Weathering the Storm

Now is not the greatest time to be a job seeker. With the economy in the shitter, companies are slashing budgets, laying people off and making life generally all-round miserable for the people who still have jobs. For those of us who are short on work, this is an especially hard time. Employers have the luxury of asking the world of perspective employees, while offering little in return. And if you don't want that shit job that's way beneath you and your abilities, the person in line behind you does.

In these times, it is important to remember that, as a freelance writer, you can't rely on what you have. There are a few freelancers out there who, I'm sure, are swooping in and grabbing clients left and right. I'm also willing to bet that the people doing this are going to be run ragged by overwork and will still find themselves struggling to pay the bills.

Remember how I said a while back that you shouldn't quit your day job? That is especially true when the economy is in the dumps. Having something to fall back on in case your clients bail on you is absolutely essential. Let me put it this way: it's much better to fall and have a parachute than to fall and need to find one before you hit the ground. Remember, being a part-time freelancer does not make you any less of a writer. Most of us need to have something else in the "regular" world in order to keep things steady or in times like these, to keep us afloat.

Again, when times get desperate, you will be tempted to work for that .75 cents a word. I say again (and please listen if you didn't before) DO NOT TAKE THESE JOBS! The people offering them do not know what to pay a writer and are just looking for cheap content! You will do more work for less pay and will wind up wishing you'd spent your time either at a halfway decent day job or looking for a better job. Don't give in!

It's a hard time right now. Everyone except the rich is struggling (but honestly, when do the rich ever suffer?) and decent gigs are hard to come by. All I can say is: keep your head above water. Sooner or later, the flood will recede.