70 JULY 2019JOHN PAULO AGUILERAWHAT I’VE LEARNED FROM HALF
A YEAR OF WRITING FREELANCE
OPEN FORUMIt’s been
six months since I’ve jumped ship as
associate section editor for a men’s
lifestyle website and hopped on the
freelance bandwagon.
Early last year, most of my colleagues in
the editorial industry have already left the
office and their full-time jobs to pursue
self-employment, which according to them
presented better opportunities. Back then,
I had no reason to do the same thing—I
was getting paid to do what I love, with a
team that I trust, in a comfortable yet still
challenging environment.
We just came from planning for the next
editorial calendar; the next thing I knew we’re
being told that management has decided
to cease the website’s operations. As much
I want to grieve over something that I have
invested almost four years of my life in, it’s
better to check out gracefully and prepare for
the next chapter of your career.
After my resignation, I told myself that I was
going to take it easy and accept freelance
work in the next three months before sending
out applications. Fast forward to June and
I’m still meeting clients in coffee shops and
deadlines in front of my home office desk at
least four times a week.
I have taken a handful of writing and editing
assignments on the side during my tenure
with the company, but this is the first time
that I had to rely solely on raket for
sustainability. The thought of working
for yourself and on your own time seems
appealing, but there is more to it than
meets the eye.Compared to other seasoned freelancers,
my experience as a full-time self-employed
creative is rather lacking. What my short
time making side hustles my main thing
has confirmed, though, is basically what
my predecessors had been commending
or complaining about this double-edged
working setup whenever we talk shop.Money is good, but erratic
Let’s get this out of the way: the favorable
conditions and unlimited opportunities
in freelance can translate into bigger
potential for big bucks. On the flip side,
the bane of working outside a structure
is the financial (in)stability, which largely
depends on the number of writing jobs and
if you get paid on time.Unlike in regular jobs, you can’t expect
to receive a consistent sum mid- and
end-month. I’m not even bringing up
logistic costs and health coverage.
Among keys to surviving such a cutthroat
community are an effective budget and
being aggressive yet still meticulous in
choosing projects. In my case, having
supportive parents also helped.One day you have so much for an out-of-
the-country trip, the next you’re scrambling
to pay for your bills.Edit yourself, if you still don’t
Staff writers are expected to double, even
triple check their work before submitting to
the editor. However, freelance scribes don’t
usually have the luxury of another pair of
eyes to proofread and fact-check, which
leaves more room for error. There’s no such
thing as too much self-editing, if it means
fewer revisions and an earlier final draft.My responsibilities as associate section editor
included assigning stories to the website’s
contributing writers and editing their articles.
Those years of refining someone else’s work
made it easier to scrutinize my own writing.Good reputation is the best portfolio
Connections are the lifeblood of
freelancers, which is why maintaining
a good image—both in terms of quality
of work and professionalism—is crucial.
A self-employed worker meets more
new people than their office-bound
counterparts, so you don’t want a current
client talking to potential ones about your
shoddy writing or chronic tardiness.Aside from producing a steady amount
of work, positive word of mouth can also
unlock underdeveloped skills, apparently.
A former colleague referred me to a
design agency to write a script for an
instructional video—my first freelance
project. Scriptwriting wasn’t exactly one of
my strengths, but I think I was able to come
through for the contractor and my peer.Enjoy the free(dom) in freelance
At the end of the day, we have different
reasons why we decided to be independent.
Some of us liked the idea of earning more,
while others, including myself, wanted to
break free from the stress of commuting,
overtime, and the corporate grind. It’s what
you do with the sudden sense of liberty that
defines your next, move career-wise and in
life in general.Take your time. Take a break. This was my
first sabbatical since working for ten straight
years—seven as writer and three as service
crew even before graduating. Recover
physically and mentally. Pursue a passion.
I was able to realize my dream of releasing
music and playing in gigs. Make the most out
of this chance to find work-life balance.It’s one thing to dedicate yourself to a high-
paying full-time job, it’s another to get stuck
in a situation you can’t get out of.