Freelancing’s Most Beautiful Moments

Remember that day when you scored your first client? Maybe it was a Craigslist posting or opportunity through your J-school alumni group. Maybe it was your first internship with the local newspaper.

Now you’re writing for the big names like Forbes, Mashable, NYTimes, and others. You’re bringing in six-figures, living the dream, traveling the world, and meeting powerful influencers. Or maybe that’s still the goal, but you’re closer to getting there.

What was your most profound moment? Was it the day that your article made its way to the homepage of a popular online magazine? Was it the day that clients started coming to you?

Freelancing is hard work — moments of scarce work and unemployment definitely aren’t for the faint of heart. But then there’s the good stuff that constantly reminds you why you started writing in the first place.

That Day When You Became an Expert

Writer Brian Honigman lives dual lives — by day, he’s the digital marketing executive at Marc Ecko Enterprises, and by night, he’s a social media specialist, SEO expert, startup adviser, and freelance writer. The top moment of his freelance career was when these two worlds converged.

That story landed him what many marketers would call a dream job.

“A few days later, someone from Ecko’s marketing team contacted me,” Honigman said. “After a few discussions over the following months, I was hired at Marc Ecko Enterprises as pat of the marketing team.”

“It’s really amazing the type of conversations and connections that writing can help create.”

Connections are the heart of freelance writing — no matter who you’re writing for or about, you’re bound to make amazing connections.

“Freelance writing is a beneficial way of connecting with the world and helping share valuable insights on what writers know best from their personal experiences,” Honigman said. “It’s really amazing the type of conversations and connections that writing can help create.”

The Day that Set You Free

Since childhood, Justin P. Lambert had one lifelong dream — to become a writer.

“I remember finally getting permission to use my mom’s old grey typewriter one summer when I was probably 8 or 9 years old, and it was as if my words suddenly had legitimacy,” he wrote in his personal blog.

Then real life happened, and Lambert did what most Americans do — he got a job. And then he got another.

“There have been plenty of bumps and bruises along the way.”

Don’t be fooled by illusions of glamour, however. It’s no secret that the freelancer’s life is rough.

“There have been plenty of bumps and bruises along the way,” he said. “But I wouldn’t trade the freedom and satisfaction that comes with supporting my family with my mind — not for all the steady paychecks and cubicle shackles in the world.”

Today, Tomorrow, and Yesterday

As an award-winning copywriter, blogger, social media strategist, and content creator, Kathryn Aragon has spent 25 years helping marketing teams succeed.

Her top moment? All of them.

It’s that energy that fuels her inspiration.

“Every day I wake up to a new challenge — and there’s no limit to the number or size of them,” she said. “I reach for the stars and party like crazy when I touch one.”

Image courtesy of Kutlayev Dmitry/shutterstock