Most freelance writers love their job, and most of their friends and family members think they lead an absolutely cushy, easy life. You may know at least one other person who is a freelance writer, and you envy their ability to work from home, adjust their work schedule as needed and more. This may seem like the perfect part-time job opportunity that you have been looking for. However, you may also know people who have attempted to become a freelance writer and who have failed miserably. How can one person find so much success and happiness in the job while others have nothing positive to say about the job at all? The fact is that freelance writing is a great job, but it is not suitable for everyone. With a closer look, you may be able to determine if this is a career option that you should pursue.

A Day in the Life

Freelance writers begin their day either working on assignments in progress or hunting for new assignments to work on. Assignments in progress inevitably come with deadlines. So while it may seem that a freelance writer has the ability to control his schedule, the fact is that many freelance writers must accept assignments when they are offered and must comply with the deadlines the clients place on those assignments. This may create a “feast or famine” situation with your workload. With some strategizing and the ability to negotiate deadlines slightly with clients, you may be able to create a work schedule that provides you with the flexibility you crave in your part-time job.

The Income Potential

The income potential for any job is an important consideration. Some people view freelance writers as highly paid professionals. Best-selling authors may live in estate homes, but freelance writers in general get paid based on the time and effort they put into the job as well as according to the skills and knowledge they bring to the table. If your writing skills are mediocre and you write slowly, you truly may struggle to earn a rate much above minimum wage. On the other hand, if you have excellent writing skills, can write authoritatively on a number of topics or have a specialization in one or several hours and are able to put full-time hours into your work efforts, you may earn more money each year than a teacher, a nurse or other skilled professionals.

Your Home Life

As a freelance writer, your home will likely be your office. Because of this, it is important to consider what your home situation is like before you embark on a career as a freelance writer. Do you live in a noisy apartment with several other loud adults who have odd schedules and who may not conform to your need for peace and quiet? Are you a stay-at-home parent caring for one or more young children who demand your attention most hours of the day? It is not impossible to be a part-time freelance writer in these situations, but you should understand that it may be more difficult on you to focus on your work in these or similar situations in comparison to an individual who has a quiet house to work in alone all day.

As you make the decision about whether to pursue freelance writing as a part-time career choice, consider your skills, your ability to meet time deadlines, your need for income and your home situation in detail.