Pros and cons of being a freelancer

Everyone has their own assumptions about what it’s like to be a freelancer.

Here’s what it is like for me and for the friends I know who are freelancers:

Pros	Cons
I set my own schedule.I can take a break when I need to.	I set my own schedule.That means I become a workaholic, working 6 days a week when I can because I know I need money for the weeks when I don’t have work.
I negotiate my own contracts and pay.	Because I negotiate my own pay, I sometimes end up being paid “mate’s rates”.
I work from home or at my local library, so I’m more comfortable than in someone else’s workplace.I get to work in my PJs while listening to music!	I work from home.I don’t get to “go in to the office”. I have to be responsible for my own time.I have to make sure my internet is reliable.
I get to choose my own contracts.	I am constantly searching for new contracts.As outsourcing becomes more common, there are fewer contracts that pay a standard Australian rate.
I get to take a lunch break with friends.	I can’t just “duck out” to take lunch with my friends who work in the city – there’s travel time involved.
	Clients are sometimes unreliable when it comes to paying you or providing you with the right files to work with.

If you’re new to the creative workplace, what have been your experiences so far?

And if you need an editor for your novel, children’s book, memoir, textbook, website, company newsletter, or “other”, please let me know! Visit my freelance services page for more details on my services and to get in touch. I’d love to hear from you!

View my rates for editing, copywriting, or proofreading, on my Freelance Services page!