For the enigmatic creative, the corporate world couldn’t be any less enticing. But what is it about freelance life that makes it so appealing?
Freelance life is not for the faint-hearted.
It’s inconsistent, often inconvenient, and endlessly chaotic.
But to those of us who crave a particular way of living, it’s perfection.
By nature, creatives are drawn to fluidity, curiosity, and innovation. Being boxed in doesn’t generally go hand-in-hand with that.
So, of course, the very dynamic essence of freelance life is a match made in heaven.
It exudes freedom, flexibility, spontaneity, and independence; everything a creative like me craves.
Of course, it has its dark side; everything desirable does. But the allure of the freelance lifestyle is potent, nonetheless.
I may have fallen into it, but I prefer to see it as fate. A fate I had no business messing with.
And yet, even after almost two decades in the game, I’m still under its spell.
Freelance life in a nutshell
Every freelancer may live to tell a different tale.
Some may be sad, some abundant, some boastful, and some most certainly quite lonely. And yet, we wouldn’t trade it for the world.
I believe the life we live to be a blessing. One that people probably long for, without even realising it.
My account has always had a dreamlike quality to it, most probably down to my romantic nature.
That doesn’t mean it’s always been a walk in the park; it hasn’t. But I very much feel at home in my freelancing shoes.
In this case, said home is amidst a whirlwind.
As someone who doesn’t work well with deadlines, it’s always been a wild ride. And in true creative style, I prefer to work to my own timeline. It makes for an interesting dynamic.
I’m a cat playing a never-ending game of chase my tale. But hey, it’s the game I signed up for.
The pitching, the writing, the relationships, and even the business side of things, I’m down for.
I’m also one of the lucky ones who hasn’t had unpaid invoices for an extended period of time. Long may it continue.
Working to my own schedule. Midday pilates. Afternoon walks. Days off, just because. Slow mornings reading in bed. Being picky with clients and projects. Writing what I want, how I want.
I’m here for it all.
Like I said, dreamlike.
And yet, I still have my grievances.
The starving artist narrative
In the early days, this got mentioned a lot.
The number of people who felt compelled to question my career choice or asked whether it was both sustainable and profitable was laughable.
Didn’t they get the memo? The starving artist narrative is no longer a thing.
Luckily, it’s since subsided.
Now, people tend to be more intrigued than horrified. But the world has changed a lot since then. The general public tends to be a lot more aware of the earning potential of internet things.
While I’ve certainly had my fair share of tragic years, I’ve done semi-okay.
I mean, I’m no Bill Gates, and I don’t claim to be.
I make a respectable living and always seem to be paying taxes, but I’m happy.
And, most importantly of all, I’m not starving.
I’m a millennial artist who quite happily spends her money on coffee, avocados, frivolous subscriptions, and, against all odds, I still own my own house.
Who’d of thought?
The real trouble with being freelance
Sarcasm aside, freelance life isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
That’s if you have beef with being business-minded and motivated.
As a freelancer, you can find work, get paid, and be happy if that’s what you want.
That’s never the problem.
AI really isn’t taking our jobs; there’s plenty of work to go around.
But if you don’t love the idea of doing all the things and wearing all the hats, being the boss of every department, pitching on repeat, being ghosted and rejected by editors and marketing directors, chasing invoices, filling your taxes, paying said taxes 400 times a year, holding yourself accountable, and actually doing the work, it’s probably not for you.
In fact, you’re probably the perfect match for corporate life.
But if what you really want is total freedom, an abundance of possibilities, and the opportunity to design a life on your own terms, freelance life will seem pretty alluring indeed.
Be still, my beating heart!
Have you thought about going freelance? What’s holding you back? Share your questions in the comments below, and I’ll address them in a future blog post.