This blog is dedicated to writing. A simple task which even a 4 year old can now do. You'd agree with me if I said anyone who had an education can write. However, not everyone is willing to love writing hours upon hours. Even rare are those who are willing to actually study techniques of writing for the various purpose.
Writer's Lifestyle
If you want to make a living out of the pen and keyboard, you must be prepared to work alone. Especially true in the first few months when you cannot afford someone else.
I've been doing copywriting since January 2008. In December 2008, I stepped into the world of screen writing and script writing. To accommodate all this, I need to convert one room in the house and turn it into a SOHO - a small office, home office. Herein lies two desks, one for me and another for my housemate cum operation & technical manager. I'm lucky that this guy is willing to sacrifice some of his time on top of regular work to keep me going.
When Even the force has a dark side
Motivation. The number one issue which entrepreneurs and writers have to face. Sometimes it's easy to loose focus of things. You need to constantly remind yourself what you want to achieve. To a degree, you have to be self-sustaining as there's no one else to remind you.
No employee benefits. When you're working alone, there are no employee benefits. Unless you sign a contract with yourself that You the Boss would provide medical & dental benefits to You the Writer. Forget about the EPF and Bonus. You're going to have to work that out yourself.
No Opportunities for Promotion. If you're a freelance writer, it's a dead end job. You don't get a promotion as long as you're not having a 9-to-5 job. You can change your job title - I did that once before - but that's all. Your salary may or may not rise. Unless your working just won the Pulitzer Prize, the Nobel Prize for Literature or even an Academy Award for Best Screenplay, you won't impress the ladies (or guys, depending on your sex and gender). I have a registered business which I operate from. But compared to a Creative Director at so-so-and-so Advertising Firm or Publishing House, I'm nothing.
No Stable Income. There's no such thing as a monthly paycheck, except if your publisher pays you monthly royalty. For the first 9 months of last year, despite having jobs, I did not make anything more than RM100. In fact, I had been screwed by a client. The agency refused to honour the invoice. This month, I received a cheque for RM220. Good and ideal if you still receive a monthly allowance from your parents or already have a sound source of income/savings.
No Colleagues. Most of the time I work alone. Unless you're lucky enough to convince your wife and family to write with you, chances are you'd be doing it alone. So you'd be staring at the computer surrounded by four walls in solitude. If you're a social person, expect your life to be dull.
The Sunny side up
Freedom of Time. I play games on working hours. Despite a looming deadline at 3pm today, I can even go take a shower and enjoy the TV. One hour or two before the deadline, I get back to the job. 'Lazy' you may say. But my productivity and morale is better after such incubation sessions compared to without. Perhaps it also comes as a form of motivation? But in any case, this is making me love my work as a writer. As long as I mind the deadline and appointments, my time is mine to decide.
Did I mention, there's no fixed working hours! I can just sit at my desk immediately after I wake up - still in my pyjamas and all. Alternatively I can just not be at my desk the whole day! There are times I slept late or wake up extremely early in the morning. Instead of having your time being dictated and controlled, you set your own schedule and time table.
Freedom of Commitment. When on company property and company hours, you're not allowed to do anything not profiting the company. You can't draft the first few chapters to your latest novel. If the child is crying, you cannot attend to her. When a stack of paper is dumped onto your desk, you're expected to complete everything by day's end. The scenario is completely different for a freelancer!
I decide which projects to accept, reject or discontinue. I'm not compelled to rewrite over and over again endlessly. At my Terms of Service page, I specified how far of my services are free and how far are charged. When drafting the invoice, I decide to include or omit the 'Miscellaneous Services Fee'. Now it's omitted.
When I have no project to complete, I create something. I start working on story development for my script writing projects. I write entries to my various blogs. When there's an exhibition or two, I'd be making my way there. Since I am a registered talent with Yusmanja Entertainment, they'll offer me extra/acting jobs every now and then. I can even attend courses and classes because my timetable is extremely flexible. If all else fails, I read. The idea is to keep me busy. I believe in something I read: if you want something done, give it to busy people.
Total Enjoyment of Earnings. As a writer-entrepreneur, I get to fly solo. I decide to share the earnings or not. Unlike employees paid a fixed income, they may generate RM100,00 with what they did. With each month, it can be either more or less than the value. Nonetheless, this dedicated employee would always be paid RM3,500. Throw in the annual bonus and incentives every now and then. As for freelancers? They keep all their earnings - until the tax collector knocks on the door that is. :-p
Why I Do It
Some may complain the tea being too sweet or too bitter. Perhaps Lipton and Boh are not exactly your choice. You'd prefer Jasmine or Mint or even Green Tea. As for me, I'm liking this because of the perks. True, the downfalls are there: I am hired as long as my clients like me. Competition is fierce. I'm fighting for attention in a field where it's getting more and more crowded.
Let me share with you something: I enjoy the freedom. It's not the remuneration that matters 100%. But it's the freedom to decide where I'm going, how fast and when. More importantly, I get to decide why am I doing all this. Thanks to the initiative, I now have 1 year working experience even while in varsity!
Once I have that goal, I will figure out ways to achieve it. Then I take that initiative to move towards the goal. I'm putting everything on the line here. It's not that I'm desperate. I still have a bed of roses to fall onto. But as time rapidly changes, I doubt that being on the left side of the quadrant is for me.
Is this your cup of tea?
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