Author: BradS1234

Being a freelance writer is a great gig. You get to make your own hours, you get to do something you love, and you get to work from the comfort of your home, usually without pants and while watching a stupid B-movie or listening to music as loud as you want. Unfortunately, there are a number of things to consider before giving up your day job and becoming a freelance writer, or, well, a freelance anything.

While the notion of creating your own hours and working from home indeed enticing, anyone who wants to get into freelancing should know that work is not always steady. One week you could be inundated with jobs that you have barely enough time to complete, while the next could be absolutely free of work. This, of course, can only happen AFTER you’ve established yourself as a freelance writer and can in some way stand out from the many thousands of other writers vying for the same jobs. There is a silver lining, however, as several sites offer flat fee writing gigs that pay per articles. Most require you to apply, but once accepted, you can work at your own leisure. Although some tend to make a living writing for such companies, many often find it to be a great source of supplementary income.

Once you’ve established yourself as a freelance writer, there is the matter of taxes. 99% of freelance work is paid out tax free, which means it’s up to you to keep a record of all your income so you can pay appropriate taxes come mid-April. Some freelancers choose to pay quarterly taxes as opposed to yearly to lighten the load. Nothing is more terrifying than having to drop a ton of money at once on taxes that are typically deducted from each paycheck. Most freelancers tend to set aside 10-20 percent of their weekly or bi-weekly earnings to pay for taxes when the time comes.

Another concern among freelance writers is health insurance. Since freelancers are self-employed, they are unable to receive health insurance or other benefits, such as 401K from employers. As such, they’re forced to either go without insurance or seek out independent insurance, which can be quite expensive. Some choose to join the Freelancers Union, which helps freelancers obtain affordable insurance. Although this can be a major turn-off, in some cases health insurance can be tax deductible.

Negative aspects aside, there are plenty of great things about being a freelance writer. In addition to the aforementioned ability to make your own hours and work from home, there is the benefit of weekly paychecks. Living paycheck to paycheck becomes a thing of the past, as freelancing, especially in the case of pay-per-article sites, you’re given the opportunity to receive weekly, sometimes twice weekly paychecks, depending on who you work for. If you’re a stay-at-home mother or father, freelance writing can enable you to earn income while still caring for your child.

In the end, choosing a career in freelance writing can be a rewarding decision, though the pros and cons should be seriously considered before making the transition. This career is especially effective for those with great discipline and the desire to get the job done at all costs.

Associated Content

Article Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_1309968_36.html