This evening I was speaking at the Society of Young Publishers meeting. YIKES!!! It NEARLY went like this:
Hi, I'm Lorna Brown and I'm a freelance illustrator. I became a freelancer so that I would never have to stand up in front of strangers and talk again...*then I sit down*
However, I bit the bullet and did my proper talk which I've put the basic transcript below (although I did go off on a couple of tangents). Eeek. I'm glad it is over and I'm glad I was a capable girl.
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Hello, I'm Lorna Brown and I am a freelance illustrator.
I graduated with a degree in Scientific Illustration 4 years ago. For 3 years I then worked freelance alongside part time jobs to pay the rent. But a year ago I made the break into freelancing full time.
There aren't that many options for an illustrator to work anything but freelance. It is a career very much based upon your 'style' and so people usually like to call you up as and when they need you. Also, in-house jobs usually mean taking on the house style or look, which I wasn't really interested in doing.
So, for 3 years after graduating I thought that the best thing to do was work a few hours a week in a book shop, bar or art shop and concentrate on my illustration work in the remaining hours. It never quite worked like that though. Starting my part time job at 12.30- I'd have lunch before I set off and could rarely concentrate on my work in the morning when I knew I'd have to break off from it in a few hours, Then, when I got home there would be dinner to make, a bit of a rest and 'oh, it's time for bed'. So I finally decided to make the leap and invest a lot more time and energy into making my business work.
What a leap! It's surprising how little time you have for your career when you are juggling another job too. Now I can spend 8hours a day 5 days a week working on my portfolio, going to see clients, developing my business. It became real in a way. My career gained my full attention, and I had nothing to fall back on. I realised how much the security of a part time job had actually removed much of my motivation to do the harder bits of freelancing. Suddenly, with the pressure to start earning a reasonable income as quickly as possible, phoning clients and taking my portfolio around weren't quite so scary, (Not as scary as working a 9to5 anyway!)
So, just before I made this step I took a good hard look at myself and tried to identify my weaknesses. My number one weakness was discipline. So I wrote up a schedule and pinned it up on my desk- each day I would be up at 7am and go straight out for a quick walk to clear my head. Then I'd be at my desk by 9, lunch at 1 til 2 and finish at 6.
Now, the interesting thing was that it was the breaks that were the most important. I hadn't had any time in years that I had felt truly relaxed because there was ALWAYS something I should be doing, but earmarking these break times was invaluable. My working day was suddenly a lot more productive because it had fences around it. I also bought a little kitchen timer for when I am doing those really horrible jobs like accounts. I set it for ten minutes and see how much I can get done in that time. The other big step I took was to get rid of my TV as it was far too much of a distraction.
So, pros and cons of freelancing.
Pros:
1. Number one in the pros column is that I am my own boss, I'm in complete control of my career. I do the work that I want to and not the work I don't. Every minute I spend working is an investment in myself and my brand. There is a huge amount of satisfaction from that.
2. I get to Work to my own timetable- as normal as my timetable is, they are the hours I work best, but if you are a bit of a night owl then there is nothing stopping you from working the other 9to5.
3. It's the Shortest commute ever
4. I get to be in for deliveries.
5. I have made my surroundings comfortable and pretty, and splattered motivational images all around my work space.
6. I get to be spur of the moment, a day trip to Brighton? Well, I've not got a job on today, why not? Husband needs a hand on a shoot- no problem- a day out of the house will do me good.
7. Each and everyday I get to decide what I’ll spend my energy on.
8. There are No office politics (which can sour even the best job!),
even if I have a client that's a bit of a nightmare I can communicate via email and do my work without them looking over my shoulder. But to be honest, virtually everyone I've worked with has been lovely.
BUT, it's not all wonderful and perfect, or else why would't everyone freelance?
For some people the Cons are just too big:
1. It can be hard to get away from work mentally when I am in the same physical location- I try and keep some kind of distinct boundaries. I don't have the luxury of a whole room to lock my work away in so I have a sacred 'no work space' in a corner of my bedroom.
2. There are LOTS of distractions in the home. Internet, phone, birds on the bird feeder, watching my fingernails grow.
3. The money can be unpredictable- this one seems to be the clincher for many people. It is toughest when you are starting out as you have yet to develop your client base. I'm fortunate enough to be incredibly short sighted. “Enough money for rent this month? That’ll do me!”
4. The DREADED SELF ASSESSMENT TAX RETURN!!!!
5. The isolation. You really really have to make the extra effort to meet other people. Especially like minded people. There are allsorts of internet discussion boards and support groups where you can ask advice from your peers. I also organise a portfolio meet up with other illustrators where we all have coffee and chat about our work once a month(which reminds me- I must sort out a date for the next one). Feeling like you are not alone can get you through most things. Having a blog has been a great way of communicating with other illustrators. Reading that other people have the same fears and inadequacies as you reminds you that even your heroes have their off days and maybe it's not time to hang up your paintbrushes and nip down to the job centre.
6. It can be hard to tell yourself what to do all the time. I have off days, where I just can't get it together enough to tell myself what I should be doing. It's difficult not to beat yourself up over it, but it's just part of the process of having a creative job. Often, a change of location will help you see things more clearly and you can prioritise your to do list for when you get back in your studio. If you are busy with deadlines you can always work at the weekend in exchange for a say off in the week.
So, I've not been on this path for very long but I think I've picked up a few lessons along the way. Most importantly, whatever your business is, you have to be producing work for yourself as well as clients. This work is usually what feeds your creativity and stops it all becoming a chore. Be playful, explore ideas and thoughts and do personal projects for no other reason than because you can. Keep taking each day as it comes. Have a goal or vision in mind and you'll stay heading in the right direction.
And whatever you do, make sure people KNOW about you. Send out postcards, cvs, tearsheets, anything so that other people know what you are up to and can commission you. You can be the best illustrator in the world but if you keep all your work to yourself then you will never receive a commission. Blow that trumpet of yours loud, clear and often, because no-one else will.
I love freelancing- in spite of the downsides. No-one loves their job 100% of the time, but if you can get through the negative bits, find your own solutions to problems that arise and learn to relish the challenge and independence of being your own boss then I’m sure you'll have a wonderful time freelancing.
I know I wouldn't have it any other way.
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The other woman talking was Charlie Wilson, a freelance copyeditor and proof reader and copywriter and she was ACE. If you ever need a proof reader, copywriter or copyeditor she's your girl.
In other news- I'm busy on another job and have been doing some playing around with textures and patterns. Hopefully I'll have something new and exciting to show you soon.
