Biggest Challenges As A Self Employed Independent Writer And Editor
Kathryn's biggest challenge as a self-employed writer/editor is balancing "meeting deadlines, even as life is going on," especially given recent personal hardships impacting work capacity; this highlights the precarious nature of freelance work, where paid leave and consistent income are not guaranteed, unlike traditional employment.
Overcoming Challenges, Resilience, Stress Management, Work-Life Balance, Freelancing
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Kathryn McKenzie (Kathy to my friends)
Independent writer/editor
Self-Employed
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
No graduate programs
Creative Writing, Journalism
Arts, Entertainment & Media
Creative
Honors Student
Video Highlights
1. Balancing work and life demands, especially during unexpected personal challenges.
2. The financial instability and competitiveness of freelance work; only a small percentage of freelancers achieve full-time income.
3. The importance of consistent high-quality work, meeting deadlines, and client satisfaction in maintaining a successful freelance career.
Transcript
What is your biggest challenge in your current role?
The biggest challenge as a self-employed person is meeting deadlines, even while life is happening. We've had some life challenges over the past year. My husband broke his leg in October, and my mother became very ill and passed away in January.
I've also had a couple of my own health concerns. This has led me to slow down a bit, which is part of why I cut back my workload. I am fortunate that I don't have to rely on this for my main income.
If I were relying on it for my main income, it would be extremely challenging right now. This isn't something that works for everybody, as the number of people who can actually make a living from freelancing is quite small.
I'd say maybe 5% to 10% of the top people are making a living, and they're basically working all the time. Trying to balance that is the key. You don't have paid leave like you would in a regular job for things like this.
Other challenges include meeting deadlines, being accurate, and consistently producing your best work to keep everyone happy. These are the usual things that come into play as a writer.
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