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10

What is Your LEAST Favorite Part of Being a Freelance Writer?

By Jennifer Mattern on 13th November, 2008Filed in General

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It’s always nice to remind ourselves of the perks of freelance writing, but I don’t think there’s a freelancer out there who wouldn’t admit that it has its downsides as well. So I’d like to put the question out there today – what’s your least favorite aspect of being a freelance writer?

Here’s mine:

Recordkeeping – I used to love accounting and everything related to it. But when it comes to freelancing, I can’t stand it. I’m admittedly one of the worst when it comes to keeping records – I can’t claim deductions for things I should be able to (and haven’t really cared), because I simply lose things.

My client files are pretty meticulous. But receipts and such…. nah. That part of the administrative side of freelancing is the worst for me. I’ve learned the hard way to get better about it though – I keep much more than I used to. One of these days I’ll finally finish setting up a new accounting system for the business (hopefully by the first of next year), and maybe I should tack a new filing system goal onto my list.

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About the Author: Jennifer Mattern

Browse all posts from this author.

Jenn Mattern is a professional blogger and freelance business writer. She owns All Freelance Writing as well as several other sites and blogs covering PR, small business, and related topic areas. She is also currently writing a nonfiction book for freelance writers called The Query-Free Freelancer, and is the author of the Web Writer's Guide e-book series.

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10 Responses to “What is Your LEAST Favorite Part of Being a Freelance Writer?”

  1. Isaac

Fast-approaching deadlines. Actually, don’t all deadlines approach too quickly?

  • Claire McCarthy

    • For me it’s the feeling of being in endless ‘interview’ mode – the constant necessity to get that new client. I’m good at selling myself in words, but a bit reluctant when it’s face to face!

    That’s why I love online networking :o )

  • LS

    • Marketing, marketing, marketing. I can’t stand it. To be successful it’s necessary to some degree, but I find the whole process distasteful.

  • Susan

    For me it’s the severe highs and lows. I’ll go from being super busy or on a project high to dribbles of work. I try to take advantage of both and express gratitude for it, but it can be tough.

  • LaToya Irby

    Accounting is pretty hard to keep up with, especially when you have multiple income streams to keep up with.

    I have to agree with LS that marketing is my least favorite part. Responding to job ads isn’t so bad, but figuring out how to approach “cold” and “warm” prospects isn’t so easy. The constant putting yourself out there is a little taxing and time-consuming. When it pays off, though, you’ll get no complaints from me.

  • Anne Wayman

    The ups and downs in income… I love those periods when I have a big project that pays monthly or some such.

    Savings turns out to be my answer to this.

    Anne Wayman, now blogging at http://www.aboutfreelancewriting.com

  • Sue LaPointe

    By far, the accounting end of things. Even with a bookkeeper/CPA… still hate it!

  • Meryl K. Evans

    When someone prefers a phone interview to an email interview. Not lazy — but making phone calls through a relay service takes too much out of the equation and I don’t feel in charge of the interview.

    • Trackbacks

    1. Links: 2008-11-21 | Meryl.net
    2. WordCount recap - weekly news from the digital media biz « WordCount - Freelancing in the digital age

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