Comments on: Is Freelance Writing Only a Work From Home Job?

By: Dan at work from home companies video tutorial

Dan at work from home companies video tutorial — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 07:15:14 +0000

I would agree with you that freelancing and working from home are not one and the same. However, doing the job in its work from home form would be more appealing to me for some of the reasons you outlined. In my opinion, you simply can’t beat having flexibility of location and scheduling. However, you make a good point that freelancing can take place in a more traditional work environment as well.

Dan

By: Ed

Ed — Fri, 08 May 2009 15:40:45 +0000

Freelance doesn’t so much describe your place of work as it does your employment status. The term originated in Europe when landowners hired personal fighters, or ‘free lancers’ who fought on any side. For some freelancers (and I agree with a previous comment that ‘writer’ or ‘consultant’ may garner more respect), location is a key factor. For myself, the ability to work from home, outweighed the extra effort of being my own boss that regular office work provides. As consultants, we regularly make office visits to work with clients.

By: AuroraGG

AuroraGG — Fri, 08 May 2009 14:40:35 +0000

Many freelance writers live in areas where there are no ‘office’ freelance opportunities (obviously this depends on the type of writing you do). As a rural dweller I’m not into a long 3-4 hour commute just to go where the publishing and writing jobs and clients are. I think many freelancers who can take advantage of having ‘local clients’ tend to offer full consulting and add-on services that many work-from-home-only freelancers, like myself, are unable to do – simply because of location.

I disagree that “Freelance” has a bunny slipper connotation. The only place you’ll find that phrase is on Freelance Writing advice sites. Your clients are not thinkling about bunny slippers when they hire you. If your client should happen to mention feelings, issues or concerns about what you are wearing when you work from your own home – I would suggest finding a new client.:)

By: Kathryn Lang

Kathryn Lang — Fri, 08 May 2009 14:11:31 +0000

I love working from home – or on the road – or at the ballgame – or where ever I happen to be at the time. It makes living the life we’ve been dreaming of possible (and I can write of a portion of the trips we take)!

By: Anne Wayman

Anne Wayman — Thu, 07 May 2009 20:41:05 +0000

Hi Deb, thanks for the link… as you can see on my blog I’m pretty stuck in my ways I’m glad others enjoy working in offices… those offices need people!

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By: Sunday

Sunday — Thu, 07 May 2009 18:30:58 +0000

Good points made by all. As Chris says, why is it that in other freelance jobs people wouldn’t assume they’d be at home all the time? I’ve done long contract jobs where I was working in an office and taking meeetings with other people on the project – but, except for deadlines (kind of a big exception), my time was my own, and I got a lot of creative say which was satisfying.

I think this does raise issues not only of dealing with people but of having to choose whom you deal with face-to-face, especially on a long project. Although I must say it seems as if I’ve been stiffed on a completely-in-home project where I had fun exchanges with the people and was getting good feedback – right up to the minute the project was done.

By: Chris

Chris — Thu, 07 May 2009 18:12:45 +0000

I agree with you completely Deb. There’s nothing stating that freelance equates to “work at home”. I think writers are among the rare freelancers that are able to work solely from home. If you’re a freelance photographer or IT professional, I don’t think the idea of working solely at home even crosses your mind. There are many freelancers that need to go into an office or outside working environment. While working from home is a nice comfort that I prefer, if the job was worthwhile, the pay was good and it was within reasonable commute, I would definitely consider going in to an office to work.

One thing that is more of a sticking point for me is to maintain control and flexibility. When I see “Needs to work/be available from 8AM to 3PM” or whatever the specific time frame may be, I turn the other way. If I have to have hours and working conditions dictated to me, I might as well go work at an office again. Any job that is to demanding or controlling in this fashion doesn’t seem like a good freelancing opportunity, imo. Being able to plan my own schedule and take a few hours off if I want to is one benefit of freelancing that I’m not willing to give up, unless it’s very lucrative to do so.

By: Freelance Writing - Write Your Own Definition

Freelance Writing - Write Your Own Definition — Thu, 07 May 2009 14:56:59 +0000

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