Last year I was at a wedding and, as is the nature of weddings, I was talking to guests about my work. You know, it’s one of those questions that gets thrown up between strangers – “What do you do then?” So easy, yet so difficult to answer.
I’d just started freelancing and was having great success in my first few months, but I still found myself cowering every time someone asked me what I did. Why? Because I expected raised eyebrows and immediate judgement. “Oh, you’re a writer…”
Whilst most people were really interested in my new line of work, one conversation really stuck out for me. I was talking to a guy about work, and everything was going well until he dropped this bitter stream of words over our champagne:
“I have friends who are trying to be artists, you know, just like you’re trying to be a writer.”
Whoa there, hold up. Trying to be a writer?
What’s that all about? I understand that a lot of people used to think that a writer can only be described as such if they have a best-selling novel circulating in the ether, but I didn’t think people were still that ignorant.
It’s the same with friends and family. They’ll invite me out to lunch or something and I’ll have to say no because I have work to do, and they’ll come back with something like, “but don’t you just sit at home all day?”
It can be frustrating trying to forge a career and a lifestyle that other people simply don’t understand, and this is something I’ve been thinking a lot about lately.
Freelance writing is a bonafide career. In fact, back in the good old days (before my time), freelance writing was considered a great job to have – usually you worked for a newspaper and you sold stories for hundreds of pounds. These days, with the introduction of the internet and the ease with which anyone can set themselves up an online portfolio, it’s become much less well-regarded.
That being said, it’s still the lifestyle I want to pursue and I’m now finding myself taking the time to explain to more and more people about freelancing. Because I think that’s the problem: people don’t know enough about it, so they jump to their own conclusions.
Movies certainly don’t help
Think of any film or novel that focuses around a writer as the central character. In the vast majority of cases, this person is struggling to make enough money, drinks whiskey before noon, and is a bit of a loose cannon.
They’ll spend the entire storyline desperately trying to prove their worth, but really the only outcome is one that’s negative: viewers and readers think this defines the lifestyle of a freelancer.
I get it, though. Having a desperate, unsuccessful character makes for much better reading and viewing than having one that succeeds in everything they do and are at the top of their game, right?
But it’s more than that. I can’t help thinking that films and books that utilise characters like this are perpetrating the myth that freelancing is bad. That it’s not a good career move, and you should be thankful that you have a good, stable job, where you don’t have to think about drinking whiskey before the sun has reached its peak.
It’s difficult to imagine what we don’t know
I struggle to imagine what life would be like as a lawyer because I’ve never done it before. Likewise, I struggle to picture the daily life of a mother because I’ve never experienced it for myself. It’s difficult for anyone to imagine doing anything they have no experience with. Sure, it’s possible, but where do we get the ideas from?
Let’s go back to my previous point. We imagine things we don’t know through secondary experiences: through watching movies and reading books. We might bring together a whole load of storylines that we’ve seen or read to create a bigger picture; to produce a stitched together idea of the unknown.
Therefore it makes perfect sense that non-freelancers imagine freelancers as whiskey drinking layabouts, because that’s the image that’s portrayed through the media.
It might also be in the non-freelancer’s best interests to imagine the freelance lifestyle as difficult and unsuccessful, because though they might be interested in pursuing it, they don’t because they are scared, or worried, or not confident enough. For these types of people, it’s easier to imagine freelancers in a way that demeans the lifestyle so that it’s no longer an option; so they don’t have to make a difficult decision.
Of course, this isn’t the case with everyone. Not at all. Lots of non-freelancers completely understand the freelancing lifestyle and are interested by it, just not in a personal, do-it-themselves kind of way. Freelancing isn’t for everyone, and that’s just as well, really!
It’s also difficult to describe
When I worked a 9-5 office job, it was easy enough to explain my position. I was a Community Manager, I did social media and stuff. Now, I find that people are much more interested in the ins and outs of my work and my day-to-day schedule.
I love that people are interested in it, but I find it difficult to really nail what I do in a succinct way. Usually, I just say I write content for travel brands, but this often leaves people wanting more: How do you get these jobs? Which brands do you write for? What kind of things do you write?
I’m always happy to answer these questions, but I feel like I don’t do it justice. I’m convinced this leaves the person I’m telling even more confused, which only exacerbates the whole freelance lifestyle conundrum.
The current economy gives a pessimistic view
If I have to hear the words “the current economic climate” one more time… Well, I won’t be happy. So many people are clinging onto their jobs by the skin of their teeth, which makes it even harder to understand why anyone would consider going freelance in the first place.
I know I had a whole list of worries when I took the dive and I’m pretty sure if I left it any longer I’d never have done it in the first place. Yes, the economic climate is bad (although it’s apparently on the rise… we’ll see), and this forces people to think in a negative way. Before I went freelance I had the “talk” from my dad and my grandparents who pretty much said it was the stupidest thing I could do.
It also means that people often think you were forced into freelancing because you were made redundant or lost your job. I’m worried that if I ever need to look for a 9-5 job again, employers will think I was forced into freelancing. I wasn’t, but it’s easy to see why some might think I was. I had a good job, I was happy… What more could I want, right?
Views are changing… Right?
