Freelance

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Are there any freelancers of any kind here? Freelance writers?

Do you have any advice for those trying to start as a freelancer? While the advice of writers and editors would help my own case, I would like to seek the advice of all freelancers just in case there are others who may benefit from the knowledge.

I have been doing freelance editing for about six months. I work for one of the big companies that serves mainly non-native English authors in various parts of the world. It is sometimes interesting work, but it translates to about minimum wage or less, depending on how well I can concentrate on it.

One big company is "American Journal Editors" -- you can look them up and see what it's like. There are other similar ones in different fields, I believe. I gather the people who do this kind of thing successfully for a real living often start with one of these companies to get experience, and then set up for themselves (and so make a lot more money).

I'm a freelance engineer, currently working on retainer with a few private sector companies. There's been a lot of bumps over the years, but I finally have a large enough space to unlock my full potential. It also took me ages to find a proper draughtsman, which I finally found in the gaming industry of all places.

Still, even though I earn quite a bit of money, and I find the work entertaining, freelance engineering was really more of a hobby, one which wasn't all that different from my other craft work hobbies. I really miss my previous job working in Hydroponic Farming, we were on the cusp of many new discoveries, and even set on the path to solve world hunger, at least that was the play, it's more of a dream now. Scotland banned Genetically Modified Crops, so the company packed up and left town.

I had envisioned myself as one day becoming an Aeroponic Farmer, one that would save the world from hunger.

Now I need to find a new cause to embrace...

I'm trying to become a freelance editor. I'm slowly starting to network with other editors and hopefully make it a career!

I don't want to discourage anyone from doing this, but I worked as a freelance engineer for a few months, and I am still dealing with the consequences.

If you decide to go down this road, it is critical to make sure you can handle the taxes from this. I made a lot of money very quickly, and was on the hook for the taxes, which are much more complicated than handling taxes as an employee.

I freaked out over this, and just decided it wasn't important, and didn't file or save the right information. I'm only just now clearing all this up with them.

So please, for anyone who has organizational difficulties: make sure you have your ducks in a row. Have a plan for how you will handle the taxes before you get started. I would have been so much better off if I had gotten an accountant or had a friend or family member help me with the organizational aspects before getting started.

Thanks for responding. You've all been helpful.