Comments on: Freelancer’s Survival Guide: When To Return To Your Day Job http://kriswrites.com/2009/10/01/freelancers-survival-guide-when-to-return-to-your-day-job/ Mon, 21 May 2012 19:22:09 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: The Great Geek Manual » Geek Media Round-Up: October 2, 2009 http://kriswrites.com/2009/10/01/freelancers-survival-guide-when-to-return-to-your-day-job/comment-page-1/#comment-445 The Great Geek Manual » Geek Media Round-Up: October 2, 2009 Sat, 03 Oct 2009 05:32:44 +0000 http://kriswrites.com/?p=1190#comment-445 [...] Kristine Kathryn Rusch offers advice on When to Return to Your Day Job. [...] [...] Kristine Kathryn Rusch offers advice on When to Return to Your Day Job. [...]

]]> By: Scott William Carter http://kriswrites.com/2009/10/01/freelancers-survival-guide-when-to-return-to-your-day-job/comment-page-1/#comment-444 Scott William Carter Sat, 03 Oct 2009 04:22:03 +0000 http://kriswrites.com/?p=1190#comment-444 Good stuff, Kris. Even for a person with a day job, it gave me lots to think about. One thing that really changed the dynamic for me, of course, was the kids. Before they came along, I didn't hesitate to give up a day job and start a bookstore, going a year without any net income and barely making minimum wage the second year. But once the kids came along, my risk tolerance changed. One thing that really helped me was to stop seeing becoming a full-time writer as a goal in itself and instead a biproduct of reaching a larger goal -- like becoming a bestseller, making the Times list, etc. That way I don't drive myself crazy about it, and the focus is then on the right things -- reaching the largest audience possible. Good stuff, Kris. Even for a person with a day job, it gave me lots to think about. One thing that really changed the dynamic for me, of course, was the kids. Before they came along, I didn’t hesitate to give up a day job and start a bookstore, going a year without any net income and barely making minimum wage the second year. But once the kids came along, my risk tolerance changed.

One thing that really helped me was to stop seeing becoming a full-time writer as a goal in itself and instead a biproduct of reaching a larger goal — like becoming a bestseller, making the Times list, etc. That way I don’t drive myself crazy about it, and the focus is then on the right things — reaching the largest audience possible.

]]> By: Lyn Worthen http://kriswrites.com/2009/10/01/freelancers-survival-guide-when-to-return-to-your-day-job/comment-page-1/#comment-443 Lyn Worthen Fri, 02 Oct 2009 14:16:47 +0000 http://kriswrites.com/?p=1190#comment-443 My favorite "fall back" job between freelance gigs has always been to go down and register with the local temp services. Usually minimum wage, and no benefits, true, but very flexible -- if you're not available to work, or don't want a particular assignment, it's no issue for them, just means you don't get paid for that day/week/whatever. When the freelance gigs pick back up, it's easy to walk away from a temp "career," because you're never at an assignment long enough to get attached in any way. You do have to be a bit aggressive to get the first few gigs, but once they get to know you, some services will often call when they have a temp spot that matches your skills. I took so many assignments I was ridiculously overqualified for -- printing slogans on lanyards, stuffing fish-food pellets, slapping labels on cosmetics, assembling frozen dinners, not to mention a bazillion office jobs of all sorts. Temping not only paid the bills, it also added to my stock of characters, settings, etc., for future fiction, so had a double benefit! L My favorite “fall back” job between freelance gigs has always been to go down and register with the local temp services. Usually minimum wage, and no benefits, true, but very flexible — if you’re not available to work, or don’t want a particular assignment, it’s no issue for them, just means you don’t get paid for that day/week/whatever. When the freelance gigs pick back up, it’s easy to walk away from a temp “career,” because you’re never at an assignment long enough to get attached in any way. You do have to be a bit aggressive to get the first few gigs, but once they get to know you, some services will often call when they have a temp spot that matches your skills. I took so many assignments I was ridiculously overqualified for — printing slogans on lanyards, stuffing fish-food pellets, slapping labels on cosmetics, assembling frozen dinners, not to mention a bazillion office jobs of all sorts. Temping not only paid the bills, it also added to my stock of characters, settings, etc., for future fiction, so had a double benefit!

L

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