Meeting deadlines and being punctual are essential characteristics for freelancers. So, the worst time to be a freelancer is when you can’t do either.
Of course, I relaunched my freelance career just as my mother was diagnosed with an incurable and devastating disease.
The fact that I live a 12-hour flight from my parents confounds matters. I have flown six times in seven months for different lengths of time. I don’t always know when I’m going to fly until a few hours before.
I find that the ICU contributes to writers’ block.
Nobody owes me anything. I know that.
Organizations have deadlines to meet and having a freelancer who cannot commit to those goals 100 percent of the time helps no one.
I get that. I have been an editor in charge of a news broadcast, a newspaper section, a magazine, and a video production channel – and I know what it is like to wait for a freelancer.
This blog post is a thank you.
Thank you to those who are sticking with me. Thank you for your understanding. Thank you for letting me have a few extra days.
Thank you to those who have said I can reconnect when things settle down and start our relationship anew. Without holding missed cutoff dates against me.
Thank you to those who have said this kind of relationship won’t work. Your honesty is appreciated.
For over 20 years, my work ethic has always been about delivering a product – writing, speaking, editing, collaborating – on time, if not early.
Succeeding as a freelancer in a time of uncertainty is most definitely a challenge. And, this challenge is how this new chapter in my career begins.
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