure all the most high-flying contracts or commissions, what it is, is being happy in what you’re doing. If you don't make quite as much money as you did before, but you are ten times happier, then I call that success!

You don’t have to be an expert writer to freelance; you can concentrate on fillers, puzzles, letters etc. You don’t have to be a computer expert to be a desk top publisher; with the many great software programs available.

Before you decide to freelance full time however, you have to ask yourself whether you have the motivation. Are you the sort of person who gets easily distracted? Can you refuse your neighbour when he or she drops in for coffee when you have an assignment to finish? Do you work to deadlines easily, or do you struggle to get things done?

If you cannot see the connection between work in January and putting food into your mouth in February or even March, then maybe you had better stick to the 9 till 5!

Are you meticulous about your finances? You will need to keep all your receipts - incomings and outgoings - to prepare your tax returns. Are you fully equipped with everything needed for the job in hand? To compete effectively with the competition you need to be technologically up to date. If not, then you will have to finance the extra.

Will you be offering a service needing a whole home office set up? If so, then think about second hand equipment; certainly furniture, filing cabinets etc. Also, where you are going to house your office? You don't want children rifling through your work and disturbing you.

Likewise, you will not be taken seriously if every time you pick up the phone you have kids screaming. When you have made the decision, and started freelancing, you must always be courteous to customers or clients and at all times act professionally. After all, there is always competition out there and you have to prove yourself until established.

What's more, you will have to work twice as hard as you did before to get half as far - especially at first. It takes time to 'break even' especially if you have had a large financial outlay. Having said this however, freelancing is the greatest way to make a living, working when you want to, putting in as many hours as you see fit.

You are not tied to the office with the boss looking over your shoulder - you are the boss! The best thing about freelancing is that you get paid to do what you would probably be doing anyway.

Every day is as different as you make it, and you can pick and choose your own assignments (when you are established).

Gail Miller is author of "WILD CHILD - A Mother, A Son & ADHD" The true story of a mother driven to despair by her unruly son, and her fight with the authorities for recognition & treatment for his condition. ISBN 1 872229 24 7 Patten Press
http://home.freeuk.net/theadhdgazette/wild.html
She also publishes "The ADD / ADHD Gazette" the on - line ezine accenting the positive side of ADHD.
http://www.onelist.com/subscribe.cgi/ADDGazette