For many generations, work was just a way to make money. The whole “work to live” thing. These days, this idea is being flipped on its head. Younger people want to work in jobs they love, combining their passions with earning money. I’m all for this.
I believe that work shouldn’t be about turning up and wishing away the time until you can clock out and go home. We spend such a huge chunk of our lives working, so it makes sense to enjoy it. It’s common sense, really.
Luckily, views about freelancing are beginning to change, and with changing views comes acceptance and, hopefully, no more brash statements about trying to be a writer!
I can relate to this quite a bit! I also find it hard to explain what I do and I tend to get into apologetic mode, feeling like people are not going to take me seriously… I recently had a conversation with someone who kept telling me “relax, you’re on holiday!” after I’d just explained everything about my freelance work and nomadic lifestyle! No matter how many times I corrected him, he couldn’t get it out of his head that I was just on hols. Grrrr.
I completely agree about people not taking you seriously! I guess some people will never understand, but at least you’re having a great time doing it 😀
I hear you but people don’t ask me. I think they have thought I won the lottery and don’t want to tell anyone. Either that, or a dead relative left me a lot of money
Natalie recently posted…Avanos : Cappadocia’s Pottery Hub & a Hair Museum
Yup, I think a lot of people make the assumption that I’ve had a windfall somewhere along the line!
Dearest Lizzie
I dread every single conversation about my work because of ALL of the above aforementioned reasons. It gets worse if you are the first one in the family who wants to succeed as a freelancer.
One of my loved ones recently said something like, “But you must get a job! How else will you meet new people?”
To which I responded, “I have more friends now than I ever had in the last thirty years of my life.”
To which that person smirked, rolled their eyes and emitted a harsh whisper: “Online friends don’t matter.”
O-K-A-Y!
LOL – thanks for elucidating our feelings so beautifully, darling! #HUGS
OODLES of love
Kitto
So glad you can relate, and I’m not the only one who struggles to get people to understand our profession!
Thanks for sharing your life…!
Actually, I’ve met a lot of people offline and talking about my job. They asked me a simple question similar to you, “What are you doing..?.
It’s a simple but a suck question in my country, Cambodia.
I told that I’m a jobless, blogger, and freelance writer. I’ve been working with blogging since 2009. I’ve made my thousand dollars on 2013, and I enjoy a lot with my work.
The listen to me and laugh…, you know..? No many people in Cambodia believe in online business.
They though that I’m a stupid guy, or scammer. I though…
Even that I faced with a lot of those opinions, but I know what exactly I’m currently doing…, I proof with my work.
Every day, I blog because I want to share value of online business to more people in my country, especially I love my job…
Thanks for sharing your life style..
Kimsea Sok recently posted…6 Brilliant Advice On Starting A Blog Help To Solve Biggest Problems
Thanks so much for sharing your story Kimsea! It’s interesting to hear about other experiences in different countries. Hopefully one day, working online and writing will finally be considered in a good way 🙂
Some good points here Lizzie! One TV show that doesn’t help people’s view of freelancers ins Sex and the City… I mean, Carrie Bradshaw has just one newspaper column and that is supposed to fund her massive designer label habit and her NYC apartment? It’s a bit ridiculous!
Rachel recently posted…The simple art of letting go
Totally agree! I remember watching Sex and the City and thinking “wow, that’s a cool life to have”, but realise now that it’s so unrealistic!
Right now I do freelance photography and writing. Its slow going, but its what I want to do. I get it all the time where people think that I just sit at home shooting wind.
Or even worse, that I could do something for them for free. Like take family pictures or help their kid write an essay.
I also blog, but it does not create income. I love the idea of creating a community. It also is there to show some of my work.
Anung V recently posted…5 Great Photography Websites
Hi Anung! Thanks for sharing your viewpoint as a photographer 🙂 I know a lot of people who think I just sit at home scrolling through Facebook and Twitter – oh, if only they knew the hard work that goes into it all!
Let’s hope the views really are changing! I get so many weird looks when I say that I work remotely and blog all from home. Everyone just assumes it’s just a hobby to keep me busy until I find something “real”. So frustrating! Thanks for sharing! Next time I have to talk to someone about something along these lines I’ll refer them here! ^^
Henar recently posted…REVIEW: Hostel ROOM Rotterdam
So true! A lot of people think it’s just a hobby – frustrating, but hopefully the views will change as people start to realise that working online is a viable way to make money 🙂 And yes, feel free to send people here!
I have struggled with the same issues. I had been a successful freelance writer for several years before I landed my first book-length contract. I was naturally excited and called a family member to share the news. Her response? “Wow, now you’re finally a real writer.” I just had to shake my head because that particular year I’d already published over 700 articles online and in print.
Urgh, the words “real writer” make me angry. I just think people don’t know enough about the industry – but hopefully that will change!
Can’t describe how much this article resonates with me. Sometimes I think we don’t get as much credit as we deserve. Freelancers actually have to be more organized and neat than most of the 9 to 5 workers nowadays in order to keep a successful career and earn money. We’re not appreciated enough!
Sandra recently posted…Chat Agent Wanted – Work at Home Jobs List June 5
So true! Not only do we have to be organised, but we have to be the organisers of the whole “show”, too!