10 Reasons I Write for a Living
When I tell people I write for a living, they look at me like I'm some kind of bum. Do you have enough work? they ask, as if I'm not capable of holding down a "real" job at a brick and mortar institution and had to resort to spending my days typing away at home. I wake up every morning and get to choose from over 200,000 assignments, I tell them. They're so baffled they can't think of anything else to ask me.
I enjoy writing for money. Every morning I look forward to a stable job that provides ample part-time or full-time income. I only wish my friends and relatives believed that what I do is a bona fide freelance position they could participate in,
too, if they were only willing to give it a shot.I've given up wasting time convincing friends they should write for a living like me. I'd much rather help people I've never met, and probably never will meet, who need a job badly enough that they'll appreciate my advice. So here's to you, my potential comrade in freelance writing. Here are the top ten reasons I write for a living, and why I think you should, too.1. I don't play well with others: I'm the independent type. Not for living conditions, necessarily, but certainly for my work environment. Writing and submitting assignments online negates the need to ever speak to a human being during working hours.2. I like working my own hours: I can work at eight in the morning or eleven at night - it doesn't matter, because I only work based on weekly deadlines, not hourly ones. I never punch a time clock and I sure as heck don't have to get up at a certain time every morning.3. I like being my own boss: From what I've written in the past few paragraphs, do I sound like the type of person who likes answering to authority and obeying orders from higher-ups? Hardly. As a freelance writer, I don't have to. I work when I want, however much I want, and I know my job will still be here for me in the morning.4. I choose my own assignments: I never write about anything I don't want to. I write about topics I already have knowledge about or ones I'm interested in learning more about. So if I don't wish to write about how to become a coroner or haven't a clue about how to fix a car door hinge, I don't bother. I'll pick the assignments about hair, makeup, video games and hotels in the Bahamas instead.5. There's no commute: That's right. I don't drive anywhere in crappy weather if I don't have to - as a rule - and my job is no exception. So the fact that I write for a living in the comfort of my own home is just fine with me. 6. There's no workplace drama: I don't give a hoot about who Sandra's daughter is dating, nor do I want to hear about the party pictures Jim's son posted on Facebook last Saturday night. Work at home and you'll never deal with your fellow employees' dramas again.7. I have time for family: I get to see my family more often when I work at home. Sure, that might be distracting to some, but lay down the rules about when they can and can't disturb you, and you'll be happily eating breakfast, lunch and dinner with your family every day for the rest of your life.8. I make as much money as I need or want: I write articles based on how much I earn when I write them. So if I need to make $100 one day, I just write seven $15-dollar articles and I exceed my goal. It's a great way to earn a little extra income here and there or work full time.9. I get all the support and help I need: With thousands of other freelance writers out there on freelance publishing forums, I get all the help I need when knowing which companies are reputable, which topics are making the most money and where to go for good research references.10. It's just plain fun.
