It's my 6 month freelance anniversary!
Ok, not quite, but what's a couple of days between friends?
I’ve finally bitten the bullet! By that, I mean set up a newsletter, with a mind to actually get it out there. I’ll be back on #Write52 to help me out with content!
Six months ago, I had the crazy idea of going freelance, of being a writer full-time, and having that freedom to work the hours I wanted, for the pay I decided.
It hasn’t all been plain sailing, dear reader, and a lot of the time I’ve wanted to jack it in and find a ‘proper job’, but then I see my son’s face light up when I collect him from the school gates, and I have fun cooking tea with him. I realise that I wouldn’t get to do this if he was at a childminder until 6 pm every day.
It is currently the summer holidays and he’s been at a holiday club for the past 4 weeks, finishing at half 5 two days a week. It’s a rush to get tea, a bath and a bit of playtime slotted in before his half 7 bedtime but we manage it most weeks. I could not do this all the time! I’d end up being even more frazzled than I am most days.
He is my why
He is the reason I do what I do. The hours can be long and unforgiving and sometimes I wonder what on earth I’m doing work for at 9 pm at night, but I genuinely have fallen in love with freelance work.
I love being able to pick my clients, I love having the freedom to sometimes say, “I’m not working that day for x,y,z,” and of course I love being at home to pick up my boy.
Busy little bumble bee
I’ve been super busy the last couple of weeks, which is just fabulous as when I started out with one client, I wasn't sure how I’d scale this at all! With help from the wonderful freelancer community - shout out to my two Discord groups Female Copywriters Alliance and Freelance Chat for always being on hand for any help and guidance. It is truly appreciated.
Being busy has its ups and downs. I feel like I don’t stop, but also I know it’s only me putting the pressure on. My clients are very nice and understanding and we work on deadlines so they work for everyone. I hope this continues although I am prepared for when it doesn’t!
What else is going on?
So other than freelancing, some people may know that recently I took another big step. I decided not to run the London Marathon. I am so proud of all my friends and running buddies for doing it, I cannot wait to watch them on the tv (if I don’t make the trip down), and I am relieved it’s not me!
I’ve had a few weeks off running just to clear my head and crack on with work and it’s done me some good but now I’m ready to get back out there.
Like Ellen Forster said in her newsletter (that may or may not have inspired this one, thank you Ellen), running is my headspace. It gives me the space to get away from my thoughts, focus on my breathing, listen to an audiobook (highly recommend the St Mary’s series by Jodi Taylor) or a podcast (my favourites are currently Shagged, Married, Annoyed and My Dad Wrote a Porno - not ideal for running but perfect for having a laugh).
Anyway, I’m back out running - at least I will be tonight - and I’m looking forward to running just because, rather than for training.
I also have A LOT of reading to catch up on, with 4 books due for review by the beginning of September. I love doing my book tours and it’s even better now I know how to write them on my new website!
Finally, I changed my Twitter handle (I also set up a sneaky twitter to take my old one) so I’m slightly more professional! I’m now @GinaWriteHere, pop along and see me chat all things freelance, running, reading and parenting in one handy spot.
Socials and where to find me
Twitter: @GinaWriteHere
Instagram: www.instagram.com/bookswith_gina (books) or www.instagram.com/anxiouslyrunning (running, days out, general)
Work: Writehererightnow.co.uk
Laters taters!