Comments on: When Should You Quit Your Day Job? A Few Things to Think About

By: Shermika

Shermika — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 01:50:50 +0000

Deb: This is a very well written article. Your advice on having a plan and sticking to it is key! If you ever want anything in life you have to lay it out on paper or something so that you can see it. Thanks so much for this article. It was so inspiring. I recently graduated with an English degree and currently I just write for Demand studios. Hopefully, something else will pick up, but I know that having those goals in line in key–and mine is to become a writer!

By: Nacie

Nacie — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 17:49:57 +0000

Hi Deb – thanks for the things to think about! As you may remember, I am planning on quitting my job (tomorrow, actually!) and it was so helpful – and very comforting! – to read that awesome check list you wrote and realize that I had thought about those things already. Your post has really given me courage, strength, and a sense that I know what I am getting myself into as I prepare to freelance full-time. Thanks again for the great post, I really needed it!

Nace

By: Jennifer Gregory

Jennifer Gregory — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 12:27:30 +0000

Great article and good things to think about. I am just starting out, but my situation is a little different. I left my Technical Writing job in 2001 to stay home with kids. I did some mystery shopping to bring in some extra money, but nothing significant. We are used to living on one income. We don’t want me to have a fulltime or even a part time job with regular hours, so that I can pick the kids up, be there when they are sick, volunteer at their school. But, I want something to do and something to bring in some money. The point about setting realistic goals is one that I’ve been trying to explain to my husband. I have a goal that by May (when the kids get out) to have some steady clients and bringing in some money, but I think he thinks I’ll be earning what I was before.

By: Deb

Deb — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 10:58:31 +0000

@MS – I also returned to full time work this year, though if I couldn’t do it from my home I wouldn’t have. I didn’t have to leave freelancing but I’m finding I have much more time for my family and myself. I’m working out, reading, and doing things I didn’t have time for when I freelanced. Plus the pay is steady and I don’t have to keep taking on new clients. I love my job but if something happened I’d probably return to freelancing rather than a traditional office job. Good luck to you!

@Amy – If I’m going to tell people to be realistic, I have to be honest. And the truth is if not for the second income I wouldn’t have been able to leave my job. I have so much admiration and respect for you and others like you who go it alone.

@James – I agree we can’t put all our eggs in one basket. I’ve seen many writers put all their efforts into one client or content mill only to find themselves stuck when their client closes doors or has enough content.

@Sal – I began freelancing in 2000 but left work in 2002. So in the two years before I left my job I had one regular client and an online humor column – in addition to the occasional writing job for a local graphic design firm. I found some work on Internet job boards and others through local newspapers that catered to creatives such as the Village Voice.

@ Kori – It’s nice your husband works at home – and you get along. Many people can’t work with spouses. I’ve been watching your rise to success over the years and respect your work ethic.

@Ann – Just about all of my clients paid once a month. I thought about what I’d have to do if my husband didn’t have his job – but plenty of freelancers make it work through spreadsheets and budgeting. With the Internet age comes quick paying clients. When I started my job in publishing and there wasn’t Paypal – writers used to wait months for checks and had to truly struggle. I wish you lots of good luck!

By: Kathryn

Kathryn — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 10:57:24 +0000

Planning to be a freelance writer has to be similar to any other business plan – you need a plan that includes goals, objectives, marketing and a budget.

I stumbled into mine and I’m still trying to work things out.

Eight months ago my husband called to say he’d quit his job and would be home later. HE was the only employed person in the house. Although I was dabbling in freelance I was not full time yet. Even now I’m not where I think I could have been if the pressure to “make more” hadn’t been piled up on me (and if I hadn’t been in shock).

I have found that budgeting freelance income is not as easy as it is when you know what the paycheck will be and when it will come, but we are learning (and even saving).

For the new writers – you just have to search for jobs through every possible (and even unlikely) means out there. Do a search for freelance jobs, hand out (or mail out) business cards to everyone you can think about, and continue to perfect your skills and talents (through classes and conferences).

For those of you who are considering the full-time freelance plunge – set up a savings account with enough funds to cover at least three months worth of bills. This will give you some buffer to help with your budget.

Even experience freelance writers can learn more about budgeting. Living without a salary does not mean you can’t still enjoy the better things in life, it just means you have to plan better to get there.

By: Ann G.

Ann G. — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 10:30:07 +0000

@M S – I hear you! I have one steady job and the employer just decided to start paying monthly instead of weekly. That really doesn’t work for me. I don’t want to give up the work, but he says after paying me once that trust has been established and therefore there is no reason to have to keep paying weekly. I have groceries to buy – a switch to once a month just doesn’t work for me.

By: Kori

Kori — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 04:30:12 +0000

Nice post, Deb. My story is sort of similar to yours in that I got married and was moving from Los Angeles to Texas to be live happily ever after with my husband. He made a decent living – enough to support us. And since I had done some writing on the side in the past, it was a good time to see if I could actually freelance full-time instead of getting a “real job” when I moved here. Like you, I set goals and a time table. Five years later, everything is working out nicely. For me, it hasn’t been a lonely existence because my husband works from home too.

By: Sal

Sal — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 02:03:26 +0000

Deb, I thoroughly enjoyed your article. It was very well written and captivating to say the least. I just have one question, how did you find out how to get clients, where to look, etc.? Ok, so maybe it is more than one question. Also, did you have a portfolio already established, or did you just wing it for the first few clients? Thanks for all of your help and inspiration!

By: James F. Koopmann

James F. Koopmann — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 22:59:02 +0000

Deb,
Great post. I think we all have to be totally honest with ourselves every month to validate that freelancing is working for us and the families that rely on our incomes. I am a firm believer in multiple income streams (I have 12) whether we use them or not. Having a couple of potential income streams standing by just in case another stream falls short is just smart. My personal stand-by income streams are blogs, magazines, and online technical journals.

I also started a spreadsheet about 4 months ago that plots out my income potential (if everything hits), goals income (should be less than potential), and actual. Then for each I show the percentage of actual to my goal and total income needed. This really has motivated me and sort of acts as my boss–driving me to the finish line every month.

By: Sharon

Sharon — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 22:33:52 +0000

I personally don’t find freelancing to be a lonely existence, but I get frustrated when friends/relatives don’t or can’t recognize that I do actually work. In a few decades when telecommuting is the norm, perhaps that won’t be an issue.