After reading My So-Called Freelance Life: How to Survive and Thrive as a Creative Professional for Hire, Michelle Goodman, is my new hero. Only thing is, I wish I bought this book years ago. (Though it wasn’t published until September 2008, by Seal Press.)
The ten bucks I spent on this book will likely save me thousands of dollars over the course of my career. And, it will definitely save me oodles of time, headaches and heartaches.
Though I read the book on my Kindle for iPhone, I plan to buy a stack of paper copies (also only $10 each) so I can give one to all of the classmates and peers who come to me for advice. It’s that helpful. More, it’s a fun read. (I know, not what you’d expect from a how-to book.) I actually laughed out loud several times.
Why’s it so helpful? Well, it’s packed with helpful resources, as you’d expect. But it’s also crammed with real-life, on-the-job experiences that ring true. In fact, in my two years as a full-time freelance writer-for-hire, I’ve run into many of the situations Goodman discusses: Crappy clients, PIE (paid-in-exposure offers), late payments, mind-numbing contracts, organization and administrative frustrations, budgeting woes and more.
Best of all, reading Goodman’s book made me feel good about my progress. It’s also convinced me to stop making excuses, over-booking my schedule and get to work on this Web site. (Thanks, Michelle!)
The book isn’t only for writers, though. If you’re looking to start any type of freelance business, My So-Called Freelance Life is a must read.
This isn’t Goodman’s first book. She also wrote The Anti 9-to-5 Guide: Practical Career Advice for Women Who Think Outside the Cube. Between books, keep up with her on Twitter and sign up for her e-mail newsletter on her Web site.
