There is no elegant way to say this. I have decided to quit this newsletter. The reason for that is simple. Three years ago, Linda and I were sitting around the table around the holiday season. Our champagne glasses were overflowing with bubbles, as were we – with ideas for a newsletter that would bring freelancers together. There were all sorts of dilemmas we wanted to share with other freelancers, and long working days we wanted to make less lonely. We were also both frustrated that so few people seemed interested in defending the interests of freelancers.
That’s how the The Friendly Freelancer was born – and we would spend three years writing about what was on our and your minds. As those three years have passed, it’s become harder and harder for me to find topics I haven't touched on yet. I feel like I've said everything I wanted to say about freelancing. And also everything I CAN say, because there are things I would love to write about, but I’m sure my clients don’t want to read.
That's not the only thing to have changed since Linda and I decided to start a newsletter that December evening. Three years ago, I mainly saw The Friendly Freelancer as a sounding board for all the struggles that go hand in hand with freelancing. After all, freelancing was not entirely a free choice for me. Yes, I wanted to be my own boss, but I also knew that the kind of journalistic work I wanted to do at the time was simply hardly possible in paid employment.
So, I have regularly used this space to vent, but after three years of reading your comments, it is not so much the shared frustrations that will stick with me. Yes, freelancing is often tough, but after three years of connecting with our readers (that's you!), I’m mostly left with a deep sense of pride. I am proud to be part of a group of individuals who make the best of this lifestyle, in all kinds of creative ways. A group of people who manage to deal with more uncertainty and freedom than is sometimes healthy over and over again, and who find motivation and inspiration in themselves again and again.
I also noticed that the biggest prejudice about freelancers – that we don't exactly stand in solidarity with one another – is not true. You proved all too willing to share your experiences, solutions and network with us and other readers. This has also been my own experience over the past few years, outside of this newsletter. I often got my best assignments through other freelancers, who passed on my name to their clients. I got my best tips for dealing with things like late payments and scope creep from fellow freelancers who were generous enough to share their knowledge and experiences with me.
In addition, I saw other freelancers grow over the past three years. Talented freelancers I have known for a long time reached a level where their work is valued and compensated accordingly. Several of our readers organised their work so that they could realise a passion project they had long dreamed of. I saw self-taught freelancers getting better and better and more confident in what they do – without an employer-provided training programme or support from a boss or team.
In short, I got to know another story about freelancing through this newsletter. A story that is not all doom and gloom, but a story of courageous people who develop their talents through freelancing, create meaningful work and build a reliable source of income. Thus, my half-hearted choice to go freelance has increasingly become a sincere one. Thanks in part to you – and not least to my partner in crime Linda 🙏
That's the last thing I want to say about freelancing. For now, anyway. I want to make room for new projects and new topics I can dive into. What that will mean for the future of the newsletter, we haven't quite figured that out yet. To be continued then, so keep an eye on your inbox.
Want to keep in touch? Add me on LinkedIn or message me there. I'd love to keep following what you all are doing.
Take care,
Selma
Ahhhhh! Selma!!! I just want to say how much I’ve loved this newsletter and thank you for writing it and bringing us all together. And, most importantly, well done for making the right decision for you going forward! Xx