Dr. Freelance

  • HOME
  • BOOKS
  • WEBINARS
  • BLOG
  • PUBLISHING
  • ABOUT
    • CONSULTING
    • ABOUT DR. FREELANCE
    • ABOUT JAKE POINIER
    • CONTACT US
  • Get New Clients
  • Make More Money Freelancing
  • Manage Your Freelance Business
  • Videos
  • General

Why it’s time to quit freelancing

April 1, 2016 by Jake Poinier

Like this post? Please share it!

quit freelancing This is the most difficult post I’ve ever written, because I’ve decided it’s time to quit freelancing.  I’d need several thousand words to explain exactly why, but what follows is a basic overview of my reasoning.

  • Awful freelance jobs. I’ve been freelancing for almost 17 years now, and the decrease in the quality and quantity of freelance jobs is appalling. Good clients are too far and few in between, and it’s not worth the effort to find them anymore.
  • Pricing pressures. Content mills and bidding sites in particular have ruined the pricing structure in our industry, but it’s also all of the freelancers who are willing to work for pennies on the dollar who are responsible for the downward trend. I feel like I’m swimming against the tide when I try to get a decent rate—and a lot more people are saying no.
  • Retirement. No, I’m not that old, but at my current pace, I can’t possibly save enough money to retire on by freelancing. I’m confident that a more traditional job, with a steady paycheck and all the other awesome perks, will be a much better way to get there.
  • Interest level. I have to be honest with myself: I’m just not that excited to do freelance projects anymore. My dreams of being a professional baseball player may be long gone, but it’s time to do something other than be a freelance writer and editor.
  • Lost clients. I feel like I jinxed myself on this one by writing about freelance client diversity a few weeks ago. But this one, paired with the lack of good jobs mentioned in the first bullet, have made it difficult to keep my head above water.
  • Freelancing isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. We all talk about how great the freedom of freelancing is, and that’s probably one of the aspects I’ll miss the most. Freedom comes with a flip side, however, which is a ridiculous amount of responsibility. I’m tired of it.
  • Other job opportunities. If you’re on LinkedIn, you probably get those blast emails about jobs in your local area like I do. Unlike the quality of freelance jobs, it seems like the corporate ones keep getting more and more enticing—enough so that it’s time to quit freelancing. I’d be a fool to ignore those opportunities!
  • Other interests. This is tough to admit, but I feel like I’m getting writer’s block more often. And let’s be honest: Editing is pretty boring unless you’re doing it on a really good book. So, it’s time to use the other parts of my brain.
  • Lost revenues. This one is probably attributable to the jinx factor, as well. I regret having written that semi-scathing post about the Freelancers Union’s #FreelanceIsntFree campaign. I recently suffered a nonpaying client, and I’ve come around to the idea the government absolutely should get involved in helping freelancers get paid. Even better would be if we could have a union to protect us! It’s not only the best answer, it’s the only answer.
  • Simplifying my life. In retrospect, it’s been a good run. But between freelance writing and editing clients, helping authors get published, writing my own books, and running this blog, I’ve hit the breaking point. It’s time to quit freelancing, simplify back to a safe, steady 9-to-5 job, and get rid of all the clutter.

My books about freelancing will still be available on Amazon, and I will keep this blog running through the end of my hosting plan and/or the domain name, whichever comes first. I can’t remember.

IMPORTANT! If this news—that Dr. Freelance has decided to quit freelancing—comes as a shock, please read down the capital letters at the beginning of each bulleted item. My true feelings are precisely the opposite of what I’ve written above.

EQUALLY IMPORTANT! If you’re reading this on any other day besides the first day of the fourth month of the year, please check the dateline at the top of the post.

Like this post? Please share it!

Filed Under: General Tagged With: April Fool's Day, calling it quits, freelance lifestyle, rants

Like What You've Read? Subscribe to Dr. Freelance

* indicates required

Comments

  1. Lori says

    April 1, 2016 at 10:17 am

    I’ll admit — my knee-jerk reaction was “WHAT?” then I saw the date on the post. 🙂

    • Jake Poinier says

      April 1, 2016 at 10:34 am

      I think I may insert APRIL FOOLS in the headline after today!

  2. Natalie Murray says

    April 1, 2016 at 10:24 am

    Good one! 😉

    • Jake Poinier says

      April 1, 2016 at 10:34 am

      Thanks for reading, Natalie!

  3. Sue says

    April 1, 2016 at 12:04 pm

    Well played, Jake, well played.

    • Jake Poinier says

      April 1, 2016 at 12:15 pm

      Thanks, Sue!

  4. Debra Gelbart says

    April 1, 2016 at 2:37 pm

    Very clever post, Jake! You make excellent points for a serious article as well.

    • Jake Poinier says

      April 1, 2016 at 2:42 pm

      Thank you, Debra! Based on some of the feedback I received today, I’m going to do a followup post next week.

  5. Leslie Lang says

    April 1, 2016 at 5:27 pm

    Your points are so well taken that I was completely bamboozled. I believed you! But in spite of it all we keep on plugging, don’t we?!

    • Jake Poinier says

      April 1, 2016 at 6:20 pm

      Indeed we do. Happy April Fool’s Day, Leslie!

  6. Cassie Tuttle says

    April 2, 2016 at 1:32 am

    I almost fell for it …. 😉

    • Jake Poinier says

      April 2, 2016 at 7:02 am

      I’m glad to see “almost,” Cassie! 😉

  7. dyb says

    April 4, 2016 at 3:14 am

    I bit. Hook, line, and sinker. Then I read your note about the acrostic. I’ll be really interested in your follow up. All these things have been my experience lately. But I can’t quite believe that going back to the simplicity of working 9-5 for someone else is s better option. I still remember why I left that world. And on the most difficult day I still can’t imagine not answering the question “what do you do?” with “I write.”

    Thanks for this post!

    • Jake Poinier says

      April 5, 2016 at 7:05 am

      Thanks for commenting, dyb. My reasons for leaving the 9-5 world are still just as vivid ~17 years later!

Subscribe to Dr. Freelance

* indicates required

Books by Jake Poinier

Follow Dr. Freelance on Twitter!

Tweets by @DrFreelance

Categories

Recent Comments

  • Jake Poinier on A freelance pep talk and open-line Friday on 3-26
  • Joy Drohan on A freelance pep talk and open-line Friday on 3-26
  • Jake Poinier on What three business problems are keeping you up at night?
  • Jake Poinier on A freelance pep talk and open-line Friday on 3-26

Your Prescription for Success

Looking for better paying freelance jobs? Trying to improve your flow of referrals? Tired of marketing strategies that don't work? Join Dr. Freelance for one of his upcoming webinars! READ MORE.

Search

Book Better Freelance Business

Three Dr. Freelance Guides offer professional business advice for freelance writers, editors, designers, and other solo creative entrepreneurs. Whether you want more clients, better pay, more referrals, or all of the above, you've come to the right office. READ MORE.

Healthy Connections

Dr. Freelance enjoys talking shop on social media. Check him out on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, or LinkedIn to hear his latest diagnosis or ask a question about your business.
  • HOME
  • BOOKS
  • WEBINARS
  • BLOG
  • PUBLISHING
  • ABOUT

Dr. Freelance: Healthy Business Prescriptions for Freelance Creatives.
All contents Copyright © 2023 by Jake Poinier. All rights reserved. Privacy. Fair Use of Content.
Dr. Freelance® and More Cowbell® are trademarks of Boomvang® Creative Group, LLC, and More Cowbell Books, LLC, respectively.