The (Brutally Honest) Pros and Cons of Being a Freelance Copywriter

Are there downsides to blogging in your pyjamas every day? (Yes)

Photo by Amelia Bartlett on Unsplash

I have been freelancing for over two years now and I’ve been running my own freelance copywriting business for the majority of that time.

Last year, I wrote about 7 Things I Learnt in My First 7 Weeks as a Freelance Writer and in this article, I’m aiming to give more of a long-term view of what life is like as a freelance copywriter and the pros and cons you can expect to experience if you decide to give it a try for yourself.

Let’s start with some of the positives, shall we? Tis’ the season to be jolly, after all! :)

The Freedom & Flexibility

This is a biggie. There’s no denying that becoming freelance offers a certain freedom and flexibility that’s difficult to achieve when you’re employed. I literally make all the decisions, from when and where I work to how much work I take on, who I work for and what I charge for my work.

If you’re someone who struggles with the confines of being told, “This is just how it’s done” by your employer or someone who needs flexibility in your working arrangements because you have other commitments, such as caring responsibilities, then freelancing can offer a way to earn money without neglecting or sacrificing those other aspects of your life and staying true to yourself and who you are.

Better For the Environment…Possibly

This one’s a bit specious because no one is quite sure yet whether working remotely is definitively better for the environment when you take into account all the different factors. However, it’s certainly true that you won’t need to commute anywhere (unless you want to!) therefore reducing your personal carbon emissions from car travel or public transport. If you already walked or cycled to work before going freelance, then obviously this doesn’t count but you still get a gold star for being super! ;)

You Can Work to Live Rather Than Live to Work

Being freelance means you can say no to projects that would interfere with your family life. It means you can…