I graduated college in 2009. Most of my readership is around my age, so I don’t have to explain the state of the economy at that point in time. But for those of you who were still in high school or middle school in 2009 (also hi? Thank you for thinking I’m cool and hip enough to be reading this), it was basically like the job market right now, minus a pandemic and an orange devil, plus a recession. Basically, actually becoming a gainfully employed fresh college graduate was looking bleak.

Although I majored in Journalism and had been writing short stories, chapters of YA novels, scripts, and poetry since I learned how to read and write, I had no idea how to make a living off of writing. In my world, the only way to make it as a writer was to be a starving artist living in New York, chain smoking cigarettes, wearing all black, and making myself sad dinners of pasta with jarred tomato sauce while a drippy ‘90s ballad played softly in the background. In other words, I thought the only way to make it as a writer was to become some sort of manic pixie dream girl struggling through the fabulous streets of New York and barely making rent. While that was and still is a viable option, my feeble 23-year-old, scared-of-the-unknown ass couldn’t handle it. So instead I did the easy/safe thing and took the first job I could find, which happened to be in the advertising sales department at a local television station. That was in August 2009.

In March of 2010, I launched emmasthing.com. The writer in me was aching for an outlet and had no idea how to expend all my creative energy (besides breaking up with my college boyfriend every other week) so a blog it was. Back then, blogs were blogs. That’s it — nothing less, nothing more. They weren’t true websites. They weren’t your online portfolio. They were literally glorified internet journals that maybe your mom, sister, and a few close friends read. You most likely had one because you were a lost 20something who had no idea what they wanted to do with their post-collegiate life, but definitely had a lot of feelings which for some reason felt good to share on the World Wide Web.

I stayed at the television station in my sales job for about a year and a half, all the while posting multiple non-sensical entries to my blog daily. My second job in the corporate world was another sales gig but at Fossil HQ here in Dallas (but really Richardson) and, although my days were filled with designer watches and inventory, I never stopped writing on emmasthing.com. Most of it was still pretty non-sensical, but slowly and surely, my voice started to form. My words and thoughts began to take shape and have points—it was wild. I got a few random gigs; mostly local publications and zines. But it was enough to whet my writing whistle even further and make me realize I had to write for a living and get out of this dead-end, unfulfilling trajectory I was on. It was now or never.

And that’s exactly what happened this past year—that “now or never” mentality. After 8 years of working as a professional copywriter, I was growing weary. Weary of being so restricted in my voice and tone, weary of having my words and copy chopped, screwed, and completely re-written to an unrecognizable point, and most of all, weary of how vastly different I felt mentally when I was copywriting for work as opposed to writing for my blog and the few clients I had managed to obtain over the past few years. In the fall, I said out loud: “I will be full-time freelance by my birthday.” I didn’t believe it, I just felt like maybe if I said it out loud it had a better chance of coming to fruition. I knew deep down it would be more like a 2021 goal, but it was fun to pretend that maybe my birthday in April was realistic.

By February, I was miserable. It hit me that, while traditional copywriting did in fact pay the rent, I had put myself in a box I wanted out of desperately. One day, while sitting at my desk, I had an epiphany: If I had 8 full hours a day, 5 days a week to spend working on my own brand and my own clients, I could do this. I could make this a full-time thing. If I didn’t have to split my energy between a 9-5 and a side hustle, who knows what I could be capable of. The thought was so strong and felt so right, I knew it was time. I didn’t know it back in the fall when I had said it out loud, but now I did. So I made a plan; concocted an exit strategy, if you will. I told my friends and my family. My parents were on board. My sister was on board. My best friends were on board. I wept with excitement and relief knowing I was finally going to be on my way down the path I’d been meant to take for years. I was actually going to be full-time freelance by my birthday in April!

But then COVID happened and my gorgeous exit strategy was sullied. The first two weeks of this new WFH life, I grieved hard. Something that had taken me literal years to build up the courage to do was postponed indefinitely, and I feared that my passion and momentum to go after what I wanted would disappear into thin air. I was going to be in corporate America forever at this point. I mean, who in their right mind would ever give up a salaried, full-time job amidst a global pandemic to pursue their dream of freelance writing? That would be insane. I would have to wait this thing out for an indeterminate amount of time.

Me, at the beginning of quarantine, silently mourning my ruined plan

But I couldn’t. So I didn’t. My birthday came and went and, about a month and a half after it, I took the plunge and I’ve never been happier.

It’s been a long journey to get here, but I’m here. And if you’re contemplating the same thing or sort of the same thing, allow me to offer you 6 pieces of advice:

Build up your savings big time
I wouldn’t have been able to cut ties with corporate America had I not been saving money like a squirrel for the last several years. I’m not sure what the professional tactic is—all I knew is I had enough to get me through a solid 6 months, and that was worst case scenario. Meaning, if I got absolutely no clients, no jobs, no new money, I could support myself for 6 months before having to make my next big decision. And speaking of worst case scenarios…
Think of and get comfortable with best and worst case scenarios
It’s gonna work out. But if it doesn’t, what’s your plan? Also, if it goes better than good, what’s your plan? Have a backup plan for your backup plan to backup the backup plan. Also, don’t let the word “plan” scare you like it does me. Just have an idea of WTF you’re gonna do whether it goes great or poorly is all I’m saying. But it’s gonna go great so don’t worry. But have a backup plan.
Consider hiring a financial advisor
I’ve never had one before but am so glad I was advised to get one. My guy helped me get my LLC all set up as well as figure out healthcare (a bitch) and business bank account. If you need someone, email me and I’ll pass his info along! And speaking of money…
Know your rates
But be ready and willing to adjust them as need be. What to charge as a freelancer makes almost every single freelancer I know want to shrivel up and die. It’s a lot easier when someone sets your price for you but it’s time to put on your best mom jeans and know your damn worth. Create an ongoing sheet with set prices for different types of requests, knowing all the while that they’re subject to change depending on a lot. For example, I like to charge by the word for simple articles/posts. For big edits or longer-form, more time consuming writing, I switch to hourly or flat rate. A really big, all-encompassing project is most definitely a flat rate situation you need to negotiate with your client. And, of course, getting clients on retainer is the ultimate dream.
Have a few clients already
It’s not ideal to stretch your energy and creative juices thin by having clients on the side when you’re manning a full-time job. However, it’s possible and necessary before taking the plunge. Having even just 2 or 3 clients lined up will make you feel 100x better about your freelance life and give you the confidence and legitimacy to go after new ones once you’re fully up and running on your own!
Tell everyone you know
The best advertising is word of mouth, so don’t keep your new venture a secret from anyone once it’s official. You never know who will come out of the woodwork when you put yourself and your talents out there. Share it with friends and family, on social media, blast out a big email—however you want to get the word out, give your network a chance to put their ears to the ground for you (even though any boss ass bitch knows she’s the only one who will get shit done at the end of the day).

I’m only two months into this freelance lifestyle, so I’m no expert. But something I’ve already picked up on in the freelance community is that the age old saying that goes something like “No one has any idea what the fuck they’re doing” is rampant. And it’s true—we might not, but at least we’re out here doing it for ourselves on our own terms. That’s what makes all the difference and what makes the wins and losses hit that much harder. I can’t wait to share more with you guys as I grow further into this career. If you ever have a question, idea, or comment, email me: emmasthing@gmail. And if you ever have any writing needs, let’s talk!

xox,