Is taking a full-time role 'abandoning' freelancing?

Freelance Feels becomes 'The Cardigan Brigade'

I’ve been freelance, on and off, for over a decade. 15 years and counting, I think. It started as quite an easy route, a balance between belonging too much to a publication, but being a writer. I’d do ‘shifts’ for magazines and newspapers, pitching at the same time. It led to lots of connections, friendships, fun times and bylines.

I would sometimes end up in a staff job, but freelancing always lured me back in the end. I think I quite liked the faff of it, the lack of commitment and the variation.

Rather than being a business with clients, I always operated on a freelance basis, invoicing, or filling out time sheets, and doing work on a day rate. It was flexible, and, rather than having set clients who I invoiced and worked with on a long-term basis one on one, I was more a freelancer who worked for publishers and agencies. A ‘gun for hire’ if you will.

However, post-pandemic and since I’ve trained as a business coach, I have felt a pull away from freelancing for quite some time. The pressures of freelancing, particularly the constant ‘Jazz hands’, pitching and trying to make new connections and find work, became very difficult. I struggled with my mental health as I tried to be different things to different editors.

I’m sharing this because I want you to know that if you’re feeling that, too, you’re not alone. It was hard, and I often wondered what was ahead, long-term. Because I knew I couldn’t do this hustle-juggle forever, not without becoming ill.

The daily checking of my bank account to see if someone had paid me, the meetings that might or might not turn into work, the pitches and suggestions to potential clients who then decided that they’d be fine by themselves, or didn’t have budget for a coach or copywriter was, at times, soul-destroying.

The combination of the the stress and disheartening feelings of constant ‘hustle’ and pitching was really getting to me. As a staff journalist, I was used to one editor making quite strong demands of my time and amending my work but as a freelance writer, it was several editors! It was hard to say to them ‘You aren’t my boss!’ and push back.

Add to this the fact that freelance rates, for writers at any rate, have not changed much in the world of journalism, and coaching is very competitive, and the lols had gone from freelancing, for sure.

This has been brewing for several months, and I began to look into some part-time and full-time contracts. And one, to use my dating analogy, was a match! We hit it off and I agreed to go steady.

I’m working as Senior Features Editor at a company called Executive Grapevine, writing articles, interviews and pieces all about HR and the world of work. From wellbeing and policy to new initiatives and advice for anyone and everyone in business. It ties in rather nicely with everything I’ve been working on so far with Freelance Feels, and as a coach and writer.

It’s a full time role. Not a contract, as in with an end date, but a full-time, permanent role. So, have I abandoned freelancing? Given up on it?

Well, yes and no I suppose. Because it’s true I am now not freelance. I’m not pitching ideas to mags or websites, or looking for contract work.

And man is there a relief! I have the odd idea and then remember I don’t have to pitch it for hardly any money and I feel so happy. I’ve just had my first pay day in 6 years and I felt a peace I hadn’t felt in a long time.

I am enjoying being part of a team, having a purpose, a title and a new niche.

I am loving the potential of the role and the people I am meeting and going to meet.

When I said yes to this job, I worried people would think I was abandoning the freelance cause. But who says that I can’t champion freelancers and advise on freelance life as a coach? And also, should we stay in place ‘a’ because going to place ‘b’ would bother other people?

So what next for Freelance Feels?

Well, the podcast is still going! You can listen to all the latest episodes on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, I Heart Radio, Podbean… please do rate and review it! Click here for Spotify

Instagram will still be a hub for sharing freelance insight, and also coaching insight, too.

And this newsletter will still land in your inboxes every month. It might shift gears a little, and look at the world of work as well as freelancing. I am considering some guest posts over the coming months from key freelancers I know and respect. We’ll see.

I hope that by being honest you’ll stick around and move with this as it shifts… and if not, then I understand.

xJenny

Freelance Feels | Jenny Holliday

Freelance Feels | Jenny Holliday on Instagram: “For anyone who needs to hear this today!! #freelance #freelancechallenges #freelancereality #itsnoteasybeingfreelance #freelancefeels #beingfreelance #beingfreelancer #freelancefeelscommunity #freelancewriter #freelancelife #freelancecoach #freelancecoaching #freelancecoachingplatform #freelancecoaches #freelancefamily #freelancefam #freelancecopywriter”

June 20, 2023