Gary Stein is a freelance journalist who thinks the pros just about outweigh the cons…..

Out of work. Shall I be patient? Or shall I get a guaranteed source of income instead of being obsessive about something which is hasn’t properly come to fruition for a good few months yet? I’ve been waiting for the phone to ring – hoping for editors wanting articles that pay from the contacts that I have assembled through previous work. I’ve been writing articles free of charge and solely for myself to make up the time, and also in order that I do not stagnate. Been reading loads of diverse material so if something crops up, you already have a basic knowledge on it. And trying to hone my skills in order to become a bit more of a specialist on certain subjects.…

Freelance journalism is exactly that – you just have to take what you can and (initially at least) be something of a jack-of-all-trades. You never know where work is going to come – you need to be able to ‘convert’ any expressions of interest by convincing that you are skilled and knowledgeable enough for the task. Blagging your way through a degree is brilliant training for this, surely the best training you could ever be lucky enough to receive. Yet it’s tough with no guarantees – and that means no guarantees for your bank account. It means, alas, a lot of worry and hard work often for no obvious reward.

So what to do? This is the dilemma us novice freelance journalists face in the day to day struggle of achieving our aims. I came down to London from Liverpool solely for more opportunities and to give this job a right go. I am living off money I earned from a previous job. I gave up this source of income which maybe seen as a massive risk but, as was once coined, I feel that fortune favours the brave. I wanted to be my own boss and do something out of my own initiative as opposed to being mechanically controlled by a firm. It was a life choice and one I am delighted that I have taken up.

As I said, it has not been all roses. But the sacrifices I have taken have been worth it. I came out of University with a degree in Classics, and given the high level of philosophical content the course did turn me into someone who procrastinated more than Hamlet! Therefore, I had no real idea what I was going to do once I came out after my three years. I thought initially I would just work in a job that was not necessarily what I wanted to go into long-term, but one that would allow me to get as much money as possible. This would then give me a bigger platform to venture into what I wanted to eventually do, I figured. It then suddenly hit me that the everyday banalities of a 9-5 were just not for me. As weeks wore one, the bulb lit above me and freelance journalism came to my mind.

I thereafter saw it as a necessity to come to London as – of course - this is the epicentre of business and commerce and pretty much everything. London is the place for us freelancers to reside. I am pleased to say that as a result I already have an invoice in the pipeline for an article I completed for one of the popular free newspapers recently. I already had voluntary pieces published in magazines and the local press before coming to London. Assembling this experience was the catalyst for getting this piece. Now I hope this can give me the platform to receive more paid work. I was able to achieve this without using direct contacts, I just contacted the paper out of my own accord and the publisher liked what he read. Nonetheless, I do hope to make contacts on this journey but hope my work is always still judged on merit.
From my experience, I have found that freelance journalism is a profession that requires desire, persistence, patience and self management. As the trusted Jemimah Smith points out in her article on becoming a freelance journalist:

“In theory, anyone can call themselves a freelance journalist because there are no rules or qualifications for entry. Generally though, talent will prevail and those with the appropriate experience and skills are most likely to succeed”.

I wouldn’t say I’ve reached the heights of a freelance journalist that is constantly in demand but I feel I have one foot in the door in what is a gradual process. I am happy in what I am doing, and importantly I am not wasting my life looking for the clock to quicken. Moreover though, at least there is no chance of me being made redundant!